The Big Doe Rehab

The Big Doe Rehab
Studio album by Ghostface Killah
Released December 4, 2007
Recorded 2007
Genre Hip hop
Length 47:55
Label Def Jam
Producer Ant-Live, Anthony Acid, Baby Grand,Davey Chegwidden, Frequency, Ghostface Killah, LV & Sean C, Scram Jones, Syience
Ghostface Killah chronology
More Fish
(2006)		 The Big Doe Rehab
(2007)		 Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City
(2009)
Wu-Tang Clan solo chronology
Ghostface Killah:
More Fish
(2006)		 The Big Doe Rehab
(2007)		 RZA:
Digi Snacks
(2008)

The Big Doe Rehab is the seventh studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released on December 4, 2007 on Def Jam Records. The album features guest appearances from fellow Wu-Tang members Raekwon, Method Man, U-God, and Masta Killa as well as from Kid Capri, Cappadonna and members of Ghostface's Theodore Unit crew. The album features production from LV & Sean C. among others.

Background

The album was released on December 4, 2007. This initially conflicted with the release date of Wu-Tang Clan's fifth group album 8 Diagrams, a fact Ghostface was reported to be unhappy with, according to an interview with MTV.com.[1] In response to this, RZA subsequently announced the delay of 8 Diagrams by a further week so as not to clash with the release of The Big Doe Rehab.[2]

While speaking to MTV News in December 2007, Ghostface Killah explained the album title, saying:

"I dreamt I was in rehab, but for [having] mad money. Me and a bunch of old white dudes. Dreams — you can't really remember the dreams — but I was someplace, I don't even know if it was rehab, but it was mad money in there. When I woke up, the first thing that came to my mind was The Big Doe Rehab. I take a list of titles and write them in my rhyme book, which I might use in the future."[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
The A.V. ClubA[5]
Robert Christgau(A-)[6]
Entertainment Weekly(B+)[7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
Paste[9]
Slant Magazine[10]
Pitchfork Media(8.0/10)[11]
PopMatters(8/10)[12]
Rolling Stone[13]

The Big Doe Rehab received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 77, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 29 reviews.[14] Marisa Brown of AllMusic said, "Overall the record lacks the excitement, the originality, and the passion that can and has made Ghostface so compelling. A lot of this, for better or for worse, can be blamed on the production."[4] Dave Hughes of Slant Magazine said, "Ghostface has built one of hip-hop's more reliably satisfying brands out of the sound that predominates on Rehab, and his fans will find a lot to like here. But given that a relevant part of his appeal has always been his eccentricity and willingness to take risks, a record mostly defined by his adherence to the tried and true is bound to feel like a bit of a copout."[10] Matthew Fiander of PopMatters said, "The Big Doe Rehab succeeds because it is an album unafraid to show kinks in its armor. Ghostface is always proud on record, and he holds onto that here, but not without letting us past the pride every once in a while, to see an artist that was always brilliant and full of energy finding just the right amount of focus as he hits what could turn out to be his most furtive years."[12]

Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone said, "The Big Doe Rehab isn't as distinct as last year's Fishscale, but it's close."[13] Eric Lach of Paste said, "While Rehab doesn't represent the top of Ghostface's game, the MC's approach is as viable as ever. And if the album doesn't pack the kind of radio-ready hits provided by this year's other big-time rappers like Kanye West and Jay-Z, it's only because this is one artist with other priorities."[9] Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club said, "If the title weren't already taken More Fish would be a fitting name for Ghostface's new album, another tour de force from a guy who made history with his Wu-Tang brethren while still in his early twenties and just keeps getting better with age. The Big Doe Rehab feels like a worthy sequel to last year's Fishscale."[5]

Commercial performance

The Big Doe Rehab debuted at number 41 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and sold about 36,000 units in its debut week.[15] Unhappy with the album sales, Ghostface has since posted a video on his MySpace page expressing disappointment in most of his fans for downloading the album illegally.[16]

Track listing

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "At the Cabana Skit" (featuring Rhythm Roots Allstars, Raekwon & Shawn Wigs)Davey Chegwidden 1:12
2. "Toney Sigel A.K.A. the Barrel Brothers" (featuring Beanie Sigel, Styles P & Solomon Childs)LV & Sean C 3:01
3. "Yolanda's House" (featuring Raekwon, Method Man & Joi Starr)Ant-Live 3:12
4. "We Celebrate" (featuring Kid Capri)LV & Sean C 4:13
5. "Walk Around" (featuring Jayms Madison)Anthony Acid 3:32
6. "Yapp City" (featuring Trife Da God & Sun God)Scram Jones 3:43
7. "White Linen Affair (Toney Awards)" (featuring Shawn Wigs)Frequency, Scram Jones 4:07
8. "Supa GFK"  Ghostface Killah, Anthony Acid 3:38
9. "Rec-Room Therapy" (featuring Raekwon & U-God)Baby Grand, Davey Chegwidden 3:13
10. "The Prayer Skit" (featuring Ox aka Popa Don)  1:23
11. "I'll Die for You" (featuring Amille D. Harris)LV & Sean C 3:06
12. "Paisley Darts" (featuring Raekwon, Sun God, Trife da God, Method Man & Cappadonna)LV & Sean C 5:36
13. "Shakey Dog Starring Lolita" (featuring Raekwon)LV & Sean C 3:09
14. "! Skit" (featuring Rhythm Roots Allstars, Shawn Wigs & Raekwon)Davey Chegwidden 0:36
15. "Killa Lipstick" (featuring Method Man & Masta Killa)Ghostface Killah, Anthony Acid 3:38
16. "Slow Down" (featuring Chrisette Michele)Syience 2:36
Total length:
 47:55
Sample credits

Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[17] 41
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 8
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[19] 5

References

  1. ↑ "Pitchfork: Ghostface Upset About Wu-Tang Release Date". Pitchfork Media. 2007-07-24. Archived from the original on July 24, 2007. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  2. ↑ "Mixtape Monday: Nas Talks About 'Crazy Joint' With Jay-Z; Wu-Tang Delay LP For Ghostface's Sake". Mtv.com. 2006-03-09. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  3. ↑ mtv (2007-12-04). "Ghostface Killah Takes Cash Addicts To The Big Doe Rehab, Talks Wu-Tang Infighting". MTV. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  4. 1 2 Marisa Brown (2007-12-04). "The Big Doe Rehab – Ghostface Killah". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  5. 1 2 Rabin, Nathan (2007-12-07). "Review: Ghostface Killah: The Big Doe Rehab". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
  6. ↑ "CG: ghostface killah". Robert Christgau. 2006-12-28. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  7. ↑ Vozick, Simon (2007-11-27). "The Big Doe Rehab". EW.com. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  8. ↑ "Los Angeles Times: Archives – ALBUM REVIEWS". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  9. 1 2 "Paste Magazine :: Review :: The Big Doe Rehab (Page 1)". Paste. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  10. 1 2 "Slant Magazine – Music Review: Ghostface Killah: The Big Doe Rehab". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  11. ↑ "Ghostface Killah: The Big Doe Rehab: Pitchfork Record Review". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on July 24, 2007. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  12. 1 2 "Ghostface Killah: The Big Doe Rehab". PopMatters. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  13. 1 2 "The Big Doe Rehab : Ghostface : Review : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 2007-12-13. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  14. ↑ "Reviews for The Big Doe Rehab by Ghostface Killah". Metacritic. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  15. ↑ "Groban Ties Elvis With Third Week At No. 1". Billboard. 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  16. ↑ "Ghostface Killah speaks to his MySpace fans". YouTube. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2015-05-24.
  17. ↑ "Ghostface Killah – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Ghostface Killah. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Ghostface Killah – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Ghostface Killah. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Ghostface Killah – Chart history" Billboard Top Rap Albums for Ghostface Killah. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
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