Internal Affairs (Pharoahe Monch album)

Internal Affairs is the solo debut from former Organized Konfusion member Pharoahe Monch, released on Rawkus Records and Priority Records. Monch creates a harder sound than heard on the previous Organized Konfusion records. The album spawned the Hot 100 hit "Simon Says".

Internal Affairs
Studio album by
Pharoahe Monch
ReleasedOctober 19, 1999
Recorded1998−99
GenreHip hop
Length53:22
Label
Producer
Pharoahe Monch chronology
Internal Affairs
(1999)		 Desire
(2007)
2019 reissue cover
Singles from Internal Affairs
  1. "Simon Says""
    Released: 1999
  2. "Right Here (Remix)"
    Released: 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
RapReviews.com[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
The Source[4]
Sputnik Music[5]

The album is out of print because of Pharoahe Monch's refusal to record for the Geffen Records label after Universal Music Group acquired Rawkus Records from Priority.[6] Rawkus, as well as its then-parent label MCA Records, were later folded by the Universal Music Group into Geffen Records.

To mark the album's 20th anniversary, it was reissued on October 19, 2019, becoming available digitally and on streaming services for the first time.[7] A limited edition vinyl release is expected to be released on June 5, 2020.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"George Spivey, Troy JamersonDJ Scratch3:04
2."Behind Closed Doors"JamersonPharoahe Monch3:12
3."Queens"Hod David, Jamerson, Maxwell RiveraLee Stone, Pharoahe Monch3:31
4."Rape"JamersonPharoahe Monch2:37
5."Simon Says"JamersonLee Stone, Pharoahe Monch2:55
6."Official"Jamerson, Lee StoneLee Stone3:48
7."Hell" (featuring Canibus)Germaine Williams, Jamerson, StoneLee Stone3:10
8."No Mercy" (featuring M.O.P.)Alan Maman, Eric Murray, Jamal Grinnage, JamersonThe Alchemist4:30
9."Right Here"Jamerson, SpiveyDJ Scratch2:57
10."The Next Shit" (featuring Busta Rhymes)Jamerson, Stone, Trevor Smith, Jr.Lee Stone, Pharoahe Monch3:21
11."The Ass" (featuring Apani B. Fly)Apani Smith, Jamerson, Joseph KirklandDiamond D3:28
12."The Light"Kirkland, JamersonDiamond D3:39
13."God Send" (performed by Organized Konfusion)Jamerson, Lawrence Baskerville, StoneLee Stone, Pharoahe Monch3:17
14."The Truth" (featuring Common & Talib Kweli)Kirkland, Jamerson, Lonnie Lynn, Jr., Talib GreeneDiamond D3:57
15."Simon Says" (Remix) (featuring Lady Luck, Method Man & Redman, Shabaam Sahdeeq & Busta Rhymes)Clifford Smith, Jamerson, Marcus Vialva, Reginald Noble, Shanel Jones, SmithLee Stone, Pharoahe Monch6:16
Sample credits
  • "Intro" contains samples of "Blues and The Abstract Truth" by Oliver Nelson.
  • "Behind Closed Doors" contains samples of "Aftermath" by Quincy Jones.
  • "Queens" contains samples of "Til the Cops Come Knockin" by Maxwell.
  • "Rape" contains samples of "Candy Man" by Quincy Jones.
  • "Simon Says" and "Simon Says (remix)" contains samples of "Godzilla vs. Mothra - Main Title" by Akira Ifukube.
  • "No Mercy" contains samples of "The Trap" by Jerry Goldsmith.
  • "The Next Shit" contains samples of "Espani Cani" by Sid Bass.
  • "The Light" contains samples of "Mi Cosa" by Wes Montgomery, and "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams" by George Benson.
  • "God Send" contains samples of "Iggin Me" by Chico DeBarge , and "Excentrifugal Forz" by Frank Zappa .
  • "The Truth" contains samples of "Cristo Redentor" by Harvey Mandel.

Music videos
  • "Simon Says" (1999, director: Busta Rhymes)
  • "The Light" (2000, director: Jeff Richter)

Chart positions

Album
Chart (1999) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[8] 41
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] 6

Singles
Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1999 "Simon Says" 97 29 3
2000 "The Light" - - 30

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. RapReviews.com review
  3. Rolling Stone review
  4. The Source review
  5. Sputnik Music review
  6. Mugan, Chris (November 26, 2007). "Pharoahe Monch: A rapper on the rise". The Independent. London, England: Independent Print Ltd. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  7. Findlay, Mitch (October 1, 2019). "Pharoahe Monch's "Internal Affairs" To Finally Hit Streaming Services". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  8. "Pharoahe Monch Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  9. "Pharoahe Monch Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2016.



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