Redman: Whut? Thee Album [DEF JAM]

Why you'll love it

This reissue brings the 1992 original back on vinyl, pressed in the EU. Whut? Thee Album went gold within a year, and The Source named it one of its 100 Best Rap Albums in 1998.

This edition

• Pressed in the EU
• Stereo mix

About the album

Born Reggie Noble, Redman DJed clubs and parties before he started rhyming at 16, inspired by the comedy raps of Biz Markie. He got his break the way you'd hope a rapper would: at a backstage freestyle cipher, where Erick Sermon of EPMD heard him and invited him to perform during their set. Guest spots on EPMD's Business as Usual followed, Q-Tip pushed for him at Rush Management, and Def Jam signed him in 1991.

Sermon co-produced most of the album and Pete Rock lent a hand, giving it that thick EPMD funk, but Redman was largely left alone in the studio to learn the craft on the job. "Time 4 Sum Aksion," "Blow Your Mind" and "So Ruff" ride booming drums, "Da Funk" and "Tonight's Da Night" lean into the party, and "Redman Meets Reggie Noble" shows off the comic timing that made him a star.

It debuted at No. 59 on the Billboard 200, climbed to No. 49 the following week and has been called a hip hop classic ever since. Being left alone to work it out yourself is also how most of us learned the till, with rather less funky results.

Also at Kops: more Redman on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On Def Jam / Rush Associated Labels (cat# 0019995794805), a reissue of the 1992 album.