Livin' Proof
Livin' Proof is the debut studio album by the American hip hop duo Group Home. It was released on November 21, 1995, through FFRR/Payday Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios in New York. Production was handled by Gang Starr and Big Jaz. It features guest appearances from Absaloot, Big Shug, Guru, Brainsick Enterprize and Smiley the Ghetto Child.
| Livin' Proof | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 21, 1995 | |||
| Recorded | 1994-95 | |||
| Studio | D&D Studios (New York, NY) | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 49:12 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Group Home chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Livin' Proof | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Muzik |  [2] |
| RapReviews | 7.5/10[3] |
| The Source | [4] |
It featured the popular underground single "Supa Star", which peaked at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. The album is known both for the instrumentals and the interplay between the lyrics of Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker.[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" |
| DJ Premier | 0:48 |
| 2. | "Inna Citi Life" |
| DJ Premier | 2:58 |
| 3. | "Livin' Proof" |
| DJ Premier | 4:15 |
| 4. | "Serious Rap Shit" (featuring Guru and Big Shug) |
| Guru | 4:14 |
| 5. | "Suspended in Time" |
| DJ Premier | 4:34 |
| 6. | "Sacrifice" (featuring Absaloot) |
| DJ Premier | 3:26 |
| 7. | "Up Against the Wall" (Low Budget Mix) |
| DJ Premier | 4:34 |
| 8. | "4 Give My Sins" |
| Big Jaz | 3:25 |
| 9. | "Baby Pa" |
| DJ Premier | 3:12 |
| 10. | "2 Thousand" |
| DJ Premier | 3:18 |
| 11. | "Supa Star" |
| DJ Premier | 5:22 |
| 12. | "Up Against the Wall" (Getaway Car Mix) |
| DJ Premier | 4:34 |
| 13. | "Tha Realness" (featuring Smiley the Ghetto Child and Brainsick Enterprize) |
| DJ Premier | 4:32 |
| Total length: | 49:12 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "So Called Friends" |
| Guru |
- Notes
- Track 5 features additional vocals from Jeru the Damaja
- Sample credits
- "Intro" contains samples from "Yesterday" by Wes Montgomery and "Ain't No Half Steppin'" by Big Daddy Kane.
- "Inna Citi Life" contains samples from "Nautilus" by Bob James, "Cold Duck Time" by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, and "Serious (Ceereeus BDP Remix)" by Steady B.
- "Serious Rap Shit" contains samples from "Birdland" by Weather Report, "In Our Lifetime" by Marvin Gaye, and "I Ain't Goin' Out Like That" by Cypress Hill.
- "Suspended in Time" contains samples from "Pipeline" by The Incredible Bongo Band, "Touch Me (All Night Long)" by Fonda Rae and Wish, "Real Hip Hop" by Das EFX, and "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" by Wu-Tang Clan.
- "Sacrifice" contains samples from "What Do I Wish For?" by The Chi-Lites, "Breakthrough" by Isaac Hayes, and "Crack Featuring Pete the Fly" by Paul Mooney.
- "Up Against the Wall (Low Budget Mix)" contains samples from "Windows of the World" by Isaac Hayes.
- "Livin' Proof" contains samples from "Collage" by The Ramsey Lewis Trio and "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan.
- "Baby Pa" contains samples from "The Golden Apple" by Bob James.
- "2 Thousand" contains samples from "I Feel Like Loving You Today" written by Isaac Hayes and performed by Donald Byrd.
- "Supa Star" contains samples from "Hanging Downtown" by Cameo, "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown, "One Woman" by Isaac Hayes, "Words from the Nutcracker" and "I'm the Man" both by Gang Starr, "I Got It Made" by Special Ed, and "Who's Gonna Love You" by Muscle Shoals Horns.
Personnel
- James "Lil' Dap" Heath – performer (tracks: 2-5, 7-14)
- Jamal "Melachi the Nutcracker" Felder – performer (tracks: 2-8, 10-12, 14)
- Keith "GuRu" Elam – performer (track 4), producer (tracks: 4, 14), executive producer
- Cary "Big Shug" Guy – performer (track 4)
- Absaloot – performer (track 6)
- D. "Smiley the Ghetto Child" Cruz – performer (track 13)
- D. "Jack the Ripper" Wood & A. "Blackstarr" Demsey (Brainsick Enterprize) – performer (track 13)
- Kendrick "Jeru the Damaja" Davis – backing vocals (track 5)
- Christopher "DJ Premier" Martin – producer (tracks: 1-3, 5-7, 9-13), mixing (tracks: 1-8, 10-14), executive producer
- Jonathan "Big Jaz" Burks – producer & mixing (track 8)
- Eddie Sancho – engineering
- Dexter Thibou – assistant engineering
- Luis Tineo – assistant engineering
- Tony Dawsey – mastering
- Gregory Burke – design
- Daniel Hastings – photography
Album chart positions
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] | 34 |
Singles 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 | ||
| 1994 | "Supa Star" | 85 | 85 | 19 | 8 |
| "Livin' Proof" | - | - | 26 | 5 | |
| 1995 | "Suspended In Time" | - | 82 | 34 | 10 |
References
- DiBella, M.F. "Livin' Proof - Group Home | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- Ashon, Will (February 1996). "Group Home: Livin' Proof" (PDF). Muzik. No. 9. p. 81. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
- Doggett, Tom (June 29, 2004). "Group Home :: Livin' Proof :: Payday Records". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- Charles, Joe (June 13, 2007). "Livin Proof review in The Source (1995)". Press Rewind If I Haven't... Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- Shapiro, Peter (2005) The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, 2nd ed., Rough Guides, ISBN 1-84353-263-8, p.165
- "Group Home Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
External links
- Group Home – Livin' Proof at Discogs (list of releases)
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