Conspiracy (Junior M.A.F.I.A. album)
1995 studio album by Junior M.A.F.I.A.
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Conspiracy is the debut studio album by American hip-hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. It was released on August 29, 1995, through Big Beat Records with distribution via Atlantic Records.
- Sound On Sound (New York, NY)
- Unique Recording (New York, NY)
- Quad Recording Studios (New York, NY)
| Conspiracy | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 29, 1995 | |||
| Recorded | November 1994 – July 1995 | |||
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| Genres | ||||
| Length | 50:46 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Producers |
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| Junior M.A.F.I.A. chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Conspiracy | ||||
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The recording sessions took place at Sound on Sound Studios, Unique Recording Studios and Quad Recording Studios in New York City. The album was produced by DJ Clark Kent, Akshun, Daddy-O, Ez Elpee, Special Ed, Understanding, Lance "Un" Rivera, and the Notorious B.I.G., with the latter two also served as executive producers with Craig Kallman. It features a lone guest appearance from Jimmy Cozier.
In the United States, the album debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 69,000 copies in its first week.[1] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 6, 1995, for the sales of 500,000 units in the US alone.[2]
The album was supported by three singles with accompanying music videos: "Player's Anthem", "I Need You Tonight" and "Get Money".
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [4] |
| The Source | [5] |
Conspiracy was met with above average reviews from music critics. Nicholas Poluhoff of The Source called it "a solid debut LP, but there are some unoriginal moments that drag it down".[5] Cheo Hodari Coker of Los Angeles Times wrote that "overall The Conspiracy is like watching a kung-fu flick on video: you often have to fast-forward to the best fight scenes to remind you why you wanted to watch it in the first place."[4] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote, "Considering Ready to Die was one of the seminal hip-hop releases of the early '90s, Conspiracy could have been an inspired, enjoyable sequel; instead, it's a fitfully successful replication of the earlier record's strengths."[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | Lance Rivera | Lance "Un" Rivera | 2:42 |
| 2. | "White Chalk" |
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| 4:40 |
| 3. | "Excuse Me..." | Rivera | Lance "Un" Rivera | 0:50 |
| 4. | "Realms of Junior M.A.F.I.A." (featuring Jamal and The Notorious B.I.G.) |
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| 4:25 |
| 5. | "Player's Anthem" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.) |
| DJ Clark Kent | 5:22 |
| 6. | "I Need You Tonight" (featuring Faith Evans) |
| DJ Clark Kent | 4:28 |
| 7. | "Get Money" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.) |
| EZ Elpee | 4:34 |
| 8. | "I've Been..." | Rivera | Lance "Un" Rivera | 0:35 |
| 9. | "Crazaay" |
| DJ Clark Kent | 3:58 |
| 10. | "Back Stabbers" (featuring Jimmy Cozier) |
| Daddy-O | 5:34 |
| 11. | "Shot!" | Rivera | Lance "Un" Rivera | 0:55 |
| 12. | "Lyrical Wizardry" |
| Akshun | 3:52 |
| 13. | "Oh My Lord" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.) |
| Special Ed | 3:39 |
| 14. | "Murder Onze" |
| Akshun | 4:22 |
| 15. | "Outro" | Rivera | Lance "Un" Rivera | 0:41 |
| Total length: | 50:46 | |||
- Sample credits
- Track 4 contains elements from "UFO" performed by ESG.
- Track 5 contains elements from "La Di Da Di" written by Richard Walters and Douglas Davis and performed by Doug E. Fresh.
- Track 7 contains elements from "You Can't Turn Me Away" performed by Sylvia Striplin.
Personnel
- Rayshaun "Trife" Spain – performer (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 15)
- Antoine "Larceny" Spain – performer (tracks: 1, 2, 9, 14)
- Kimberly "Lil' Kim" Jones – performer (tracks: 1, 5–7, 10, 15)
- Understanding – performer (track 1), additional vocals (track 9), producer (track 2)
- Nino Brown – performer (track 1)
- Bugsy – performer (track 1)
- Mooch Dog – performer (track 1)
- Justice Rivera – performer (tracks: 3, 8), additional vocals (track 9), A&R coordinator
- Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace – performer (tracks: 4, 5, 7, 13), producer (track 4), executive producer
- Jamal Phillips – performer (track 4)
- James "Lil' Cease" Lloyd – performer (tracks: 4, 5)
- Cheek Del Vec – performer (tracks: 4, 14)
- Terrence "Klepto" Giddings – performer (tracks: 6, 12, 14)
- Troy Jernigan – additional vocals (track 9), A&R coordinator
- Money L – additional vocals (track 9)
- Jimmy Cozier – vocals (track 10)
- Edward "Special Ed" Archer – performer & producer (track 13)
- Jacob York – performer (track 15), additional vocals (track 9), associate executive producer, A&R coordinator
- Lance 'Un' Rivera – producer (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 11, 15), executive producer, design concept
- Glenn K. "Daddy-O" Bolton – producer (tracks: 2, 10), A&R coordinator
- Rodolfo "DJ Clark Kent" Franklin – producer (tracks: 4–6, 9), mixing (tracks: 2, 5–7, 9), associate executive producer
- Lamont "EZ Elpee" Porter – producer (track 7)
- Ronald "Akshun" Williams – producer (tracks: 12, 14)
- Kenny Ortiz – recording (tracks: 2, 4–7, 9, 10, 12–14), mixing (tracks: 1–3, 6–15)
- Rich Herrera – recording (tracks: 2, 5)
- Tony Smalios – mixing (track 5)
- Rick Essig – mastering
- Craig Kallman – executive producer
- Chris Callaway – art direction, design
- Chi Modu – photography
- Andre Lucy – A&R coordinator
- Rob "Reef" Tewlow – A&R coordinator
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[2] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||