7th Avenue is the major-label debut album by rapper KJ-52, and his only release before signing to BEC Recordings. The album notably contains little to no pop influence, instead favoring underground and old school hip hop. The album was largely recorded in 1998, shopped to labels in 1999 and finally released in early 2000.

7th Avenue
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 11, 2000
GenreChristian hip hop, underground hip hop
LabelEssential Records, Sony Records
ProducerTodd Collins
KJ-52 chronology
7th Avenue
(2000)
Collaborations
(2002)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Phantom Tollbooth [1]
The Phantom Tollbooth(re-release) [2]

The original version released in 2000 initially sold only 20,000 copies and was considered a "failure" by the label. KJ was dropped soon after. In 2004, 7th Avenue was re-released by Essential after seeing the success of KJ's second release, Collaborations. The 2004 edition quickly sold 50,000 additional units and became a cult classic amongst fans. The re-release contained bonus tracks including "Lift Me Up," "All Around the World", "Need Someone", "It's The S.O.I. (Remix)", and "12 Round Knockout." All skits, as well as the songs "Cipha All-Stars" and "They Know Not" were removed for the re-release.

Track listing

edit

2000 version

edit
  1. "The Greatest M.C. (Intro)"
  2. "1, 2, 3" (feat. Yankee Man)
  3. "Keep It Moving" (feat. Knowdaverbs)
  4. "The Hardway"
  5. "Keep Ya Head Up" (feat. Brook Ross)
  6. "Melvin's Not Here (skit)"
  7. "Do What I Do"
  8. "The Greatest M.C. Continued (skit)"
  9. "We Rock the Mic"
  10. "Cipha All Stars" (feat. Goldinchild, Imagine, Supplanta, Urban Disciple)
  11. "It's the S.O.I. (Sons of Intellect Anthem)" (feat. The Ambassador, Phanatik)
  12. "Mickey Cakes (Skit)"
  13. "Integrity" (feat. Bonafide of GRITS)
  14. "This is Love" (feat. Amani)
  15. "They Know Not" (feat. L.P., Passion)
  16. "The Greatest M.C. (Outro)"

2004 re-release

edit
  1. "1, 2, 3 (feat. Yankee Man)"
  2. "Keep It Moving (feat. Knowdaverbs)"
  3. "The Hardway"
  4. "Keep Ya Head Up (feat. Brook Ross)"
  5. "Do What I Do"
  6. "We Rock the Mic"
  7. "It's the S.O.I. (Sons of Intellect Anthem)"
  8. "Integrity (feat. Bonafide of Grits)"
  9. "This is Love (feat. Amani)"
  10. "Lift Me Up"
  11. "All Around the World (feat. Pigeon John & John Reuben)"
  12. "Need Someone"
  13. "It's the S.O.I. (Remix)" (feat. The Ambassador & Phanatik of Cross Movement)
  14. "12 Round Knockout"

References

edit
  1. ^ Shari Lloyd. "KJ-52 - A Review by The Phantom Tollbooth". Tollbooth.org. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  2. ^ Shari Lloyd. "A Review of The Phantom Tollbooth". Tollbooth.org. Retrieved 2011-09-05.