We Got It 4 Cheap
We Got It 4 Cheap is a series of mixtapes released by Virginia hip hop duo Clipse and Philadelphia-based rappers Ab-Liva and Sandman, collectively known as the Re-Up Gang. The series produced 3 mixtapes, entitled as volumes. Volume 1 and 2 was released in 2004 and 2005 respectively, and was hosted by DJ Clinton Sparks. Volume 3 was released in 2008, and was hosted by DJ Drama. The main theme of all three mixtapes is drug trafficking, which has always been a Clipse and Re-Up Gang trademark.[1][2][3] A compilation album, Re-Up Gang the Saga Continues was released on April 22, 2008. The album consisted of 13 best tracks from the previously released mixtapes, all remixed and remastered.
We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 1
| We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | 2004 |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Length | 61:15 |
| Label | Re-Up Gang Records |
| Producer | |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork | 7.0/10 [4] |
| Stylus Magazine | B− [5] |
We Got It 4 Cheap Volume 1 was released in early 2004, and is the first official collection of new material from Clipse since the release of their debut album Lord Willin' in 2002. It is hosted by DJ Clinton Sparks, who helped put the mixtape together, at Pusha T's request.[6] While focused primarily on Clipse, the mixtape also introduced Ab-Liva and Sandman, the other half of their group, the Re-Up Gang. They are both heavily featured throughout its twenty-five tracks, along with Pharrell Williams.
The tape received generally positive reviews from music critics.
Track listing
| # | Title | Instrumental(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" (skit) | "The Fall" by Blake Leyh (Closing Theme from The Wire) | 0:44 |
| 2 | "You'll See" (feat. Pharrell) | "You'll See" by The LOX | 3:41 |
| 3 | "Coast to Coast" | "The Whole City Behind Us" by Kanye West, The Game and Ludacris | 2:39 |
| 4 | "Interlude (Who We Do This 4)" (skit) | 0:19 | |
| 5 | "I Shot Ya" | "I Shot Ya" by LL Cool J | 2:53 |
| 6 | "Re-Up Anthem" | "Shake That (Remix)" by Ray J and B2K | 3:42 |
| 7 | "You Know My Style" | "You Know My Style" by Nas | 3:50 |
| 8 | "Interlude (Get Familiar)" (skit) | 0:16 | |
| 9 | "Drop It Like It's Hot" | "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg | 3:52 |
| 10 | "Niggas Know" | 3:41 | |
| 11 | "Stay from Around Me" | "I Got a Love" by Jin | 3:22 |
| 12 | "Interlude" (skit) (feat. Hassan, Voice of Reason) | 0:26 | |
| 13 | "Stuntin' Y'all" (feat. Pharrell Williams) | Original production by The Neptunes | 3:48 |
| 14 | "Interlude (Hit Men)" (skit) | 0:24 | |
| 15 | "Radical (Sandman Freestyle)" | 2:00 | |
| 16 | "Don't Let Me Die (Ab-Liva Freestyle)" | "Don't Let Me Die" by R. Kelly and Jay-Z | 2:27 |
| 17 | "Interlude (Sandman)" (skit) | 0:22 | |
| 18 | "Just a B-Boy" | 3:58 | |
| 19 | "Interlude (Ab-Liva)" (skit) | 0:22 | |
| 20 | "The Sermon" | 3:43 | |
| 21 | "Nothing Like It" | "Nothing Like It" by Beanie Sigel | 2:38 |
| 22 | "Queen Bitch" | "Queen Bitch" by Lil' Kim | 3:24 |
| 23 | "Cross the Border" | "Cross the Border (remix)" by Philly's Most Wanted | 3:15 |
| 24 | "Pussy (remix)" | "Pussy" by Clipse | 4:11 |
| 25 | "Outro" (skit) | 1:18 |
We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 2
| We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | December 31, 2005 |
| Genre | Hip Hop |
| Length | 60:48 |
| Label | Re-Up Gang Records |
| Producer | |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Robert Christgau |  [7] |
| Pitchfork | 8.8/10 [8] |
| RapReviews | 8.5/10 [9] |
| Stylus Magazine | B+ [10] |
We Got It 4 Cheap, Volume 2 is the second installment in the We Got It 4 Cheap series. It was released in 2005 as a free internet download and is hosted by DJ Clinton Sparks. It consists of 18 tracks, and heavily features Pharrell Williams and the Re-Up Gang.
The mixtape received widespread critical acclaim from music critics. It holds a score of 88 out of 100 on Album of the Year, based on a single review. Stylus Magazine gave it score of B+, stating "Volume 1 (which overall is still quite good) only seem worse because Vol. 2 is nearly flawless. On 2, the Re-Up Gang reimagines some of the most well-known hits of the first half of 2005, as well as other classics". Pitchfork awarded the tape an 8.8, noting "Volume 2 is the best example of what a mixtape can be". Online blog site RapReviews rated the album to be an 8.5 with editor Tom Doggett saying "Here, the Clipse is immeasurably skilled, rocking every beat imaginable, old-school and new, and doing it with style and substance to spare. The details sear into my skull, from their clothing style to their dealing strategies to the ambitions they have".
Volume 2 is considered to be the best in the series as well as one of the greatest mixtapes of all time. The tape is credited with revolutionizing the mixtape business, allowing to put out quality music despite being free. We Got It 4 Cheap, along with Lil Wayne's Dedication series is said to have influenced the rise of acclaimed online mixtapes.[11] Pitchfork placed the album at number 130 in their list of Top 200 Albums of the 2000s, and at number 2 on their list of the top 50 rap mixtapes of the millennium.[12][13]
Track listing
| # | Title | Instrumental(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Previously on We Got It 4 Cheap" | 1:00 | |
| 2 | "Re-Up Intro" | "Intro" by Ludacris | 3:51 |
| 3 | "What's Up" (feat. Pharrell Williams) | "Put You on the Game" by The Game | 4:56 |
| 4 | "Run This Shit" | "So Seductive" by Tony Yayo | 3:27 |
| 5 | "Roll with the Winners" | "Get Ya Shit Together" by T.I. | 3:13 |
| 6 | "Mic Check" | "Mic Check" by Juelz Santana | 2:55 |
| 7 | "Interlude" | 1:17 | |
| 8 | "Zen" | Original production by Clinton Sparks | 2:58 |
| 9 | "Hate It or Love It" (feat. Pharrell Williams) | "Hate It or Love It" by The Game | 4:31 |
| 10 | "Play Your Part" (feat. Pharrell Williams) | "Cobra" by Mobb Deep | 4:40 |
| 11 | "Monopoly" | "Next Level (Nyte Time Mix)" by Showbiz and A.G. | 3:17 |
| 12 | "The Corner" | "The Corner" by Common | 4:26 |
| 13 | "I'm a Hustla" | "I'm a Hustla" by Cassidy | 3:27 |
| 14 | "Daytona 500" | "Daytona 500" by Ghostface Killah | 2:05 |
| 15 | "Maybe Interlude" | 1:16 | |
| 16 | "Maybe" (feat. Pharrell Williams) | "Elevators (Me & You)" by OutKast | 4:11 |
| 17 | "One Thing" | "1 Thing" by Amerie | 4:03 |
| 18 | "Ultimate Flow" | "Drugs" by Lil' Kim | 5:35 |
We Got It for Cheap Volume 3
| We Got It for Cheap Volume 3 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | February 5, 2008 |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Length | 72:13 |
| Label | Re-Up |
| Producer | DJ Drama |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllHipHop | 8.5/10 [14] |
| Blender |    [15] |
| DJBooth | [16] |
| Hip Hop News Live | [17] |
| Pitchfork | 7.6/10 [18] |
| Prefix Magazine | 7.0/10 [19] |
| Rolling Stone | [20] |
We Got It for Cheap Volume 3 was released as a free download through the Re-Up Records website on February 5, 2008. Unlike the previous installments in the series, it is hosted by DJ Drama.
Track listing
| # | Title | Instrumental(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Here's What They Think about You Interlude" (skit) | 2:18 | |
| 2 | "Re-Up Gang Intro" | "I Hustle" by B.G. | 3:59 |
| 3 | "Show You How to Hustle" | "Show You How to Hustle" by Pharrell | 4:04 |
| 4 | "Roc Boys" | "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." by Jay-Z | 3:40 |
| 5 | "20k Intro" (skit) | 0:57 | |
| 6 | "20k Money Making Brothers on the Corner" | Original production by Dame Grease | 3:51 |
| 7 | "Dey Know Yayo" | "Dey Know" by Shawty Lo | 4:22 |
| 8 | "500 Birds Interlude" (skit) | 0:34 | |
| 9 | "Scenario 2008" | "Scenario 2000" by Eve | 3:37 |
| 10 | "Good Morning" | "Good Morning" by Kanye West | 4:35 |
| 11 | "Rainy Dayz" | "Rainy Dayz" by Raekwon | 4:50 |
| 12 | "Emotionless" | "Emotionless" by Jim Jones | 4:42 |
| 13 | "Fuck You" | "Fuck You" by The LOX | 4:17 |
| 14 | "Bring It Back" | "Bring It Back" by Jae Millz | 4:22 |
| 15 | "Hand on My Glock" (performed by La the Darkman and Willie the Kid) | "Streetz on Lock" by Hot Dollar | 3:28 |
| 16 | "Cry Now" | "Cry Now" by Obie Trice | 4:10 |
| 17 | "Sand Solo" | "Return of the Hustle" by Fabolous | 2:29 |
| 18 | "Liva Solo" | "Come & Go" by 50 Cent | 1:51 |
| 19 | "Real Niggas" | "Deep Cover" and "Nuthin' but a "G" Thang" by Dr. Dre, "Black Superman" by Above the Law, "Gin and Juice" by Snoop Dogg | 5:13 |
| 20 | "Cheers" (feat. Pharrell Williams)1 | Original production by Khao | 4:54 |
Note:
- 1 Originally appeared on DJ Drama's debut album, Gangsta Grillz: The Album.
References
- Sylvester, Nick (January 17, 2006). Trapped in the Kitchen. The Village Voice. Accessed May 7, 2008.
- Weiner, Jonah (February 28, 2006). Enjoy Coke!. Slate. Accessed May 7, 2008.
- Sanneh, Kelefa (March 6, 2006). Former Hit Makers Taste the Upside of the Outside. The New York Times. Accessed May 7, 2008.
- Fennessey, Sean (11 October 2005). "Clipse: We Got It 4 Cheap, Vol. 1 / Vol. 2". Record Reviews. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- McGowan, Ross (8 December 2005). "Clipse - We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 1 / Vol. 2". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- Berrios, Martin A. (February 1, 2005). "The Clipse: Times Up: Part 1". AllHipHop. Retrieved May 7, 2008.
- Christgau, Robert. "Clipse". Consumer Reports. Robert Christgau. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- "Clipse: We Got It 4 Cheap, Vol. 1 / Vol. 2". Pitchfork.
- Doggett, Tom (11 April 2006). "The Clipse :: We Got it 4 Cheap, Vol. 2". rapreviews.com. RapReviews. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- "Clipse - We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 1 / Vol. 2 - Review - Stylus Magazine".
- "Still Got It 4 Cheap: Clipse and the Rise of Online Mixtapes". Pitchfork.
- "The 50 Best Rap Mixtapes of the Millennium - Page 5". Pitchfork.
- Greene, Jayson (September 28, 2009). "The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 200-151". Staff Lists. Pitchfork Media. p. 3. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
- Berrios, Martin A. (4 February 2008). "Re-Up Gang: We Got It For Cheap Vol. 3 (Spirit Of Competition)". Reviews / Music. AllHipHop. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- "Blender review". Archived from the original on March 10, 2008.
- S, Nathan. "Re-Up Gang - We Got It 4 Cheap (Vol. 3): The Spirit of Competition". djbooth.net. DJBooth. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- Frank, Aaron (7 February 2012). "The Re-Up Gang - We Got It For Cheap Vol. 3 - Re-Up Gang". Reviews. Hip Hop News Live. Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- Dombal, Ryan (13 February 2008). "Re-Up Gang: We Got It for Cheap, Vol. 3". Reviews. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- Barshad, Amos (3 February 2008). "Re-Up Gang We Got It for Cheap Vol. 3: The Spirit of Competition". Prefix Magazine. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- "Rolling Stone Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 5, 2008.