''Urban Rapsody'' is an album by the American funk singer

Rick James James Ambrose Johnson Jr. (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004), better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, James began his musical career in ...

. It was released through

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it i ...

and Private-I Records in 1997, and was the last one released before his death. The album combines

rap 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 ...

and funk. ''Urban Rapsody'' received a

Parental Advisory Advisory (abbreviated PAL) is a warning label introduced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1985 and adopted by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2011. It is placed on audio recordings in recognition of profan ...

sticker, James's only album with one. It was his first release since 1988's '' Wonderful'', due to substance abuse problems and an extended period of incarceration. The album peaked at #170 on the '' Billboard'' charts.

Critical reception

The New Rolling Stone Album Guide ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'', previously known as ''The Rolling Stone Record Guide'', is a book that contains professional music reviews written and edited by staff members from ''Rolling Stone'' magazine. Its first edition was published in 1 ...

'' gave the album 1.5 stars (out of 5), writing that it is a "cannily conservative attempt to recapture the R&B portion of his audience, but it lacks the fire of his early hits."

Track listing

All tracks composed by

, except where noted. #"Urban Rapsody" (James, LeMelle,

Rappin' 4-Tay Anthony H. Forté (born March 2, 1968), better known by his stage name Rappin' 4-Tay, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California. Early life Anthony Forte was born March 2, 1968 and grew up in San Francisco's Fillmore District. He has ...

) #"West Coast Thing" (James, Shepherd) #"Somebody's Watching You" (James, Shepherd) #"Back in You Again" #"Turn It Out" #"Good Ol' Days" #"Player's Way" (James, Snoop Dogg, Shepherd) #"Never Say You Love Me" #"It's Time" (James, Shepherd, Neb Love) #"So Soft So Wet" (James, Shepherd) #"Bring on the Love" #"Mama's Eyes" (James, Shepherd) #"Soul Sista" #"Favorite Flava" (James, Shepherd, Neb Love) #"Urban Rapsody (Reprise)" (James, LeMelle)

References

1997 albums Rick James albums Albums produced by Rick James {{1990s-R&B-album-stub