As the World Burns
As the World Burns is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Arsonists. It was released on August 24, 1999 via Matador Records in 1999.[4] Recording sessions took place at Gallco Enterprises, at D&D Studios and at Ozone Studios in New York, and at The Fire Place. Production was handled by members Q-Unique, Freestyle, MC D-Stroy and Swel Boogie, except one song produced with DJ Spin One. The album peaked at number 78 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its single "Pyromaniax" peaked at number 43 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart.
As the World Burns | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 24, 1999 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 60:51 | |||
Label | Matador Records | |||
Producer |
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Arsonists chronology | ||||
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Singles from As the World Burns | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The A.V. Club | favorable[2] |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | [3] |
CMJ New Music Report | favorable[4] |
Exclaim! | mixed[5] |
NME | [6] |
Pitchfork | 7.7/10[7] |
Vibe | favorable[8] |
Critical reception
Jordan N. Mamone of CMJ New Music Report said: "The mood and the beats can get a little outlandish, but generally, the minor-key strings and time-capsule scratches admirably push hip-hop into the future while taking cues from its past".[4]
In 2015, Fact placed it at number 72 on the "100 Best Indie Hip-Hop Records of All Time" list.[9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro" |
| Q-Unique | 1:37 |
2. | "Backdraft" |
|
| 3:11 |
3. | "Shit Ain't Sweet" |
| Freestyle | 4:03 |
4. | "Pyromaniax" |
| Q-Unique | 4:21 |
5. | "Underground Vandal" | Wallace | Q-Unique | 2:23 |
6. | "Blaze" |
| Q-Unique | 2:46 |
7. | "Venom" |
| Q-Unique | 2:53 |
8. | "Frienemies" | Melendez |
| 2:05 |
9. | "Lt. Worf & Chewbacca" |
| Q-Unique | 1:47 |
10. | "Session" |
| D-Stroy | 3:50 |
11. | "Shaboing" |
| Freestyle | 3:48 |
12. | "Rhyme Time Travel" |
| Q-Unique | 2:49 |
13. | "Live to Tell" |
| D-Stroy | 3:26 |
14. | "Seed" |
| Q-Unique | 3:04 |
15. | "Lunchroom Take-Out" |
|
| 3:50 |
16. | "Worlds Collide" |
| Freestyle | 4:24 |
17. | "Flashback" |
| Freestyle | 3:00 |
18. | "D-Sturbed Words" | Melendez | D-Stroy | 2:06 |
19. | "Geembo's Theme" |
|
| 2:03 |
20. | "Halloween" |
| Freestyle | 4:01 |
21. | "In Your Town" |
| D-Stroy | 3:43 |
Total length: | 1:00:51 |
Charts
Chart (1999) | Peak position |
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US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] | 78 |
References
- Conaway, Matt. "Arsonists - As the World Burns". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- Rabin, Nathan (April 19, 2002). "The Arsonists: As The World Burns". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Arsonists". Christgau's Consumer Guide. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- Mamone, Jordan N. (September 6, 1999). "Arsonists - As The World Burns (Matador)". CMJ New Music Report: 22.
- Cowie, Del F. (October 1, 1999). "Arsonists: As The World Burns". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- "As The World Burns". NME. September 12, 2005. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Wisdom, James P. (April 16, 2004). "Arsonists: As the World Burns: Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 16, 2004. Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Callahan-Bever, Noah (October 1999). "The Arsonists 'As The World Burns'". Vibe: 187.
- "72. Arsonists - As the World Burns (Matador, 1999)". Fact. February 25, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- "Arsonists Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
External links
- As the World Burns at Discogs (list of releases)