Off the Hook (Xscape album)

Off the Hook is the second studio album by American R&B group Xscape. It was released on July 14, 1995, through So So Def Recordings and Sony Music Entertainment.[1] The album was produced by Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, and Daryl Simmons and features a guest appearance by MC Lyte. Off the Hook was preceded by the release of four singles — "Feels So Good", "Who Can I Run To" and "Can't Hang/Do You Want To".

Off the Hook
Studio album by Xscape
Released	July 14, 1995
Length	44:37
Label	So So Def Columbia
Producer	Jermaine Dupri Organized Noize Daryl Simmons
Xscape chronology
Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha (1993) Off the Hook (1995) Traces of My Lipstick (1998)
Singles from Off The Hook
"Feels So Good" Released: June 6, 1995 "Who Can I Run To" Released: October 3, 1995 "Can't Hang/Do You Want To" Released: February 2, 1996

The album debuted at number twenty-three on the US Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[2][3] It was eventually certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 16, 1995[4] and won the 1996 Soul Train Music Award for R&B/Soul Album of the Year – Group, Band or Duo.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[5]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[6]
The Source	(favorable)[7]
Vibe	(positive)[7]

In his review for Allmusic, senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "an improvement on their first record, demonstrating gains both in terms of music and lyrics [...] While they are still sexual on their second album, Off the Hook, it doesn't overwhelm the music as it did on their debut. Recording with producers Dupri, Daryl Simmons, and Organized Noize on various tracks, the group has developed into impressive musicians, with a thorough grasp of slow, seductive soul and slick funk. Off the Hook may run a little long – the 12 songs clock in at well over an hour – but the record proves that Xscape has staying power."[5]

Track listing

Off the Hook — Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Do Your Thang"	Isaac Hayes	Jermaine Dupri	1:51
2.	"Feels So Good"	Dupri Carl So-Lowe	Dupri So-Lowe^[a]	3:32
3.	"Hard to Say Goodbye"	Xscape Dupri So-Lowe Manuel Seal	Dupri	3:45
4.	"Can't Hang" (featuring MC Lyte)	Xscape Dupri So-Lowe Lana Moorer	Dupri	3:46
5.	"Who Can I Run To"	Charles Simmons Frank Alstin, Jr. Richard Roebuck	Dupri	3:37
6.	"Hip Hop Barber Shop Request Line"	Eddie Weathers Dupri Clifford Smith Robert Riggs	Dupri	0:49
7.	"Do You Want to"	Daryl Simmons	Simmons	5:42
8.	"What Can I Do"	Xscape Dupri Muhammad Bell Larry Troutman Roger Troutman Shirley Murdock Eric Sadler Hank Shocklee Ricky Walters	Dupri	3:05
9.	"Do Like Lovers Do"	Xscape Dupri Lowe	Dupri So-Lowe^[a]	3:46
10.	"Work Me Slow"	Simmons	Simmons Dupri^[a]	4:12
11.	"Love's a Funny Thing"	Kevin Kendricks	Dupri So-Lowe^[a]	5:27
12.	"Keep It on the Real"	Brandon Bennett Erika Nuri Organized Noize	Organized Noize	4:23

Notes

• ^{^a} denotes co-producer

Credits and personnel

Musicians

• Preston Crump, LaMarquis "Mark" Jefferson, Zachary Scott – bass
• Randy Hutchinson – drums
• Tommy Martin – guitar
• Bruno Speight – guitar
• Delores Major – violin
• Lomax Spaulding – guitar
• Ralph Stacy – bass

Production

• Executive producers: Jermaine Dupri, Michael Mauldin,
• Producers: Jermaine Dupri, Carl-So-Lowe, Organized Noize, Daryl Simmons
• Vocal assistance: Organized Noize, Xscape
• Engineers: Thom "TK" Kidd, Phil Tan, Bernasky Wall
• Assistant engineers: John Frye, Thomas Rickert
• Mixing: Mick Guzauski, Daryl Simmons, Phil Tan
• Mixing assistance: John Frye, Kevin Lively, Alex Lowe, Thomas Rickert
• Programming: Felipe Elgueta, John "J.R." Robinson, Glen Woodward

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position US Billboard 200[8] 23 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] 3

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] 27

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Off the Hook by Xscape on Apple Music". Apple Music (U.S. Store). Retrieved 28 November 2017.
2. "Xscape Off the Hook Chart History Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
3. "Xscape Off the Hook Chart History Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
4. "American album certifications – Xscape". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 November 2017. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
5. Allmusic review
6. Entertainment Weekly review
7. Album reviews at CD Universe
8. "Xscape Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
9. "Xscape Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
10. "Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
11. "American album certifications – Xscape – Off the Hook". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 25, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.