''The Peoples Champ'' is the second studio album by American

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

Paul Wall Paul Michael Slayton (born March 11, 1981), better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper and DJ. He has spent much of his career affiliated with Swishahouse Records, and has released several albums under the label and collabor ...

. It was released on September 13, 2005, by Swishahouse, Atlantic Records and

Asylum Records Asylum Records is an American record label, founded in 1971 by David Geffen and partner Elliot Roberts. It was taken over by Warner Communications (now the Warner Music Group) in 1972, and later merged with Elektra Records to become Elektra/Asylu ...

. The album debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200, selling 176,000 copies in its first week. This serves as his first number one in two solo studio releases, after '' Chick Magnet'' (2004). The album was supported by four singles: "

Sittin' Sidewayz "Sittin' Sidewayz" is a song by American rapper Paul Wall, released as the first single from his album ''The Peoples Champ''. It features rapper Big Pokey and was produced by Salih Williams. The single's music video had cameo appearances by Jim ...

" featuring

Big Pokey Milton Powell (born November 29, 1977), better known by his stage name Big Pokey, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. Pokey is associated with chopped and screwed music, and is one of the original members of the Screwed Up Click. Rap c ...

, " They Don't Know", "

Girl A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is accurately described as a ''woman''. However, the term ''girl'' is also used for other meanings, including ''young woman'',Dictionary.c ...

" and "

Drive Slow "Drive Slow" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his second studio album, ''Late Registration'' (2005). The song features guest appearances from fellow rappers Paul Wall and GLC, and additional vocals by American recording artist Ton ...

" (

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...

featuring Paul Wall and GLC). Both "Sittin' Sidewayz" and "Girl" are certified gold by the RIAA for selling more than 500,000 copies each in the United States. The limited edition of ''The Peoples Champ'' features two CDs: disc one contains the original album, while disc two contains the " screwed and chopped" version by DJ Michael "5000" Watts. The Watts mix was released as a stand-alone CD the following week.

Critical reception

''The Peoples Champ'' received generally positive reviews from

music critics Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...

who found Wall better than fellow Houston rapper Mike Jones. ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...

'' writer Tom Breihan credited newcomer producer Grid Iron for providing some consistent beats throughout the album and Wall for being an above-average rapper saying, "So Wall is a good rapper, but not a great one. But then, this is 2005, and all a rapper needs to make a good album is enough great, complementary beats and guest appearances to keep the whole thing interesting all the way through."

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 ...

's Andy Kellman also praised Wall as a rapper, saying his flow is something that "always fits into the fabric of the track." Jonah Weiner of ''

Blender A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender container with a rotating me ...

'' lauded Wall's ability to lace crafty wordplay about the typical hip-hop tropes, saying that "This is materialism at its most mesmerizing." K. B. Tindal 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. ...

'' praised the album for its party tracks but was looking for some substance throughout it, saying that "After actually listening to the project it was worth the wait but still could have been a little more introspective with more heartfelt tracks. ..For the most part it is what it is; shit-talking made to sound good." Usman Sajjad of The Situation praised the album for its production and catchy party tracks, concluding that "With new hustles like his grills and various endorsements with Reebok and other companies, Paul Wall gives evidence with his debut 'The People’s Champ', that Houston still flows strongly through his blood, whilst moving one foot into mainstream Hip Hop."

Track listing

;Sample credits * "I'm a Playa" samples "I Got That Drank" performed by

Frayser Boy Cedric Coleman, professionally known by his stage name Frayser Boy, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He was formerly signed to Hypnotize Minds, the record label run by Three 6 Mafia founders DJ Paul and Juicy J, and had released t ...

, Mike Jones, and Paul Wall, and " Still Tippin'" performed by Mike Jones,

Slim Thug Stayve Jerome Thomas (born September 8, 1980), better known by his stage name Slim Thug, is an American rapper. He initially gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the hit single by rapper Mike Jones, " Still Tippin'". In July 2005, ...

, and Paul Wall. * "They Don't Know" samples "Pimp tha Pen" performed by

DJ Screw Robert Earl Davis Jr. (July 20, 1971 – November 16, 2000), better known by his stage name DJ Screw, was an American hip hop DJ based in Houston, Texas, and best known as the creator of the now-famous chopped and screwed DJ technique. He ...

and

Lil' Keke Marcus Lakee Edwards (born March 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Lil' Keke, is an American rapper and original member of the Southern hip hop collective Screwed Up Click. Biography Music career Lil' Keke gained national attention with ...

, "Murder" performed by

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 ...

, "3rd Coast" performed by Fat Pat, and "Wood Wheel" performed by UGK. * "Smooth Operator" samples "Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try)" as written and performed by

Leroy Hutson Leroy Hutson (born June 4, 1945) is an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and instrumentalist, best known as former lead singer of R&B vocal group The Impressions. His music concerns '70s soul, as noted in the June 2 ...

. * "Sittin' Sidewayz" samples "June 27th (Part 2)" performed by DJ Screw,

Big Moe Kenneth Doniell Moore (August 20, 1974 – October 14, 2007), better known by his stage name Big Moe, was an American rapper from Houston, Texas. Early life Kenneth Doniell Moore was born in Houston, Texas on August 20, 1974, and he grew up ...

, and Big Pokey of S.U.C. * "Internet Going Nutz" samples "Still Tippin'" performed by Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall. * "Sippin' Tha Barre" samples "Get Crunk" performed by

Crooked Lettaz Crooked Lettaz was an American hip hop duo from Jackson, Mississippi, composed of Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin and Lavell David Banner Crump. In 1998, Crooked Lettaz signed to independent label Penalty Recordings. Later that same year, the duo's fi ...

and

Pimp C Chad Lamont Butler (December 29, 1973 – December 4, 2007), better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American rapper and record producer. He was best known for his work with Bun B as one half of the hip-hop duo Underground Kingz (UGK). S ...

. * "Girl" samples "

Oh Girl "Oh Girl" is a song written by Eugene Record and recorded by American soul vocal group the Chi-Lites, with Record on vocals and also producing. It was released as a single on Brunswick Records in 1972. Included on the group's 1972 album '' A Lon ...

" performed by Chi-Lites as written and performed by

Eugene Record Eugene Booker Record (December 23, 1940 – July 22, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was best known as the lead vocalist of the Chicago-based vocal group The Chi-Lites from their formation in 1959 un ...

. * "Just Paul Wall" samples "Long Ago and Far Away" performed by

Earl Klugh Earl Klugh ( ; born September 16, 1953) is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. He has won one Grammy award and thirteen nominations. Klugh was awarded the “1977” Best Recording Award For Performance and Sound” for his album “Fin ...

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peoples Champ 2005 albums Paul Wall albums Asylum Records albums Atlantic Records albums Albums produced by Kanye West Albums produced by Mike Dean (record producer) Albums produced by DJ Paul Albums produced by Juicy J