It's a Beautiful Thing
Studio album by
Keith Murray
ReleasedJanuary 12, 1999
Recorded1997-1998
StudioMirror Image Recording Studios (Dix Hills, New York)
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length51:50
LabelJive
ProducerErick Sermon (also exec.)
Keith Murray chronology
El Niño
(1998)		 It's a Beautiful Thing
(1999)		 He's Keith Murray
(2003)
Singles from It's a Beautiful Thing
  1. "Incredible"
    Released: September 15, 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

It's a Beautiful Thing is the third solo studio album by American rapper Keith Murray. It was released on January 12, 1999,[2] via Jive Records, making it his final record for the label. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recording Studios in Dix Hills, New York. Production was handled entirely by Erick Sermon, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Déjà Vu, Canibus, Erick Sermon, LL Cool J, Redman and Too $hort. The album peaked at number thirty-nine on the Billboard 200 and number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the US.

The recording of the album began during the difficult times of Murray's legal and financial troubles, along with his desire to leave the label. However, the album was unfinished when Murray went into incarceration, with the label deciding to complete and release the album despite Murray's disapproval.[3] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine considered the album to be a rather indistinctive one in Murray's discography, but did state that "there's enough to make It's a Beautiful Thing a reasonably entertaining listen, even if they aren't enough to make it memorable".

Track listing

All music is composed by Erick Sermon

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Intro"
0:53
2."When I Rap"
3:21
3."Incredible" (featuring LL Cool J)
3:03
4."Some Shit" (featuring Canibus and Déjà Vu)
3:14
5."Bodega Skit"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
0:40
6."Slap Somebody"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
3:57
7."Secret Indictment"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
  • Raeford
3:41
8."Radio"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
  • Davis
  • Debarge
  • Debarge
  • Gatling
  • Griffin
  • Hall
  • Jordan
3:50
9."Intersection"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
  • Smith
3:35
10."Shut the Fuck Up"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
2:15
11."Interlude"Murray0:36
12."Media"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
  • Hancock
  • Noble
  • Ousley
3:30
13."Life on the Street"
  • Jennings
  • Sample
4:04
14."Ride Wit Us" (featuring Erick Sermon, Redman and Too $hort)
3:51
15."Jungle Boogie"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
  • Bell
  • Boyce
  • Brown
  • Mickens
  • Smith
  • Thomas
  • Westfield
0:56
16."High as Hell"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
  • Jackson
3:22
17."Bad Day"
  • Murray
  • Sermon
  • Isley
  • Isley
  • Isley
  • Isley
  • Jasper
3:55
18."A Message from Keith"Murray2:05
19."My Life" (featuring Déjà Vu)
  • Murray
  • Everett
  • Sermon
  • Dozier
  • Holland
  • Holland
3:45
Total length:51:50

Chart history

Album

Chart (1999) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 39
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] 9

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks U.S. Hot Rap Singles
1998 "Incredible" 70 36

Personnel

Information taken from AllMusic.

  • arranging – Keith Murray, Erick Sermon
  • assistant engineering – Dave O'Donnell
  • engineering – Mark Berto, Troy Hightower
  • executive production – Erick Sermon
  • mixing – Troy Hightower, Ivan 'Doc' Rodriguez
  • performer(s) – Canibus, LL Cool J, Redman, Erick Sermon, Too Short
  • production – Erick Sermon
  • project coordination – Chris Tricarico

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "It's a Beautiful Thing - Keith Murray | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Keith Murray Gets Charitable As He Fights Prison Term". MTV. December 11, 1998. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ ":: BlackElectorate.com ::". www.blackelectorate.com. April 4, 2003. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Keith Murray Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Keith Murray Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
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