Born to Mack is the fourth studio album and debut major label album by American rapper Too Short.[2] The album was released in 1987 via Dangerous Music. It was re-released in 1988 by Jive Records/RCA, after the success of Life Is...Too Short, although Jive Records logos did not appear on it until it was released on compact disc in 1989.
| Born to Mack | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 20, 1987 September 22, 1988 (Dangerous Music/RCA release) August 24, 1989 (Jive/RCA compact disc release) | |||
| Recorded | 1986–87 (except "Mack Attack" in 1988) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 51:12 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
| |||
| Too Short chronology | ||||
| ||||
Too Short sold around 50,000 copies of the album directly from the trunk of his car.[3]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [3] |
| RapReviews | 7/10[5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
| Spin Alternative Record Guide | 7/10[7] |
Trouser Press wrote that Too Short made "weak work of simple beats and unconvincing boasts, big-booty fantasies ('Freaky Tales,' 'Partytime'), ugly putdowns ('Dope Fiend Beat') and jailbait concerns ('Little Girls')."[1] The Spin Alternative Record Guide wrote that the album elevates "the 75 Girl formula without abandoning it."[7]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Partytime" | 5:00 |
| 2. | "Mack Attack" (released on 1988 version) | 5:57 |
| 3. | "Playboy Short II" | 7:10 |
| 4. | "You Know What I Mean" | 6:00 |
| 5. | "Freaky Tales" | 9:30 |
| 6. | "Dope Fiend Beat" | 6:31 |
| 7. | "Little Girls" | 6:10 |
| 8. | "The Universal Mix" | 3:42 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] | 50 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "Too $hort". Trouser Press. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Too $hort | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 212.
- ^ Mtume Salaam (1989-08-24). "Born to Mack Too $hort". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
- ^ "Too $hort :: Born to Mack :: Jive/Zomba". RapReviews. 2003-01-25. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 711.
- ^ a b Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 412.
- ^ "Too Short Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ "American album certifications – Too Short – Born to Mack". Recording Industry Association of America.