Criminology (song)

"Criminology" is the second solo single by Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon, from his debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., featuring Ghostface Killah, like many of the songs of the album. The song starts with dialogue from the film Scarface, where Alex Sosa insults Tony Montana through phone, calling him a "fucking little monkey", because he failed to blow up the activist's car, then the first verse is performed by Ghostface Killah, and the second by Raekwon, without a chorus. The B-side of the single is "Glaciers of Ice". The song peaked at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Criminology"
Single by Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah
from the album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...
B-side"Glaciers of Ice"
ReleasedJune 27, 1995
Recorded1994 (Criminology)
1995 (Glaciers of Ice)
GenreEast Coast hip hop, Mafioso rap
Length3:47
LabelLoud
Songwriter(s)C. Woods
R. Diggs
D. Coles
Producer(s)RZA
Raekwon singles chronology
"Heaven & Hell"
(1994)		 "Criminology"
(1995)		 "Ice Cream"
(1995)
Ghostface Killah singles chronology
"Heaven & Hell"
(1994)		 "Criminology"
(1995)		 "Ice Cream"
(1995)

Ghostface Killah wrote his verse in San Francisco, and requested that RZA make a beat for the song.

The song was sampled later by Mos Def, for his song "Mathematics".

Background

Producer RZA later illustrated "That was me trying to produce like a DJ, produce a breakbeat. Ghost actually asked me to make one of those beats. You listen to old DJ tapes. That's how I made that song, and he wanted this shit to sound like a breakbeat. He had a rhyme that he knew was going to change the game - that was the verse that got him recognized. Cypress Hill's DJ Muggs called up and was like 'Yo, he killed that shit. He ripped that shit.'"

Track listing
  1. "Criminology" (LP Version)
  2. "Criminology" (Instrumental)
  3. "Glaciers of Ice" (LP Version)
  4. "Glaciers of Ice" (Instrumental)

Samples

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 "Glaciers of Ice/Criminology" #43 #32 #5 #2
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.