El Niño

El Niño
Studio album by Def Squad
Released	June 30, 1998
Recorded	April 1997 - February 1998
Studio	Mirror Image Recordings (Long Island, New York)
Genre	East Coast hip hop, Underground hip hop, Hardcore hip hop
Length	50:42
Label	Def Jam Recordings
Producer	Erick Sermon (also exec.), Reggie Noble (also exec.), Keith Murray (exec.), Bernard Alexender (co-exec.), Kevin Liles (co-exec.)

El Niño is the debut studio album by American Hip hop group Def Squad (composed of emcees Redman, Erick Sermon and Keith Murray). It was released in June 30, 1998 through Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recordings in Long Island, New York from April 1997 to February 1998. Production was handled entirely by Erick Sermon and Redman. It features guest appearances by Jamal, PMD, Biz Markie, Too $hort and The Drama Squad members: Nasty Nadj, Te Te, Dave Rockin' Reel, Moe Green, Miguel and Nikki D.

The album debuted at #2 on the US Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on July 29, 1998. El Niño spawned the two singles: "Countdown" and "Full Cooperation" (which peaked at #51 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #11 on the Hot Canadian Digital Song Sales and #63 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay). Music videos were released for both of the singles. To date the album has been certified 2x platinum for shipping over two million copies in mthe United States.

Track listing

1. "Shower (Intro)" - 1:38
2. "Check N Me Out" - 3:54
3. "Countdown" (feat. PMD and Jamal) - 3:57
4. "Full Cooperation" - 3:48
5. "Ride With Us" (feat. Too $hort) - 3:38
6. "Lay 'Em Down (Skit)" - 1:06
7. "Rhymin' Wit' Biz" (feat. Biz Markie) - 3:42
8. "The Game (Freestyle)" - 2:40
9. "World Annoucement (Skit)" - 1:28
10. "Can U Dig It?" - 3:16
11. "You Do, I Do" - 4:07
12. "You Nigguz Ain't Ready" - 2:43
13. "Say Word!" - 3:38
14. "No Guest List" - 3:27
15. "Babies Father Committee (Skit)" - 0:55
16. "Def Squad Delite" - 6:45

Samples

Check N' Me Out

• "Space Machine" by The Undisputed Truth
• "Deeez Nuuuts" by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, Nate Dogg and Warren G

Countdown

• "I Got The..." by Labi Siffre
• "You're a Customer" by EPMD

Full Cooperation

• "Pretty Please" by Houston Pearson
• "B Side Wins Again" by Public Enemy

Rhymin' Wit' Biz

• "Funky President (People Its Bad)" by James Brown
• "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane feat. Biz Markie

The Game (Freestyle)

• "Double Barrel" by Dave & Ansel Collins
• "Christmas Rappin'" by Kurtis Blow

Can U Dig It?

• "(I Know) I'm Losing You" by The Undisputed Truth
• "Cyrus' Speech" from The Warriors

You Do, I Do

• "Can Truss It" by Public Enemy

Y'all Nigguz Ain't Ready

• "Space Odyssey" by Marcus Belgrave

Say Word!

• "Goo Goo Wah Wah" by Wah Wah Watson
• "The Show" by Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and The Get Fresh Crew

No Guest List

• "Club Lonely (Lonely People)" by Lil' Louis & the World feat. Joi Cardwell
• "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

Def Squad Delite

• "Rappers Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang