The Peoples Champ

The Peoples Champ is the second studio album by American rapper Paul Wall. It was released on September 13, 2005, via Atlantic Records, Asylum Records and Swishahouse. The album debuted and peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 176,000 copies in its first week.[2] This serves as his first number one in two solo studio releases, after Chick Magnet (2004). The album was supported by four singles: "Sittin' Sidewayz" featuring Big Pokey, "They Don't Know", "Girl" and "Drive Slow" (Kanye West featuring Paul Wall and GLC). Both "Sittin' Sidewayz" and "Girl" are certified gold by the RIAA for selling more than 500,000 copies each in the United States.[3]

For other uses, see The People's Champion.
The Peoples Champ
A close-up image of a man showing his platinum grilled teeth. Beside him is a shield symbol with eight stars, showing the record label's name, artist's name and album title colored in platinum.
Studio album by
Paul Wall
ReleasedSeptember 13, 2005[1]
GenreHip hop, southern hip hop
Length
  • 69:56
  • 74:38 (screwed and chopped)
Label
ProducerPaul Wall (also exec.), DJ Paul, Juicy J, DJ Michael "5000" Watts, Grid Iron, Sanchez Holmes, Khao, Kojack, Salih Williams, KLC, Mr. Lee, Kanye West, Speez, A. Sampson
Paul Wall chronology
Chick Magnet
(2004)		 The Peoples Champ
(2005)		 Get Money, Stay True
(2007)
Singles from The Peoples Champ
  1. "Sittin' Sidewayz"
    Released: August 20, 2005
  2. "They Don't Know"
    Released: August 29, 2005
  3. "Girl"
    Released: September 29, 2005
  4. "Drive Slow"
    Released: June 6, 2006

The limited edition of The Peoples Champ features two CDs: disc one contains the original album, while disc two contains the "screwed and chopped" version by DJ Michael "5000" Watts. The Watts mix was released as a stand-alone CD the following week.[4]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Blender[6]
HipHopDX[7]
Okayplayer[8]
Pitchfork7.9/10[9]
RapReviews8/10[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
The Situation3/5[12]

The Peoples Champ received generally positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork writer Tom Breihan credited newcomer producer Grid Iron for providing some consistent beats throughout the album and Wall for being an above-average rapper saying, "So Wall is a good rapper, but not a great one. But then, this is 2005, and all a rapper needs to make a good album is enough great, complementary beats and guest appearances to keep the whole thing interesting all the way through."[9] AllMusic's Andy Kellman also praised Wall as a rapper, saying his flow is something that "always fits into the fabric of the track."[5] Jonah Weiner of Blender lauded Wall's ability to lace crafty wordplay about the typical hip-hop tropes, saying that "This is materialism at its most mesmerizing."[6] K. B. Tindal of HipHopDX praised the album for its party tracks but was looking for some substance throughout it, saying that "After actually listening to the project it was worth the wait but still could have been a little more introspective with more heartfelt tracks. [...] For the most part it is what it is; shit-talking made to sound good."[7] Usman Sajjad of The Situation praised the album for its production and catchy party tracks, concluding that "With new hustles like his grills and various endorsements with Reebok and other companies, Paul Wall gives evidence with his debut 'The People’s Champ', that Houston still flows strongly through his blood, whilst moving one foot into mainstream Hip Hop."[12]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I'm a Playa" (featuring Three 6 Mafia)
4:25
2."They Don't Know" (featuring Mike Jones)
Grid Iron3:43
3."Ridin' Dirty" (featuring Trey Songz)
Grid Iron4:27
4."State to State" (featuring Freeway)
Sanchez Holmes4:12
5."So Many Diamonds" (featuring T.I.)
Khao3:58
6."Smooth Operator"
Kojack3:15
7."Sittin' Sidewayz" (featuring Big Pokey)
S. Williams3:52
8."Internet Going Nutz"
KLC4:43
9."Trill" (featuring B.G. and Bun B)
Grid Iron4:08
10."Sippin' Tha Barre"
  • Slayton
  • Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams
Mr. Lee4:39
11."Drive Slow" (performed by Kanye West featuring Paul Wall and GLC)
West4:33
12."March N Step" (featuring Grit Boys and Lil Wayne)
Grid Iron3:47
13."Got Plex" (featuring Archie Lee and Cootabang)
  • Slayton
  • Archie "Lee" Tatmon
  • Speez
  • Continuous
3:45
14."Girl"
  • Speez
  • Continuous
4:38
15."Big Ballin'"
  • Slayton
  • Earl
  • Berry
Grid Iron4:01
16."Sip-N-Get High" (featuring Aqualeo)
A. Sampson3:45
17."Just Paul Wall"
  • Slayton
  • Earl
  • Berry
Grid Iron4:11
Total length:69:56
Screwed & Chopped by DJ Michael "5000" Watts
No.TitleLength
1."Intro" 
2."Sittin' Sidewayz" (featuring Big Pokey) 
3."Big Ballin'" 
4."March N Step" (featuring Grit Boys and Lil Wayne) 
5."State to State" (featuring Freeway) 
6."Trill" (featuring B.G. and Bun B) 
7."Girl" 
8."Just Paul Wall" 
9."So Many Diamonds" (featuring T.I.) 
10."Smooth Operator" 
11."Got Plex" (featuring Archie Lee and Cootabang) 
12."They Don't Know" (featuring Bun B) 
13."Ridin' Dirty" (featuring Trey Songz) 
14."Internet Going Nutz" 
15."I'm a Playa" (featuring Three 6 Mafia) 
16."Sip-N-Get High" (featuring Aqualeo) 
17."Drive Slow" (Kanye West featuring Paul Wall and GLC) 
18."Outro" 
Sample credits
  • "I'm a Playa" samples "I Got That Drank" performed by Frayser Boy, Mike Jones, and Paul Wall, and "Still Tippin'" performed by Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall.
  • "They Don't Know" samples "Pimp tha Pen" performed by DJ Screw and Lil' Keke, "Murder" performed by UGK, "3rd Coast" performed by Fat Pat, and "Wood Wheel" performed by UGK.
  • "Smooth Operator" samples "Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try)" as written and performed by Leroy Hutson.
  • "Sittin' Sidewayz" samples "June 27th (Part 2)" performed by DJ Screw, Big Moe, and Big Pokey of S.U.C.
  • "Internet Going Nutz" samples "Still Tippin'" performed by Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall.
  • "Sippin' Tha Barre" samples "Get Crunk" performed by Crooked Lettaz and Pimp C.
  • "Girl" samples "Oh Girl" performed by Chi-Lites as written and performed by Eugene Record.
  • "Just Paul Wall" samples "Long Ago and Far Away" performed by Earl Klugh.

Charts and certifications

See also

References
  1. "The People's Champ by Paul Wall". Amazon.
  2. "Wall Emerges As Billboard 200 'Champ'". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  3. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  4. "Paul Wall - The Peoples Champ (Screwed & Chopped)". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  5. Kellman, Andy. "The Peoples Champ - Paul Wall". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  6. Weiner, Jonah. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". Blender. Alpha Media Group. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  7. Tindal, K. B. (September 26, 2005). "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  8. Ruhi, Adrian (September 2005). "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  9. Breihan, Tom (October 6, 2005). "Paul Wall: The People's Champ". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  10. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 13, 2005). "RapReviews.com Feature for September 13, 2005". RapReviews. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  11. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved 2007-04-08. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. Sajjad, Usman. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". The Situation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2005. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  13. "Paul Wall Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  14. "Paul Wall Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  15. "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2005". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  16. "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2005". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  17. "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2006". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  18. "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2006". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  19. "American album certifications – Paul Wall". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
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