Born Gangstaz is the only studio album by American gangsta rapper Bo$$. It was released on May 25, 1993, through Def Jam Recordings' West Coast-based sub-label DJ West. The recording sessions took place at Beat Street Studios, Mad Hatter Studios, M'Bila Studios and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, at Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in Commack, at Chung King Studios in New York City, and at Ian London Studios in East Islip, New York. The album was produced by Def Jef, AMG, Erick Sermon, T-Ray, Chyskillz, Jam Master Jay, Mic Professah, Stone tha Lunatic, and Tracey Waples, who also served as executive producer together with Russell Simmons, and co-producers MC Serch, Courtney Branch and Tracy Kendrick. It features guest appearances from Def Jef, Onyx, AMG, Erick Sermon, dancehall performers Admiral D and Papa Juggy, as well as Bo$$'s parents, Lillie and Joe Laws.
The album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
It features two the Billboard charted singles: "Deeper" and "Recipe of a Hoe". "I Don't Give a Fuck" b/w "Mai Sista Izza Bitch" and "Progress of Elimination" also were released as singles.
Despite the success of this album, Boss never released another album during her lifetime. Born Gangstaz has sold around 500,000 copies. The working title of the album was They Don't Have the Body Count.
The song "I Don't Give a Fuck" featured during the closing credits of the episode "Lesbian Request Denied" from Season 1 of the Netflix TV show Orange Is the New Black.
Critical reception
USA Today said that Born Gangstaz "is so shockingly roughneck, it makes N.W.A sound like Sunday school teachers." The Guardian wrote: "The lady explains, 'Here's a bitch that don't give a fuck'. Whether or not that's true—and one suspects that Boss is more of an actress than a gangsta—it's pretty sad that she wants to compete with men in this area."
Retrospect Magazine Country Article Year RankSpinUnited States"The 50 Best Rap Albums from 1993"201317
Track listing
Charts Chart (1993) Peak positionUS Billboard 200 22US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 3
Singles Year Song Chart positions Hot 100 R&B Rap Dance1993 "Deeper"6528125 "Recipe of a Hoe"118[A]73129
[A] Number 18 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
References
External links Born Gangstaz at Discogs Born Gangstaz at RapGenius