Center of Attention

The Life I Live (Center of Attention)
File:The Life I Live.jpg Studio album by InI
Released	April 12, 2003
Recorded	August 1994 - March 1995
Studio	Greene St. Recording Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre	East Coast hip hop, Conscious hip hop, Jazz rap, Underground hip hop, Boom bap
Length	67:56
Label	Elektra Records / Soul Brother Records
Producer	Pete Rock, Grap Luva

The Life I Live (Center of Attention) is the only debut studio album by American hip hop group InI. It was released in April 12, 2003 under Elektra Records and Soul Brother Records. Recording sessions took place at Greene St. Recording Studios in New York City from August 1994 to March 1995. Production was handled solely by Pete Rock himself, with the exception of one track produced by Grap Luva. It features guest appearances by Q-Tip, Large Professor and Meccalicious.

The Life I Live spawned the hit singles: "Fakin' Jax" and "Props". The album was intended to be released on Rock's Soul Brother Records, which was distributed by Elektra Records. Rock's distribution deal with Elektra fell through and plans to release the album were subsequently cancelled because of issues over ownership of the masters. The album was officially released in 2003 as a part of Rock's Lost and Found: Hip Hop Underground Soul Classics double disc compilation album alongside The Original Baby Pa by Deda.

Track listing

1. "Intro (H.I.M.)" - 0:12
2. "No More Words" - 4:00
3. "Step Up" - 4:47
4. "Think Twice" - 3:30
5. "Square One" - 4:23
6. "The Life I Live" - 4:33
7. "Krossroads" - 4:36
8. "To Each His Own" (feat. Q-Tip and Large Professor) - 5:23
9. "Fakin' Jax" - 5:41
10. "What You Say" - 4:27
11. "Props" - 4:07
12. "Center of Attention" - 4:44
13. "Grown Man Sport" (feat. Meccalicious) - 4:38
14. "Mind Over Matter" - 4:27

Samples

Intro (H.I.M.)

• "Midnight Ravers" by Bob Marley and The Wailers

No More Words

• "Morning (1966 Version)" by Cal Tjader

Step Up

• "Fool Yourself" by Little Feat
• "Save Yourself" by Soft Machine
• "Bumpin' Bus Stop" by Thunder and Lightning
• "Too Late to Turn Back Now" by Jackie Mittoo

Think Twice

• "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by The Whatnauts
• "Holy Thursday" by David Axelrod
• "Think About It" by Special Ed

Square One

• "Love-Potion-Cheeba-Cheeba" by Mighty Tom Cats
• "A Secret" by Billy Taylor
• "Worldwide" by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

The Life I Live

• "Memory Band" by Rotary Connection
• "Free Soul" by John Klemmer
• "Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G.

Krossroads

• "Is It Him or Me" by Jackie Jackson
• "Hope That We Can Be Together Soon" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
• "Down Here on the Ground" by Grant Green
• "Love Rap" by Spoonie Gee feat. Treacherous Three

To Each His Own

• "You Can Fly" by Sons of Champlin
• "Leyte (Live at the Funky Quarters)" by Cal Tjader
• "Lick the Balls" by Slick Rick

Fakin' Jax

• "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
• "Cause I Need It" by Dorothy Ashby
• "Give Up the Goods (Just Step)" by Mobb Deep feat. Big Noyd

What You Say

• "Lad Lady Lay" by David T. Walker
• "What You Sayin'" by EPMD

Props

• "Ode to Billie Joe" by Lou Donaldson
• "The Champ" by The Mohawks
• "Blues and Pants" by James Brown
• "Turista" by The Howard Roberts Quartet

Center of Attention

• "Come Dancing" by Jeff Beck
• "Summer of '42" by Monty Alexander

Grown Man Sport

• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
• "Water No Get Enemy" by Fela Kuti
• "The Bridge" by MC Shan

Mind Over Matter

• "You Can Fly" by Sons of Champlin
• "Dedicate All My Love" Raw Soul Express
• "Straighten It Out" by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
• "Nobody Beats the Biz" by Biz Markie feat. T.J. Swann