Guerillas in tha Mist
1992 studio album by Da Lench Mob
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Guerillas in tha Mist is the debut studio album by American hip-hop group Da Lench Mob, who originally appeared on Ice Cube's debut solo album, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. The titular "Guerillas in tha Mist" was a hit at the release of the album. The album was produced by Ice Cube, who is also featured throughout the album though uncredited. The album peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200,[3] number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[4] and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 18, 1992, indicating US sales of over 500,000 units.[5] The single "Freedom Got an A.K." peaked at number 7 on the Hot Rap Songs.[6]
| Guerillas in tha Mist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 22, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | June 1991 – April 1992 | |||
| Studio | Echo Sound (Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | Gangsta rap[1] | |||
| Length | 41:24 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Producer | Ice Cube (also exec.) | |||
| Da Lench Mob chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Guerillas in tha Mist | ||||
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The album title is a pun on the popular movie title Gorillas in the Mist and guerrilla warfare. In the post-Los Angeles riot atmosphere of the album's release, the title was also perceived as a clever reference to a comment made by one of the police officers who had arrested Rodney King. Laurence Michael Powell, one of King's arresting officers, had described through radio message a domestic disturbance involving two blacks as something straight from Gorillas in the Mist. Powell's comment was considered highly racist, comparing black people to gorillas, and was used against the officer during the Rodney King trial.[7]
Commercial performance
The album was certified gold on December 18, 1992, selling over 500,000 copies.[8]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Los Angeles Times | [1] |
| RapReviews | 8/10[10] |
| The Source |  [11] |
The Los Angeles Times praised the "snarling raps, sharp humor, canny observations and fast, funky beats."[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Capital Punishment in America" | 1:55 |
| 2. | "Buck the Devil" | 4:28 |
| 3. | "Lost in tha System" | 3:34 |
| 4. | "You and Your Heroes" | 2:59 |
| 5. | "All on My Nut Sack" | 4:33 |
| 6. | "Guerillas in tha Mist" | 4:25 |
| 7. | "Lenchmob Also in the Group" | 1:47 |
| 8. | "Ain't Got No Class" (featuring B-Real) | 3:35 |
| 9. | "Freedom Got an A.K." | 3:03 |
| 10. | "Ankle Blues" | 2:47 |
| 11. | "Who Ya Gonna Shoot wit That" | 2:43 |
| 12. | "Lord Have Mercy" | 3:40 |
| 13. | "Inside the Head of a Black Man" | 1:55 |
| Total length: | 41:24 | |
Notes
- Tracks 2, 4, 5, 6 and 9 featured uncredited vocals by Ice Cube.
Personnel
- Terry "T-Bone" Gray – vocals, co-producer
- Jerome "Shorty" Muhammad – vocals
- DaSean "J-Dee" Cooper – vocals
- O'Shea Jackson – vocals (tracks: 2, 4–6, 9), producer, executive producer
- Louis Freese – vocals (track 8)
- Derrick A. Baker – co-producer
- James Rashad Coes – co-producer
- Mister Woody – co-producer
- Bob Morris – engineering
- Mike Calderon – engineering
- Brian Knapp Gardner – mastering
- Ed Korengo – mixing
- Kevin Hosmann – art direction
- Mario Castellanos – photography
Charts
| Chart (1992–1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200[12] | 24 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[13] | 4 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[8] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||