How Ya Like Me Now

How Ya Like Me Now is the second solo studio album by American rapper Kool Moe Dee from the Treacherous Three. It was recorded at Battery Studios in London, England and released on November 3, 1987 via Jive Records.

How Ya Like Me Now
Studio album by
Kool Moe Dee
ReleasedNovember 3, 1987
StudioBattery Studios (London, UK)
GenreHip hop, new jack swing[1]
Length49:51
Label
Producer
Kool Moe Dee chronology
Kool Moe Dee
(1986)		 How Ya Like Me Now
(1987)		 Knowledge Is King
(1989)
Singles from How Ya Like Me Now
  1. "How Ya Like Me Now"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Wild Wild West"
    Released: 1987
  3. "No Respect"
    Released: 1987
Music video
"How Ya Like Me Now" on YouTube
Music video
"Wild Wild West" on YouTube
Music video
"No Respect" on YouTube

Production of the album was handled by Teddy Riley, Bryan "Chuck" New, LaVaba Mallison, Pete Q. Harris and Kool Moe Dee. The record peaked at #35 on the Billboard 200[2] and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[3] It is his best-selling album to date, achieving platinum certification by the RIAA.[4] The album has spawned three singles: "How Ya Like Me Now", "Wild Wild West" and "No Respect".

Recording and production

Mixing and recording for How Ya Like Me Now took place in London, England at Battery Studios. Alongside Kool Moe Dee, audio production was shared with and handled by Teddy Riley, Bryan "Chuck" New, LaVaba Mallison and Pete Q. Harris, with whom he worked on his previous self-titled album.

On the front cover made by Doug Rowell, Moe Dee takes musical aim at rival rapper LL Cool J, by crushing a red Kangol hat under a front wheel of the Jeep Wrangler in the backdrop. The long running feud began when Kool Moe Dee claimed that LL had stolen their rap styles. He also felt that LL was disrespecting rap pioneers like Melle Mel and Grandmaster Caz, by proclaiming that he was "rap's new grandmaster" without paying due respect to those who came before him.[5] The feud persisted into the mid-1990s with more songs, and ended with both MCs proclaiming themselves the victor.

Release and promotion

Following Kool Moe Dee, How Ya Like Me Now was released through Jive Records with distribution by RCA Records, making it Kool Moe Dee's second album on the label. It was dropped on November 3, 1987, and was supported by three singles: "How Ya Like Me Now", "Wild Wild West" and "No Respect", and its music videos.

Its self-titled single peaked at #22 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[6] and #86 on the UK Singles Chart.[7] "Wild Wild West" peaked at #62 on the US Billboard Hot 100[8] and #4 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[6] The single "No Respect" did not get into any major music chart.

Reception

Commercial

Reaching a peak position of number thirty-five on the US Billboard 200, How Ya Like Me Now remained on the chart for a total of 50 weeks.[2] The album has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on April 14, 1988, and then went platinum on November 14, 1988, indicating US sales of over one million units.[4]

Critical
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Robert ChristgauA–[10]

In a contemporary review, the Washington Post compared the album to work by hip hop artists Schooly D and LL Cool J stating that Kool Moe Dee "comes across like a hip guidance couselor" and that the album was a "def aural collage: James Brown beats on the title cut, Queen on "Rock You" even Paul Simon on "50 Ways". The production is sophisticated without sacrificing the improvisational swagger that is central to rap's appeal."[11] American music journalist Robert Christgau described the album as "out-of-kilter swing generated by his electronic percussion lie there—trick rhymes, variable lengths, filters, double tracks, sung refrains, and the occasional extra instrument all work to shift the beat without undercutting its dominance". Alex Henderson of AllMusic said that Kool Moe Dee "had a major hit with his sophomore effort" and "it definitely has its share of classics".

Accolades

In 2017, the album was ranked #35 on Consequence of Sound Top 50 Albums of 1987,[12] and #41 of Complex 50 Greatest Rap Albums 1980s.[13]

Legacy

In 1996, Nas references the album in the chorus of "I Gave You Power" from his second album It Was Written, a song where Nas plays an anthropomorphized gun. The chorus lyrics are "How you like me now? I go blaow, it's the shit that moves crowds, makin' every ghetto foul".

In 2004, Ludacris references the album in his verse on Usher's number one hit "Yeah".

In 2008, the title track "How Ya Like Me Now" was ranked #31 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs.

In 2009, the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, seemed to reference Kool Moe Dee in comments addressed to 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, "I would say to the new president, congratulations. It is going to be an honor to spar with him. And I would follow that up with: How do you like me now?"[14] Also in 2009, "How Ya Like Me Now" appeared in 2009 music video game DJ Hero.

In 2017, the song "How Ya Like Me Now" was used in the Empire (2015 TV series) episode "Strange Bedfellows".

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."How Ya Like Me Now"5:37
2."Wild Wild West"4:40
3."Way Way Back"4:32
4."50 Ways"5:00
5."No Respect"5:24
6."Don't Dance"4:25
7."I'm A Player"3:37
8."Suckers"4:44
9."Stupid"4:25
10."Rock You"3:57
11."Get Paid"3:19
Total length:49:51

Personnel
  • Mohandes Dewese – vocals, producer
  • Bryan Chuck New – mixing, engineer, producer
  • Edward Theodore Riley – producer
  • Peter Brian Harris – producer
  • LaVaba Mallison – producer
  • Doug Rowell – photography
  • Kofi Tuda – grooming

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Kennedy, Jake (September 2011). "Kool Moe Dee – Kool Moe Dee". Record Collector. No. 392. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  2. "Kool Moe Dee How Ya Like Me Now Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  3. "Kool Moe Dee How Ya Like Me Now Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  4. "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". RIAA. November 14, 1988. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  5. Patrick Goldstein, "Kool Moe Grades Rappers: Give Him A+," Los Angeles Times, November 29, 1987.
  6. "Kool Moe Dee Chart History". Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  7. "KOOL MOE DEE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  8. "Kool Moe Dee Chart History". Hot 100. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  9. Henderson, Alex. "How Ya Like Me Now – Kool Moe Dee". Allmusic. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  10. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Kool Moe Dee". Robert Christgau. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  11. Jenkins, Mark (January 17, 1988). "Achieving a Bad Rap: Beat Box Artists Talk Trash for Cash Schooly D: 'Saturday Night!' Rap Kool Moe Doe: 'How Ya Like Me Now' Just Ice: 'Kool and Deadly (Justicizms)' M.C. Shan: 'Down by Law'". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C., United States: WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post. p. 111. ISSN 0190-8286. ProQuest 139891546.
  12. "Top 50 Albums of 1987". Consequence of Sound. 2017-07-10. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  13. Gonzales, Michael (October 26, 2017). "The Best Rap Albums of the '80s". Complex. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  14. Nagourney, Adam (February 3, 2009). "New Face of G.O.P. Brings a Brash Style". The New York Times.
  15. "American album certifications – Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 

"Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now". Discogs.

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