Hempstead High

Hempstead High
Studio album by
A+
ReleasedFebruary 23, 1999 (1999-02-23)
Recorded1997–1998
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length53:52
LabelUniversal
Producer
A+ chronology
The Latch-Key Child
(1996) 		Hempstead High
(1999)
Singles from Hempstead High
  1. "Enjoy Yourself"
    Released: 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[2]
RapReviews7/10[3]
The Source[4]
St. Petersburg TimesC[5]

Hempstead High is the second studio album by American rapper A+.[6] It was released in 1999 through Kedar Entertainment/Universal Records.[7] Recording sessions took place at Unique Recording Studios and Battery Studios in New York and at Urban House Studios, Inc. in Houston. Production was handled by Bink!, DJ Clark Kent, Lil' Shawn, Mo-Suave-A, Smith Brothers Entertainment and Ty Fyffe, with Kedar Massenburg serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Canibus, Cardan, Chico DeBarge, Erykah Badu, MJG, Psycho Drama and the Lost Boyz. The album peaked at #60 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #19 on the Top Heatseekers in the United States, and at number 72 in the Netherlands.

Critical reception

Vibe thought that A+ "can't decide whether he's a hardcore man or a playful youth on his understated sophomore album".[8] The Plain Dealer wrote: "By the time the disc reaches the scary 'Staggering and Stuttering' with Psycho Drama, A+ establishes his versatility and assured, confident flow".[9]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro (Classroom)" (featuring Lawrence Page) Smith Bros. Entertainment1:51
2."Enjoy Yourself"
Sugarless3:38
3."Up Top New York" (featuring Mr. Cheeks)
Bink!4:56
4."Gotta Have It"
DJ Clark Kent4:09
5."Boyz 2 Men" (featuring the Lost Boyz and Canibus)
  • Williams
  • Kelly
  • Harrell III
Bink!3:54
6."Watcha Weigh Me" (featuring MJG)
Mo-Suave-A Productions4:11
7."Understand the Game" (featuring Erykah Badu)
Bink!3:48
8."Don't Make Me Wait"
Little Shawn3:57
9."Interlude - The Score" Smith Bros. Entertainment1:09
10."It's on You" (featuring Chico DeBarge)
Smith Bros. Entertainment4:31
11."What the Deal" (featuring Cardan)
  • Levins
  • Pierre Jones
  • Harrell III
Bink!3:37
12."Price of Fame"
  • Smith Bros. Entertainment
  • DJ Clark Kent (add.)
3:35
13."Staggering and Stuttering" (featuring Psycho Drama)
  • Jeffrey Robinson
  • Akula Segal
  • T. Jones
Mo-Suave-A Productions5:18
14."Parkside Gardens"
  • Levins
  • Harrell III
Bink!5:18
Total length:53:52
Sample credits

Personnel

  • Andre "A+" Levins – main artist
  • Terrance "Mr. Cheeks" Kelly – featured artist (tracks: 3, 5)
  • Germaine "Canibus" Williams – featured artist (track 5)
  • Marlon "MJG" Goodwin – featured artist (track 6)
  • Erica "Erykah Badu" Wright – featured artist (track 7)
  • Jonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge – featured artist (track 10)
  • Pierre "Cardan" Jones – featured artist (track 11)
  • Jeffery "Buk" Robinson – featured artist (track 13)
  • Akula "Psyde" Segal – featured artist (track 13)
  • Lawrence Page – performer (track 1)
  • Keanna Henson – backing vocals (track 2)
  • Crystal Johnson – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Eric "E-Bass" Johnson – bass (track 3)
  • Robert "Storm" Jordan – Rhodes electric piano and strings (track 5)
  • Mike Cerullo – guitar (track 7)
  • Charles Smith – producer (tracks: 1, 9, 10, 12), associate executive producer
  • Joseph Smith – producer (tracks: 1, 9, 10, 12), associate executive producer
  • Tyrone Fyffe – producer (track 2)
  • Roosevelt "Bink!" Harrell III – producer (tracks: 3, 5, 7, 11, 14)
  • Rodolfo "DJ Clark Kent" Franklin – producer (track 4), additional producer (track 12), mixing (track 2)
  • Mo-Suave-A Productions, Inc. – producers (tracks: 6, 13)
  • Tyrone "Shawn Pen" Wilkins – producer (track 8)
  • Ed Miller – recording (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9-11, 12, 14), mixing (tracks: 5, 7, 11)
  • Tim Donovan – recording (track 2)
  • Kenny Ortiz – recording (tracks: 4, 8), mixing (tracks: 4, 8, 10, 12)
  • Tristan "T-Mix" Jones – recording (track 6)
  • Neil Jones – recording (track 13)
  • Cuz – mixing (track 2)
  • Leo "Swift" Morris – mixing (track 3)
  • Simon "Crazy C" Cullins – mixing (tracks: 6, 13)
  • James Hoover – mixing (tracks: 6, 13)
  • Tony Smalios – mixing (track 14)
  • Dana Walsh – engineering assistant (track 2)
  • Denise Barbarita – engineering assistant (track 3)
  • Daniel Wierup – engineering assistant (track 8)
  • Tom Coyne – mastering
  • Kedar Massenburg – executive producer
  • Sandie Lee Drake – art direction
  • Susan Bibeau – design
  • Stephen McBride – photography
  • Ray Copeland – management

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[10] 72
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[11] 60
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[12] 19

References

  1. ^ Conaway, Matt. "Hempstead High - A+ | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Tucker, Ken (March 26, 1999). "THE WEEK: MUSIC". Entertainment Weekly. No. 478. p. 86.
  3. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (July 16, 2024). "A+ :: Hempstead High". RapReviews. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Osorio, Kim (December 1998). "A+ – Hempstead High". Record Report. The Source. No. 111. New York. p. 214.
  5. ^ Vivinetto, Gina (April 16, 1999). "Hempstead High". St. Petersburg Times. Weekend. p. 16.
  6. ^ Baker, Trevor (October 23, 1999). "Hempstead High". Melody Maker. 76 (42): 38.
  7. ^ "Music Notes". New Pittsburgh Courier. No. 38. May 12, 1999. p. B3.
  8. ^ "Revolutions". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. February 27, 1999 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Reynolds, Mark (May 30, 1999). "LISTEN UP". The Plain Dealer. p. 8G.
  10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – A%2B – Hempstead High" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "A Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "A Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
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