Nocturnal (Heltah Skeltah album)

Nocturnal is the debut album from hip hop duo Heltah Skeltah, consisting of members Rock and Ruck (who later became known as Sean Price), members of Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik. It was the first BCC album to feature some outside producers, such as Shawn J. Period and E-Swift.

Nocturnal
Studio album by
Heltah Skeltah
ReleasedJune 18, 1996
StudioD&D Studios
GenreEast Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop
Length65:21
LabelDuck Down/Priority/EMI Records
0499 2 50532 2 7
P2-50532
ProducerBuckshot
Lord Jamar
Baby Paul
Shaleek
DJ Evil Dee
Shawn J. Period
Supreme
Mr. Walt
E-Swift
Heltah Skeltah chronology
Nocturnal
(1996)		 Magnum Force
(1998)
Singles from Nocturnal
  1. "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"
    Released: October 31, 1995
  2. "Operation Lock Down"
    Released: May 27, 1996
  3. "Therapy"
    Released: October 15, 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Source[2]

Background

The two made their debut on Smif-N-Wessun's 1995 album Dah Shinin'. Later in 1995, Rock and Ruck teamed up with O.G.C. to form the Fab 5, and released the single "Blah" b/w "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". "Leflah", included here, became a Billboard Hot 100 hit in '95 and the biggest hit from the Boot Camp family to date. "Leflah" was re-released as an A-Side single in early 1996, featuring the first sole Heltah Skeltah track, "Letha Brainz Blo", as its B-Side. The first official single released from the album was "Operation Lock Down", produced by Tha Alkaholiks' E-Swift. Other singles released from the album were "Therapy" and "Da Wiggy".

The "Twin Towers" of the Boot Camp Clik gained much recognition and respect in the Hip Hop world with the release of their debut, now hailed as a 90's Hip Hop classic. Led by Rock's rough, booming voice and Ruck's strong lyrical ability, and backed by dark, grimy beats by Da Beatminerz, Shaleek, and others, the release received wide acclaim in the Hip Hop world, but didn't reach much further, selling around 250,000 copies in the US.

Track listing
# Title Songwriters Producer(s) Performer (s)
1 "Intro (Here We Come)" K. Blake, J. McNair, J. Bush Buckshot, Lord Jamar Rock, Starang Wondah
2 "Letha Brainz Blo" P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz Rock, Ruck
3 "Undastand" P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz Ruck, Rock
4 "Who Dat?" K. Blake, S. Price, J. Bush Buckshot Ruck, Rock
5 "Sean Price" D. Pearson, S. Price Shaleek Ruck, Illa Noyz
6 "Clan's, Posse's, Crew's & Clik's" E. Dewgarde, J. Bush, S. Price DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz Rock, Ruck
7 "Therapy" P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush, V. Mojica Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz Rock, Ruck as "Dr. Killpatient", Vinia Mojica
8 "Place to Be" S. Price, J. Bush, Shawn J. Period Shawn J. Period Ruck, Rock
9 "Soldiers Gone Psyco" P. Hendricks, J. Bush, S. Price Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz Ruck, Rock
10 "The Square (Triple R)" S. Price, J. Bush, L. Johnson, B. Muniz Supreme Rock, Ruck, Representativz
11 "Da Wiggy" W. Dewgarde, J. Bush, S. Price Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz Ruck, Rock
12 "Gettin Ass Gettin Ass" S. Price, V. Mojica Dr. Kill Patient aka Sean Price Ruck, Vinia Mojica
13 "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" P. Hendricks, J. McNair, J. Bush, D. Yates, S. Price, B. Powell Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz The Fab 5 (Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C.)
14 "Prowl" W. Dewgarde, J. Bush, B. Powell, S. Price Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz Rock, Ruck, Louieville Sluggah
15 "Grate Unknown" D. Pearson, S. Price, J. Bush Shaleek Ruck, Rock
16 "Operation Lock Down" E. Brooks, J. Bush, S. Price E-Swift Rock, Ruck
17 "Lock Down Skit" E-Swift Ruck as "Bejesus", Rock

Album singles
Single information
"Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"
  • Released: October 31, 1995
  • B-Side: "Letha Brainz Blo"
"Operation Lock Down"
  • Released: May 27, 1996
  • B-Side: "Da Wiggy"
"Therapy"
  • Released: October 15, 1996
  • B-Side: "Place to Be"

Music videos
  • "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" Director: Marcus Turner Released: 1995
  • "Operation Lock Down" Released: 1996
  • "Therapy" Director: Gobi Najed
    Released: 1996

Album chart positions
Chart Peak
position
US Billboard 200[3] 35
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] 5

Singles chart positions
Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1995 "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" 75[5] 51 8 19
1996 "Operation Lock Down" - 64 15 13
"Da Wiggy" - - 15 -
"Therapy" - 77 16 21

References
  1. AllMusic review
  2. The Source August 1996 p.96 review
  3. "Heltah Skeltah - Chart history - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  4. "Heltah Skeltah - Chart history - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2017.
  5. "Heltah Skeltah Music News & Info". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.