Nocturnal (Heltah Skeltah album)

Nocturnal
Studio album by Heltah Skeltah
Released	June 18, 1996
Recorded	July 1995-March 1996
Genre	East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop
Length	65:21
Label	Duck Down/Priority/EMI Records 0499 2 50532 2 7 P2-50532
Producer	Buckshot Lord Jamar Baby Paul Shaleek DJ Evil Dee Shawn J. Period Supreme Mr. Walt E-Swift
Heltah Skeltah chronology
Nocturnal (1996) Magnum Force (1998) Singles from Nocturnal "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka" Released: October 31, 1995 "Operation Lock Down" Released: May 27, 1996 "Therapy" Released: October 15, 1996

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Source	[2]

Nocturnal is the debut album from hip hop duo Heltah Skeltah, consisting of members Rock and Ruck (who later became known as Sean Price), members of Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik. It was the first BCC album to feature some outside producers, such as Shawn J. Period and E-Swift.

Background

The two made their debut on Smif-N-Wessun's 1995 album Dah Shinin'. Later in 1995, Rock and Ruck teamed up with O.G.C. to form the Fab 5, and released the single "Blah" b/w "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". "Leflah", included here, became a Billboard Hot 100 hit in '95 and 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

#	Title	Songwriters	Producer(s)	Performer (s)
1	"Intro (Here We Come)"	K. Blake, J. McNair, J. Bush	Buckshot, Lord Jamar	Rock, Starang Wondah
2	"Letha Brainz Blo"	P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush	Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz	Rock, Ruck
3	"Undastand"	P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush	Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz	Ruck, Rock
4	"Who Dat?"	K. Blake, S. Price, J. Bush	Buckshot	Ruck, Rock
5	"Sean Price"	D. Pearson, S. Price	Shaleek	Ruck, Illa Noyz
6	"Clan's, Posse's, Crew's & Clik's"	E. Dewgarde, J. Bush, S. Price	DJ Evil Dee of Da Beatminerz	Rock, Ruck
7	"Therapy"	P. Hendricks, S. Price, J. Bush, V. Mojica	Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz	Rock, Ruck, Vinia Mojica
8	"Place to Be"	S. Price, J. Bush, Shawn J. Period	Shawn J. Period	Ruck, Rock
9	"Soldiers Gone Psyco"	P. Hendricks, J. Bush, S. Price	Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz	Ruck, Rock
10	"The Square (Triple R)"	S. Price, J. Bush, L. Johnson, B. Muniz	Supreme	Rock, Ruck, Representativz
11	"Da Wiggy"	W. Dewgarde, J. Bush, S. Price	Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz	Ruck, Rock
12	"Gettin Ass Gettin Ass"	S. Price, V. Mojica	Dr. Kill Patient aka Sean Price	Ruck, Vinia Mojica
13	"Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"	P. Hendricks, J. McNair, J. Bush, D. Yates, S. Price, B. Powell	Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz	The Fab 5 (Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C.)
14	"Prowl"	W. Dewgarde, J. Bush, B. Powell, S. Price	Mr. Walt of Da Beatminerz	Rock, Ruck, Louieville Sluggah
15	"Grate Unknown"	D. Pearson, S. Price, J. Bush	Shaleek	Ruck, Rock
16	"Operation Lock Down"	E. Brooks, J. Bush, S. Price	E-Swift	Rock, Ruck
17	"Lock Down Skit"		E-Swift	Ruck as "Bejesus", Rock

Samples

• "Letha Brainz Blo"
  • "The Look of Love" by Johnny Pate
• "Undastand"
  • "Soledad De Murcia" by Michael Naura Quartett
  • "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by The Whatnauts
• "Who Dat?"
  • "Both Ends Against the Middle" by Richard "Popcorn" Wylie
• "Sean Price"
  • "Nuff Man A Dead" by Super Cat
• "Prowl"
  • "Danube Incident" by Lalo Schifrin
• "Clan's, Posse's, Crew's & Clik's"
  • "The Mixed Up Cup" by Clyde McPhatter
• "Grate Unknown"
  • "Let It Be Me" by Gloria Lynne
• "Operation Lockdown"
  • "Theme From Summer '42" by George Benson
• "Da Wiggy"
  • "If I Needed Someone" by Bit'A Sweet
  • "Can You Do Without?" by Meters
• "Therapy"
  • "Enchanted Lady" by Milt Jackson
• "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka"
  • "Uzuri" by Catalyst
• "Soldiers Gone Psyco"
  • "Sing A Simple Song" by Sly & The Family Stone
  • "Lost In a Pool of Red" by Wade Marcus

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

Album chart positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1996	Nocturnal	35	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[3]	51	8	19
1996	"Operation Lock Down"	-	64	15	13
	"Da Wiggy"	-	-	15	-
	"Therapy"	-	77	16	21

References

1. Allmusic review
2. The Source review
3. "Heltah Skeltah Music News & Info". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-03-03.