To Your Soul
Studio album by
The Jaz
ReleasedJuly 16, 1990 (1990-07-16)[1]
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length51:54
LabelEMI USA
Producer
The Jaz chronology
Word to the Jaz
(1989)		 To Your Soul
(1990)		 Kingz Kounty
(2002)

To Your Soul is the second studio album by American rapper and producer The Jaz, from New York, New York. It was released on July 16, 1990, via EMI USA.

Background

The album was recorded at D&D Studios, in New York City, New York, and was primarily produced by Jaz-O. The album also received production contributions from Prince Paul, Vandy C, and Chad Elliott. Jay-Z appears on two tracks.[2][3] Despite the album not reaching the Billboard charts, its two singles, "The Originators" and "A Groove (This Is What U Rap 2)," peaked at No. 13 and No. 18, respectively, on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[4]

Critical reception

Joshua Clover, in his book 1989: Bob Dylan Didn’t Have This to Sing About, called the album "vital, serious, deeply musical, with playful lyrics that come at varying speeds, sometimes blunt and heavy on the beat, sometimes syncopated and sudden, looking for a way to slip past any defense."[5]

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Put the Squeeze on 'Em"The Jaz3:52
2."It's That Simple" (featuring Jay-Z)Prince Paul4:14
3."A Groove (This Is What U Rap 2)"
3:53
4."Abnormal"Prince Paul3:25
5."Ease Up Jaz"Vandy C3:56
6."I'll Smoke You"
  • Chad Elliott
  • The Jaz
3:53
7."Doped Up"The Jaz4:53
8."To Your Soul"Vandy C4:08
9."Flag of the Mahdi"
  • Chad Elliott
  • The Jaz
2:22
10."A Nation Divided"The Jaz4:32
11."Why?"Vandy C4:28
12."Black Man in Charge"
  • Chad Elliott
  • The Jaz
2:57
13."The Originators" (featuring Jay-Z)The Jaz4:14
14."Not Shoutin' Out"The Jaz1:07
Total length:51:54

Personnel

  • Jonathan Burks – main performer, producer (tracks: 1, 3, 6-7, 9-10, 12-14)
  • Shawn Corey Carter – featured performer (tracks: 2, 13)
  • Chad "Dr. Cuess" Elliott – producer (tracks: 3, 6, 9, 12)
  • Vandy Colter – producer (tracks: 5, 8, 11), engineering
  • Paul Edward Huston – producer (tracks: 2, 4)
  • Dwayne Alexander – executive producer
  • Gary Clugston – engineering
  • Kieran Walsh – engineering
  • Mike Rogers – engineering
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Henry Marquez – art direction
  • Lu Ann Graffeo – design
  • Jeffrey Scales – photography

Charts

Singles

Year Song Peak positions
US Rap[4]
1990 "The Originators" 13
1991 "A Groove (This Is What U Rap 2)" 18

References

  1. ↑ To Your Soul by The Jaz on Apple Music, July 16, 1990, retrieved 2018-01-08
  2. ↑ Beaumont, Mark (October 2, 2017). Jay-Z: The King of America. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857127921 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Serwer, Jesse (July 23, 2013). "Jay Z's Best Songs Before "Reasonable Doubt"". Complex. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "The Jaz Chart History". Hot Rap Songs. Archived from the original on May 14, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ Clover, Joshua (October 12, 2010). 1989: Bob Dylan Didn't Have This to Sing About. Univ of California Press. ISBN 9780520267879 – via Google Books.


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