''Rated G'' is the third album by the
5th Ward Boyz
5th Ward Boyz is an American southern hip hop trio, based out of Houston, Texas. Their name is derived from Houston's Fifth Ward, Houston, Fifth Ward. The group signed to Rap-A-Lot Records following the Geto Boys' popularity on the label.
The g ...
, released on November 28, 1995 through
Rap-a-Lot Records
Rap-A-Lot is a hip hop record label co-founded by James Prince and Cliff Blodget in 1986. Smoke-a-Lot Records is a subsidiary.
Rap-A-Lot was first distributed by A&M Records with the release of Raheem's 1988 debut ''The Vigilante''. The label w ...
.
Producer
Mike Dean, who had produced the group's previous two albums, returned to produce the album with the three members of the 5th Ward Boyz co-producing the album.
N.O. Joe
Joseph Johnson (born March 31, 1975), known by his stage name N.O. Joe, is an American musician, hip hop record producer and songwriter. N.O. Joe was a pioneer of the Southern Hip Hop sound during the 1990s. He operates a production company ...
, who also produced the group's first two albums did not contribute to this album.
''Rated G'' peaked at 189 on the
''Billboard'' 200 and 35 on the
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated J ...
, their lowest peak position on either chart. Despite the album's lack of commercial success, the album was met with positive reviews.
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 databas ...
gave the album 4.5 stars out of a possible 5, saying "Rated G remains enjoyable. It is the work of talented, but not inspired, imitators and will do if ''
The Chronic
''The Chronic'' is the debut studio album by the American hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre. It was released on December 15, 1992, by his record label Death Row Records and distributed by Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place in ...
'' and ''
Doggystyle
''Doggystyle'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg (then known as Snoop Doggy Dogg). It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row Records and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop's app ...
'' are sounding stale".
Track listing
#"Dirty"- 4:44
#"Concrete Hell"- 5:58
#"Wake Up"- :41
#"Situations"- 5:08
#"Fifth Ward"- 4:43
#"The Streets"- 3:49
#"My Life"- 1:17
#"Your Life"- 5:54
#"Death Is Calling"- 6:14 (featuring
Flesh-n-Bone, 3D and Wildchild)
#"Raising Cain"- 5:24
#"Swing Wide"- 4:44 (featuring
UGK
UGK (short for Underground Kingz) was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Chad "Pimp C" Butler and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman. They released their first major-label album, ''Too Hard to Swallow'', in 1992, followe ...
)
#"Busta Free"- 5:51
#"One Night Stand"- 3:50
#"Step into My Hood"- 4:54 (featuring Daddy Lo, Gotti, Kaos, Mr. Slimm and Nickelboy)
Samples
*"One Night Stand"
**"Hit and Run" by
The Bar-Kays
The Bar-Kays are an American funk band formed in 1964. The band had dozens of record chart, charting single (music), singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" (US Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number 17, Hot R&B/Hip ...
Charts
References
{{Authority control
1995 albums
Albums produced by Mike Dean (record producer)
5th Ward Boyz albums
Rap-A-Lot Records albums
Virgin Records albums