How Ya Like Me Now
Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Kool Moe Dee1986Knowledge Is King1989studioHow Ya Like Me NowHow Ya Like Me Now.jpgKool Moe DeeNovember 3, 1987Battery, London, UKTemplate:Hlist49:51Template:HlistTemplate:Hlistx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} 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.
The album was produced by Teddy Riley, Bryan "Chuck" New, LaVaba Mallison, Pete Q. Harris, and Kool Moe Dee. It peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard 200<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> It is his best-selling album to date, achieving platinum certification by the RIAA.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> The album spawned three singles: "How Ya Like Me Now", "Wild Wild West" and "No Respect".
Recording and productionEdit
Mixing and recording for How Ya Like Me Now took place in London 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 his rap style. 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.<ref>Patrick Goldstein, "Kool Moe Grades Rappers: Give Him A+," Los Angeles Times, November 29, 1987.</ref> The feud persisted into the mid-1990s with more songs, and ended with both MCs proclaiming themselves the victor.
The photograph was taken on 4th St in Manhattan between Avenues C and D in Alphabet City, in an empty lot across from the San Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite. Moe Dee references aspects the neighborhood in lyrics on the album.
Release and promotionEdit
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<ref name=":3" /> and #86 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name=":4" /> "Wild Wild West" peaked at #62 on the US Billboard Hot 100<ref name=":5" /> and #4 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.<ref name=":3" /> The single "No Respect" did not get into any major music chart.
ReceptionEdit
CommercialEdit
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.<ref name=":1" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />
CriticalEdit
Template:Album ratings 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."<ref name="washPost">Template:Cite news</ref> American music journalist Robert Christgau described the album as "out-of-kilter swing generated by his electronic percussion [...] - 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 that "it definitely has its share of classics".<ref name=AM/>
AccoladesEdit
In 2017, the album was ranked #35 on Consequence of Sound Top 50 Albums of 1987,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and #41 of Complex 50 Greatest Rap Albums 1980s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
LegacyEdit
In 2008, the title track "How Ya Like Me Now" was ranked #31 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs.
In 2017, the song "How Ya Like Me Now" was used in the Empire episode "Strange Bedfellows".
Track listingEdit
PersonnelEdit
- 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
ChartsEdit
Template:Col-start Template:Col-2 Album
| Chart
(1988) |
Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 4<ref name=":2" /> |
| US Billboard 200 | 35<ref name=":1" /> |
Template:Col-2 Singles
| Year | Song | Peak positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref> | US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> | UK Singles Chart<ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
| 1987 | "How Ya Like Me Now" | — | 22 | 86 |
| 1988 | "Wild Wild West" | 62 | 4 | — |
| "No Respect" | — | — | — | |
CertificationsEdit
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ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
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