City High
Studio album by
City High
ReleasedMay 22, 2001 (2001-05-22)[1]
Recorded1999–2001
GenreR&B[2]
Length55:26
LabelInterscope[1]
Producer
Singles from City High
  1. "What Would You Do?"
    Released: March 27, 2001[3]
  2. "Caramel"
    Released: September 11, 2001[4]
  3. "City High Anthem"
    Released: February 25, 2002[5]

City High is the only studio album by contemporary R&B trio City High. It was released on May 22, 2001.

Background

The group began as Robbie Pardlo signing as a solo artist. However, producers decided the album should feature a two-man group, and Pardlo's high school friend Ryan Toby soon joined. The two-man group began work on an album. In an effort to stand out from similar duo acts, like The Product G&B, producers decided to add a female member. They chose Claudette Ortiz, a schoolmate from Pardlo and Toby's high school.[6]

During production, all three members participated in writing songs for the album, though Toby did most of the writing, and Pardlo did most of the production, given that Ortiz was just 16 years old.[7] The trio focused on lyrics that told a story, Toby noting inspiration from country music.[6] Much of the album's lyrical content is based on the trio's real-life experiences, such as the song "What Would You Do?" and the story it tells.[7]

"What Would You Do?" was featured on the soundtrack to the March 1999 film Life;[8] however, the track was not formally released as a single until March 2001. This helped with the sale of the City High album, and the May 2001 released album became a hit, achieving Gold status within four months. 2002 saw a reissue of the album with a different track list order.

Singles

"What Would You Do?" was the lead single from the album. It peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[9] No. 1 on Hot Rap Singles,[9] No. 13 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks,[9] and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart.[10] To date, the song remains the group's most successful single and is the one that made the album popular.

"Caramel" was the album's second single. Though not as successful as their first, it still managed to peak at No. 9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[9] and No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.[9]

"City High Anthem" was the album's third single;[7] however, it was unsuccessful and did not chart.[9]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Q[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
RTÉ Entertainment[13]
Vibe3/5[14]
The Village VoiceA−[2]

The album received generally favorable reviews. AllMusic's Jon Azpiri noted "it stands as an impressive debut".[1] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone said that, although "today's bling-tastic R&B usually avoids social commentary", City High's debut "hinges on thick, stomp-worthy funk, luxurious soul grooves and plaintive harmonies about messy modern love".[12] RTE Entertainment's John Raftery raved that "'City High' seem to be part of a movement, alongside Lucy Pearl and Spooks, which is letting the world know that black America is about more than just blunts and guns. That alone makes this classy album stand out from the crowd."[13] Q magazine said that "few have managed to capture the original Fugee spirit like City High".[11] In a mixed review, Maurice Bottomley of PopMatters felt that some songs have poor lyrical content, including "City High Anthem"'s "collection of clichés beyond any chance of redemption", and said that "15 Will Get You 20" is "catchy to the point of irritation".[15]

City High's debut album did excellently on the charts debuting at #34 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA months later. The first single "What Would You Do?" reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group.[7]

Track listing

Original version (2001)

# Title Composer(s) Time
1. "Didn't Ya" Remi, Salaam/Toby, Ryan 3:45
2. "Three Way" Toby, Ryan/Davis, Vidal 3:30
3. "Why" Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby 3:32
4. "Song for You" Hathaway, Donny 4:35
5. "15 Will Get You 20" Brooks, Lethal/Franklin, R./Jean, Wyclef 3:30
6. "Cats and Dogs" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Jean, Wyclef/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 3:30
7. "Caramel" Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Xavier, Giscard 3:35
8. "Best Friends" Gilmore, Walter/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:50
9. "Sista" Toby, Ryan/Harris, Andre 3:51
10. "What Would You Do?" Bailey, B./Broadus, C./Toby, Ryan/Young, A./Pardlo, Robby 2:54
11. "So Many Things" Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby 4:08
12. "The Only One I Trust" Battle, Jerrell/Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:17
13. "City High Anthem" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 5:19
14. "You Don't Know Me" Dickson, Tim/Paul, Terill/Pardlo, Robby 4:10

Re-release (2002)

# Title Composer(s) Time
1. "Didn't Ya" Remi, Salaam/Toby, Ryan 3:45
2. "What Would You Do?" Bailey, B./Broadus, C./Toby, Ryan/Young, A./Pardlo, Robby 2:54
3. "Why" Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby 3:32
4. "Caramel" (featuring Eve) Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Xavier, Giscard 3:35
5. "You Don't Know Me" Dickson, Tim/Paul, Terill/Pardlo, Robby 4:10
6. "15 Will Get You 20" Brooks, Lethal/Franklin, R./Jean, Wyclef 3:30
7. "Song for You" Hathaway, Donny 4:35
8. "Cats and Dogs" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Jean, Wyclef/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 3:30
9. "Best Friends" Gilmore, Walter/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:50
10. "Three Way" Toby, Ryan/Davis, Vidal 3:30
11. "Sista" Toby, Ryan/Harris, Andre 3:51
12. "The Only One I Trust" Battle, Jerrell/Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:17
13. "So Many Things" Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby 4:08
14. "City High Anthem" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 5:19

Bonus track edition

# Title Composer(s) Time
1. "Didn't Ya" Remi, Salaam/Toby, Ryan 3:45
2. "Three Way" Toby, Ryan/Davis, Vidal 3:30
3. "Why" Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby 3:32
4. "Song For You" Hathaway, Donny 4:35
5. "15 Will Get You 20" Brooks, Lethal/Franklin, R./Jean, Wyclef 3:30
6. "Cats and Dogs" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Jean, Wyclef/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 3:30
7. "Caramel" Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Xavier, Giscard 3:35
8. "Best Friends" Gilmore, Walter/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:50
9. "Sista" Toby, Ryan/Harris, Andre 3:51
10. "What Would You Do?" Bailey, B./Broadus, C./Toby, Ryan/Young, A./Pardlo, Robby 2:54
11. "So Many Things" Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby 4:08
12. "The Only One I Trust" Battle, Jerrell/Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:17
13. "City High Anthem" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 5:19
14. "You Don't Know Me" Dickson, Tim/Paul, Terill/Pardlo, Robby 4:10
15. "Caramel" (Trackmasters remix feat. Eve) Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Xavier, Giscard 3:40

[16]

UK bonus track edition

# Title Composer(s) Time
1. "Didn't Ya" Remi, Salaam/Toby, Ryan 3:45
2. "Three Way" Toby, Ryan/Davis, Vidal 3:30
3. "Why" Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby 3:32
4. "Song For You" Hathaway, Donny 4:35
5. "15 Will Get You 20" Brooks, Lethal/Franklin, R./Jean, Wyclef 3:30
6. "Cats and Dogs" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Jean, Wyclef/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 3:30
7. "Caramel" Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Xavier, Giscard 3:35
8. "Best Friends" Gilmore, Walter/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:50
9. "Sista" Toby, Ryan/Harris, Andre 3:51
10. "What Would You Do?" Bailey, B./Broadus, C./Toby, Ryan/Young, A./Pardlo, Robby 2:54
11. "So Many Things" Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby 4:08
12. "The Only One I Trust" Battle, Jerrell/Toby, Ryan/Duplessis, Jerry "Te Bass"/Pardlo, Robby/Avant, Gerard 4:17
13. "City High Anthem" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette 5:19
14. "You Don't Know Me" Dickson, Tim/Paul, Terill/Pardlo, Robby 4:10
15. "Do the Right Thing" City High 4:46
16. "It Ain't The Same" Pardio, Bobby/Toby, Ryan/Pardlo, Robby/Ortiz, Claudette, Theodore Witcher, Richard Alarcon, Phillipa Davis, Persaud 3:37

Personnel

  • Kwaku Alston – photography
  • Gerard Avant – producer
  • Ron Banks – mixing
  • Vidal Davis – producer, engineer
  • Jerry Duplessis – producer, executive producer, mixing
  • Jason Dyer – mixing assistant
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Andy Grassi – engineer, mixing
  • Andre Harris – producer
  • Wyclef Jean – producer, executive producer, mixing
  • Carlton Jones – stylist
  • Clark Kent – producer, mixing
  • Sonny Kompanek – string arrangements
  • Alex Ndione – mixing
  • Robbie Pardlo – producer, engineer, executive producer, mixing, vocals
  • Salaam Remi – producer, engineer, vocal arrangement, mixing, vocal producer
  • Ryan Toby – producer, engineer, executive producer, vocal arrangement, mixing, vocal producer, vocals
  • Joe Yannece – mastering
  • Claudette Ortiz – producer, vocals
  • Cus – mixing

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for City High
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Allmusic Review". Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (June 26, 2001). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ "CHR/Rhythmic: Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1394. March 23, 2001. p. 53.
  4. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1418. September 7, 2001. pp. 68, 77.
  5. ↑ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1441. February 22, 2002. p. 48.
  6. 1 2 "IN CITY HIGH'S BOOK, EVERY SONG TELLS A STORY". Daily News. New York. May 29, 2001. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "The Grammys: City High". USA Today. January 21, 2005. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Life Soundtrack". Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Billboard Chart". Retrieved June 20, 2009.
  10. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 107. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. 1 2 "Review: City High". Q. London: 132. March 2002.
  12. 1 2 Caramanica, Jon (August 16, 2001). "Review: City High". Rolling Stone. No. 875. New York. p. 108.
  13. 1 2 "RTÉ Entertainment". RTÉ News. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  14. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (July 2001). "Review: City High". Vibe. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  15. ↑ "PopMatters". Retrieved June 22, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Allmusic- City High [Bonus Track]". Retrieved June 24, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. July 12, 2001. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – City High – City High" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Charts.nz – City High – City High". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  22. ↑ "City High, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  23. ↑ "City High, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2001". Jam!. January 8, 2002. Archived from the original on November 22, 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  26. ↑ "American album certifications – City High – City High". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
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