Autobiography of Mistachuck

Autobiography of Mistachuck is the debut solo studio album by Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.[1] It was released on October 22, 1996, via Mercury Records.[2] It peaked at No. 190 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned one single, "No”.

Autobiography of Mistachuck
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 22, 1996
Recorded1996
Studio
  • The Music Palace (New York, NY)
  • Kala Studios (Atlanta, GA)
  • Sonic Sound Studios (Freeport, NY)
  • Platinum Island Studios (New York, NY)
  • Soundtrack Studios (New York, NY)
GenrePolitical hip hop
Length53:18
LabelMercury
Producer
Chuck D chronology
Autobiography of Mistachuck
(1996)
The Black in Man
(2014)
Singles from Autobiography of Mistachuck
  1. "No"
    Released: September 3, 1996

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Robert ChristgauA−[4]
Los Angeles Times    [5]
Muzik     [6]
RapReviews8/10[7]
Rolling Stone     [8]
USA Today    [9]

The Los Angeles Times wrote: "Turning to his roots—hard-hitting jazz-funk beats, proud urban poetry, the righteous fire of both the pulpit and the Panthers and an abundance of sports metaphors—he's pounded together a defiantly old-school document that seeks answers for the present in the past."[5] The Toronto Star said that Chuck "sounds in dire need of inspiration, having descended to the depths of rapping about talk shows and hyping his personal 1-800 message line."[10] USA Today determined that "with hard-driving beats that recall old school soul and funk and a voice that many vocalists would envy, Chuck D is as provocative as ever."[9]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mistachuck"
  • Gerald "Soul G." Stevens
  • Chuck D
  • Kerwin "Sleek" Young
4:23
2."No"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • K. Jason
  • M. Harrison
  • Mark "Mr. Elite" Harrison
  • Chuck D
4:32
3."Generation Wrekkked"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • K. Jason
  • A. Dubose
  • Abnes "Abnormal" Dubose
  • Chuck D
4:05
4."Niggativity...Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?"
Gary G-Wiz4:18
5."Free Big Willie"
  • Gerald "Soul G." Stevens
  • Chuck D
  • Kerwin "Sleek" Young
4:40
6."Horizontal Heroin"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • K. Young
  • R. Griffin
  • Chuck D
  • Kerwin "Sleek" Young
1:43
7."Talk Show Created the Fool"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • A. Dubose
  • C. Brewser
Abnes "Abnormal" Dubose5:32
8."Underdog"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • G. Rinaldo
Gary G-Wiz4:12
9."But Can You Kill the Nigga in You?"
4:59
10."Endonesia"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • G. Stevens
  • K. Young
  • M. Watkins
  • R. Harding
  • S. Dash
  • Gerald "Soul G." Stevens
  • Chuck D
4:47
11."The Pride"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • G. Stevens
  • C. Dehaney
  • M. Williams
  • Gerald "Soul G." Stevens
  • Chuck D
  • Carl Demann
4:26
12."Paid"
  • C. Ridenhour
  • G. Rinaldo
  • K. Walker
  • M. Key
  • S. Dash
Gary G-Wiz5:41
Total length:53:18

Charts

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Chart (1996) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[11] 190
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12] 47

References

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  1. ^ Weisbard, Eric (Oct 1996). "Whatever". Spin. Vol. 12, no. 7. p. 139.
  2. ^ Piccoli, Sean (22 Oct 1996). "Chuck D Still Fights the Power". Sun Sentinel. p. 3E.
  3. ^ Autobiography of Mistachuck at AllMusic
  4. ^ Robert Christgau review
  5. ^ a b Hochman, Steve (20 Oct 1996). "Pop Music". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 86.
  6. ^ Ashon, Will (October 1996). "Chuck D: Autobiography Of Mistachuck" (PDF). Muzik. No. 17. p. 128. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  7. ^ RapReviews review
  8. ^ Rolling Stone review
  9. ^ a b Jones, Steve (22 Oct 1996). "R&B/Rap". USA Today. p. 8D.
  10. ^ Howell, Peter (26 Oct 1996). "Chuck D Autobiography of Mistachuck". Toronto Star. p. J16.
  11. ^ "Chuck D Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  12. ^ "Chuck D Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2020.