Black Gold (Kutt Calhoun album)

Black Gold is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kutt Calhoun. It was released on February 26, 2013, through Strange Music, making it his final full-length for the label.[1] Production was handled by Seven and Monsta Muzik. It features guest appearances from Ben-G Da Prince of Soul, BG Bulletwound, Bishop Don Dotta, Brotha Lynch Hung, Krizz Kaliko, Nesto The Owner, Ron Ron, Snug Brim, Tech N9ne and The Popper.

Black Gold
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 26, 2013 (2013-02-26)
Recorded2011–2012
GenreHip hop
Length59:28
LabelStrange Music
Producer
Kutt Calhoun chronology
Raw and Un-Kutt
(2010)
Black Gold
(2013)
Kuttin Loose
(2015)
Singles from Black Gold
  1. "Self Preservation"
    Released: February 1, 2013
  2. "I Been Dope"
    Released: 2013

The album debuted at number 120 on the Billboard 200, number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 13 on the Top Rap Albums,[2] number 22 on the Independent Albums and topped the Heatseekers Albums charts, with first-week sales of 4,300 copies in the United States.[3]

Critical response

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
HipHopDX3.5/5[5]

AllMusic's David Jeffries gave the album three and a half stars out of five, saying "crafting a thug party anthem out of a Willy Wonka line ("I Don't Like the Look of It") and using the '70s sitcom Three's Company as inspiration for a strip club jam ("Jack Tripper") rapper Kutt Calhoun is still the Strange Music label's strongest link to the streets, but here, he's certainly upped the funny. Maybe it's hanging around label boss Tech N9ne, who guest stars on the great "I Been Dope" ("I been dope since Reaganomics/Son of a crack fiend, holla at me"), but most of the exciting moments on Black Gold are when Kutt goes weird and/or wild, or maybe even novelty".[4] Edwin Ortiz of HipHopDX also gave the album three and a half out of five, saying "Black Gold revels in its ability to highlight the unique approach of Strange Music while still sounding refreshingly conventional. At 35 years young, Kutt Calhoun is picking up traction when other rappers would be given the checkered flag. Underappreciated or not, that's something that won't go unnoticed".[5]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Self Preservation" (featuring Krizz Kaliko)Seven3:51
2."501s and Rightsides" (featuring Brotha Lynch Hung)
Seven3:36
3."I Been Dope" (featuring Tech N9NE)
Seven4:33
4."I Don't Like the Look of It"
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Summers
Seven3:18
5."See What Had Happened Was"
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Summers
Seven4:00
6."Same Thing"
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Summers
Seven4:18
7."Jack Tripper"
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Summers
Seven3:25
8."Anthem"
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Summers
Seven3:49
9."It's Goin' Down" (featuring BG Bulletwound and Snug Brim)
Monsta Muzik4:59
10."Baby Mama Drama" (featuring Bishop Don Dotta)
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Ernest Dixon
  • Summers
Seven4:36
11."That's My Word"
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Summers
Seven4:15
12."Hello and Goodbye"
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Summers
Seven4:48
13."In They Honor" (featuring Ben-G da Prince of Soul)
  • Calhoun Jr.
  • Benjamin E. Givens IV
  • Summers
Seven5:00
14."I Been Dope: The Town Remix" (featuring The Popper, Ron Ron and Nesto The Owner)
Seven5:00
Total length:59:28
Strange Music website pre-order bonus download track
No.TitleLength
15."Heart 2 Heart" (featuring Krizz Kaliko)4:21

Personnel

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  • Melvin "Kutt Calhoun" Calhoun, Jr. – vocals
  • Samuel "Krizz Kaliko" Watson – additional vocals (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7)
  • Kevin "Brotha Lynch Hung" Mann – additional vocals (track 2)
  • Aaron D. "Tech N9NE" Yates – additional vocals (tracks: 3, 5)
  • Gregory "B.G. Bulletwound" Roland – additional vocals (tracks: 5, 9)
  • Manzila "Makzilla" Queen – additional vocals (track 5)
  • Benjamin E. "Ben-G da Prince of Soul" Givens IV – additional vocals (tracks: 6, 13)
  • Aaron "Snug Brim" Henderson – additional vocals (track 9)
  • Ernest "Bishop Young Don" Dixon – additional vocals (track 10)
  • Walter "The Popper" Edwin – additional vocals (track 14)
  • Ronald "Ron Ron" White – additional vocals (track 14)
  • Ernesto "Nesto The Owner" Edwards – additional vocals (track 14)
  • Michael "Seven" Summers – producer (tracks: 1-8, 10-14)
  • Tylan M. "Monsta Muzik" Briscoe – producer (track 9)
  • Ben Cybulsky – mixing
  • Tom Baker – mastering
  • Travis O'Guin – executive producer, A&R
  • Dave Weiner – A&R
  • James Meierotto – photography

Charts

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Chart (2013) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 120
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 25
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[8] 13
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[9] 22
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[10] 1

References

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  1. ^ Paine, Jake (February 2, 2013). "Kutt Calhoun "Black Gold" Tracklist & Cover Art". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Ramirez, Rauly (August 23, 2013). "Strange Music Rules on Rap Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Horowitz, Steven (March 6, 2013). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 3/3/2013". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Black Gold - Kutt Calhoun | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Ortiz, Edwin (February 26, 2013). "Kutt Calhoun - Black Gold". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "Top Rap Albums". Billboard. March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "Independent Albums". Billboard. March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2024.