| Straight Checkn 'Em | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Compton's Most Wanted | |
|
Released |
16 July 1991 |
|
Recorded |
March 31 - April 19, 1991 |
|
Studio |
Big Beat Soundlabs |
|
Genre |
|
|
Length |
46:22 |
|
Label |
Orpheus, Epic |
|
Producer |
DJ Slip, The Unknown DJ (also exec.) |
| Compton's Most Wanted chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Previous |
It's a Compton Thang (1990) |
|
Next |
Music to Driveby (1992) |
Straight Checkn 'Em is the second studio album by American Hip hop group Compton's Most Wanted, released in July 16, 1991 on Orpheus Records and Epic Records. Recording sessions took place at Big Beat Soundlabs in Los Angeles from April 2 to April 19, 1991, except for the song "Growin' Up in the Hood" was recorded and mixed at Trax Recording Studio in Hollywood on March 31, 1991. Like their debut, Production was handled entirely by The Unknown DJ and DJ Slip. The album spawned three singles "Growin' Up in the Hood", "Straight Checkn 'Em" and "Compton's Lynchin' /"They Still Gafflin'". Its lead single "Growin' Up in the Hood", made it to #1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and was featured in the 1991 movie Boyz n the Hood and the film's soundtrack. The second single, a title track "Straight Checkn 'Em", peaked at #16 on the same Billboard chart. Along with the singles, music videos were directed for the songs "Growin' Up in the Hood" and "Straight Checkn 'Em".
The album peaked at #92 on the Billboard 200, and #23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States. It received positive reviews upon release. As of 2019, the album has sold over 450,000 copies.
Tha Chill was unable to appear in this album because he was sentenced to prison some months before the recording, the only song he was able to appear was "Growin' Up in the Hood".
Track listing[]
All songs performed by MC Eiht, except for "Mike T's Funky Scratch", scratches performed by DJ Mike T. All songs produced by DJ Slip and The Unknown DJ.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler | 1:02 |
| 2. | "They Still Gafflin" | Allen, Hayes, Manuel, Tyler | 4:30 |
| 3. | "Growin' Up in the Hood" | Allen, Manuel, Simon, Tyler | 4:12 |
| 4. | "Wanted" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler, White | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Straight Checkn 'Em" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler | 3:45 |
| 6. | "I Don't Dance" | Allen, Clinton, Manuel, Shider, Spradley, Tyler | 2:30 |
| 7. | "Raised in Compton" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler | 3:45 |
| 8. | "Driveby Miss Daisy" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler | 4:27 |
| 9. | "Def Wish" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler | 3:42 |
| 10. | "Compton's Lynchin" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler, Watson | 4:44 |
| 11. | "Mike T's Funky Scratch" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler | 2:35 |
| 12. | "Can I Kill It?" | Allen, Isley, Isley, Isley, Isley, Isley, Jasper, Manuel, Noble, Tyler, Womack, Womack | 4:21 |
| 13. | "Gangsta Shot Out" | Allen, Manuel, Tyler | 2:32 |
Samples[]
Intro
- "Slum Creeper" by Quincy Jones
- "They're Back" from Poltergeist II: The Other Side
They Still Gafflin'
- "I Get Lifted" by George McCrae
- "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic
- "Do Your Thing" by Isaac Hayes
Growin' Up in the Hood
- "Kool is Back" by Funk, Inc.
- "Theme from Cleopatra Jones" by Joe Simon
- "Kung Fu" by Curtis Mayfield
Wanted
- "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" by Barry White
Straight Checkn 'Em
- "Don't Change Your Love" by Five Stairsteps
- "Caught, Can We Get a Witness" by Public Enemy
I Don't Dance
- "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone
- "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton
- "I Can Make You Dance" by Zapp
Raised in Compton
- "The Breakdown (Part II)" by Rufus Thomas
- "People Make the World Go Round" by Young-Holt Unlimited
- "Vapors" by Biz Markie
Driveby Miss Daisy
- "Pot Belly" by Lou Donaldson
Def Wish
- "Wilford's Gone" by The Blackbyrds
Compton's Lynchin'
- "Superman Lover" by Johnny "Guitar" Watson
- "Fever" by Ronnie Laws
Mike T's Funky Scratch
- "Buns O' Plenty" by Isaac Hayes
- "It's Funky Enough" by The D.O.C.
Can I Kill It?
- "Fool Yourself" by Little Feat
- "Love TKO" by Teddy Pendergrass
- "This Is for the Lover in You" by Shalamar
- "Footsteps in the Dark" by The Isley Brothers
Gangsta Shot Out
- "French Waltz" by Leon Ware
- "Gangster Boogie" by Chicago Gangsters