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Spice 1
Studio album by Spice 1
Released	April 14, 1992
Recorded	1990–1991
Genre	Gangsta rap
Length	56:38
Label	Jive
Producer	Ant Banks Blackjack E-A-Ski & CMT Spice 1
Spice 1 chronology
Let It Be Known (1991) Spice 1 (1992) 187 He Wrote (1993)
Singles from Spice 1
"In My Neighborhood" Released: March 30, 1992 "Welcome to the Ghetto" Released: June 12, 1992

Spice 1 is the debut studio album by American rapper Spice 1. It was released on April 14, 1992, on Jive Records. It was certified gold by the RIAA. The album was produced by Ant Banks, Blackjack, E-A-Ski & CMT, and Spice 1. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 82 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers. One single, "Welcome to the Ghetto", peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and at number 5 on the Billboard Rap Songs.

Along with singles, music videos were produced for four songs: "In My Neighborhood", "Welcome to the Ghetto", "187 Proof" and "East Bay Gangsta". Richie Rich makes a cameo appearance in "Welcome to the Ghetto". "East Bay Gangsta" and "Welcome to the Ghetto" were B-sides on the other singles.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Entertainment Weekly	B
The Source

AllMusic - "...His style, an appropriate mix of irony, disdain, acceptance and confusion, never succumbs to the situation or seeks to justify or downplay the sense of impending doom."

Entertainment Weekly (7/24/92, p. 60) - "...Spice 1's lyrics are clever enough to make you forget you've heard it all before...his tales unfold with the drama of short stories..."

The album was included in The Source's 100 greatest hip hop albums.

Track listing

Samples

Welcome to the Ghetto

• "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" by Marvin Gaye
• "No One's Gonna Love You" by the S.O.S. Band

187 Pure

• "Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James

City Streets

• "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" by the Dramatics

F***ed in the Game

• "Make Me Believe in You" by Curtis Mayfield

In My Neighborhood

• "Reach for It" by George Duke

Money Gone

• "Time for a Change" by Mel Brown

Money or Murder

• "Joy by Isaac Hayes

Peace to My Nine

• "One Nation Under a Groove" by Funkadelic

Young N****

• "Mothership Connection (Star Child)" by Parliament
• "Us" by Ice Cube

Note: The sample credits contain a disclaimer from George Clinton disparaging the lyrical content of the song, yet stating the sample was allowed due to the message of music as a free agent of change inherent in "Mothership Connection." This type of note was uncommon for most artists who were sampling.

Charts

Certifications

References

1. ^ Wynn, Ron. Review: Spice 1. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
2. Scanlon, Tom (Nov 22, 1992). "The New Motown: Call it 'Oaktown'". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 3.
3. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
4. Spice 1 Billboard Albums. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
5. Spice 1 Billboard Singles. All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
6. Spice 1 - "In My Neighborhood" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
7. Spice 1 - "Welcome to the Ghetto" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
8. Spice 1 - "187 Proof" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
9. Spice 1 - "East Bay Gangsta" (official video). YouTube. Retrieved on February 4, 2010.
10. ^ Columnist. Review: Spice 1. Entertainment Weekly: 60. July 24, 1992.
11. Columnist. Review: Spice 1.
12. "Spice 1, TLN". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
13. "Spice 1, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
14. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard.com. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
15. "American album certifications – Spice 1 – Spice 1". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 6, 2024.

External links

• Spice 1 at Discogs
• Spice 1 at MusicBrainz
• Spice 1 at Tower Records

• Spice 1 albums
• 1992 debut albums
• Albums produced by Ant Banks
• Albums produced by E-A-Ski
• Jive Records albums