Nocturnal (Heltah Skeltah album)

Nocturnal is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Heltah Skeltah. It was released on June 18, 1996[4] via Duck Down/Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, at Dollar Cab, at D&D Studios, and at Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Da Beatminerz, Buckshot, Shaleek, Shawn J. Period, Supreme, E-Swift, Lord Jamar and Sean Price. It features guest appearances from Originoo Gunn Clappaz, Illa Noyz, Representativz and Vinia Mojica. The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Nocturnal
Studio album by
Heltah Skeltah
ReleasedJune 18, 1996 (1996-06-18)
Recorded1995–96
Studio
Genre
Length1:05:12
Label
Producer
Heltah Skeltah chronology
Nocturnal
(1996)		 Magnum Force
(1998)
Singles from Nocturnal
  1. "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"
    Released: October 31, 1995
  2. "Operation Lock Down"
    Released: May 27, 1996
  3. "Therapy"
    Released: October 15, 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
RapReviews9/10[2]
Spin7/10[3]

Background

The two made their debut on Smif-N-Wessun's 1995 album Dah Shinin'. Same year the duo teamed up with O.G.C. to form The Fab 5, and released the single "Blah" b/w "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". "Leflah", which is included in the album, peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the biggest hit from the Boot Camp family to date. "Leflah" was re-released as an A-Side single in early 1996, featuring the first sole Heltah Skeltah track, "Letha Brainz Blo", as its B-Side. The first official single released from the album was "Operation Lock Down", produced by Tha Alkaholiks' E-Swift. Other singles released from the album were "Therapy" and "Da Wiggy".

The "Twin Towers" of the Boot Camp Clik gained much recognition and respect in the Hip Hop world with the release of their debut, now hailed as a 90's Hip Hop classic. Led by Rock's rough, booming voice and Ruck's strong lyrical ability, and backed by dark, grimy beats by Da Beatminerz, Shaleek, and others, the release received wide acclaim in the Hip Hop world, but didn't reach much further, selling around 250,000 copies in the US.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro (Here We Come)" (featuring Starang Wondah)
3:29
2."Letha Brainz Blo"
Baby Paul4:19
3."Undastand"
  • Price
  • Bush
  • Hendricks
Baby Paul4:15
4."Who Dat?"
  • Price
  • Bush
  • Blake
Buckshot1:43
5."Sean Price" (featuring Illa Noyz)
  • Price
  • Darryl Pearson
Shaleek4:19
6."Clan's, Posse's, Crew's & Clik's"
  • Bush
  • Price
  • Ewart Dewgarde
DJ Evil Dee5:23
7."Therapy" (featuring Vinia Mojica)
Baby Paul4:32
8."Place to Be"
  • Price
  • Bush
  • Shawn M. Jones
Shawn J. Period2:45
9."Soldiers Gone Psyco"
  • Price
  • Bush
  • Hendricks
Baby Paul3:40
10."The Square (Triple R)" (featuring Representativz)
  • Bush
  • Price
  • Louis Johnson
  • Demetrio Muniz
Supreme4:20
11."Da Wiggy"
  • Price
  • Bush
  • Walter Dewgarde
Mr. Walt4:12
12."Gettin Ass Gettin Ass"
  • Price
  • Mojica
Dr. Kill Patient1:15
13."Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" (featuring O.G.C.)
Baby Paul5:03
14."Prowl" (featuring Louieville Sluggah)
  • Bush
  • Price
  • Powell
  • W. Dewgarde
Mr. Walt4:13
15."Grate Unknown"
  • Price
  • Bush
  • Pearson
Shaleek4:18
16."Operation Lock Down"
E-Swift4:25
17."Outro"  3:01
Total length:1:05:12
Sample credits
  • Track 2 contains samples from "The Look of Love" by Johnny Pate
  • Track 3 contains samples from "Soul Girl" by Jeanne & the Darlings
  • Track 13 contains samples from "Uzuri" by Catalyst
  • Track 14 contains samples from "Danube Incident" by Lalo Schifrin
  • Track 15 contains samples from "I Cover the Waterfront" and "Blame It on My Youth" by Gloria Lynne
  • Track 16 contains samples from "Theme From Summer of '42" by George Benson

Album singles
Single information
"Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"
  • Released: October 31, 1995
  • B-Side: "Letha Brainz Blo"
"Operation Lock Down"
  • Released: May 27, 1996
  • B-Side: "Da Wiggy"
"Therapy"
  • Released: October 15, 1996
  • B-Side: "Place to Be"

Music videos
  • "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" Director: Marcus Turner Released: 1995
  • "Operation Lock Down" Released: 1996
  • "Therapy" Director: Gobi Najed
    Released: 1996

Charts
Chart (1996) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[5] 35
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] 5

Singles chart positions
Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1995 "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" 75 51 8 19
1996 "Operation Lock Down" - 64 15 13
"Da Wiggy" - - 15 -
"Therapy" - 77 16 21

References
  1. Stanley, Leo. "Nocturnal - Heltah Skeltah | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  2. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 15, 2020). "Heltah Skeltah :: Nocturnal – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. Hinds, Selwyn Seyfu (August 1996). SPIN. 12. SPIN Media LLC. pp. 101–102. ISSN 0886-3032.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. Madden, Sidney (June 18, 2015). "Today in Hip-Hop: Heltah Skeltah Drop 'Nocturnal' - XXL". XXL. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  5. "Heltah Skeltah Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  6. "Heltah Skeltah Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
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