Soundbombing II
Hand-drawn pictures of heads of some of the artists on the album, placed on an orange background. Above them is the text "Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II", stylized in all uppercase 3D letters.
Compilation album by
Rawkus Records
ReleasedMay 18, 1999 (1999-05-18)
Recorded1997–1999
GenreHip hop
Length71:33
LabelRawkus Records
Producer
Rawkus Records chronology
Lyricist Lounge, Volume One
(1998)		 Soundbombing II
(1999)		 Lyricist Lounge 2
(2000)

Soundbombing II is the second installment in Rawkus Records' Soundbombing compilation series, released by the label on May 18, 1999. Mixed by DJ Babu and J Rocc of Beat Junkies, the album included tracks from a variety of artists, both Rawkus' signees and popular artists from other labels.

Supported by a strong promotional campaign, Soundbombing II performed significantly better commercially than other underground hip hop albums, peaking at number 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album's lead single, "One-Nine-Nine-Nine", also appeared on several charts.

Upon its release, Soundbombing II received widespread acclaim from music critics. In the years since its release, the album achieved a classic status, with music critics claiming that it perfectly captured the late 1990s era in underground hip hop. Soundbombing II was named by several publications as one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

Background

By the late 1990s, Rawkus Records established itself in the underground hip hop community, with the releases such as Company Flow's Funcrusher Plus, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, and the first Soundbombing compilation album. Following the success of the label's albums, Rawkus signed a few more artists and planned to release several albums in 1999. Soundbombing II was meant to be the foundation for the future releases.[1]

In 1998, DJ Babu and J Rocc of Beat Junkies worked in a record store in Los Angeles. Rawkus artists Mos Def and Talib Kweli frequently visited the store. Eventually, Rawkus' founders Brian Brater and Jarret Myer approached Babu and J Rocc, asking them to help with mixing of Soundbombing II.[2]

Release

Soundbombing II was released on May 18, 1999, by Rawkus Records.[3] Funded by James Murdoch,[1] the son of billionaire Rupert Murdoch and a university friend of the label's founders,[4] Rawkus was able to afford more promotion for the album than other underground hip hop labels. Apart from the full-page ads in music magazines, Rawkus also shot a music video for the track "1-9-9-9", DJ Babu and J Rocc made a special promo snippet mixtape, and BET's Rap City aired a special episode dedicated to Soundbombing II.[1]

With all the promotion, Soundbombing II sold far greater than the label expected.[1] The album charted on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number 30,[5] and on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, where it peaked at number 6.[6] The single "One-Nine-Nine-Nine" reached number 10 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles,[7] a 25-position extension to the Billboard Hot 100, number 41 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[8] and number 4 on Hot Rap Songs.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Entertainment WeeklyA–[11]
The Independent[12]
Robert ChristgauA–[13]
RapReviews9/10[14]
Rolling Stone[15]
Spin7/10[16]

Soundbombing II was praised by music critics. Matt Conaway of AllMusic called the album a "quintessential Rawkus project", commending the album's accessibility for both underground and mainstream listeners, while simultaneously criticizing Beat Junkies' mixing.[10] The A.V. Club's Nathan Rabin applauded the album for being an "exceptional project", recognizing the mid-album intros as a minor flaw.[17] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Will Hermes praised DJ Babu and J Rocc, calling them "[t]urntable surgeons", and described Soundbombing II as forward-looking.[11] Tim Perry of The Independent called the album an improvement over the original Soundbombing and proclaimed it the soundtrack of 1999's summer.[12] RapReviews also described it as an improvement over the original, claiming that the album's lyrics are some of the best lyrics of the year, and that "every other compilation out there pales in comparison".[14] Matt Diehl of the Rolling Stone magazine named Soundbombing II the year's most vital hip-hop compilation and compared it to a rocket that will take underground hip hop to "overground".[15] In a review for Spin magazine, Neil Drumming complimented the album for its "high concepts", while criticizing the "go-nowhere battle hymns".[16] The Wire magazine praised Soundbombing II, calling it an "invaluable [snapshot] of an area of music currently overflowing with ideas", highlighting the album's transformation into "one long funk-flow".[18] Vibe magazine's author Noah Callahan-Bever applauded the album, noting the evolution of the label's artists, who went "from raw and unpolished to solid, skilled artists poised to give chart-topping rappers a serious run for their money".[19]

Legacy

Since its release, Soundbombing II has continued to rise in popularity.[20] Matt Welty of Complex magazine called it an "early 2000s essential",[21] while Pitchfork's Jeff Weiss said that the album "banged incessantly in dorm rooms across America and England".[22] Over the years the album attained a classic status.[1][23][24] Tom Breihan of Stereogum said that Soundbombing II "codified the underground rap universe".[25] HipHopDX named it "possibly the best full-bodied encapsulation of the era".[26]

Several publications placed Soundbombing II on their lists of the best albums. Rolling Stone placed it at number 181 on their list of the 200 greatest hip hop albums of all time, naming it "the greatest hip-hop compilation ever".[27] Fact magazine placed Soundbombing II at number 8 on their list of the 100 best indie hip hop records of all time, stating that it was a "lesson in the art and science of putting together mixtapes" and "the best and most definitive compilation of the era".[28]

Rapper Danny Brown named Soundbombing II as one of his favorite albums, saying it had a major influence on him, as he wanted to rap just as skillfully as the rappers on the album and that it was the first time he saw that "the better rappers could be guys [he] didn't see on MTV all the time".[29] Among others who have praised the album are actor Jonah Hill and comedian Eric André.[30][31]

Track listing

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[32]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  1:58
2."Any Man" (Intro) Beat Junkies1:03
3."Any Man" (Eminem)Marshall Mathers, Walter DewgardeDa Beatminerz2:53
4."B-Boy Document '99" (The High & Mighty, Mos Def and Skillz)Dante Smith, Donnie Lewis, Eric Meltzer, Milo BergerDJ Mighty Mi4:07
5."WWIII" (Intro) Beat Junkies1:01
6."WWIII" (Shabaam Sahdeeq and Pharoahe Monch)Lee Stone, Marcus Vialva, Troy JamersonLee Stone3:29
7."Stanley Kubrick" (R.A. the Rugged Man)Ryan ThorburnCapital the Crime Lord3:32
8."A Message from J-Live & Prince Paul" (Interlude)  0:49
9."Crosstown Beef" (Intro) Beat Junkies, Kid Capri0:48
10."Crosstown Beef" (Medina Green, Mos Def and DCQ)Denard Smith, K. M. Allah, W. Johnson, Andre Williams, Dante Smith, Kelvin MercerPosdnous4:30
11."7XL" (Intro) Beat Junkies, Pete Rock, Marley Marl0:57
12."7XL" (Sir Menelik, Sadat X and Grand Puba)Derek Murphy, Maxwell Dixon, Phillip Collington, Vince WilliamsDJ Spinna3:50
13."Chaos" (Reflection Eternal and Bahamadia)Antonia Reed, Talib Greene, Tony CottrellHi-Tek4:12
14."Soundbombing" (Tash and Dilated Peoples) Evidence3:04
15."Brooklyn Hard Rock" (Thirstin Howl III)L. Smith, Victor DeJesusThirstin Howl III, Smitty Steve Bosston1:25
16."Mayor" (Pharoahe Monch)Stone, JamersonLee Stone3:28
17."Patriotism" (Intro) Beat Junkies0:38
18."Patriotism" (Company Flow)Jaime Meline, Leonard SmytheEl-P5:08
19."1-9-9-9" (Intro) Beat Junkies, Q-Tip1:22
20."1-9-9-9" (Common and Sadat X)Murphy, Lonnie Lynn, CottrellHi-Tek4:10
21."When It Pours It Rains" (Diamond D)Joseph Kirkland, John DoughDiamond D2:03
22."A Message from the Beat Junkies" (Interlude) Beat Junkies1:07
23."Next Universe" (Mos Def)Dante Smith, CottrellHi-Tek3:06
24."Every Rhyme I Write" (Intro) Beat Junkies0:43
25."Every Rhyme I Write" (Shabaam Sahdeeq and Cocoa Brovaz)Darrell Yates, Vialva, Nick Loizides, Tekomin WilliamsNick Wiz3:56
26."On Mission" (Reflection Eternal)Greene, CottrellHi-Tek4:16
27."Outro"  3:58
Total length:71:33

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[32]

  • DJ Babu – DJ mixing
  • J Rocc – DJ mixing
  • Ken Duro Ifill – mixing
  • Tony Sinolis – mixing
  • David Greenberg – mixing
  • Sir Menelik – mixing
  • Thirstin Howl III – mixing, scratching
  • El-P – mixing
  • Vassos – mixing
  • Nick Loizides – mixing, recording
  • Carlisle Young – mixing, recording
  • DJ Sebb – scratching
  • DJ Mr. Len – scratching
  • Hi-Tek – scratching
  • DJ Etch A Sketch – scratching
  • DJ Massey – scratching
  • Kieran Walsh – engineering
  • Loopcipher – engineering
  • Troy Hightower – engineering, mixing
  • Jeff Davidson – engineering
  • Franck Khalfoun – photography
  • Nobody Creative – art direction, design
  • VanShun Brown – illustration
  • John Semprit – artwork
  • Case2 – artwork
  • Dome – artwork
  • East3 – artwork
  • One9 – artwork
  • Phase2 – artwork
  • Sento – artwork
  • Vulcan – artwork

Charts

Album

Chart (1999) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[5] 30
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] 6

Singles

"One-Nine-Nine-Nine"
Chart (1999) Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[7] 10
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] 41
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[9] 4

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Adams, Dart (May 17, 2019). "How Rawkus' 'Soundbombing II' Launched a New Era of Independent Rap". Okayplayer. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  2. ↑ Kane, Siobhán (24 November 2010). "J. Rocc - Making Something Out Of Nothing". Thumped. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Coe, Kairi (10 January 2019). "65 Hip-Hop Albums Turning 20 in 2019". XXL. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "James Murdoch: A chip off the old block?". BBC News. 4 November 2003. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Billboard 200 – Week of June 5, 1999". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Week of June 5, 1999". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2015-10-12. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Common Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Common Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Common Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  10. 1 2 Conaway, Matt. "Various Artists - Soundbombing, Vol. 2 Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  11. 1 2 Hermes, Will. "Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  12. 1 2 Perry, Tim (4 June 1999). "Album Reviews". The Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Robert Christgau: Album: Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II". www.robertchristgau.com.
  14. 1 2 DJ Fatboy. "Various Artists :: Soundbombing 2 :: Rawkus". RapReviews. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  15. 1 2 Diehl, Matt (August 5, 1999). "Recordings. Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II". Rolling Stone. No. 818. p. 64.
  16. 1 2 Drumming, Neil (July 1999). "Reviews: Soundbombing II". Spin. p. 127. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  17. ↑ Rabin, Nathan (27 April 1999). "Various Artists: Rawkus Presents: Soundbombing II". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  18. ↑ Cummings, Alan; ffytche, Matt; Hamilton, Andy; Herrington, Tony (July 1999). "Soundcheck: the compiler". The Wire. p. 70.
  19. ↑ Callahan-Bever, Noah (August 1999). "Revolutions: Various Artists – Soundbombing II". Vibe. p. 183.
  20. ↑ Baker, Soren (19 December 1999). "The Rhythms and Rhymes of a Very Productive 1999". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  21. ↑ Welty, Matt. "How East Coast Skateboarding of the '90s Influenced Streetwear". Complex. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  22. ↑ Weiss, Jeff. "El-P: Cancer for Cure". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  23. ↑ Blair, Robert. "What Happened To Backpack Rap?". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Backstreet Boys' Millennium vs. Rawkus' Soundbombing 2 –15 Years Later – OC Weekly". OC Weekly. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  25. ↑ Breihan, Tom (28 September 2018). "'Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star' Is 20 Years Old". Stereogum. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  26. ↑ "30 Hip Hop & R&B Albums That Still Aren't On Streaming Services". HipHopDX. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  27. ↑ Shachtman, Noah (7 June 2022). "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "The 100 best indie hip-hop records ever made". Fact. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  29. ↑ Nostro, Lauren. "Danny Brown's 25 Favorite Albums". Complex. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  30. ↑ Murphy, Keith (24 May 2010). "A Short Convo With… Jonah Hill: 'I Was A Hardcore Hip-Hop Head'". Vibe. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  31. ↑ Gonik, Michael. "Eric Andre Reveals The Sage Advice He Got from Dave Chappelle". Okayplayer. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  32. 1 2 Various artists (1999). Soundbombing II (liner notes). Rawkus Records. P250069.
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