Welcome to the Zoo
Welcome to the Zoo is the debut studio album by American rapper Gorilla Zoe. It was released on September 25, 2007, by Bad Boy South, which was distributed by Block Entertainment. The album debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200, selling 35,000 copies in its first week in the United States.[1][2] The album was supported by two singles: "Hood Figga" and "Juice Box" featuring Yung Joc.
| Welcome to the Zoo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 25, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 2006–07 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 65:25 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
| |||
| Gorilla Zoe chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Welcome to the Zoo | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| RapReviews |  [4] |
| XXL | [5] |
| Robert Christgau |  [6] |
Welcome to the Zoo received mixed reviews from critics. Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews praised Gorilla for his voice and humorous lyrics but felt he was being dragged by the typical hip-hop clichés, concluding that "Welcome to the Zoo proves that Zoe has star potential - it's just that he may have been shoved into the spotlight prematurely."[4] AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier said that the album was well-produced but criticized Zoe for being too similar to Young Jeezy, saying that "Jeezy can be witty and adorns his raps with a signature array of ad libs."[3] Robert Christgau cited "Money Man", "Take Your Shoes Off" and "Do Something" as "choice cuts",[6] indicating good songs on "an album that isn't worth your time or money."[7]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Do Something" | Drumma Boy | 4:40 |
| 2. | "Hood Nigga" | Dee Jay Dana, Chris Flames | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Money Man" | Mike da Rockman | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Tryna Make a Jug" (featuring Big Gee) | Fatboi | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Crack Muzik (This That Muzik)" (featuring Jody Breeze) | Drumma Boy | 4:36 |
| 6. | "Battle Field" (featuring Block and Big Gee) | Dee Jay Dana | 3:55 |
| 7. | "Take Your Shoes Off" (featuring Yung Joc) | Lazyboi, BBA | 4:25 |
| 8. | "I Know" | Flawda Water | 4:47 |
| 9. | "Count on Me" (featuring Jody Breeze and JC) | Jay Mac | 4:04 |
| 10. | "Real Mother****" (featuring Boyz n da Hood) | Jay Mac | 5:04 |
| 11. | "Juice Box" (featuring Yung Joc) | Drumma Boy | 4:09 |
| 12. | "Money Up" | Win | 3:37 |
| 13. | "You Don't Know Me" (featuring D. Woods) | Willie "Chuck" Shivers | 3:28 |
| 14. | "Lil' Shawty" | Drumma Boy | 4:09 |
| 15. | "Last Time I Checked" | Canei Finch, Sha Money XL | 4:16 |
Chart positions
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[8] | 18 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 8 |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[10] | 3 |
References
- Hasty, Katie (October 3, 2007). "Rascal Flatts Races To No. 1 In Debut-Heavy Week". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
- "Welcome to the Zoo > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
- Birchmeier, Jason. "Welcome to the Zoo - Gorilla Zoe". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- Juon, Steve (October 9, 2007). "Gorilla Zoe :: Welcome to the Zoo". RapReviews. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- G. Garland, Maurice (October 11, 2007). "Gorilla Zoe Welcome to the Zoo". XXL. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide: Gorilla Zoe".
- Christgau, Robert. "Key to Icons". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
- "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard.