Be a Man is the debut studio album by American professional wrestler "Macho Man" Randy Savage. It was released on October 7, 2003 by Big3 Records.[1][2][3] The song "Perfect Friend" was written as a tribute to "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig,[4] while the title track is a diss song aimed at Hulk Hogan.
| Be a Man | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | October 7, 2003 |
| Recorded | 2003 |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Length | 45:53 |
| Label | Big3 Records |
| Producer | Da Raskulls |
Recording and release
editSavage was offered the opportunity to record Be a Man after meeting Bill Edwards, the chairman of St. Petersburg, Florida-based Big3 Records. The label's in-house production team, Da Raskulls, wrote and produced the album; Savage is credited as co-composer of "Be a Man" and his brother, Lanny Poffo, wrote the lyrics of "Perfect Friend."[5]
In a 2003 interview, Savage said his feud with Hulk Hogan, the subject of the title track, was genuine, and that his entry into music was earnest. "I'm just trying to have fun, but I can't stress enough that this isn't a novelty act. I'm in this for the long haul," Savage said.[6]
In 2023, the album was released as vinyl LP for the first time as a Record Store Day exclusive.[7]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| RapReviews | 4/10[9] |
| Sputnikmusic | [10] |
Be a Man sold approximately 15,000 copies.[11] Though the album was critically panned,[10][8] it did receive some tongue-in-cheek reviews with hyperbolic praise. The Good 5¢ Cigar, the student newspaper of the University of Rhode Island, wrote that Be a Man would "change not only the entire music industry, but your life as you know it. Every song on [the album] is better than any other song you've heard in your life."[12] Ernest A. Jasmin of The News Tribune said Savage is "the epitome of [a] renaissance man", and that his rapping is "way better than Shaquille O'Neal's."[13] Tom Mallon of CMJ New Music Monthly said Savage's flow is "surprisingly tight for a middle-aged, musclebound beef jerky salesman with an audible constipation problem."[14]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 0:47 |
| 2. | "I'm Back" | 3:19 |
| 3. | "R U Ready" | 4:15 |
| 4. | "Hit the Floor" (featuring DJ Kool) | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Let's Get It On" | 2:38 |
| 6. | "Remember Me" | 4:01 |
| 7. | "Tear It Up" | 3:20 |
| 8. | "Macho Thang" (featuring Aja) | 2:59 |
| 9. | "Be a Man" | 3:00 |
| 10. | "Get Back" | 3:25 |
| 11. | "Feel the Madness" | 3:20 |
| 12. | "What's That All About" | 3:43 |
| 13. | "Gonna Be Trouble" | 3:36 |
| 14. | "Perfect Friend" (featuring Prymary Colorz) | 3:54 |
References
edit- ^ "'Macho Man' Savage Cuts Rap LP, Tells Hulk Hogan To Be A Man". Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "The Bizarre Rap Career Of Macho Man Randy Savage". Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Remembering Macho Man Randy Savage, More Than 'The Slim Jim Guy'". Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ^ "Macho Man Randy Savage: Reliving the Pain That Was His Rap Album". Archived from the original on August 15, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ Kangas, Chaz (June 11, 2015). "The Real Story Behind "Macho Man" Randy Savage's Rap Album". Complex. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Millard, Pauline M. (October 16, 2003). "Macho Madness". The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. The Associated Press. p. A8.
- ^ Dunn, Thom (February 19, 2023). ""Macho Man" Randy Savage's rap album is finally getting a vinyl release". BoingBoing. Archived from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ a b "Be a Man - Randy Savage | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
- ^ "Macho Man Randy Savage :: Be a Man :: Big3 Records". Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "Macho Man Randy Savage - be a Man (Album review )". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
- ^ Piellucci, Mike (October 8, 2015). "Throwback Thursday: Inside "Be a Man," Macho Man Randy Savage's Ridiculous Rap Album". Vice. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "Big3 Records". Big3Records.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Jasmin, Ernest A. (November 7, 2003). "Wrestler Can Expect Slams in New Role as Rapper". The News Tribune. p. GO-5.
- ^ Mallon, Tom (November 2003). "Quickfix". CMJ New Music Monthly. p. 10. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2024.