El Niño (Def Squad album)

El Niño
El Niño
Studio album by Def Squad
Released	June 30, 1998
Recorded	1997–1998
Studio	Mirror Image Recordings; (Dix Hills, New York)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	50:42
Label	Def Jam
Producer	Erick Sermon (also exec.); Reggie Noble (also exec.); Keith Murray (exec.); Bernard Alexander (co-exec.); Kevin Liles (co-exec.);
Erick Sermon chronology
Redman chronology
Keith Murray chronology
Singles from El Niño
	"Full Cooperation"; Released: April 14, 1998;

El Niño is the only studio album by American hip hop group Def Squad, composed of rappers Redman, Erick Sermon and Keith Murray. It was released on June 30, 1998, via Def Jam Recordings. The recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recordings in Dix Hills, New York. The production was handled by Erick Sermon and Redman. It features guest appearances from Biz Markie, Mally G, Too $hort and the Drama Squad.

The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and number-one spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 29, 1998. Its lead single, "Full Cooperation", peaked at No. 51 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, at No. 11 on the Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales, at No. 63 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. The song "Countdown" was released as promotional single. The song "Ride Wit Us" later appeared on Keith Murray's third album It's a Beautiful Thing.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Robert Christgau	^[2]
Los Angeles Times	^[3]
Muzik	^[4]
The Source	^[5]

The Village Voice praised Sermon's production, but noted that it's not enough "to mask the taste of violent skits, scandalous bitches, unrepentant baby fathers, automatic weapons, and other unhealthy canned stuff."^[6]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Shower" (Intro)	R. Noble	Redman	1:38
2.	"Check N' Me Out"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray N. Whitfield	Erick Sermon	3:54
3.	"Countdown" (featuring Jamal)	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray J. Phillips C. Siffre	Erick Sermon	3:57
4.	"Full Cooperation"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray H. Ousley	Erick Sermon	3:48
5.	"Ride Wit Us" (featuring Too $hort)	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray T. Shaw	Erick Sermon	3:38
6.	"Lay 'Em Down" (Skit)	R. Noble	Redman	1:06
7.	"Rhymin' Wit' Biz" (featuring Biz Markie)	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray A. Hardy M. Williams	Erick Sermon	3:42
8.	"The Game" (Freestyle)	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray K. Walker J. Moore	Erick Sermon	2:40
9.	"World Announcement" (Skit)	R. Noble	Redman	1:28
10.	"Can U Dig It?"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray W. Squier	Erick Sermon	3:16
11.	"You Do, I Do"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray	Redman	4:07
12.	"Y'all Niggas Ain't Ready"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray	Erick Sermon	2:43
13.	"Say Word!"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray M. Ragin	Erick Sermon	3:38
14.	"No Guest List"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray E. Barrier W. Griffin	Erick Sermon	3:27
15.	"Babies Father Committee" (Skit)	R. Noble	Redman	0:55
16.	"Def Squad Delite"	R. Noble E. Sermon K. Murray N. Rodgers	Erick Sermon	6:45
Total length:				50:42

Personnel

Erick Sermon – vocals, producer (tracks: 2–5, 7–8, 10, 12–14, 16), executive producer
Reginald Noble – vocals, producer (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 11, 15), executive producer
Keith Murray – vocals, executive producer
Jamal C. Phillips – vocals (track 3)
Todd Anthony Shaw – vocals (track 5)
Marcel Theo Hall – vocals (track 7)
Nasty Nadj – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
TE TE – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
Dave Rockin' Reel – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
Moe Green – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
Miguel – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
Nikki D. – vocals (tracks: 1, 6, 9, 15)
Kevin Liles – A&R, co-executive producer
Bernard Alexander – co-executive producer
Tony Dawsey – mastering
Chris Tricarico – coordinator
Wayne Van Acker – artwork
Jonathan Mannion – photography
The Drawing Board – art direction, design

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[7]	2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[8]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)	Position
US Billboard 200^[9]	186
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[10]	58

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[11]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "El Niño - Def Squad". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
^ Christgau, Robert (December 15, 1998). "Def Squad". Robert Christgau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
^ Baker, Soren (1998-07-06). "Def Squad Emphasizes the Verse on Pleasing 'El Nin~o'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
^ "Def Squad: El Niño". Muzik. September 1998. p. 64.
^ Wilson, Elliott (August 1998). "El Niño Review". The Source. No. 107. p. 165.
^ Frere-Jones, Sasha (21 July 1998). "Def Squad El Nino". The Village Voice. Vol. 43, no. 29. p. 61.
^ "Def Squad Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
^ "Def Squad Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
^ "American album certifications – Def Squad – El Nino". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

Def Squad – El Niño at Discogs (list of releases)

[1] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "El Niño - Def Squad". AllMusic. Retrieved April 17, 2019.

[2] Christgau, Robert (December 15, 1998). "Def Squad". Robert Christgau. Retrieved April 5, 2024.

[3] Baker, Soren (1998-07-06). "Def Squad Emphasizes the Verse on Pleasing 'El Nin~o'". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-07-05.

[4] "Def Squad: El Niño". Muzik. September 1998. p. 64.

[5] Wilson, Elliott (August 1998). "El Niño Review". The Source. No. 107. p. 165.

[6] Frere-Jones, Sasha (21 July 1998). "Def Squad El Nino". The Village Voice. Vol. 43, no. 29. p. 61.

[ac_Billboard200_Def_Squad-7] "Def Squad Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2019.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Def_Squad-8] "Def Squad Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2019.

[9] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.

[10] "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.

[United_StatesDef_SquadEl_NinoalbumCertRef-11] "American album certifications – Def Squad – El Nino". Recording Industry Association of America.

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El Niño (Def Squad album)

Critical reception

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

See also

References

External links

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