The Underground Tapes (Saukrates album)

The Underground Tapes
Studio Album by	Saukrates (rapper)
Released	June 22, 1999
Recorded	1996-1999
Genre/Style	Canadian hip-hop
Length	44:90
Label	Serious/Capitol Hill
Producer(s)	Chase Parsons (exec.), Saukrates (exec.), Mike Caren (exec.), Mr. Attic, Day
Writer(s)
Last album
This album	The Underground Tapes (Saukrates album)
Next album	Season One (Saukrates album)

The Underground Tapes is the debut studio album of Canadian rapper Saukrates, released June 22, 1999 in the United States. It was released independently on Serious Entertainment and Capitol Hill Music. In late summer 1999, the album was re-released in Canada with six additional tracks. Three songs from the album—"Innovations", "Play Dis (99 Remix)", and "Rollin"—are remixes. The only single from the album was "Money or Love", which was nominated for a Juno Award in 2000.

Reception

Allmusic stated "Influenced by the quintessential N.Y. sound of old, Saukrates' self-produced jazzy synthesizers and organic string sections permeate with a native-tongues vibe. But it's lyrically where Saukrates distinguishes himself, as his flow and domineering habitation on the mike is utterly hypnotic."

Track listing

#	Title	Producer(s)	Featured guest(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"			1:12
2.	"Can't Touch Us"	Saukrates (co-produced by Mr. Attic)		3:52
3.	"Money or Love"	Saukrates		4:18
4.	"Bag da Biscuit"	Saukrates		2:40
5.	"Da Professional"	Saukrates		5:57
6.	"Keep It Movin"	Saukrates	Xzibit	3:23
7.	"Innovations"	Saukrates	Pharoahe Monch	3:59
8.	"Fine Line"	Saukrates		2:35
9.	"Play Dis (99 Remix)"	Saukrates	Common	3:35
10.	"Body Language"	Mr. Attic	Choclair	4:08
11.	"Check for Me"	Saukrates		4:35
12.	"Ultimate Rush"	Mike Caren	Heltah Skeltah	3:03
13.	"Rollin"	Saukrates	Masta Ace and O.C.	4:13

The Canadian re-release features six additional tracks.

#	Title	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Suga Daddy"	Saukrates	3:54
15.	"Bag da Biscuit (Ain't Nuttin But A....)"	Saukrates	3:47
16.	"Vietnam"	Saukrates	3:56
17.	"Killed or Be Killed"	Saukrates	3:15
18.	"Ay, Ay, Ay"	Saukrates	3:48
*	"Father Time" (hidden track)	Day (co-produced by Saukrates)	4:22

Samples

• "Da Professional" contains a sample of "On the Hill" by Oliver Sain
• "Check for Me" contains a sample of "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" by Ramsey Lewis

Personnel

• Mike Caren – Producer, Executive Producer, Mixing
• Choclair (rapper) – Performer
• Heltah Skeltah – Performer
• Saukrates – Producer, Executive Producer
• Xzibit (rapper) – Performer

Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Underground_Tapes
• Vol. 1-Underground Tapes Amazon. Accessed on November 3, 2009.
• Saukrates > Overview Allmusic. Accessed on November 3, 2009.
• Allmusic review
• MVRemix review
• The Underground Tapes > Overview Allmusic. Accessed on November 3, 2009.

See Also

• List of Albums
• 1999 hip-hop

The Underground Tapes (Saukrates album)