Swing Batta Swing is the debut studio album by American rapper K7. It was released on November 9, 1993 by Tommy Boy Records and was produced by Frankie Cutlass, K7, Joey Gardner and Mike Lorello. Swing Batta Swing was released with two different album covers.
The album did fairly well on the US charts, peaking at No. 96 on the Billboard 200, No. 54 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 1 on the Top Heatseekers. It features four singles, including his most popular song, "Come Baby Come", which made it to No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 9 on the Hot Rap Singles and No. 3 in the UK singles chart. Other singles from the album were "Hi De Ho", which was featured in a scene of the 1994 film The Mask (UK No. 17), "Zunga Zeng" (US No. 61, US Rap No. 23, UK No. 63) and "Move It Like This" (US No. 54, US Rap No. 26).
Critical reception
American magazine Billboard wrote, "Recent release from urban pop outfit with strong hip-hop, dance, and reggae leanings shows considerable staying power on The Billboard 200 and the R&B albums chart, largely on the strength of gold cross-format single 'Come Baby Come'. Among the record's other genre-straddling hits are reggae caper 'Move It Like This', house-flavored 'I'll Make You Feel Good', and supremely catchy, upbeat pop tracks 'Let's Bang', 'Hi De Ho', 'Beep Me', and current single 'Zunga Zeng'. In fact, there's not a cut on this formidably deep album that should be ruled out as a potential single." Mark Sutherland from NME wrote, "Yup, K7 and his backing blokes the Swing Kids have done the impossible and crafted an immaculate pop-rap-swingbeat LP that never deviates from the path of wiggy excellence."
Track listing
Note Track 12 available on CD versions only.
Personnel Adapted from the album's liner notes.
Musicians
K7 – lead vocals, backing vocals, chants Clyde Bone – chants Sterling Campbell – live drums Lou Cruz – chants Daddy I.O.S. – chants Craig Derry – backing vocals Tre Duece – chants Joey Gardner – chants Troy Hightower – chants Joe Korsch – chants Ladies Only – backing vocals Mike Lorello – keyboards, chants Derek McCleary – backing vocals Andy Marvel – keyboards Kashu Myles – backing vocals Mario Nieves – chants Charlie Pena – chants Simple Pleasure – backing vocals Prophet – chants John Raimundi – backing vocals Arif St. Michael – backing vocals Camille Shea – backing vocals Malik Taylor – chants Tommy Uzzo – chants Vic 13 – chants Virgil – chants Woodsie – chants
Technical K7 – producer, executive producer Joey Gardner – producer, executive producer, mixing Chris Gehringer – mastering Mike Lorello – programming Andy Marvel – programming Tommy Uzzo – mixing, engineer
Recorded at Mirror Image, Dix Hills, New York & Unique Recording, New York City, New York Mastered at The Hit Factory DMS, New York City, New York
Additional personnel Erwin Gorostiza – art direction Lan Yin – design Guy Aroch – photography Kristine Larsen – back cover photography Chris Woehrle – logo
Samples "Come Baby Come" "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul "I'll Say It Again" by Sweet Linda Divine
"Let's Bang" "Theme from S.W.A.T." by Rhythm Heritage
"Hi De Ho" "Minnie the Moocher" by Cab Calloway
"Zunga Zeng" "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng" by Yellowman "Can I Get Some Help" by James Brown "Dope on a Rope" by Nice & Smooth (original concept)
"Move It Like This" "Life (Is What You Make It)" by Frighty and Colonel Mite
"Hotel Motel" "Don't Make Me Wait" by the NYC Peech Boys "Larry's Dance Theme" by Grandmaster Flash
"A Little Help from My Friends" "Everybody Plays the Fool" by The Main Ingredient "Monday, Monday" by The Mamas & the Papas
References