Usual Suspects (album)

Usual Suspects is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group 5th Ward Boyz. It was released on November 18, 1997, through Rap-A-Lot Records. Recording sessions took place at Hippie House Studios and Digital Services in Houston and at the Enterprise in Burbank. Production was handled by Mike Dean, who had produced the majority of the group's previous three albums, Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams, Freddie Young, Scarface, Flip, John Bido, and the 5th Ward Boyz themselves. It features guest appearances from Mr. Slimm of 5th Ward Juvenilez, Do or Die, Devin the Dude, Johnny P, Scarface, Spice 1, Willie D, 8Ball & MJG.

Usual Suspects
Studio album by
5th Ward Boyz
ReleasedNovember 18, 1997
Recorded1996-1997
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length1:09:00
LabelRap-A-Lot
Producer
5th Ward Boyz chronology
Rated G
(1995)		 Usual Suspects
(1997)		 Keep It Poppin'
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Though the album was an improvement on the charts over their last album Rated G, peaking at 180 on the Billboard 200 and 26 on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts, Usual Suspects was less well received. Alex Henderson of AllMusic called it an "unoriginal effort" and said "Usual Suspects demonstrated that in 1997 there were still many rappers who were content to offer one tired, worn-out gangsta rap cliché after another".

Track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."O.G. Intro" 1:08
2."Gangsta Shit" (featuring Spice 1 & Mr. Slimm)
3:58
3."Hustlin'"Freddy Young4:52
4."Live Your Life"Mike Dean4:26
5."Big Faces"Mike Dean3:56
6."I Know" (featuring Scarface)
5:02
7."Heat"Flip4:53
8."Got II Be Down II Die"John Bido4:14
9."Live Remote" 1:13
10."Fuck Strugglin'" (featuring 8Ball & MJG)Mike Dean5:36
11."Hollyhood"
  • Mr. Lee
  • Mike Dean
4:57
12."Somethin' to Ride To" (featuring Do or Die & Johnny P)
  • Mr. Lee
  • Joe Bythewood (co.)
4:05
13."Don't Nuttin Change"
  • Mike Dean
  • 5th Ward Boyz
4:52
14."Pussy, Weed and Alcohol" (featuring Willie D & Devin the Dude)Mr. Lee5:52
15."Til the World Blow Up"
  • Mr. Lee
  • 5th Ward Boyz
5:35
16."Mama's Praying"Mike Dean4:11
Total length:1:09:00

Charts
Chart (1997) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[2] 180
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[3] 26

Personnel
  • Andre "007" Barnes – main performer
  • Eric "E-Rock" Taylor – main performer
  • Richard "Lo Life" Nash – main performer
  • Frank Robinson – featured performer (tracks: 2, 3)
  • Robert L. Green, Jr. – featured performer (track 2)
  • Red Dog – featured performer (track 3)
  • Tasha – featured performer (track 4)
  • Brad Jordan – featured performer & producer (track 6)
  • Marlon Jermaine Goodwin – featured performer (track 10)
  • Premro Smith – featured performer (track 10)
  • John Pigram – featured performer (track 12)
  • Anthony "N.A.R.D." Round – featured performer (track 12)
  • Dennis "A.K. 47" Round – featured performer (track 12)
  • J. "Gotti" Baker – featured performer (track 13)
  • Devin C. Copeland – featured performer (track 14)
  • William James Dennis – featured performer (track 14)
  • Leroy Williams, Jr. – producer (tracks: 2, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15), mixing
  • Michael George Dean – producer (tracks: 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 16), mixing, mastering, engineering
  • Freddie Young – producer (track 3)
  • Philip "Flip" Osman – producer (track 7), engineering
  • John Okuribido – producer (track 8)
  • Joe Bythewood – co-producer (track 12)
  • James Hoover – engineering & mixing
  • Dewey Forker – executive producer
  • James A. Smith – executive producer
  • Jason Clark – art direction, design
  • Mario Castellanos – photography

References
  1. Henderson, Alex. "Usual Suspects - 5th Ward Boyz | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  2. "5th Ward Boyz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  3. "5th Ward Boyz Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
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