''A Brand You Can Trust'' is the debut album from hip hop group
La Coka Nostra
La Coka Nostra (short LCN) is an American hip hop music, hip hop group composed of DJ Lethal, Danny Boy (rapper), Danny Boy, Ill Bill and Slaine (rapper), Slaine.
Biography
Founded in late 2004 with no intention to record an album, La Coka N ...
. It was released on July 14, 2009 on
Suburban Noize Records
Suburban Noize Records, also known as "Subnoize", is an independent record label based in Burbank, California that specializes in punk rock and hip hop music. The label was founded in 1997 by the Kottonmouth Kings' vocalist Daddy X and Kevin Zi ...
and
Uncle Howie Records
William Braunstein (born July 14, 1972), known by his stage name Ill Bill, is an American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York City. Having gained fame in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his diver ...
. The album has become a cult classic amongst fans, selling over 500,000 units and becoming certified gold after only a month, a feat rarely seen in underground hip hop.
The album took over three years to make, due to solo projects from
Everlast
Erik Francis Schrody (born August 18, 1969), known by his stage name Everlast, is an American musician, singer, rapper, and songwriter, who was the frontman for hip hop group House of Pain. He was also part of the hip hop supergroup La Coka ...
,
Slaine, and Ill Bill. It was originally set for release on September 11, 2007 alongside Ill Bill's ''
The Hour of Reprisal
''The Hour of Reprisal'' is the second studio album by American hip hop musician Ill Bill. It was released on September 16, 2008, by Uncle Howie Records. Featured guests on the album include Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage, Vinnie Paz of Je ...
'' album, before both were pushed back.
In late 2008 the group, with the help of former
Non Phixion DJ DJ Eclipse and
Cypress Hill members
Sen Dog
Senen Reyes (born November 22, 1965), also known by his stage name Sen Dog, is a Cuban-American rapper and musician who is best known as a member of the rap group Cypress Hill and as the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Powerflo. He has ...
and
DJ Muggs
Lawrence Muggerud (born January 28, 1968), professionally known by his stage name DJ Muggs, is an American DJ, audio engineer and record producer. He is a member of Cypress Hill, a member of the trip hop band Cross My Heart Hope To Die and the l ...
, signed with West Coast
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
/
hip hop label Suburban Noize Records.
The album was recorded and mixed at DJ Lethal's studio and at the
Soul Assassins
Soul Assassins is a hardcore hip hop project of Cypress Hill member and producer DJ Muggs. Each album features a plethora of guest rappers and is primarily produced by Muggs; the second and third studio albums see contributions from other produ ...
Studio in Los Angeles, California, with additional mixing done in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York at Ill Bill's in-home studio known as "Cult Leader Media".
"Fuck Tony Montana" first appeared on the Ill Bill mixtape ''Ill Bill Is The Future Vol. 2: I'm a Goon!'', released on December 5, 2006. "That's Coke" was remixed for the album due to sample clearance issues of the original version, which used portions from Bobby Byrd's "I'm Not To Blame".
Track listing
Personnel
;La Coka Nostra
*
Everlast
Erik Francis Schrody (born August 18, 1969), known by his stage name Everlast, is an American musician, singer, rapper, and songwriter, who was the frontman for hip hop group House of Pain. He was also part of the hip hop supergroup La Coka ...
– performer, writing, production (4)
*
Ill Bill
William Braunstein (born July 14, 1972), known by his stage name Ill Bill, is an American rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York City. Having gained fame in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his diver ...
– performer, writing, production (8)
*
Slaine – performer (1-8, 10-15), writing (1-8, 10-15)
*
Danny Boy – performer (2, 10, 14), executive production, art direction, design, photography, writing (14)
*
DJ Lethal
Leor Dimant ( lv, Leors Dimants, russian: Леор Григорьевич Димант, ; born December 18, 1972), better known as DJ Lethal, is a Latvian-American turntablist and producer and is best known as a member of the groups House of Pai ...
– writing (1-3, 5-7, 10, 11, 14, 15), production (1-3, 5-8, 10, 11, 14, 15), scratching (3, 5, 14)
;Other personnel
*
Sen Dog
Senen Reyes (born November 22, 1965), also known by his stage name Sen Dog, is a Cuban-American rapper and musician who is best known as a member of the rap group Cypress Hill and as the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Powerflo. He has ...
– performer (1)
* Big Left – performer (1), writing (1, 3)
* Grisha Dimant – guitars (1)
* Baby Jesus – bass guitar (2)
*
Russel Ali – additional guitars (2)
*
Snoop Dogg – performer (3)
*
B-Real – performer (5, 15), writing (5, 15)
*
Sicknature
Sicknature is an independent Rapping, rapper and hip-hop producer from the southern part of Copenhagen, Denmark.
He began his career making music and recording with his childhood friend Jesta in the mid 1990s.
Sicknature is also a producer in th ...
– production (5)
* Sick Jacken – performer (6, 11, 15), writing (6, 11, 15)
*
Bun B – performer (9), writing (9)
*
The Alchemist
An alchemist is a person who practices alchemy.
Alchemist or Alchemyst may also refer to:
Books and stories
* ''The Alchemist'' (novel), the translated title of a 1988 allegorical novel by Paulo Coelho
* ''The Alchemist'' (play), a play by Be ...
– writing (9), production (9)
* Cynic – writing (12), production (12)
*
Q-Unique
Anthony Quiles (born June 27, 1972), better known by his stage name Q-Unique, is an American rapper, record producer and a member of rap group Arsonists and the hard rock band StillWell. He also contributed vocals for dance/hip-hop group C+C Mu ...
– performer (13), writing (13), production (13)
*
Immortal Technique
Felipe Andres Coronel (born February 19, 1978), better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics, from a radical left-wing perspective.
Immortal Techn ...
– performer (13), writing (13)
*
Brad X – executive production
* Kevin Zinger – executive production
* Dez Einswell – art direction, design
* Casey Quintal – design, layout
* Mike D. – photography
Charts
Reception
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
gave four out of five stars. Andrew Kameka of
HipHopDX
''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of hip hop music criticism and news. The website's current president and publisher is Sharath Cherian and the Head Of Content is Jerry L. Barrow. ''HipHopDX'' is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group.
...
wrote that "the album is a mostly solid effort and exactly what someone would expect from a supergroup of like-minded members known for high-energy music". Adam Kennedy of the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
while praising some the moments of the album said "it’s a tantalising parting taste of potential capabilities, yet until they improve a customer satisfaction hit rate that barely troubles one in three tunes here". Rap Reviews gave it a seven out of ten. Thomas Quinlan of
said "La Coka Nostra are an interesting collection of collaborators that live up to the hype".