In a Word or 2
Studio album by
Released23 March 1993
Recorded1992–1993
GenreHip hop
Length50:27
LabelWarner Bros. Records
45054
Cooltempo/Chrysalis/EMI Records
0946 3 21993 2 4
F2-21993
ProducerMarley Marl[1]
Prince
Aaron "Freedom" Lyles
Steve "Silk" Hurley
Monie Love chronology
Down to Earth
(1990)
In a Word or 2
(1993)
Singles from In a Word or 2
  1. "Full Term Love"
    Released: 1992
  2. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."
    Released: 1993
  3. "In a Word or 2"
    Released: 1993
  4. "Never Give Up"
    Released: 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Chicago Tribune[1]
Robert Christgau(dud)[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Los Angeles Times[5]
Music Week[6]
NME7/10[7]
Orlando Sentinel[8]

In a Word or 2 is the second and final album released by Monie Love.[9] It was released on 23 March 1993 by Warner Bros. Records and was mostly produced by Marley Marl. Prince cowrote and coproduced the title track and "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."[10] Monie and producer Aaron "Freedom" Lyles produced the song "I'm a Believer," while producer/remixer Steve "Silk" Hurley was brought in for additional production and remix for the first single "Born to B.R.E.E.D."

In a Word or 2 reached No. 75 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 36 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Two singles also charted: "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." reached No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Full Term Love" peaked at No. 96 on the Hot 100. On the Hot R&B Singles chart, both peaked at No. 7.

Critical reception

AllMusic wrote that "Love's musical voice and singsong delivery are still in effect, but her raps are decidedly more aggressive, lacking the playful air of her first record."[2] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music called the album "another challenging and articulate set ... informed by Love's recent experience of motherhood."[4] The Los Angeles Times wrote: "A combination of substance and sass, Monie Love’s second album is tougher and funkier than the pop-hop featured on 1990’s Down to Earth.”[5] Trouser Press opined that "only 'There’s a Better Way,' a cautionary story about HIV, hits the right mix of music and mind."[11]

Track listing

  1. "Wheel of Fortune"- 3:55
  2. "Greasy"- 4:08
  3. "Sex U All"- 5:03
  4. "Mo' Monie"- 4:14
  5. "I'm a Believer"- 3:43
  6. "Let a Woman B a Woman"- 4:15
  7. "Full Term Love"- 4:44
  8. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."- 4:06
  9. "In a Word or 2"- 3:36
  10. "There's a Better Way"- 3:58
  11. "4 da Children"- 4:26
  12. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." (Hip-Hop Mix)- 4:12

References

  1. 1 2 May, Mitchell. "Monie Love In A Word Or 2..." chicagotribune.com.
  2. 1 2 "In a Word or 2 - Monie Love | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  3. "Robert Christgau: CG: Monie Love". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 349.
  5. 1 2 "MONIE LOVE"In a Word or 2" Warner..." Los Angeles Times. 2 May 1993.
  6. Jones, Alan (27 March 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 31. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  7. Moody, Paul (3 April 1993). "Long Play". NME. p. 28. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. Gettelman, Parry (16 April 1993). "Monie Love". Orlando Sentinel.
  9. "Monie Love | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  10. "SOUND BITES". Tampa Bay Times.
  11. "Monie Love". Trouser Press. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
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