Hard or Smooth

Hard or Smooth is the second album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on November 24, 1992, for MCA Records and featured production from Teddy Riley, Ty Fyffe, Riley's engineers Franklyn Grant and David Wynn and Wreckx-n—Effect. This marked Wreckx-n-Effect's first album following the death of member Brandon Mitchell, who was shot to death in 1990.

Hard or Smooth
Studio album by
Wreckx-n-Effect
ReleasedNovember 24, 1992
Recorded1991-1992
StudioFuture Recording Studios
(Virginia Beach, Virginia)
GenreNew jack swing,[1] rap[1]
Length46:04
LabelMCA Records
ProducerTeddy Riley, Ty Fyffe, David Wynn, Wreckx-n-Effect, Franklyn Grant, Menton L. Smith
Wreckx-n-Effect chronology
Wrecks-n-Effect
(1989)		 Hard or Smooth
(1992)		 Raps New Generation
(1996)
Singles from Hard or Smooth
  1. "Rump Shaker"
    Released: August 25, 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[3]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[4]
The Independentpositive[1]
Q[5]

Hard or Smooth became a success for the group thanks in large part to the single "Rump Shaker". The album itself made it to #9 on the Billboard 200 and #6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Several singles made it to the Billboard charts; "Rump Shaker" would make it to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, as well as #9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play; "Knock-N-Boots" made it to #72 on the Hot 100 and #71 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart; "My Cutie" made it to #37 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales and #75 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart; and "Wreckx Shop" made it to #11 on the Hot Rap Tracks and 46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

Track listing
  1. "Rump Shaker" (Aqil Davidson, Markell Riley, Teddy Riley, David Wynn, Anton Hollins, Pharrell Williams) – 5:13
  2. "New Jack Swing, Pt. 2" (hard version) (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley, Tyrone Fyffe, Pharrell Williams, Franklyn Grant) – 4:50
  3. "Wreckx Shop" (Aqil Davidson, Tyrone Fyffe, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 4:39
  4. "Knock-N-Boots" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Menton L. Smith) – 4:51
  5. "Here We Come" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 4:27
  6. "Tell Me How You Feel" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley) – 4:59
  7. "My Cutie" (Menton L. Smith, Teddy Riley) – 4:07
  8. "Wreckx-N-Effect" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, Markell Riley) – 3:53
  9. "Ez Come Ez Go (What Goes Up Must Come Down)" (Aqil Davidson, Teddy Riley, David Wynn) – 3:44
  10. "Hard" (Teddy Riley, Aqil Davidson, Tyrone Fyffe) – 2:04
  11. "Smooth" (Markell Riley, Tyrone Fyffe, Teddy Riley, Franklyn Grant, Menton L. Smith) – 2:59

Personnel
  • Teddy Riley – all instruments, executive producer, mixing, recording engineer
  • Tammy Lucas – background vocals
  • Tyrone Fyffe – production, background vocals, scratches
  • Franklyn Grant – production, recording engineer, mixing
  • David Wynn – production, scratches
  • Jean Marie Horvat – recording engineer, mixing
  • Steve Thomas – scratches
  • Darryl Shuler – background vocals
  • Robert Nickerson – background vocals
  • Dante Drew – background vocals
  • Earl Thomas – assistant engineer
  • Keston Wright – assistant engineer
  • Steve Hall – mastering
  • Todd Gray – photography
  • Vartan – art direction
  • DEY International – design

Samples

"Rump Shaker"

"New Jack Swing, Pt. 2"

"Wreckx Shop"

"Knock-N-Boots"

"My Cutie"

"Hard"

"Smooth"

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[11] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[12] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Gill, Andy (January 7, 1993). "RECORDS / No ifs, diggity-do, no butts, diggity-dah: Andy Gill, exploring this week's releases, uncovers the latest addition to the long and distinguished line of buttock anthems". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  2. Hard or Smooth at AllMusic
  3. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Wreckx-n-Effect". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  4. Bernard, James (December 18, 1992). "Hard or Smooth Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  5. "Wreckx-n-Effect – Hard or Smooth CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  6. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 306.
  7. "Wreckx-N-Effect, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  8. "Wreckx-N-Effect, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  9. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  10. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  11. "Canadian album certifications – Wreckx N Effect – Hard or Smooth". Music Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  12. "American album certifications – Wreckx 'N' Effect – Hard or Smooth". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
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