Down to Earth is the debut album by British rapper Monie Love, which was released on 30 October 1990,[1] on Warner Bros. Records. It peaked at 109 on the Billboard 200 and at 26 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spawned three charting singles. "It's a Shame (My Sister)" became Monie's only top-40 hit in the U.S., and peaked at 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Monie in the Middle" and "Down 2 Earth" were both successful on the R&B and hip hop charts.
| Down to Earth | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 30 October 1990[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1988-1990 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop, Pop, Rap | |||
| Length | 49:12 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Afrika Baby Bam, Jerry Callendar, The Beatnuts, Dancin' Danny D, Andy Cox, David Steele, Richie Fermie | |||
| Monie Love chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Down to Earth | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [2] |
| Calgary Herald | B[3] |
| Chicago Tribune | [4] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[5] |
| NME | 8/10[6] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [7] |
| Select |   [8] |
| The Village Voice | A−[9] |
Critical reception edit
In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau gave Down to Earth an "A−" and was impressed by Love's proud sensibilities, as she "radiates sisterhood even though she concentrates on the guys, and positivity and tradition" without much culturally or politically conscious lyrics.[9] Alex Henderson was less enthusiastic in a retrospective review for AllMusic, in which he gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that Love raps well, but lacks worthwhile stories on an otherwise good album.[2]
At the 33rd Grammy Awards, "Monie in the Middle" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance, but lost to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." The following year at the 34th Grammy Awards, she was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance again for "It's a Shame (My Sister)" but lost to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out."[citation needed]
Track listing edit
- "Monie in the Middle" (Monie Love, Steele) 3:45
- "It's a Shame (My Sister)" (Garrett, Monie Love, Wonder; sample Performed by Love, True Image; additional vocals by Ultra Naté) 3:43
- "Don't Funk wid the Mo" (Callendar, Hall, Maxwell) 3:33
- "Ring My Bell" (Fermie, Monie Love) 3:52
- "R U Single" (Callendar, Hall, Maxwell) 4:07
- "Just Don't Give a Damn" (Callendar, Hall, Maxwell) 3:57
- "What I'm Supposed 2 B" (Callendar) 3:49
- "Dettrimentally Stable" (Callendar, Hall, Maxwell) 3:28
- "Down 2 Earth" (Callendar, Hall, Maxwell) 4:03
- "I Do as I Please" (Monie Love, Steele) 3:53
- "Pups Lickin' Bone" (Monie Love, Tineo) 4:00
- "Read Between the Lines" (Callendar, Hall, Maxwell) 3:50
- "Race Against Reality" (Callendar, Maxwell, Love, Hall) 3:03
- "Swiney Swiney" (Callendar, Maxwell, Love, Hall) 3:12
- "Give It 2 U Like This" (Callendar, Maxwell, Love, Hall) 4:03
- "I Can Do This (Uptown Mix)" (Pogo, Sylvers, Love, Shockley, Shellby) 3:24
- "I'm Driving You Crazy" (Steele, Love) 4:16
- "Grandpa's Party" (Love II Love Remix) (Love, Fermie) 5:49
Note: Tracks 7, 13, 15, 16, and 17 were included in the UK edition but omitted from the U.S. edition.
Samples edit
- "Monie in the Middle"
- "Black Grass" by Bad Bascomb
- "Willie Whopper" by Willie Colón
- "I Wouldn't Change a Thing" by Coke Escovedo
- "I Can Do This (Uptown Mix)"
- "And The Beat Goes On" by The Whispers
- "It's a Shame (My Sister)"
- "It's a Shame" by The Spinners, written by Stevie Wonder
- "R U Single"
- "Single Life" by Cameo
- "Just Don't Give a Damn"
- "Who Knows" by Jimi Hendrix
- "The Soil I Tilled for You" by The Shades of Brown
- "What I'm Supposed 2 B"
- "N.T." by Kool and the Gang
- "Eric B. Is President" by Eric B. & Rakim
- "Feel Good" by Fancy
- "Dettrimentally Stable"
- "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" by The Temptations
- "Down 2 Earth"
- "Hey Uh-What You Say Come On" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity
- "Shangri La" by La Pregunta
- "I Wouldn't Change a Thing" by Coke Escovedo
- "Pups Lickin' Bone"
- "Good Old Music" by Funkadelic
- "Read Between the Lines"
- "I Like (What You're Doing to Me)" by Young & Company
- "Take This Train to Freedom" by New Birth
- "Race Against Reality"
- "Kitty Bey" by Byron Morris & Unity
- "Swiney Swiney"
- "Advice" by Sly & the Family Stone
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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References edit
- ^ a b "Down to Earth - Monie Love | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Down to Earth – Monie Love". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ Muretich, James (31 March 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
- ^ May, Mitchell (24 January 1991). "Home Entertainment: Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 9.
- ^ Robbins, Ira (16 November 1990). "Down to Earth". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ^ McCann, Ian (13 October 1990). "Long Play". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (8 February 1991). "Monie Love". Orlando Sentinel.
- ^ Kirsch, Michele (October 1990). "Sisters Are Doin't It". Select. No. 4. p. 112.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (29 January 1991). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 1 July 1991". Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Monie Love – Down To Earth" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Monie Love – Down To Earth". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Monie Love | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Monie Love Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Monie Love Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
External links edit
- Down to Earth at Discogs (list of releases)