Legal Drug Money is the debut studio album by American hip hop group the Lost Boyz. It was released on June 4, 1996, via Universal Records. The recording sessions took place at Greene St. Recording, Quad Recording Studios and D&D Studios in New York. It was produced by Big Dex, Mr. Sex, Easy Mo Bee, Big L, "Buttnaked" Tim Dawg, Dwarf the Black Prince, Pete Rock, member Mr. Cheeks, with Charles Suitt serving as co-producer and executive producer.

Legal Drug Money
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 4, 1996 (1996-06-04)
Recorded1994–1996
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length1:11:03
Label
Producer
Lost Boyz chronology
Legal Drug Money
(1996)
Love, Peace & Nappiness
(1997)
Singles from Legal Drug Money
  1. "Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless"
    Released: April 25, 1995 (1995-04-25)
  2. "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz"
    Released: August 22, 1995 (1995-08-22)
  3. "Renee"
    Released: January 30, 1996 (1996-01-30)
  4. "Music Makes Me High"
    Released: March 3, 1996 (1996-03-03)
  5. "The Yearn"
    Released: June 25, 1996 (1996-06-25)
  6. "Get Up"
    Released: July 17, 1996 (1996-07-17)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Muzik[2]
RapReviews7.5/10[3]
The Source[4]

The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on August 7, 1996.

It featured six singles: "Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless", "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz", "Renee", "Music Makes Me High", "The Yearn" and "Get Up". Five of the album's singles made it to US Billboard Hot 100. "Renee" previously was included in Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood: The Soundtrack and received Gold status by the RIAA. Slightly different version of the song "The Yearn" appeared on 1996 benefit compilation album America Is Dying Slowly.

Track listing

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No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Intro" Mr. Cheeks1:25
2."The Yearn"
  • Kelly
  • Rogers
 Pete Rock3:49
3."Music Makes Me High"
 
  • Mr. Sex
  • Charles Suitt[c]
4:31
4."Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz"
  • Kelly
  • Tim Patterson
Osten S. Harvey Jr.Easy Mo Bee4:32
5."Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless"KellyHarvey Jr.Easy Mo Bee4:21
6."Renee"KellyGarfield DuncanMr. Sex4:54
7."All Right"KellyDexter ArcherBig Dex5:50
8."Legal Drug Money"
  • Kelly
  • Rogers
  • Archer
  • Joe Quinde
Big Dex5:40
9."Get Up"KellyDuncanMr. Sex4:04
10."Is This Da Part"Kelly
  • Patterson
  • Quinde
Easy Mo Bee3:45
11."Straight From Da Ghetto"
  • Kelly
  • Patterson
  • Archer
  • Patterson
  • Big Dex
  • "Buttnaked" Tim Dawg
3:47
12."Keep It Real"KellyArcher
4:11
13."Channel Zero"KellyArcherBig Dex5:37
14."Da Game"Kelly Big Dex3:43
15."1, 2, 3"
  • Rogers
  • Kelly
Dwarf the Black PrinceDwarf the Black Prince6:53
16."Lifestyles of the Rich and Shameless (Remix)"Kelly Mr. Sex4:01
Total length:1:11:03
Notes
  • ^[a] signifies an additional lyricist.
  • ^[c] signifies a co-producer.
Sample credits[5]

Personnel

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  • Terrance "Mr. Cheeks" Kelly – lyrics, vocals (tracks: 4-7, 9-14, 16), producer (track 1)
  • Raymond "Freaky Tah" Rogers – lyrics (tracks: 1, 2, 8, 15), additional lyrics (track 3), vocals (tracks: 4-7, 9-14, 16)
  • Eric "Pretty Lou" Ruth – additional vocals (track 8), backing vocals (track 14)
  • Ronald "Spigg Nice" Blackwell – additional vocals (track 8), backing vocals (track 14)
  • Peter "Pete Rock" Philips – producer & mixing (track 2)
  • Garfield "Mr. Sexxx" Duncan – producer (tracks: 3, 6, 9, 16), recording (tracks: 3, 16), mixing (tracks: 3, 9, 16), production coordinator
  • Osten "Easy Mo Bee" Harvey Jr. – producer (tracks: 4, 5, 10)
  • Dexter "Big Dex" Archer – producer (tracks: 7, 8, 12-14), mixing (tracks: 12, 14)
  • Tim "Buttnaked Tim Dawg" Patterson – lyrics (tracks: 4, 11), producer (track 11), mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, 15), A&R, stylist
  • Lamont "Big L" Coleman – producer (track 12)
  • Dwarf The Black Prince – producer (track 15)
  • Charles Suitt – co-producer (track 3), executive producer, A&R, management
  • Joe Quinde – mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7, 11-15)
  • Jamie Staub – engineering (track 2)
  • Chris Barnett – recording (tracks: 3, 16), mixing (tracks: 3, 9, 16)
  • Michael Sarsfield – mastering
  • Sandie Lee Drake – art direction
  • Kenny Gravillis – design
  • Danny Clinch – photography
  • Kathy Baylor – A&R
  • Dino Delvaille – A&R
  • Lisa Lindo – stylist
  • Ericka Riggs – make-up

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Singles

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Year Song Chart positions
US Hot
100
[12]
US Hot
R&B
[13]
US Hot
Rap
US Hot
Dance
Sales
1995 "Lifestyles of the Rich & Shameless" 91 60 10 20
"Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" 67 63 11 21
1996 "Renee" 33 13 3 2
"Music Makes Me High" 51 28 5 3
1997 "Get Up" 60 31 6 4

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gizzi, Dan. "The Lost Boyz - Legal Drug Money Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  2. ^ Ashon, Will (August 1996). "The Lost Boyz: Legal Drug Money" (PDF). Muzik. No. 15. p. 127. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  3. ^ Jost, Matt (October 27, 2009). "Lost Boyz :: Legal Drug Money :: Universal Records". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Lewis, Miles Marshall (June 1996). "THE LOST BOYZ :: Legal Drug Money :: MCA". The Source. No. 81. p. 76.
  5. ^ Lost Boyz (1996). Legal Drug Money (liner notes). Universal Records. U2-53010.
  6. ^ "Lost Boyz | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  7. ^ "Lost Boyz, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Lost Boyz, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  11. ^ "American album certifications – Lost Boyz – Legal Drug Money". Recording Industry Association of America.
  12. ^ "The Lost Boyz - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  13. ^ "The Lost Boyz - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
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