Crunk Juice

Summary

Crunk Juice is the fifth and final studio album by American Southern hip hop group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz.[1] It was released on November 16, 2004, under BME Recordings and TVT Records. The production was primarily handled by Lil Jon himself, who also collaborated in the executive production, alongside Bryan Leach, Rob McDowell, Emperor Searcy, Vince Phillips, the Neptunes and Rick Rubin. The album includes guest appearances from rappers and singers, like R. Kelly, Ludacris, Ice Cube, Usher, Bun B from UGK, Jadakiss, Nas, T.I., the Ying Yang Twins and Pharrell.

Crunk Juice
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 16, 2004
Recorded2003–04
Genre
Length74:54
Label
Producer
Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz chronology
Part II
(2003)
Crunk Juice
(2004)
Lil Jon chronology
Part II
(2003)
Crunk Juice
(2004)
MTV VMA Score
(2005)
Singles from Crunk Juice
  1. "What U Gon' Do"
    Released: November 2, 2004
  2. "Lovers & Friends"
    Released: November 9, 2004
  3. "Real Nigga Roll Call"
    Released: December 21, 2004

Lil Jon's next solo album, Crunk Rock, released on June 8, 2010, did not feature the East Side Boyz. As of 2022, Crunk Juice remains as the last release to feature the East Side Boyz.

Singles edit

Crunk Juice was supported by four singles.

Lead single "What U Gon' Do" was released on November 2, 2004.[2]

The second single "Lovers & Friends", was released on November 9, 2004.

The third single "Real Nigga Roll Call", was released on December 21, 2004.

The fourth single "Get Crunk", was released on vinyl.

Commercial performance edit

Crunk Juice debuted at number 31 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[3] In its second week, the album jumped to number three on the Billboard 200, selling 363,000 copies.[4] It became Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz' first top-ten album in the United States. In the third week, the album remained in the top-ten on the Billboard 200, selling 196,000 copies.[5] The album was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA on January 12, 2005.[6]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllHipHop     [7]
AllMusic     [8]
Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionC+[9]
Creative Loafing AtlantaMixed[10]
Entertainment WeeklyC[11]
The Guardian     [12]
NME4/10[13]
PopMattersUnfavorable[14]
Prefix     [15]
RapReviews8/10[16]
Rolling Stone     [17]
StylusB+[18]
USA Today    [19]

Crunk Juice received a wide range of reviews. Rating the album four stars out of five, David Jeffries of AllMusic called the album "just as exciting and remarkably powerful" as Back in Black by AC/DC, adding: "Production by production, record by record, Lil Jon has become a more detailed producer."[8] Steve Jones of USA Today, rating the album three out of four stars, praised the album for "show[ing] that crunk comes in more than one flavor" in the R&B-themed "Lovers & Friends" and what he called an "experiment in crunk rock" in the Rick Rubin-produced "Stop Fuckin' With Me".[19]

In contrast, for a three-and-a-half stars out of five review, Orisanmi Burton of AllHipHop commented: "What the album lacks in artistry and maturity, it makes up for in energy and rhythm."[7] Critics in Lil Jon's hometown Atlanta also offered mixed reviews. Sonia Murray of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution called Lil Jon a "more numbingly simple chanter than noteworthy rapper...[who] now has the cachet to get A-list acts to join in on the inanity."[9]Creative Loafing Atlanta expressed shock at the presence of "Lovers & Friends", with one critic calling it "something they'd play at an eighth-grade dance."[10] Neil Drumming of Entertainment Weekly graded the album with a C, calling the songs "practically all hook...recited ad nauseam in Jon’s throaty growl...with over-the-top vitriolic rants and nausea-inducing misogyny."[11]

Other reviews were more scathing. Lee Henderson of PopMatters called Lil Jon "the Raffi of gangsta rap" due to "reduc[ing] rap to endless and incredibly stupid choruses of nasty-talk" in the album.[14] Matt Ozga of Prefix panned the album for what he called Lil Jon's "questionable ability as a producer" and "fingernails-on-an-eardrum voice" and lyrics with "vile, witless anti-woman venom", in rating the album 2.5 out of five points.[15] Pete Cashmore of NME rated the album four points out of 10: "It’s almost laughably one-note, devoid of nuance, stunted of vocabulary and aeons too long."[13]

Flavored malt beverage edit

Crunk Juice is also the name of a once popular flavoured malt beverage launched by Gila Brew Co., LLC. It was made by 7th Street Brewing. They announced in 2011 they were going to relaunch the brand and have new package designs and a new flavours with a smoother taste. It was made available to purchase in several major US cities like Philadelphia.[20]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)[21]Length
1."Crunk Juice"
Lil Jon0:57
2."Get Crunk" (featuring Bo Hagon)
  • Smith
  • Cederic Leonard
  • McDowell
  • Norris
  • Lil Jon
  • Lil Jay
4:18
3."What U Gon' Do" (featuring Lil Scrappy)
Lil Jon5:20
4."Real Nigga Roll Call" (featuring Ice Cube)
  • Smith
  • O.B. Jackson
  • McDowell
  • Norris
Lil Jon5:08
5."Bo Hagon's Phone Call (skit)" (featuring Bo Hagon) Lil Jon1:21
6."Da Blow" (featuring Gangsta Boo)
  • Lil Jon
  • Young Snipe (co.)
5:59
7."Contract" (featuring Trillville, Jazze Pha, and Pimpin' Ken)Lil Jon5:53
8."E-40 Choppin' (skit)" (featuring E-40) Lil Jon0:41
9."White Meat" (featuring 8Ball & MJG)Lil Jon4:47
10."Stop Fuckin' wit Me"Rick Rubin5:58
11."Chris Rock Let's Be Friends (skit)" (featuring Chris Rock)Chris RockLil Jon0:09
12."Lovers & Friends" (featuring Usher and Ludacris)Lil Jon4:20
13."One Night Stand" (featuring Oobie)
  • Corey Evans
  • Love
  • Smith
  • Larry Linn
  • LaMarquis Mark Jefferson
  • Norris
  • Tenaia Sanders
Lil Jon4:33
14."Aww Skeet Skeet" (featuring DJ Flexx)
  • Benny Harley
  • Smith
  • Keith Clagon
  • Raymond Brown
DJ Flexx, Scotty Beats (co.)4:45
15."Chris Rock in da Club (skit)" (featuring Chris Rock)RockLil Jon0:26
16."In da Club" (featuring R. Kelly and Ludacris)
  • Harley
  • Smith
  • Clagon
  • Brown
Lil Jon4:29
17."Bitches Ain't Shit" (featuring Nate Dogg, Suga Free, Snoop Dogg, and Oobie)Lil Jon4:36
18."Chris Rock Get Lower (skit)" (featuring Chris Rock)RockLil Jon0:33
19."Stick Dat Thang Out (Skeezer)" (featuring Pharrell and Ying Yang Twins)The Neptunes3:55
20."Grand Finale" (featuring Bun B, Jadakiss, T.I., Nas, and Ice Cube)Lil Jon6:48

Notes

  • Track 6 contains samples of the remix of "Sippin' & Spinnin' [Remix]", as performed by Gangsta Boo, Playa Fly, and Bun B.[22]
  • Track 10 contains samples of "Mandatory Suicide" and "Raining Blood", as performed by Slayer.
  • Track 12 contains samples of "Lovers and Friends", as performed by Michael Sterling.
  • Track 17 contains samples of "Tonight", as performed by Kleeer; and contains an interpolation of "Saturday Love", as performed by Alexander O'Neal and Cherrelle.
  • Early pressings of this album erroneously credited Fat Joe (rather than Jadakiss) as one of the rappers in "The Grand Finale".

Bonus remix disc edit

Confirmed by Artist Direct.

Bonus remix disc[23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Vivica A. Fox (Intro)" (featuring Vivica A. Fox)V. FoxLil Jon0:19
2."What U Gon' Do (Jamaica Remix)" (featuring Elephant Man and Lady Saw)J. Smith, M. Hall, O. Bryan, S. NorrisLil Jon5:48
3."What U Gon' Do (Latino Remix)" (featuring Pitbull and Daddy Yankee)A. Perez, J. Smith, S. NorrisLil Jon5:09
4."Lean Back (Remix)" (featuring Fat Joe, Mase, and Eminem)J. Smith, J. Cartagena, M. Betha, M. Mathers, R. Smith, S. StorchScott Storch (co.)5:08
5."Let's Go (Remix)" (featuring Trick Daddy and Twista)C. Young, C.C. Mitchell, J. Smith, M. YoungLil Jon3:24
6."Ménage à Trois" (featuring Bo Hagon)Chuck Leonard, J. Lewis, J. SmithLil Jon2:49
7."Gasolina (DJ Buddha Remix)" (featuring Daddy Yankee, Pitbull, and N.O.R.E.)A. Perez, J. Smith, R. Ayala, V. SantiagoDJ Buddha4:44
8."Chris Rock Crunk Rock (skit)" (featuring Chris Rock)C. RockLil Jon0:24
9."Roll Call (Crunk Rock Remix)" (featuring Ice Cube)C.P. Love, D. Jenifer, G. Miller, J. Smith, LaMarquis Mark Jefferson, O.B. Jackson, P. Hudson, R. McDowell, S. NorrisLil Jon5:10
10."Roll Call (Edited) (Bad Brains Band Remix)" (featuring Ice Cube)D. Jenifer, G. Miller, J. Smith, O.B. Jackson, P. Hudson, R. McDowell, S. NorrisLil Jon, Bad Brains5:08

DVD edit

Music videos[23]
No.TitleLength
1."What U Gon' Do" (Music video)4:50
2."Roll Call" 
Live performances
No.TitleLive atLength
2."Confessions/Yeah!" (performed by Usher, Lil Jon, and Ludacris)2004 MTV Video Music Awards5:52
3."Footage video"2004 MTV Movie Awards 
4."Hot 97.1 Summer Jam Performance" (performed by Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz, Pitbull, and Ying Yang Twins includes footage)2004 Summer Jam 
Extra
No.TitleLength
5."BET's How I'm Living" (Interview) 
6."The Making of Crunk Juice Album" 

Chopped & Screwed edit

No.TitleLength
1."Crunk Juice Intro"1:25
2."What U Gon' Do (featuring Lil Scrappy)"6:10
3."Get Crunk (featuring Bo Hagan)"5:44
4."White Meat (featuring 8 Ball and MJG)"5:01
5."Da Blow (featuring Gangsta Boo)"6:11
6."Lovers & Friends (featuring Ludacris and Usher)"5:34
7."One Night Stand (featuring Oobie)"5:45
8."E40 Choppin"0:38
9."Contract (featuring Trillville, Jazze Pha, and Pimpin' Ken)"6:22
10."Real Nigga Roll Call (featuring Ice Cube)"6:18
11."Watts (Intro)"0:14
12."Stop Fuckin with Me"6:32
13."Aww Skeet Skeet Intro"0:52
14."Aww Skeet Skeet (featuring DJ Flexx)"4:52
15."Chris Rock "Let's Be Friends""0:20
16."In Da Club (featuring Ludacris and R. Kelly)"5:34
17."Bitches Ain't Shit (featuring Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Suga Free, and Oobie)"5:16
18."Grand Finale (featuring Nas, Bun B, T.I., and Ice Cube)"7:07
19."Lean Back (Remix) (featuring Fat Joe, Mase, and Eminem)"4:12
Total length:79:55

Personnel edit

Adapted from Artist Direct anad AllMusic[24][25][26]

  • 8Ball – primary artist
  • Scotty Beats – mixing, producer
  • Big Sam – rapping
  • Michael Blackwell – photography
  • Warren Bletcher – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Bun B – primary artist
  • Josh Butler – engineer
  • Chris Carmouche – engineer
  • Andrew Coleman – engineer
  • DJ Flexx – audio production, engineer producer, rapping
  • Nate Dogg – primary artist, rapping
  • 8Ball and MJG – guest artist, rapping
  • Emperor Searcy – executive producer
  • Fat Joe – primary artist, rapping
  • Gary Fly – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • John Frye – engineer, mixing
  • Gangsta Boo – primary artist, rapping
  • Abel Garibaldi – engineer
  • Stephen Georgiafandis – engineer
  • Bo Hagon – primary artist
  • Ice Cube – guest artist, rapping
  • Jazze Pha – guest artist, rapping
  • LaMarquis Mark Jefferson – bass
  • R. Kelly – guest vocals
  • L-Roc – Keyboards
  • Jason Lader – engineer, mixing
  • Bryan Leach – executive producer
  • Jonathan Lewis – producer
  • Craig Love – guitar
  • Lil Bo – rapping
  • Lil Scrappy – primary artist, rapping
  • Craig Love – guitar
  • Ludacris – guest artist rapping
  • Rob McDowell – executive producer
  • Ian Mereness – engineer
  • MHG – primary artist
  • Nas – rapping
  • The Neptunes – audio production, producer
  • Oobie – primary artist
  • Vince Phillips – executive producer
  • Pimpin' Ken – performer, primary artist
  • Rick Rubin – producer
  • Andrew Scheps – mixing
  • Paolo Sheehy – engineer
  • Jonathon "Lil Jon" Smith – executive producer, mixing, producer
  • Snoop Dogg – guest artist, rapping
  • Scott Storch – keyboards,
  • Chris Steinmetz – engineer
  • Suga Free – primary artist
  • Brian Sumner – engineer
  • T.I. – primary artist, rapping
  • Trillville – primary artist
  • Usher – guest artist, vocals
  • Mark Vinten – engineer
  • Benjamin Wheelock – design
  • Pharrell Williams – guest artist, vocals
  • Ying Yang Twins – guest artist, rapping
  • Wassim Zreik – engineer
  • Danny Zook – sample clearance

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[42] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Crunk Juice: Lil Jon & East Side Boyz: Music". Amazon. November 16, 2004. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  2. ^ "What U Gon' Do – Lil Jon". AllMusic. November 2, 2004. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  3. ^ Whitmire, Margo (November 17, 2004). "Eminem Takes Early 'Encore' To No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  4. ^ Whitmire, Margo (November 24, 2004). "Eminem Thankful To Remain No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  5. ^ Whitmire, Margo (December 1, 2004). "U2's 'Bomb' Explodes At No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  6. ^ Ahale (January 24, 2005). "Crunk Juice Certified 2x". Hiphopdx. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Burton, Orisanmi (November 28, 2004). "Crunk Juice". AllHipHop. Archived from the original on December 4, 2004. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Jeffries, David (November 16, 2004). "Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz: Crunk Juice". AllMusic. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Murray, Sonia (November 16, 2004), "Lil Jon, crew crank up chant with A-list assist", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, p. E1, retrieved August 11, 2018
  10. ^ a b Kuldell, Heather; Seymour, Craig (November 18, 2004), "Sippin' on some syrup", Creative Loafing Atlanta, vol. 33, no. 28, p. 71, archived from the original on March 10, 2005, retrieved August 11, 2018
  11. ^ a b Drumming, Neil (November 8, 2004). "Crunk Juice Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  12. ^ Lynskey, Dorian (January 21, 2005). "Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz, Crunk Juice". The Guardian. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  13. ^ a b Cashmore, Pete (September 12, 2005). "Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz : Crunk Juice". NME. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Henderson, Lee (December 6, 2004). "Lil' Jon is the Raffi of Gangsta Rap". PopMatters. Archived from the original on December 14, 2004. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Ozga, Matt (November 16, 2004). "Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz: Crunk Juice". Prefix. Archived from the original on May 13, 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  16. ^ Juon, Steve "Flash" (November 23, 2004). "Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz :: Crunk Juice :: TVT Records". RapReviews. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  17. ^ Caramanica, Jon (December 15, 2004). "Lil Jon: Crunk Juice". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 12, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  18. ^ Cibula, Matt (January 19, 2005). "Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz - Crunk Juice - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Snoop paints a rap 'Masterpiece'". USA Today. November 15, 2004. Archived from the original on October 27, 2005. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  20. ^ "Crunk Juce Returns to Shelves". May 13, 2011.
  21. ^ "Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz – Crunk Juice. Album credits from". www.discogs.com. November 16, 2004. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  22. ^ "Lil Jon and The East Side Boyz feat. Gangsta Boo's Da Blow sample of Gangsta Boo feat. Playa Fly and Bun B's Sippin' & Spinnin' (Remix) | WhoSampled –". Whosampled.com. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Crunk Juice (Bonus CD & DVD) Tracklist –". Artistdirect.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  24. ^ "Crunk Juice Credits –". Artistdirect.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  25. ^ "Crunk Juice (Bonus CD & DVD) Credits –". Artistdirect.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  26. ^ "Crunk Juice – Lil Jon,Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
  27. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 166.
  28. ^ "ARIA Urban Albums Chart – Week Commencing 27th June 2005" (PDF). The ARIA Report (800). June 27, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. November 25, 2004. Archived from the original on December 14, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  30. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. December 2, 2004. Archived from the original on December 6, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  31. ^ "Lescharts.com – Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz – Crunk Juice". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  32. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz – Crunk Juice". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  34. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  35. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  36. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  37. ^ "Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  38. ^ "Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  39. ^ "Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  40. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  41. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  42. ^ "American album certifications – Lil Jon – Crunk Juice". Recording Industry Association of America.