''Livin' Proof'' is the debut studio album by the American hip hop duo
Group Home
A group home, congregate living facility, or care home (the latter especially in British English and Australian English) is a residence model of medical care for those with complex health needs. Traditionally, the model has been used for children ...
. It was released on November 21, 1995, through
FFRR
FFRR Records (sometimes credited as Full Frequency Range Recordings) is a dance music label previously run and founded by English DJ Pete Tong. Originally the dance music label of London Records, FFRR is currently a sublabel of Parlophon ...
/
Payday Records
Payday Records is a New York-based hiphop label that was launched in 1992 by Patrick Moxey. The label began in association with FFRR/London Records, and released in the UK and Europe via London/ PolyGram Records. Artists launched via Payday Record ...
. Recording sessions took place at
D&D Studios
D&D Studios was a recording studio located in New York City on the west side of 37th street. Artists that recorded there include Jay-Z, Foxy Brown, The Notorious B.I.G., Fat Joe, Nas, Gang Starr, Jeru the Damaja, Afu-Ra, KRS-One, Frankie Cu ...
in New York.
Production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
was handled by
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an American hip hop duo, consisting of Texas record producer DJ Premier and Massachusetts rapper Guru. For the entirety of their association, they were based out of Brooklyn, New York. Gang Starr was at its height from 1989 to 2 ...
and Big Jaz. It features guest appearances from Absaloot, Big Shug,
Guru
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...
, Brainsick Enterprize and Smiley the Ghetto Child.
It featured the popular underground single "Supa Star", which peaked at number 85 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the United States. The album is known both for the instrumentals and the interplay between the lyrics of Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker.Shapiro, Peter (2005) ''The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, 2nd ed.'', Rough Guides, , p.165
Track listing
;Notes
*Track 5 features additional vocals from
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis (born February 14, 1972), known as Jeru the Damaja, is an American rapper and record producer. He is known for his 1993 single " Come Clean" from his debut album, ''The Sun Rises in the East'', ranked as one of the 100 great ...
;Sample credits
*"Intro" contains samples from "Yesterday" by
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery (March 6, 1923 – June 15, 1968) was an American jazz guitarist. Montgomery was known for an unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a dist ...
and "Ain't No Half Steppin'" by Big Daddy Kane.
*"Inna Citi Life" contains samples from "Nautilus" by Bob James, "Cold Duck Time" by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, and "Serious (Ceereeus BDP Remix)" by
Steady B
Warren Sabir McGlone (born September 17, 1969), known by the stage name Steady B, is an American hip hop emcee who, along with Schoolly D, the Fresh Prince, and Three Times Dope, was one of the first wave of Philadelphia-area emcees to gain no ...
.
*"Serious Rap Shit" contains samples from "Birdland" by
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz fusion band active from 1970 to 1986. The band was founded in 1970 by Austrian virtuoso keyboardist Joe Zawinul, American saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš, American drummer and voca ...
, "In Our Lifetime" by Marvin Gaye, and "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" by Cypress Hill.
*"Suspended in Time" contains samples from "Pipeline" by
The Incredible Bongo Band
The Incredible Bongo Band, also known as Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band, was a project started in 1972 by Michael Viner, a record artist manager and executive at MGM Records. Viner was called on to supplement the soundtrack to the B-film ' ...
, "
Touch Me (All Night Long)
"Touch Me (All Night Long)" is a 1984 song by American singer Fonda Rae and American band Wish. It was a minor hit for Rae and the band, and was featured in the 1985 slasher film '' A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge''. In the origina ...
" by
Fonda Rae
Fonda Rae Wood (performing as simply Fonda Rae) is an American R&B singer best known for her club hits like "Over Like a Fat Rat" and " Touch Me" (the latter which was later covered by Cathy Dennis). She has also worked with artists such as Don ...
and Wish, "Real Hip Hop" by
Das EFX
Das EFX is an American hip hop duo. It consists of emcees Dray (also known as Krazy Drayz, born Andre Weston, September 9, 1970) and Skoob (also known as Books and Boogie Bang, born William "Willie" Hines, November 27, 1970). They named the ...
, and "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" by
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close aff ...
.
*"Sacrifice" contains samples from "What Do I Wish For?" by
The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites (, ) are an American R&B/soul vocal quartet from Chicago, Illinois, United States. Forming at Chicago's Hyde Park High School in 1959, The group's original lineup consisted of singers Robert Lester, Eugene Record, Creadel Jones, ...
, "Breakthrough" by Isaac Hayes, and "Crack Featuring Pete the Fly" by Paul Mooney.
*"Up Against the Wall (Low Budget Mix)" contains samples from "Windows of the World" by Isaac Hayes.
*"Livin' Proof" contains samples from "Collage" by The Ramsey Lewis Trio and " C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan.
*"Baby Pa" contains samples from "The Golden Apple" by Bob James.
*"2 Thousand" contains samples from "I Feel Like Loving You Today" written by Isaac Hayes and performed by Donald Byrd.
*"Supa Star" contains samples from "Hanging Downtown" by Cameo, "
Funky President (People It's Bad)
"Funky President (People It's Bad)" is a funk song by James Brown. Released as a single in 1974, it charted No. 4 R&B. It also appeared on the album ''Reality''. According to Brown the "funky president" of the song's title was meant to refer to ...
" by James Brown, "One Woman" by Isaac Hayes, "Words from the Nutcracker" and "I'm the Man" both by Gang Starr, " I Got It Made" by Special Ed, and "Who's Gonna Love You" by
Muscle Shoals Horns
The Muscle Shoals Horns is an American brass section of session musicians who performed on many rhythm and blues and rock records between the late 1960s to the present, as well as making their own recordings which included the 1976 R&B chart hi ...
GuRu
Guru ( sa, गुरु, IAST: ''guru;'' Pali'': garu'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential ...
Jeru the Damaja
Kendrick Jeru Davis (born February 14, 1972), known as Jeru the Damaja, is an American rapper and record producer. He is known for his 1993 single " Come Clean" from his debut album, ''The Sun Rises in the East'', ranked as one of the 100 great ...
" Davis – backing vocals (track 5)
*Christopher "
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. He was half of the hip hop du ...