The Geto Boys is a remix album by American hip hop group Geto Boys, released on September 21, 1990, by Def American Recordings. The album features one song from the group's debut album Making Trouble (1988), ten from their previous album Grip It! On That Other Level (1989), and two new songs, all of which were re-recorded and remixed by producers Rick Rubin and Brendan O'Brien. Of the twelve songs from Grip It!, only "Seek and Destroy" and "No Sellout" were excluded from this album.
The album was originally scheduled for release in August 1990, but Geffen Records, then-distributor for Def American Recordings, refused to release it due to its graphic lyrical content, and pulled it from its schedule. After Geffen terminated its deal with Def American, the album was instead distributed by Warner Bros. Records in September 1990.
Controversy and release Due to the graphic nature of the album's lyrics, particularly in the songs "Mind of a Lunatic" and "Assassins", Def American's distributor Geffen Records, as well as its manufacturer Sony DADC, refused to have any part in the release. After Geffen removed the album from its August release schedulePareles. John. Distributor Withdraws Rap Album Over Lyrics. The New York Times. 28 August 1990. Retrieved 17 June 2011 and terminated its manufacturing and distributing deal with Def American,Hochman, Steve. Geffen Cancels Distribution Pact With Controversial Def American. Los Angeles Times. 18 September 1990. Retrieved 17 June 2011 Rick Rubin arranged a new deal with Warner Bros. Records, which agreed to distribute the album as intended, as well as all subsequent Def American releases, with product manufacturing by WEA Manufacturing. The album was then released on September 21, 1990, with marketing handled by Warner Bros. sister label Giant Records.
The song "Do It Like a G.O." was released as a single with a music video, but it did not chart.
Packaging The original Def American pressing features the following warning in addition to the standard Parental Advisory sticker:
Subsequent pressings on Rap-a-Lot and various distributors do not contain the secondary warning.
Reception
In a 3.5-mike-out-of-5 review, The Source wrote positively of Rick Rubin's contribution to the album, writing, "The group's fuck-everybody attitude and simple straight-forward music is a perfect match for Rubin...."(Summer 1990) "Classic review : Grip It On That Other Level in The Source (1990)". The Source. Andy Kellman of AllMusic also praised Rubin's contribution, writing, "The album is expertly sequenced, and some songs seem to have twice the impact of their original incarnations."Kellman, Andy. "The Geto Boys - Geto Boys". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 June 2011
Robert Christgau, on the other hand, criticized the album, comparing it negatively to slasher films. Christgau ended the review, writing, "I'm impressed by [its] pungent beats and vernacular. I'm glad they put Reagan in bed with Noriega. I'm sorta touched when one of them thinks to thank the first girl to lick his asshole. I admire their enunciation on 'Fuck 'Em.' But fuck 'em."Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: Album: The Geto Boys: The Geto Boys". Consumer Guide. Retrieved 17 June 2011 In another mixed review, Entertainment Weeklys Greg Sandow ridiculed the album's glorification of violence, writing, "The catalog starts to seem silly. Stealing from the poor? On their next album, the Geto Boys might just as well do a song about tearing wings off flies."Sandow, Greg (12 October 1990). "The Geto Boys Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 June 2011
Track listing
Personnel The following people contributed to The Geto Boys:The Geto Boys - Credits. Allmusic. Retrieved 18 June 2011
Geto Boys
DJ Ready Red Akshen Bushwick Bill Willie D
Production
Prince Johnny C – producer John Bido – producer Clifford Blodget – engineer, executive producer DJ Ready Red – producer Doug King – producer Sylvia Massy – engineer Brendan O'Brien – remixing Ready Red – producer Billy Roberts – photography Rick Rubin – production supervisor James H. Smith – executive producer Howie Weinberg – mastering
Charts Chart (1990)Peakposition US Billboard 200171 US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums (Billboard)67
References
Sources