Big Shots (album)
Big Shots is a studio album by American hip hop duo Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf.[1] Recorded between 1991 and 1993 for Hollywood BASIC, it was released on Stones Throw Records in 2003, 10 years after Charizma's death.[2] It peaked at number 2 on CMJ's Hip-Hop chart,[3] as well as number 27 on the CMJ Radio 200 chart.[4] The first single from the album, titled "My World Premiere", was originally released in 1996.[5]
Big Shots | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 18, 2003 | |||
Recorded | 1991–1993 | |||
Studio | Studio Apogee, San Jose, California | |||
Genre | West Coast hip hop | |||
Length | 46:24 | |||
Label | Stones Throw Records | |||
Producer | Peanut Butter Wolf | |||
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf chronology | ||||
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Singles from Big Shots | ||||
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Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [6] |
The A.V. Club | favorable[7] |
CMJ New Music Monthly | favorable[8] |
Dusted Magazine | favorable[5] |
East Bay Express | favorable[9] |
HipHopDX | 4.0/5[2] |
Metro Silicon Valley | favorable[10] |
RapReviews.com | 6/10[11] |
Spin | favorable[12] |
XLR8R | favorable[13] |
Sam Samuelson of AllMusic gave the album 3 stars out of 5, calling it "a treasure that should be cherished by hip-hop fans the world over."[6] Todd Inoue of Metro Silicon Valley said, "Charizma sounds like MC Shan blessed with youthful lung capacity while PB Wolf makes like Marley Marl programming beats in DJ Premier's lab."[10] Ross Hogg of XLR8R said, "Charizma's voice brims with eagerness, enthusiasm and earnestness; Wolf's textured, jazzy beats epitomize boom bap and are a sign of great things to come."[13]
Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club said, "while Big Shots is one of those charmed debuts where nearly every song sounds like a terrific single, it wouldn't be without Wolf, whose gorgeously constructed tracks, flawless ear for melody, and extensive sonic quotations anticipate Madlib."[7] Rachel Swan of East Bay Express said, "had Charizma not been shot and killed in '93, he might've turned into another Pharoahe Monch or J-Live."[9]
In 2003, East Bay Express included it on the "Best Music of the East Bay" list.[14] In 2007, The A.V. Club included it on the "10 Unjustly Overlooked Hip-Hop Classics" list.[15]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Here's a Smirk" | 3:31 |
2. | "Methods" | 4:07 |
3. | "Jack the Mack" | 3:10 |
4. | "Talk About a Girl" | 1:24 |
5. | "Red Light Green Light" | 2:40 |
6. | "Tell You Something" | 3:38 |
7. | "Gatha Round" | 3:00 |
8. | "Devotion" | 3:59 |
9. | "Apple Juice Break" | 0:38 |
10. | "My World Premiere" | 2:07 |
11. | "Ice Cream Truck" | 3:37 |
12. | "Charizma What" | 3:47 |
13. | "Fair Weathered Friend" | 4:04 |
14. | "Soon to Be Large" | 3:15 |
15. | "Pacin' the Floor" | 3:27 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Gatha Round (Original Version)" | 4:42 |
2. | "Devotion (Harp Version)" | 4:13 |
3. | "High School Love" | 4:05 |
4. | "Take It Easy" | 0:37 |
5. | "Just Like a Test" | 2:47 |
6. | "Bless You" | 3:25 |
7. | "Red Light Green Light (Remix)" | 3:02 |
8. | "Vapors" | 4:42 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the CD liner notes.
- Charizma – vocals
- Peanut Butter Wolf – production, executive production
- Peter Stanley – recording
- Dave Cooley – mastering
- Jeff Jank – design, photography
- Theresa Castro – photography
- Egon – label management
References
- Li, Christina (May 19, 2011). "Peanut Butter Wolf on His History with 45s and Why the Vinyl Comeback Is Overhyped". SF Weekly. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- J-23 (November 30, 2003). "Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- "Hip-Hop (Period Ending 2/3/2004)". CMJ New Music Report (852): 15. February 16, 2004.
- "CMJ Radio 200 (Period Ending 2/3/2004)". CMJ New Music Report (852): 8. February 16, 2004.
- Huffman, Emily (March 7, 2004). "Dusted Reviews: Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots". Dusted Magazine. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Samuelson, Sam. "Big Shots - Charizma, Peanut Butter Wolf". AllMusic. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Rabin, Nathan (January 12, 2004). "Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf: Big Shots". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Gladstone, Neil (January 2004). "Best New Music". CMJ New Music Monthly (120): 45.
- Swan, Rachel (December 31, 2003). "Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots". East Bay Express. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Inoue, Todd (February 12, 2004). "Charizma Comes Alive". Metro Silicon Valley. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Juon, Steve (October 28, 2003). "Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf :: Big Shots :: Stones Throw Records". RapReviews.com. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Hermes, Will (February 2004). "Reissues". Spin. 20 (2): 100.
- Hogg, Ross (February 24, 2004). "Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf - Big Shots". XLR8R. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Swan, Rachel (November 26, 2003). "Best Music of the East Bay". East Bay Express. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
- Rabin, Nathan (January 5, 2007). "Inventory: 10 Unjustly Overlooked Hip-Hop Classics". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
Further reading
- Gillespie, Blake (June 19, 2014). "The story of Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf". Impose. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015.