Philadelphia Freeway

Philadelphia Freeway
Studio album by
Freeway
ReleasedFebruary 25, 2003
Recorded2002
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length60:37
Label
Producer
Freeway chronology
Philadelphia Freeway
(2003) 		Free at Last
(2007)
Singles from Philadelphia Freeway
  1. "What We Do"
    Released: September 3, 2002
  2. "Alright"
    Released: January 14, 2003
  3. "Flipside"
    Released: February 25, 2003
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
RapReviews(7/10)[2]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[3]
Rolling Stone[4]
USA Today[5]

Philadelphia Freeway is the debut studio album from Philadelphia rapper Freeway. It was released under Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. The most successful single was "Flipside", which featured Peedi Crakk. The single debuted at #95 on The Billboard Hot 100 music chart. It can also be found in the soundtrack to Bad Boys II. The lead single that was released was "What We Do", which featured Beanie Sigel & Jay Z. The single debuted at #97 on The Billboard 100 music charts. Most of the songs were produced by Just Blaze while some were produced by Bink! & Kanye West.

Critical reception

The album received positive reviews and on Metacritic the album gathered a score of 74 out of 100 based on 7 reviews.[6]

Commercial performance

The album debuted and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top 200, selling 132,000 copies in its first week.[7] The album sold over 500,000 copies,[8] in the United States.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Free"
Just Blaze3:25
2."What We Do" (featuring Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel)
Just Blaze3:49
3."All My Life" (featuring Nate Dogg)
Bink!5:31
4."Flipside" (featuring Peedi Crakk)
Just Blaze3:57
5."On My Own" (featuring Nelly)
Just Blaze4:09
6."We Get Around" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
Just Blaze3:56
7."Don't Cross the Line" (featuring Faith Evans)
Just Blaze4:03
8."Life" (featuring Beanie Sigel)
  • Ruggedness
  • E-Bass[a]
4:32
9."Full Effect" (featuring Young Gunz)
Just Blaze4:50
10."Turn Out the Lights (Freewest)"
Kanye West3:59
11."Victim of the Ghetto" (featuring Rell)
  • Pridgen
  • Harrell
  • Yvette Davis
Bink!5:12
12."You Don't Know (In the Ghetto)" (featuring Omillio Sparks)
Black Key4:13
13."Alright" (featuring Allen Anthony)
  • Just Blaze
  • Gee Roberson[b]
5:26
14."Hear the Song"
  • Pridgen
  • West
Kanye West3:36
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."You Got Me" (performed by Mariah Carey featuring Freeway and Jay-Z)
Just Blaze5:12
16."Line 'Em Up" (featuring Young Chris)
  • Pridgen
  • Smith
  • Ries
Just Blaze4:46
Leftover Tracks

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer

Sample credits

  • "Free" contains a sample of "Freeway Song", written by Joey Melotti and Vicki Sue Robinson, and performed by Vicki Sue Robinson.
  • "What We Do" contains a sample from "I Just Can't See Myself Without You", written by Skip Scarborough, and performed by Creative Source.
  • "All My Life" contains a sample of "I Want To Go Back", written by Curtis Mayfield and Ben Krass, and performed by The Impressions.
  • "Don't Cross the Line" contains a sample of "To Get Love You Must Give Love", written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, and performed by Ultimate Music Experience.
  • "Life" contains an interpolation of "Life for the Taking", written by Eddie Money.
  • "Victim of the Ghetto" contains a sample of "We Belong Together", written by Yvette Davis, and performed by The Spinners.
  • "You Don't Know (In the Ghetto)" contains a sample of "Inside My Love", written by Minnie Ripperton, Richard Rudolph, and Leon Ware; and performed by Minnie Ripperton.
  • "Alright" contains an interpolation of "Mystic Brew", written by Ronnie Foster.

Personnel

  • Giulio Antognini – assistant engineer (15)
  • Kareem "Biggs" Burke – executive producer
  • Mariah Carey – background vocals (15)
  • Shawn Carter – executive producer
  • Dana Jon Chappelle – engineer (15)
  • Damon Dash – executive producer
  • Tony Dawsey – mastering
  • Manuel Farolfi – assistant engineer (15)
  • Paul Gregory – engineer (15)
  • Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton – engineer (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 16), mixing (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 16)
  • Alaine Laughton – additional vocals (12)
  • Ken Lewis – mixing (15)
  • M.A.J. – additional vocals (8)
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing (10, 14)
  • Colin Miller – assistant engineer (15)
  • Dave Perini – assistant engineer (15)
  • Brian Stanley – engineer (3), mixing (3)
  • Torrey Torae – additional vocals (14)
  • Rabeka Tuinei – engineer (10, 14)
  • Pat Viala – mixing (8)
  • Doug Wilson – engineer (3, 6, 11), mixing (6, 11)
  • Shane "Bermuda" Woodley – engineer (6, 7, 9, 10, 12–14)
  • Carlisle Young – engineer (1, 3–5, 9, 12, 14)

Charts

References

  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ RapReviews review
  3. ^ Robert Christgau review
  4. ^ Rolling Stone review
  5. ^ USA Today review
  6. ^ "Philadelphia Freeway Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
  7. ^ "Norah Tops 600,000". Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "The Stimulus Package". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  9. ^ "Freeway Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Freeway Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "2003 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  12. ^ "2003 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2016.