The Peoples Champ

The Peoples Champ
Studio album by Paul Wall
Released	September 27, 2005
Recorded	2004–05
Genre	Hip hop, southern hip hop
Length	70:18
Label	Swishahouse, Atlantic, Asylum
Producer	Paul Wall (also exec.), DJ Paul, Juicy J, Michael 5000 Watts, GridIron Glow-Ree, Sanchez Holmes, Khao, Kojack, Salih Williams, KLC, Mr Lee, Kanye West, Speez, Alan Sampson
Paul Wall chronology
Chick Magnet (2004) The Peoples Champ (2005) Get Money, Stay True (2007)

The Peoples Champ is the second studio album by American rapper Paul Wall. It was released on September 27, 2005, by Swishahouse, Atlantic Records and Asylum Records. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 176,000 copies its first week.^[1] This is the second album overall and his first to topped on the Billboard 200. The album also on available when it re-released as a Chopped and Screwed version; hosted by DJ Michael "5000" Watts, containing a special 2-disc edition availablly with an alternative album cover and a bonus disc.

The Peoples Champ was supported by five singles "Sittin' Sidewayz", "They Don't Know", "Internet Goin Nutz", "Girl", and Kanye West's "Drive Slow" along with GLC, in which the song also featured on West's album Late Registration (2005). American rapper T.I. added his own verse on this track as part of the remix. The remix to "Drive Slow" is included for most parts on T.I.'s album King (2006).

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Blender	[3]
HipHopDX	[4]
Pitchfork Media	7.9/10[5]
RapReviews	8/10[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
The Situation	3/5[8]

The Peoples Champ received generally positive reviews from music critics who found Wall better than fellow Houston rapper Mike Jones. Tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media credited newcomer producer Grid Iron for providing some consistent beats throughout the album and Wall for being an above-average rapper saying, "So Wall is a good rapper, but not a great one. But then, this is 2005, and all a rapper needs to make a good album is enough great, complimentary beats and guest appearances to keep the whole thing interesting all the way through."^[5] Andy Kellman of AllMusic also praised Wall as a rapper, saying his flow is something that "always fits into the fabric of the track."^[2] Jonah Weiner of Blender lauded Wall's ability to lace crafty wordplay about the typical hip-hop tropes, saying that "This is materialism at its most mesmerizing."^[3] K. B. Tindal of HipHopDX praised the album for its party tracks but was looking for some substance throughout it, saying that "After actually listening to the project it was worth the wait but still could have been a little more introspective with more heartfelt tracks. [...] For the most part it is what it is; shit talking made to sound good."^[4] Usman Sajjad of The Situation praised the album for its production and catchy party tracks, concluding that "With new hustles like his grills and various endorsements with Reebok and other companies, Paul Wall gives evidence with his debut 'The People’s Champ', that Houston still flows strongly through his blood, whilst moving one foot into mainstream Hip Hop."^[8]

Track listing

#	Title	Featured Guest(s)	Producer(s)	Time
1	"I'm a Playa"	Three 6 Mafia	DJ Paul, Juicy J	4:25
2	"They Don't Know"	Mike Jones	GridIron Glow-Ree	3:43
3	"Ridin' Dirty"	Trey Songz	GridIron Glow-Ree	4:27
4	"State to State"	Freeway	Sanchez Holmes	4:12
5	"So Many Diamonds"	T.I.	Khao	3:58
6	"Smooth Operator"		Kool Kojak	3:15
7	"Sittin' Sidewayz"	Big Pokey of S.U.C.	Salih Williams	3:52
8	"Internet Going Nutz"		KLC	4:43
9	"Trill"	B.G. & Bun B	GridIron Glow-Ree, Mike Dean, Medicine Man (of TicToc)	4:08
10	"Sippin' tha Barre"		Mr Lee	4:39
11	"Drive Slow"	Kanye West & GLC	Kanye West	4:33
12	"March N Step"	Unique & Lil Wayne	GridIron Glow-Ree	3:47
13	"Got Plex"	Archie Lee & Cootabang	Speez	3:45
14	"Girl"		Speez	4:38
15	"Big Ballin'"		GridIron Glow-Ree	4:01
16	"Sip-N-Get High"	Aqualeo	Alan Sampson	3:45
17	"Just Paul Wall"		GridIron Glow-Ree	4:11
18	"They Don't Know"	Bun B	GridIron Glow-Ree	3:43

Chopped and Screwed version

1. Intro
2. Sittin' Sidewayz (featuring Big Pokey)
3. Big Ballin'
4. March N' Step (featuring Unique & Lil Wayne)
5. State to State (featuring Freeway)
6. Trill (featuring B.G. & Bun B)
7. Girl
8. Just Paul Wall
9. So Many Diamonds (featuring T.I.)
10. Smooth Operator
11. Got Plex (featuring Archie Lee & Cootabang)
12. They Don't Know (featuring Bun B)
13. Ridin' Dirty (featuring Trey Songz)
14. Internet Going Nutz
15. I'm a Playa (featuring Three 6 Mafia)
16. Sip-N-Get High (featuring Aqualeo)
17. Drive Slow (Kanye West featuring Paul Wall & GLC)
18. Outro

Samples

• "Girl"
  • "Oh Girl" by Chi-Lites
• "I'm a Playa"
  • "I Got That Drank" by Frayser Boy feat. Mike Jones and Paul Wall
  • "Still Tippin'" by Mike Jones feat. Slim Thug and Paul Wall
• "Internet Going Nutz"
  • "Still Tippin'" by Mike Jones feat. Slim Thug and Paul Wall
• "Just Paul Wall"
  • "Long Ago and Far Away" by Earl Klugh
• "Sippin' Tha Barre"
  • "Get Crunk" by Crooked Lettaz feat. Pimp C
• "Sittin' Sidewayz"
  • "June 27th (Part 2)" by DJ Screw feat. Big Moe and Big Pokey
• "Smooth Operator"
  • "Never Know What You Can Do (Give It a Try)" by Leroy Hutson
• "They Don't Know"
  • "Pimp Tha Pen" by DJ Screw feat. Lil' Keke
  • "Murder" by UGK
  • "3rd Coast" by Fat Pat
  • "Wood Wheel" by UGK

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2005) Peak position US Billboard 200[9] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] 1 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments United States (RIAA)[11] Platinum 1,000,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Year-end charts Chart (2005) Position US Billboard 200[12] 147 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[13] 43 Chart (2006) Position US Billboard 200[14] 191 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[15] 62

See also

• List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2005
• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2005

References

1. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1510011/kanye-west-falls-champ-paul-wall.jhtml
2. Kellman, Andy. "The Peoples Champ - Paul Wall". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
3. Weiner, Jonah. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". Blender. Alpha Media Group. Archived from the original on November 28, 2005. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
4. Tindal, K. B. (September 26, 2005). "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
5. Breihan, Tom (October 6, 2005). "Paul Wall: The People's Champ". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
6. Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 13, 2005). "RapReviews.com Feature for September 13, 2005". RapReviews. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
7. Paul Wall - The People's Champ at the Wayback Machine (archived January 14, 2009)
8. Sajjad, Usman. "Paul Wall - The People's Champ". The Situation. Archived from the original on November 25, 2005. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
9. "Paul Wall – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Paul Wall. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
10. "Paul Wall – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Paul Wall. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
11. "American album certifications – Paul Wall". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 22, 2014. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
12. "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2005". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
13. "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2005". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
14. "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2006". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
15. "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2006". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 8, 2015.