In a Word or 2
In a Word or 2 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 23 March 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1992–1993 | |||
Genre | Hip hop, new jack swing | |||
Length | 50:27 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. Records 45054 Cooltempo/Chrysalis/EMI Records 0946 3 21993 2 4 F2-21993 | |||
Producer | Marley Marl[1] Prince Aaron "Freedom" Lyles Steve "Silk" Hurley | |||
Monie Love chronology | ||||
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Singles from In a Word or 2 | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Music Week | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 7/10[7] |
Orlando Sentinel | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
In a Word or 2 is the second and final album released by rapper Monie Love.[9] It was released on 23 March 1993 by Warner Bros. Records and was mostly produced by Marley Marl. Prince cowrote and coproduced the title track and "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."[10] Monie and producer Aaron "Freedom" Lyles produced the song "I'm a Believer," while producer/remixer Steve "Silk" Hurley was brought in for additional production and remix for the first single "Born to B.R.E.E.D."
Although In a Word or 2 did not chart on the UK Albums Chart or the US Billboard Top 200 Album chart, it reached No. 75 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 36 on the US Top Heatseekers chart. Two singles charted in the US: "Full Term Love" peaked at No. 96 and "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." reached No. 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Critical reception
[edit]AllMusic wrote that "Love's musical voice and singsong delivery are still in effect, but her raps are decidedly more aggressive, lacking the playful air of her first record."[2] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music called the album "another challenging and articulate set ... informed by Love's recent experience of motherhood."[4] The Los Angeles Times wrote: "A combination of substance and sass, Monie Love’s second album is tougher and funkier than the pop-hop featured on 1990’s Down to Earth.”[5] Trouser Press opined that "only 'There’s a Better Way,' a cautionary story about HIV, hits the right mix of music and mind."[11]
Track listing
[edit]- "Wheel of Fortune"- 3:55
- "Greasy"- 4:08
- "Sex U All"- 5:03
- "Mo' Monie"- 4:14
- "I'm a Believer"- 3:43
- "Let a Woman B a Woman"- 4:15
- "Full Term Love"- 4:44
- "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."- 4:06
- "In a Word or 2"- 3:36
- "There's a Better Way"- 3:58
- "4 da Children"- 4:26
- "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." (Hip-Hop Mix)- 4:12
Weekly charts
[edit]Chart (1993) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[12][13] | 147 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b May, Mitchell. "Monie Love In A Word Or 2..." chicagotribune.com.
- ^ a b "In a Word or 2 - Monie Love | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Monie Love". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 349.
- ^ a b "MONIE LOVE"In a Word or 2" Warner..." Los Angeles Times. 2 May 1993.
- ^ Jones, Alan (27 March 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 31. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
- ^ Moody, Paul (3 April 1993). "Long Play". NME. p. 28. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (16 April 1993). "Monie Love". Orlando Sentinel.
- ^ "Monie Love | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ "SOUND BITES". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Monie Love". Trouser Press. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 1 July 1991". Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Monie Love ARIA Chart history (1988-2024)". ARIA. Retrieved 28 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.