Free City is the only studio album by hip-hop group St. Lunatics.[1] It was released on June 5, 2001, almost a full year after the release of group member Nelly's debut, Country Grammar. The album was a commercial success as it debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with 196,000 copies sold in its first week.[2] The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA a month later.[3]

Free City
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 5, 2001
Recorded2000–2001
StudioNew York City, New York
Electric Lady Studios
Unique Studios
Sound On Sound Recordings
GenreHip hop
Length71:02/76:29 (with bonus)
LabelUniversal Records/Fo' Reel/The Incorporated
ProducerJason Epperson, Waiel "Wally" Yaghnam, City Spud, Rich Travali
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
RapReviews(7/10) link
Rolling Stonelink

The title Free City came from their fifth member City Spud who was incarcerated at the time of release.

Track listing edit

  1. "Just for You (The Introductory Poem)" (feat. Amber Tabares) (1:26)
  2. "S.T.L." (5:21) (Kyjuan, Ali, Murphy Lee, Nelly)
  3. "Okay" (3:50) (Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan)
  4. "Summer in the City" (4:37) (Nelly, Kyjuan, Murphy Lee, Ali)
  5. "Mad Baby Daddy (Skit), Part 1" (1:40)
  6. "Boom D Boom" (3:27) (Ali)
  7. "Midwest Swing" (4:40) (Nelly, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, Ali)
  8. "Show 'Em What They Won" (4:31) (Ali, Nelly, Kyjuan, Murphy Lee)
  9. "Let Me in Now" (4:42) (Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan)
  10. "Diz Iz Da Life" (4:31) (Ali, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan, Nelly)
  11. "Mad Baby Daddy (Skit), Part 2" (1:06)
  12. "Scandalous" (3:29) (Murphy Lee)
  13. "Groovin' Tonight" (feat. Brian McKnight) (5:21) (Ali, Nelly, City Spud)
  14. "Jang a Lang" (feat. Penelope) (4:24) (Nelly, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan)
  15. "Mad Baby Daddy (Skit), Part 3" (1:44)
  16. "Real Niggaz" (4:26) (Nelly, Kyjuan, Ali, Murphy Lee)
  17. "Here We Come" (4:12) (Nelly)
  18. "Love You So" (feat. Cardan) (4:03) (Ali, Murphy Lee)
  19. "Mad Baby Daddy (Skit), Part 4" (3:32)
  20. "Batter Up" (Bonus track) (5:27) (Nelly, Ali, Murphy Lee)

Personnel edit

Credits for Free City adapted from CD Universe.[4]

  • St. Lunatics - lead vocals
  • Jason "Jay E" Epperson - producer
  • Waiel "Wally" Yaghnam - producer
  • Steve Eigner - engineer
  • Lavell "City Spud" Webb - producer
  • Penelope - backing vocals
  • Amber Tabares - backing vocals
  • Little Rock - backing vocals
  • Donneash Ferguson - backing vocals
  • Duro Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton - engineer
  • Cardan - additional vocals
  • Brian McKnight - additional vocals
  • John Adler - mixing
  • Steve Eigner - guitar
  • Bashiri Johnson - percussion
  • Richard Travali- mixing
  • Jonathan Mannion - photographer

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[15] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Free City: St Lunatics: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  2. ^ "Staind Fends Off Radiohead, St. Lunatics At No. 1". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  3. ^ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  4. ^ "St Lunatics - Free City CD Album". Cduniverse.com. June 5, 2001. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "St. Lunatics Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  6. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. July 18, 2001. Archived from the original on July 23, 2001. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  7. ^ "Charts.nz – St. Lunatics – Free City". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  8. ^ "St. Lunatics Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  9. ^ "St. Lunatics Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "Top 200 Albums of 2001 (based on sales)". Jam!. Archived from the original on November 6, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  11. ^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2001". Jam!. January 8, 2002. Archived from the original on November 22, 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "Top 100 rap albums of 2001 in Canada". Jam!. January 8, 2002. Archived from the original on November 22, 2002. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  14. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  15. ^ "Canadian album certifications – St. Lunatics – Free City". Music Canada.
  16. ^ "American album certifications – St. Lunatics – Free City". Recording Industry Association of America.