Boxcar Sessions is the debut studio album by American rapper Saafir.[1][2] It was released in 1994 via Qwest Records.[3] The recording sessions took place at Pajama Recording Studios in Oakland, California. The production was handled by DJ Jay-Z, J Groove and Big Nose, with Sleuth and Saafir serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Big Nous, King Saan, Poke Martian and Rashinel.
| Boxcar Sessions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1993–94 | |||
| Studio | Pajama Recording Studios (Oakland, CA) | |||
| Genre | West Coast hip hop | |||
| Length | 58:38 | |||
| Label | Qwest/Reprise/Warner Bros. Records 45602 | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Saafir chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Boxcar Sessions | ||||
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Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| RapReviews | 7.5/10[5] |
Trouser Press wrote that the album "has promisingly jazz-flecked beats and a pleasant flow, but the rapper’s lyrics are hollow, crude and obnoxious."[6]
Alex Henderson of AllMusic compared Saafir's musical style favorably to such celebrated hip hop artists as A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Digable Planets, and the Pharcyde. Henderson stated that "between Saafir's rapping style and the jazzy production, Boxcar Sessions is fairly fresh sounding."
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Grab the Train" |
| J-Z | 1:21 |
| 2. | "Swig of the Stew" |
| J-Z | 3:58 |
| 3. | "Poke Martian" |
| J-Z | 0:52 |
| 4. | "Playa Hayta" |
| J Groove | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Pee Wee" | Jackson | J-Z | 2:50 |
| 6. | "Battle Drill" |
| J Groove | 3:58 |
| 7. | "Westside" (featuring King Saan) | 1:05 | ||
| 8. | "Worship the "D"" |
| J-Z | 4:05 |
| 9. | "Light Sleeper" |
| J-Z | 3:28 |
| 10. | "Rashinet" |
| Big Nous | 1:34 |
| 11. | "Can U Feel Me?" |
| J-Z | 3:50 |
| 12. | "No Return (Goin' Crazy)" |
| J-Z | 4:34 |
| 13. | "Big Nose" | Alston | Big Nous | 3:28 |
| 14. | "Just Riden'" |
| J-Z | 3:39 |
| 15. | "Hype Shit" |
| J Groove | 2:53 |
| 16. | "Real Circus" |
| J-Z | 4:12 |
| 17. | "Bent" |
| J Groove | 4:29 |
| 18. | "The Instructor" |
| J-Z | 0:45 |
| 19. | "Joint Custody" |
| J Groove | 4:01 |
| Total length: | 58:38 | |||
Personnel edit
- Reggie "Saafir" Gibson — vocals, mixing (tracks: 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 15-19), executive producer
- H. "Poke Martian" Norris — vocals (track 3)
- Hasaan "King Saan" Mahmoud — vocals (track 7)
- Rick "Rashinel" Trammell — vocals & mixing (track 10)
- Ty "Big Nous" Alston — vocals (track 13), producer & mixing (tracks: 10, 13)
- Jeremy "Jay-Z" Jackson — producer & mixing (tracks: 1-3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18)
- James "J Groove" Carson — producer (tracks: 4, 6, 15, 17, 19), mixing (tracks: 4, 17, 19)
- Crayge Lindesay — engineering
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner — mastering
- Neil "Sleuth" Johnson — executive producer, management
- Kevin Hosmann — art direction
- Victor Hall — photography
References edit
- ^ Thompson, Jerry; Deterville, Duane (2007). Black Artists in Oakland. Arcadia Pub. p. 120.
- ^ Shapiro, Peter (2001). The Rough Guide to Hip Hop. Rough Guides. p. 155.
- ^ Pope, Lavar (2020). Rap and Politics: A Case Study of Panther, Gangster, and Hyphy Discourses in Oakland, CA (1965-2010). Springer Nature. p. 303.
- ^ Henderson, Alex. "Saafir - Boxcar Sessions Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ Jost, Matt (June 2, 2015). "Saafir :: Boxcar Sessions – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ "Digital Underground". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
External links edit
- Saafir – Boxcar Sessions at Discogs (list of releases)