| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| RapReviews | 8/10[2] |
| The Source |  [3] |
Grey Skies is the only studio album by American hip hop group Crooked Lettaz. It was released on April 20, 1999 via Penalty Recordings. Production was handled by David Banner, Gensu Dean, Andy C and Pimp C. It features guest appearances from Aliou Diallo, Budz, J Da Groova, N.O.R.E., Pimp C, and Dirrt's Us. In the United States, the album peaked at number 75 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The album was supported with a 1998 promotional single "Caught Up In The Game" and a 1999 single "Firewater" b/w "Get Crunk".
Despite Crooked Lettaz's disbandment in early 2000s, members Kamikaze and David Banner would occasionally reuniting on various solo projects.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mama Lena Intro" | David Banner | 0:45 | |
| 2. | "Get Crunk" (featuring Pimp C) | Pimp C | 4:23 | |
| 3. | "Fire Water" (featuring Noreaga) |
| David Banner | 4:37 |
| 4. | "South's on My Mind" |
| David Banner | 4:09 |
| 5. | "Chicken and Swine" (featuring J Da Groova) |
| Andy C. | 3:59 |
| 6. | "Straight Outta Africa" (featuring Aliou Diallo) | Aliou Diallo | David Banner | 1:28 |
| 7. | "Daydreamin'" |
| David Banner | 4:05 |
| 8. | "A Girl Named Cim" |
| David Banner | 4:18 |
| 9. | "It's Ours" (featuring Us) |
| David Banner | 3:43 |
| 10. | "Tupelo" |
| David Banner | 4:43 |
| 11. | "Trill" |
|
| 6:14 |
| 12. | "Pimp Shit" (featuring Budz) |
| Andy C. | 4:25 |
| 13. | "Grey Skies" |
| Gensu Dean | 4:24 |
| 14. | "Brad's Interlude" | Gensu Dean | 0:46 | |
| 15. | "Caught in the Game" |
|
| 4:12 |
| 16. | "I Know" |
| David Banner | 4:45 |
| 17. | "Outro" | David Banner | 4:43 | |
| Total length: | 1:05:38 | |||
- Sample credits
- Track 2 contains replay elements of "Rockbox" written by Larry Smith, Darryl McDaniels and Joseph Simmons.
- Track 3 contains elements of "Let the Music Take Your Mind" written by Robert E. Bell, Ronald N. Bell, George Brown, Gene Redd, Robert Mickens, Claydes Smith, Woody Sparrow, Dennis Thomas and Richard Westfield and performed by Kool & the Gang and a sample of "Gwydion's Dream" written and performed by Robin Williamson.
- Track 7 contains re-played elements of "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" written by Thomas Randolph Bell and William Hart and elements from "Dirty South" written by Raymon Murray, Cameron Gipp, Antwan Patton, Patrick Brown, Rico Wade and Frederick Bell and performed by Goodie Mob.
- Track 12 contains elements from "Heat Down in the Alley" written by Douglas Fontaine Brown and performed by Southwind.
Personnel
- Lavell "David Banner" Crump – vocals, producer (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6-11, 16, 17), co-producer (track 15), recording (track 1), executive producer
- Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin – vocals, executive producer
- DJ Phinga Print – scratches, executive producer
- Chad "Pimp C" Butler – vocals & producer (track 2)
- Victor "Noreaga" Santiago – vocals (track 3)
- Daphne Mitchell – additional vocals (track 4)
- J. "J Da Groova" Martin – vocals (track 5)
- Aliou Diallo – vocals (track 6)
- J. Windom – vocals (track 9)
- D. Cross – vocals (track 9)
- Avon Marshall – background vocals (track 10), keyboards (tracks: 4, 10, 16)
- Kandii Saje – background vocals (track 11)
- A. "Budz" Cook – vocals (track 12)
- Jeff Davidson – guitar (tracks: 4, 16), bass (track 16), keyboards (track 17)
- Artie Reynolds – bass (track 4)
- Andy Craemer – keyboards (track 5), producer & engineering (tracks: 5, 12)
- Dale Morris – bass (track 10), recording (tracks: 8, 10, 16)
- Timothy Deal – keyboards & co-producer (track 11)
- Eddie "Gensu Dean" Alexander – producer (tracks: 13-15)
- Kevin Crouse – recording (tracks: 2, 6), mixing (tracks: 1-4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 16)
- Nastee – recording (tracks: 3, 9)
- Freddie Young – recording (tracks: 4, 7)
- Rae Nimeh – recording & mixing (tracks: 5, 12)
- Shawn Mackie – recording (track 13)
- Devon Kirkpatrick – recording (track 14)
- Won Bee – recording & mixing (track 17)
- Joe Quinde – mixing (track 8)
- Patrick Viala – mixing (track 9)
- D'Anthony Johnson – mixing (tracks: 13, 14)
- Michael Sarsfield – mastering
- Edwin Holmes – production coordinator
- Julian Alexander – art direction
- Daniel Hastings – photography
- Mayhem – A&R direction
- Karen Zweig – A&R administration
- Geno Sims – A&R coordination
- Carolyn Williams – management
Charts
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] | 75 |
References
- ^ Azpiri, Jon. "Grey Skies - Crooked Lettaz | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (May 13, 1999). "Crooked Lettaz :: Grey Skies – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ Braxton, Charlie R. (April 1999). "Record Report: Crooked Lettaz – Grey Skies". The Source. No. 115. New York. p. 198. Archived from the original on January 24, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ "Crooked Lettaz Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
External links
- Crooked Lettaz – Grey Skies at Discogs (list of releases)
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