Crunk Rock

Crunk Rock is the solo debut album and sixth overall album by American crunk artist Lil Jon, released on June 8, 2010 by BME and Universal Republic.[3][4] The characters at the bottom of the album's cover are Japanese katakana characters, which read "Kurunku Rokku," an approximation of the Japanese transliteration of the album's title.

This article is about the Lil Jon album. For the genre of music also known as "crunk rock", see Crunkcore.
Crunk Rock
Studio album by
Lil Jon
ReleasedJune 8, 2010 (2010-06-08)
Recorded2005–10
GenreHip hop, crunk, crunkcore, hip house
Length71:54
LabelBME/Universal Republic
ProducerLil Jon (exec.)
Swizz Beatz, Drumma Boy,[1][2] RedOne, LMFAO, David Guetta, Dr. Luke, Kassiano
Lil Jon chronology
MTV VMA Score
(2010)		 Crunk Rock
(2010)
Singles from Crunk Rock
  1. "Ms. Chocolate"
    Released: March 30, 2010
  2. "Hey"
    Released: June 15, 2010
  3. "Machuka"
    Released: August 5, 2010

Background and recording

Work on the album began in June 2005. In May 2006, MTV reported that it would be released late that summer or in early fall.[5] At that time he announced that he was relocating to Las Vegas where the album would be recorded, and that half of the album would be similar in style to his 2003 single "Get Low".[5] In June that year, recording had started, and Lil Jon announced that he planned to include collaborations with R. Kelly, Mariah Carey, and Snoop Dogg on the album, and the first single from the album sessions, "Snap Yo Fingers" was released, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6][7] In January 2007, it was reported that Lil Jon was still in the studio working on the album, and that recorded tracks included "Roll Call" featuring Lil Wayne and Ciara, and tracks featuring R. Kelly and Nate Dogg.[8] The prospective release date at that time was Spring 2007.[8] At this time he was already indicating problems with the record label, stating that he "was going through the drama with TVT Records".[9] By August 2007, the album's release date had slipped again, with late 2007 the expected date. The list of guest artists had by this time expanded to include Game, Ice Cube, P.O.D. and Kid Rock, with Jon explaining that "the concept of the album is that it is merger of rock and hip-hop styles, utilising the different styles of the guest contributors."[10] By November 2007, however, the album was reported to be "65 percent, maybe 70 percent done", with a release now expected in 2008, with Lil Jon taking time out to DJ and do voiceover work in Hollywood.[11] A demo of "What a Night" featuring Jay Sean also recorded, but it not make a final cut in the album version.

By March 2008, the problems with TVT had intensified, with record label TVT described by MTV as having gone from "having money to burn to being on the verge of folding", and Lil Jon said to have experienced legal issues with the label over money.[12] While work on the album was interrupted, with Lil Jon citing the stress of the TVT situation as causing him to taking a complete break from recording the album, he had worked with other artists such as Flo Rida and Pharrell Williams, and had done production work on E-40's Ball Street Journal album.[12] The TVT label filed for bankruptcy in February 2008, putting the album's release into doubt.[13] By August 2008, Lil' Jon had freed himself from his contract with TVT, giving him the rights to the master recordings for Crunk Rock, in return for dropping his objection to the sale of TVT's assets to The Orchard Group.[14] He restarted work on the album and stated that he was considering a new 'World Music' direction for the album and a possible change of title, saying "I'm touching so many different kinds of people on this album as well as keeping my core fan base at the same time."[15] In October 2008, Lil Jon signed to Universal Republic and the album was rescheduled for a release in early 2009.[4] In March 2009, two mixtapes appeared from Lil' Jon, Rockbox Vol. 1 and 2, with Rolling Stone announcing that Crunk Rock was expected later in 2009.[16] Indeed, the second volume closed with Jon stating "Crunk Rock coming sooooooon".[16]

By September 2009 a new date of November 24 was announced for the album's release, although it was still unfinished.[17][18] Confirmed guests additionally included Roscoe Dash, Mariah Carey, 3OH!3, Whole Wheat Bread, David Guetta, Steve Aoki, LMFAO, Zuper Blahq, DJ Chuckie, Laidback Luke, Elephant Man, Pastor Troy, Ying Yang Twins, Akon, Mario, R. Kelly, T-Pain, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, and Pitbull.[18][19] Another single from the album, the RedOne-produced "Give It All U Got", was announced, with a promotional video filmed in Miami in September.[18][20] Lil Jon stated the album would now be more eclectic than previously envisaged with elements of house music, pop and R&B.[19] By October 2009, Lil Jon described the album as "80 percent done", with all tracks recorded but "some final touches" still required, with the release date pushed back into early 2010.[21] The new single from the album, the disco-tinged "Give It All U Got", was released in November 2009. Lil Jon held a Listening Session for the album in 2010. Rap-Up reported that the album is set for a June 8, 2010 release.[22] In an interview with Billboard in May 2010 he confirmed that Crunk Rock will be released on June 8.[23] The album was released in standard and deluxe edition.[24][25]

Singles
Official singles
  • "Ms. Chocolate", which features R. Kelly and Mario and was produced by Drumma Boy, was released as the first single on March 30, 2010.
  • "Hey", which features 3OH!3 was released as the second single.
  • "Machuka", which features Brazilian recording artists Mr. Catra and Mulher Filé, was released as third single only in Brazil.[26]
Promo singles
  • "Snap Yo Fingers" was released as the first promotional single on February 4, 2006. The single peaked at 7 in the United States, and topped the US R&B/Hip Hop and US Rap charts. However, the song did not make it for the album, and it was released as a single only.
  • "Act a Fool", which features Three 6 Mafia, was released as the second promotional single on November 7, 2006. It peaked at 91 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It was not featured in the album.
  • "I Do", which features Swizz Beatz and Snoop Dogg, was released as the third promotional single on July 21, 2009. It peaked at 101 on the US R&B/Hip Hop. It was not featured in the album.
  • "Give It All U Got", which features Kee on the original version and also features British rapper, Tinchy Stryder on the official remix (along with Kee), was released as the fourth promotional single on November 3, 2009. It peaked at 90 on the Canadian Hot 100.[27] However, it did not make the final cut for the album.
  • "Outta Your Mind", which features LMFAO, was released as the fifth promotional single on March 23, 2010. It peaked at 28 on Billboard's Rap Digital Songs chart. Benny Benassi, DJ Chuckie, A-Trak, David Guetta, Steve Aoki and Travis Barker appear in the music video which was filmed in Miami, Florida. It also debuted at 84 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 49 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 8,900 copies.[28] The low number of albums sold was said to be the sales surprise of the week by HipHopDX.[29] It sold 4,700 copies the second week, bring the total to 14,000 copies sold in the U.S.[30]

Critical response
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[31]
HipHopDX[32]
The New York Times(mixed)[33]
RapReviews(5/10)[34]
Slant Magazine[35]
USA Today[36]

Upon its release, the album received generally mixed reviews from music critics.[37] Allmusic writer David Jeffries gave it 3 out of 5 stars and called it "a scattershot set of tracks that just barely fit together, but take into consideration the label problems and legal issues the producer has faced since the album's conception, and it becomes a scruffy mess you just might cheer on".[31] Emanuel Wallace of RapReviews gave Crunk Rock a 5/10 rating and wrote "If you're looking for lyrical greatness, you'll be disappointed. If you want an album filled with nothing but trunk-rattling beats you'll be disappointed".[34] Slant Magazine writer Jesse Cataldo gave the album 2½ out of 5 stars and described its songs as "thick, silly concoctions, glazed with bass and defined by endless repetition, whirlwinds of chants and shouts that circle like demented carousels".[35] The New York Times writer Jon Caramanica commended the album's production, but ultimately expressed a negative response towards Lil Jon's lyrics, writing "he retains his trademark ignorance and indignation: plenty of the most salacious material here is his own... he’s back to noisily asserting primacy through fight chants".[33] USA Today's Steve Jones gave it 2½ out of 4 stars and shared a similar sentiment, stating "He has mixed more rock and electronica in with the thumping bass lines, but the message remains the same: Get up and jam, or go home".[36] Slava Kuperstein of HipHopDX gave it a 2.5/5 rating and in conclusion of the album said "With the kind of clout Lil Jon has, it's disappointing he wasn't able to come up with a better supporting cast (especially given his features in the past), which makes for an equally disappointing album."[32]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Crunk Rock" (Intro)Jonathan SmithLil Jon0:50
2."Throw It Up (Part 2) (Remix)" (featuring Pastor Troy & Waka Flocka Flame)Christopher Gholson, Craig Love, Smith, Micah Troy, William HolmesDrumma Boy, Lil Jon5:14
3."G Walk" (featuring Soulja Boy)DeAndre Way, Demetrius Stewart, Dwayne Richardson, Smith, William HolmesShawty Redd, Lil Jon3:35
4."On de Grind" (featuring Stephen Marley & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley)Che Smith, Gholson, Damian Marley, Smith, Theron Thomas, Timothy Thomas, William HolmesDrumma Boy, Lil Jon4:18
5."What Is Crunk Rock?" (Interlude)SmithLil Jon0:33
6."Killas" (featuring The Game, Elephant Man, Ice Cube & Whole Wheat Bread)Aaron Abraham, James Phillips, Jayceon Taylor, Smith, Joseph Largen, O'Neil Bryan, O'Shea Jackson, William HolmesLil Jon3:46
7."Get In Get Out"De'Angelo Holmes, Eric Jackson, Smith, Mitch Cohn, Noel Fisher, William Holmes, Shia Labeouf, Tyrese GibsonCatalyst, Lil Jon, Detail (co.)4:26
8."Outta Your Mind" (featuring LMFAO)Smith, Skyler Gordy, Stefan GordyLil Jon4:11
9."Ride da D" (featuring Ying Yang Twins)De'Angelo Holmes, Jackson, SmithLil Jon3:50
10."Ms. Chocolate" (featuring R. Kelly & Mario)Gholson, Claude Kelly, Smith, Robert Kelly, William HolmesDrumma Boy, Lil Jon3:20
11."Like a Stripper" (featuring Pleasure P & Shawty Putt)James Hardnett, Smith, Kwame Buchanan, Marcus Cooper, Robert Waller, Sean Chavis, William HolmesLil Jon, Dre & Vidal3:33
12."Shots" (LMFAO featuring Lil Jon)Eric Delatorre, Smith, Skyler Gordy, Stefan GordyLMFAO, Lil Jon3:38
13."Work It Out" (featuring Pitbull)Armando Pérez, Clyde Sergio Narain, Fabian Lenssen, Smith, Rabun BrunningsDJ Chuckie, Dave Moreaux, Silvio Ecomo, Lil Jon3:44
14."Hey" (featuring 3OH!3)Smith, Lukasz Gottwald, Nathaniel Motte, Sean Foreman, William HolmesDr. Luke, Benny Blanco, Kool Kojak3:35
Deluxe edition
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Crunk Rock" (Intro)Lil Jon0:49
2."Throw It Up (Part 2) (Remix)" (featuring Pastor Troy & Waka Flocka Flame)Drumma Boy, Lil Jon5:14
3."Fall Out" (featuring Travis Porter)Kevin "KE" Erondu, Lil Jon3:53
4."G Walk" (featuring Soulja Boy)Shawty Redd, Lil Jon3:35
5."On de Grind" (featuring Stephen Marley & Damian Marley)Drumma Boy, Lil Jon4:18
6."What Is Crunk Rock?" (Interlude)Lil Jon0:32
7."Killas" (featuring The Game, Elephant Man, Ice Cube & Whole Wheat Bread)Lil Jon3:45
8."Get in Get Out"Catalyst, Lil Jon, Noel "Detail" Fisher (co.)4:26
9."Pop Dat Pussy" (featuring Blazed)DJ Montay, Lil Jon4:14
10."Outta Your Mind" (featuring LMFAO)Lil Jon4:10
11."Ride da D" (featuring Ying Yang Twins)Lil Jon3:50
12."Ms. Chocolate" (featuring R. Kelly & Mario)Drumma Boy, Lil Jon3:19
13."Like a Stripper" (featuring Pleasure P & Shawty Putt)Lil Jon, Dre & Vidal3:33
14."Moist" (featuring Oobie)Lil Jon4:54
15."Every Freakin' Night" (featuring Naadei)Lil Jon3:30
16."What a Night" (featuring Claude Kelly)Steve Aoki, Lil Jon3:46
17."Shots" (LMFAO featuring Lil Jon)LMFAO, Lil Jon3:38
18."Work It Out" (featuring Pitbull)DJ Chuckie, Dave Moreaux, Silvio Ecomo, Lil Jon3:43
19."Machuka" (featuring Mr. Catra & Mulher Filé)Kassiano, Lil Jon3:10
20."Hey" (featuring 3OH!3)Dr. Luke, 3OH!3 & Lil Jon (co.)3:35

Charts
Chart (2010)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 49
U.S. Billboard Rap Albums 5
U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 8

References
  1. Paine, Jake (2009) "Drumma Boy Talks 17 Chart Tracks, Upcoming Projects Archived 2012-09-05 at the Wayback Machine", HipHopDX, May 14, 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  2. Rodriguez, Jayson (2010) "Lil Jon's Revamped Crunk Rock Trades Rock For 'Lifestyle' Music", MTV, May 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-04.
  3. "Lil Jon Drops His Crunk Rock In June | Lil Jon". Rap Basement. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2010-05-08.
  4. "Lil Jon Inks Solo And Label Deal With Universal Republic". XXL. Archived from the original on 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  5. Reid, Shaheem (2006) "Lil Jon Wants To Double His Gold By Becoming King Of Rock", MTV, May 18, 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  6. Reid, Shaheem (2006) "Name-Dropping Lil Jon Plans To Rock With Mariah, Snoop, R. Kelly", MTV, June 26, 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  7. "Lil Jon Chart History", Billboard.com. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  8. "Lil Jon : quelques infos sur Crunk Rock", Rap2K.com, 24 January 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  9. Tardio, Andres (2007) "Lil Jon Makes Crunk Rock Archived 2012-09-24 at the Wayback Machine", HipHopDX, 24 January 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  10. Colothan, Scott (2007) "Lil Jon Drafts In The Game, Ice Cube: For his upcoming crunk-rock album...", Gigwise.com, August 01, 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  11. Tardio, Andres (2007) "Lil Jon Resurfaces Archived 2012-09-24 at the Wayback Machine", HipHopDX, November 06, 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  12. Reid, Shaheem (2008) "Lil Jon Isn't A Rock Star Just Yet, But He's Keeping Busy With E-40, Extreme Athletes", MTV, March 7, 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  13. "Sixshot Bits: Brief News On Three 6 Mafia, Lil Jon, Trey Songz & J-Holiday Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine", SixShot.com, February 19, 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  14. Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (2008) "Rapper signs deal with The Orchard", Fox News, August 5, 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  15. Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (2008) "Lil Jon shifts from crunk to 'world music'", Fox News, August 13, 2008. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  16. Kreps, Daniel (2009) "Lil Jon Drops Rock and New Wave Mixtapes As “Crunk Rock” Approaches", Rolling Stone, March 23, 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  17. "Lil Jon annonce Crunk Rock pour novembre Archived 2010-01-09 at the Wayback Machine", Rap2K.com, 11 September 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  18. Castillo, Arielle (2009) "Lil Jon, the King of Crunk, Talks New Album, Pitbull, and Fine Wine With New Times", Broward-Palm Beach New Times, September 22, 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  19. Weingarten, Christopher R. (2009) "Lil Jon Teams With R. Kelly, Akon to Make Fans “Wild Out” to Party Album “Crunk Rock”", Rolling Stone, September 10, 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  20. Marr, Madeleine (2009) "Crunk king Lil Jon just wants to party", Miami Herald, September 11, 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  21. Grass, Damian (2009) "Rapper Lil Jon Sets out to Complete New Album", ABC, sourced from Associated Press, October 23, 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
  22. Lil Jon Rocks with R. Kelly, Game, and Soulja Boy on Solo Debut. Rap-Up.
  23. "Lil Jon: Summer Album Preview 2010", Billboard, May 27, 2010, retrieved 2010-05-31
  24. "Crunk Rock", Amazon.com, retrieved 2010-05-31
  25. "Crunk Rock (Deluxe Edition)", Amazon.com, retrieved 2010-06-03
  26. ""Machuka", novo clipe do Lil´Jon com Mulher Filé e Mr Catra". Papel Pop. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  27. "Week of November 21, 2009", billboard.com. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  28. "Crunk Rock – Lil Jon", Billboard.com, retrieved 2010-06-19
  29. "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 6/13/2010". Archived from the original on 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
  30. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11539/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-6-20-2010 Archived 2012-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 6/20/2010
  31. Jeffries, David. "Review: Crunk Rock". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  32. Kuperstein, Slava. "Review: Lil Jon – Crunk Rock". Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
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  34. Wallace, Emanuel. Review: Crunk Rock. RapReviews. Retrieved on 2010-06-09.
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