One is the debut album by American alternative hip hop artist Me Phi Me.[2][3] It was released in 1992 via RCA Records.[4] Generally considered the first folk-rap album, One was a critics darling in the United States and Europe, though sales were limited. A fusion of acoustic guitars, spacey synthesizers, and live funk beats, the album established the Me Phi Me band as one of the more progressive hip-hop groups.
| ONE | |
|---|---|
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| Studio album by | |
| Released | 1992 |
| Genre | Alternative hip hop |
| Length | 53:28 |
| Label | BMG/RCA |
| Producer | Christopher Cuben-Tatum aka Cee Cee Tee (CCT)[1] |
The guitar intro of "Keep It Goin'" was sampled for the song "Here We Come," which Me Phi Me recorded for the film Strange Days.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [6] |
The New York Times called One "a radical departure," writing that "it's an odd mixture that uses pop music to express a democratic, pluralistic urge."[7] The Chicago Reader called it "unquestionably the loveliest rap album ever recorded."[8] The Washington Post hailed it as an album that "adventurous hip-hop fans should add to their collections."[3]
AllMusic called the album "an intriguing concept -- few rappers have attempted a folk-rap fusion, especially ones with neo-psychedelic overtones -- but [Me Phi Me's] songwriting isn't always capable of conveying his ideas."[5] The A.V. Club, in an article about the "least essential" albums of the 1990s, deemed the album's "hippified, folky space-rap" a trend that never caught on.[9]
Track listing
edit- 1. Intro: A Call to Arms (The Step) 1:54
- 2. The Credo 1:20
- 3. Sad New Day 5:28
- 4. Poetic Moment I: The Dream 3:74
- 5. Dream of You 3:56
- 6. Not My Brotha 4:17
- 7. Keep It Goin' 3:57
- 8. Poetic Moment II: The Streets :54
- 9. Black Sunshine 3:49
- 10. And I Believe (The Credo) 4:39
- 11. Pu' Sho Hands 2Getha 3:52
- 12. Poetic Moment III: The Light :31
- 13. Road to Life 4:24
- 14. It Ain't the Way It Was 4:59
- 15. (Think) Where Are You Going? 4:33
- 16. Return to Arms: In Closing :41
Personnel
edit- Me Phi Me – Vocals
- Christopher Cuben-Tatum – Producer, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Drums
- John Michael Falasz III – 12-String Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
- Michael Franks – Background Vocals
- Rags Murtaugh – Harmonica
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Accent Vocals
- Djivan Gasparyan – Armenian Dudek
- Count Bass D – Frat Stepping, Vocals
Chart positions
editBillboard Music Charts (North America) – singles:
- 1992 Sad New Day Hot 100 Singles No. 60
- 1992 Pu' Sho Hands 2Getha R&B Singles No. 71
References
edit- ^ "Me Phi Me". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ "Me Phi Me Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Griffin, Gil (July 17, 1992). "A Hip-Hop Away from the Campaign". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Me Phi Me Raps to a Different Tune : His debut album fuses hip-hop with an intellectual, folk-inflected approach". Los Angeles Times. August 29, 1992.
- ^ a b "One Me Phi Me". AllMusic.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (July 3, 1992). "Me Phi Me". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 6.
- ^ Watrous, Peter (July 15, 1992). "Pop Life; George Harrison Tour Produces Both CD's and New Attitudes". The New York Times.
- ^ Wyman, Bill. "Arrested Development/Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy/Me Phi Me". Chicago Reader.
- ^ "Least Essential Albums of the '90s". The A.V. Club.