Welcome to: Our House (stylized as welcome to: OUR HOUSE) is the second and final studio album by hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, consisting of Crooked I, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Royce da 5'9". The album was released on August 28, 2012 via Shady Records and Interscope Records. This would also be their only major label album before disbanding on April 26, 2018.[1]

Welcome to: Our House
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 28, 2012
Recorded2011–2012
GenreHip hop
Length64:22 (Normal version)
80:30 (Deluxe version)
Label
Producer
Slaughterhouse chronology
On the House
(2012)
Welcome to: Our House
(2012)
House Rules
(2014)
Singles from Welcome to: Our House
  1. "Hammer Dance"
    Released: March 13, 2012
  2. "My Life"
    Released: May 15, 2012
  3. "Throw It Away"
    Released: July 2, 2012
  4. "Goodbye"
    Released: August 9, 2012
  5. "Throw That"
    Released: August 21, 2012

Background edit

On February 9, 2012, Crooked I, in an interview with XXL, said that Eminem has been confirmed to feature on the album and provide most of the production,[2] and Royce later stated that Eminem would mix the album.[3] Alex da Kid, The Alchemist, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and No I.D. later were confirmed to produce on the album.[4] The title of the album was announced in January 2012,[5] before a tour that began on March 8 in Dallas and concluded May 10 in Nashville was also confirmed.[6] Joe Budden has publicly said the group was abusing substances while recording the album.[7]

Delay and mixtape edit

On June 4, on 106 & Park, Royce Da 5'9 stated that the album has been pushed back till July 2012, instead of June 12. Further delays led to a release date of August 28, 2012. On July 7, 2012, Royce announced in an interview with Jenny Boom Boom that the group will release a pre-album mixtape around the first week of August. Joe Budden revealed via Twitter that the mixtape is called On the House and will be hosted by DJ Drama.[8] Royce Da 5'9" released the cover art for the mixtape through Twitter on August 7, 2012. A promotional video for the mixtape was released on August 6, 2012, and previewed a song called "See Dead People" with confirmed guest appearances by Eminem.[9] Rapper Sauce Tha Boss, signed to Crooked I's COB label, claimed via Twitter that the mixtape will drop on Friday, August 10, 2012. This was not the case, however, the mixtape was released via DatPiff and DJ Drama on August 19, 2012.[10]

Singles edit

On February 27, 2012 Funkmaster Flex premiered "Hammer Dance", the lead single from the album, on New York's Hot 97 radio station. The song was produced by AraabMuzik.[11] On March 13, the song was released through iTunes.[12] On April 25, the group premiered "My Life", the second single from the album, which features Cee Lo Green and is produced by Streetrunner and Sarom.[13] The song was released on iTunes on May 15, 2012.[14] On June 29, the third single, "Throw It Away", was released, also on Hot 97, with Funkmaster Flex. The song features vocals from the American rapper Swizz Beatz and production from Mr. Porter. The single was later available to purchase on iTunes, on July 2, 2012. A video for the single was released on August 31, 2012.[15] The group confirmed in an interview on BET Awards 2012 with Hip Hop Wired that the fourth single will be "Goodbye", produced by Boi-1da.[16] "Goodbye" premiered on Shade 45 on August 9, 2012, during an interview with the group and Eminem.[17] On August 14, the single was released on iTunes for digital download.[18] On August 21, 2012 the fifth single, Throw That which features their executive producer Eminem, was released for digital download on iTunes.[19]

Guest appearances edit

On August 4, 2012, the track listing was confirmed with the guests appearances. Notably, Shady records label head Eminem appears on three tracks. Joining Mr. Mathers are Cee Lo Green, Busta Rhymes, Skylar Grey, Swizz Beatz and B.o.B. The producers on the album are AraabMuzik, Streetrunner, Sarom, Mr. Porter, Boi-1da, The Alchemist, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, No I.D., Alex da Kid, Hit-Boy, T-Minus, Black Key, Zukhan, Kane Beatz, and Eminem as the executive producer.[20]

Reception edit

Commercial performance edit

Welcome to: Our House was Slaughterhouse's most successful release to date, peaking at number two in the Billboard 200 and at Number One in the Billboard Top Rap Albums, selling 52,000 copies in the first week.[21] As of September 30, 2012, it has sold 80,000 copies in the US.[22] As of January 2016, the album has sold 200,000 copies in the United States.[23]

Critical response edit

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[24]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [25]
Exclaim!          [26]
HipHopDX     [27]
RapReviews8/10[28]
Rolling Stone     [29]
Spin7/10[30]
XXL     [31]

Welcome to: Our House received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 70, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 10 reviews.[24] HipHopDX's editor Slava Kuperstein reviewed the album, and gave it 4.5 out of 5. Kuperstein says: "With welcome to: OUR HOUSE, Slaughterhouse has somehow managed to improve upon its already-absurd skill set."[27] RapReviews review was written by Steve Juon, who said: "The debut was unexpectedly good and remains a classic. The official sequel to it was EXPECTED to be good and it is."[32] In a mixed review, written by Jody RosenThe from the magazine Rolling Stone, was said "the group's second LP is a showcase for gritty traditionalism". The review had the lowest score.[29] Allmusic's editor David Jeffries has criticized the album saying: "Crotch-grabbing tracks might crash into a convincing emo-rap number and these proven wordsmiths might have left more room for guests and hooks than they probably should have, but just because their indie debut was a more cohesive showcase doesn't mean the joy and pain of Welcome to Our House isn't worth the required sorting."[25]

On September 5, 2012, Mark Bozzer from Canadian music magazine Exclaim! made a positive review of the album, saying "Joe, Joell, Crooked I and Royce trade quality rhymes over a varied catalogue of original productions that allow the four-piece ample room to spit their different brands of venom."[26] The magazine XXL reviewed the album with their editor Adam Fleischer. Fleischer said: "There's rarely a weak bar on welcome to: OUR HOUSE, though the verbal dexterity isn't quite as stunning as it was on their debut."[31] Music magazine Spin reviewed the album on September 5, 2012, and their editor Phillip Mlynar commented about album: "Despite this abundance of raps about the unadulterated greatness of rapping, the Slaughterhouse four pull it off with extraordinary sincerity, and Our House avoids devolving into some tired treatise about how these guys make "real hip-hop" and other rappers don't."[30] Nathan S. from the website DJ Booth reviewed the album, saying: "At 16 tracks, 20 on the deluxe version, this album manages to work in more than a couple joints featuring some of the vicious rap hardcore fans were hoping for."[33]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Slaughter" (Intro)Marvin O'NeilEminem1:16
2."Our House" (featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey)Alex da Kid5:58
3."Coffin" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
3:41
4."Throw That" (featuring Eminem)
3:57
5."Hammer Dance"3:43
6."Get Up"
  • Montgomery
  • Ortiz
  • Wickliffe
  • Budden
  • Ernest Wilson
  • Antony Genn
  • Martin Slattery
5:01
7."My Life" (featuring Cee Lo Green)
  • Montgomery
  • Ortiz
  • Wickliffe
  • Budden
  • Nicholas Warwar
  • Raymond Diaz
  • M. Aiello
  • Mike Gaffey
  • Francesco Bontempi
  • Annerley Gordon
  • Giorgio Spagna
  • Peter Glenister
  • Thomas Callaway
  • Streetrunner
  • Raymond "Sarom" Diaz
  • Eminem[b]
4:21
8."We Did It" (Skit) Eminem0:41
9."Flip a Bird"
  • Black Key Beats
  • Zukhan
  • Eminem[b]
4:20
10."Throw It Away" (featuring Swizz Beatz)
4:15
11."Rescue Me" (featuring Skylar Grey)
  • Montgomery
  • Ortiz
  • Wickliffe
  • Budden
  • Hafferman
  • Grant
Alex da Kid3:39
12."Frat House"
  • Montgomery
  • Ortiz
  • Wickliffe
  • Budden
  • Nikhil Seetharam
  • Williams
  • T-Minus
  • Eminem[b]
3:48
13."Goodbye"
5:02
14."Park It Sideways"
3:56
15."Die"
  • Montgomery
  • Ortiz
  • Wickliffe
  • Budden
  • Porter
  • Tony "56" Jackson
  • Andi Toma
  • Sly Jordan
Mr. Porter5:04
16."Our Way" (Outro)
  • Montgomery
  • Ortiz
  • Wickliffe
  • Budden
  • Samuels
  • Zale Epstein
  • Brett Kruger
5:39
Total length:1:04:22
Deluxe version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Asylum" (featuring Eminem)
4:02
18."Walk of Shame"
  • Montgomery
  • Ortiz
  • Wickliffe
  • Budden
  • Warwar
  • Diaz
  • M. Aiello
  • M. Hayward
  • Russell Marsden
  • Emma Richardson
  • Streetrunner
  • Raymond "Sarom" Diaz
  • I.L.O
  • Eminem[b]
4:06
19."The Other Side"
J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League4:09
20."Place to Be" (featuring B.o.B)
3:54
Total length:1:20:30
Notes
  • ^a signifies an additional producer.
  • ^b signifies a co-producer.
Sample credits

Personnel edit

Credits for Welcome to: Our House adapted from AllMusic.[34]

Charts edit

Release history edit

List of release date, showing country, and record label
Region Date Label Ref
Canada August 28, 2012 Shady, Interscope [44]
United Kingdom August 24, 2012 [45]
United States August 28, 2012 [46]

References edit

  1. ^ "Royce da 5'9" Confirms That Slaughterhouse is "Done"". 26 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Crooked I Says Eminem Has Production and Features on Slaughterhouse's Next LP". XXL. February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  3. ^ "Slaughterhouse Reveals Eminem Is Mixing and Arranging "Welcome to: Our House"". HipHopDX. March 29, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "Slaughterhouse Discusses Shady Records Debut, Eminem & Producers". HipHopDX. April 17, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  5. ^ "Slaughterhouse Announces Shady Records Debut "welcome to: Our House," Tour Dates". HipHopDX. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  6. ^ "Tours". Slaughterhouseweb.com. April 12, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
  7. ^ StevenHorowitz (2012-12-19). "Joe Budden Excited To Work On Slaughterhouse's Next Album While Sober". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
  8. ^ "Twitter / JoeBudden: Real shit tho, the verses on". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
  9. ^ "Slaughterhouse Officially Announces Mixtape". The B.O.S.S. Board. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
  10. ^ "Twitter / Royceda59: RT @Dramalikethedj". Twitter.com. 2012-08-07. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
  11. ^ "New Music: Slaughterhouse "Hammer Dance"". RapRadar. February 27, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  12. ^ "Hammer Dance - Single". iTunes. March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
  13. ^ "New Music: Slaughterhouse x Cee-Lo "My Life"". RapRadar. April 25, 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  14. ^ iTunes - Music - My Life (feat. Cee Lo Green) - Single by Slaughterhouse
  15. ^ iTunes - Music - Throw It Away (feat. Swizz Beatz) - Single by Slaughterhouse
  16. ^ Exclusive: Machine Gun Kelly Says He's A "Great Rapper," Slaughterhouse Reveals Next Music Video | Hip-Hop Wired
  17. ^ "Slaughterhouse – "Goodbye" (Radio Rip) | Diverse Hip Hop". Archived from the original on 2012-08-14. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  18. ^ iTunes - Music - Goodbye - Single by Slaughterhouse
  19. ^ iTunes - Music - Throw That (feat. Eminem) - Single by Slaughterhouse
  20. ^ Slaughterhouse Discusses Shady Records Debut, Eminem & Producers | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX
  21. ^ Jacobs, Allen (5 September 2012). "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/2/2012". Cheri Media Group. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  22. ^ Paine, Jack. "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/23/2012". Cheri Media Group. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  23. ^ "Worldwide Album Sales of All Current and Former Shady Records Artists – Southpawer – Supporting Eminem". Archived from the original on 2016-01-08. Retrieved 2017-09-29.
  24. ^ a b "Welcome To: Our House Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  25. ^ a b "Welcome To: Our House - Slaughterhouse". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  26. ^ a b "Slaughterhouse - Welcome To: Our House • Hip-Hop Reviews •". Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  27. ^ a b "Slaughterhouse - welcome to: Our House". Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  28. ^ "Feature for September 11, 2012 - Slaughterhouse's "Welcome To: Our House"". Rapreviews.com. 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2015-07-03.
  29. ^ a b "Welcome to: Our House". Rolling Stone. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  30. ^ a b "Slaughterhouse, 'Welcome To: Our House' (Shady/Interscope)". 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  31. ^ a b "Slaughterhouse, welcome to: OUR HOUSE". 28 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  32. ^ "Slaughterhouse :: Welcome To: Our House". Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  33. ^ "Slaughterhouse - welcome to: OUR HOUSE". Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  34. ^ "Welcome To: Our House - Slaughterhouse". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  35. ^ "Slaughterhouse Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  36. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Slaughterhouse – Welcome To: Our House" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  37. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Slaughterhouse – Welcome To: Our House". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  38. ^ "Slaughterhouse | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  39. ^ "Slaughterhouse Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  40. ^ "Slaughterhouse Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  41. ^ "Slaughterhouse Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  42. ^ "Slaughterhouse Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  43. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  44. ^ iTunes - Music - Welcome To: Our House (Deluxe Version) by Slaughterhouse
  45. ^ iTunes - Music - Welcome To: Our House (Deluxe Version) by Slaughterhouse
  46. ^ iTunes - Music - Welcome To: Our House (Deluxe Version) by Slaughterhouse