The Swarm (album)
1998 compilation album by Wu-Tang Killa Bees
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The Swarm is the first compilation album by American hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Killa Bees. It was released on July 21, 1998, via Wu-Tang/Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at Alien Flyers Studios and Firehouse Studios in New York. Production was handled by Wu-Tang Clan member the RZA, who also served as an executive producer and presenter. The album also featured additional production from The Wu-Elements, such as Mathematics, Darkim Be Allah, Bolo Gah, DJ Devastator, Inspectah Deck, Remedy and The Blaquesmiths.
| The Swarm | ||||
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | July 21, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1997–1998 | |||
| Studios | ||||
| Genre | Hip-hop | |||
| Length | 1:01:15 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Producers |
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| Wu-Tang Killa Bees chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Village Voice |  [2] |
It features contributions from Wu-Tang Clan members Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Method Man, Raekwon and RZA, and Wu-Tang affiliates A.I.G., Black Knights of the North Star, Killarmy, Remedy, Royal Fam, Ruthless Bastards, Shyheim, Street Life, Sunz of Man, Tha Beggas and Wu-Syndicate among others.
In the United States, the album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on February 10, 1999, for the sales of 500,000 units.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 0:30 | ||
| 2. | "The Legacy" (performed by Royal Fam) | RZA | 2:20 | |
| 3. | "Concrete Jungle" (performed by Sunz of Man) | RZA | 4:41 | |
| 4. | "Co-Defendant" (performed by Shyheim and Hell Razah) |
| RZA | 4:37 |
| 5. | "S.O.S." (performed by Inspectah Deck and Street Life) | Inspectah Deck | 3:42 | |
| 6. | "Execute Them" (performed by Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Street Life and Masta Killa) |
| RZA | 3:40 |
| 7. | "Bronx War Stories" (performed by A.I.G.) |
| Darkim Be Allah | 3:27 |
| 8. | "And Justice for All" (performed by RZA, Killarmy and Method Man) | RZA | 4:55 | |
| 9. | "Punishment" (performed by Black Knights of the North Star) |
| Mathematics | 4:54 |
| 10. | "Bastards" (performed by Ruthless Bastards) |
| The Blaquesmiths | 4:19 |
| 11. | "On the Strength" (performed by The Beggaz) |
| Bolo Gah | 5:01 |
| 12. | "Cobra Clutch" (performed by Ghostface Killah) |
| Mathematics | 3:42 |
| 13. | "Never Again" (performed by Remedy) | Ross Filler | Remedy | 4:09 |
| 14. | "Where Was Heaven" (performed by Wu-Syndicate) |
| DJ Devastator | 3:28 |
| 15. | "'97 Mentality" (performed by Cappadonna and Ghostface Killah) |
| RZA | 3:41 |
| 16. | "Fatal Sting" (performed by Black Knights of the North Star) |
| Mathematics | 4:09 |
| Total length: | 1:01:15 | |||
- Notes
- The "Intro" mentioned on the back cover, booklet and disc is not featured on the record itself.
- Track "Legacy" incorrectly listed as performed by A.I.G. in the booklet.
Personnel
- Timothy "Timbo King" Drayton – vocals (track 2)
- Chron "Hell Razah" Smith – vocals (tracks: 3, 4)
- Frederick "60 Second Assassin" Cuffie – vocals (track 3)
- Vergil "Prodigal Sunn" Ruff – vocals (track 3)
- Shyheim Franklin – vocals (track 4)
- Jason "Inspectah Deck" Hunter – vocals (tracks: 5, 6), producer (track 5)
- Patrick "Streetlife" Charles – vocals (tracks: 5, 6)
- Corey "Raekwon" Woods – vocals (track 6)
- Elgin "Masta Killa" Turner – vocals (track 6)
- A.I.G. – vocals (track 7)
- Robert "RZA" Diggs – vocals (track 8), producer (tracks: 2–4, 6, 8, 15), executive producer
- Rodney "Islord" Stevenson – vocals (track 8)
- Samuel "Beretta 9" Murray – vocals (track 8)
- Terrance "9th Prince" Hamlin – vocals (track 8)
- Clifford "Method Man" Smith – vocals (track 8)
- Quintarus "Crisis" Bennet – vocals (tracks: 9, 16)
- Reginald "Meko the Pharaoh" Dimeko – vocals (tracks: 9, 16)
- Deshawn Dante "Doc Doom!" Cunningham – vocals (tracks: 9, 16)
- Dewayne "Rugged Monk" Rose – vocals (tracks: 9, 16)
- Anthony "Holocaust" Brown – vocals (tracks: 9, 16)
- Andre "Christ Bearer" Johnson – vocals (tracks: 9, 16)
- Apocalipps – vocals (track 10)
- Blizzard – vocals (track 10)
- Iron Mic – vocals (track 10)
- Sha Gotti – vocals (track 10)
- Robert "Truck" Daniels – vocals (track 10)
- Buda Love – vocals (track 11)
- Dragonfly – vocals (track 11)
- Long Axe – vocals (track 11)
- Samo Heung – vocals (track 11)
- Dennis "Ghostface Killah" Coles – vocals (tracks: 12, 15)
- Ross "Remedy" Filler – vocals & producer (track 13)
- Timothy "Myalansky" Turner – vocals (track 14)
- Joseph "Joe Mafia" Outlaw – vocals (track 14)
- Corey "Napoleon" Hart – vocals (track 14)
- Darryl "Cappadonna" Hill – vocals (track 15)
- Donnie "Darkim Be Allah" Banks – producer (track 7)
- Ronald "Allah Mathematics" Bean – producer (tracks: 9, 12, 16)
- Mike McDonald – producer (track 10)
- Jorell Brand – producer (track 10)
- R. "Bolo Gah" Brown – producer (track 11)
- David "DJ Devastator" Walker – producer (track 14)
- Nolan Moffitte – engineering (tracks: 1–4, 6–12, 14–16)
- Steve Sola – engineering (track 5)
- Charlie Marotta – engineering (track 13)
- James Cruz – mastering
- Mitchell "Divine" Diggs – executive producer
- Sherin Baday – art direction, project coordinator
- Arlene Godfrey – project coordinator
- Jeff Trotter – A&R coordinator
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[3] | 36 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[4] | 29 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[5] | 81 |
| UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)[6] | 14 |
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[7] | 8 |
| US Billboard 200[8] | 4 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] | 3 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||