Hard or Smooth

Hard or Smooth
Studio album by
Wreckx-n-Effect
ReleasedNovember 24, 1992
Recorded1991–1992
StudiosFuture Recording Studios
(Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Genres
Length46:04
LabelMCA
Producers
  • Teddy Riley
  • Ty Fyffe
  • David Wynn
  • Wreckx-n-Effect
  • Franklyn Grant
  • Menton L. Smith
Wreckx-n-Effect chronology
Wrecks-n-Effect
(1989)		 Hard or Smooth
(1992)		 Raps New Generation
(1996)
Singles from Hard or Smooth
  1. "Rump Shaker"
    Released: August 25, 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar
Robert Christgau(choice cut)
Entertainment WeeklyC+
The Independentpositive
QStarStarStar

Hard or Smooth is the second album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on November 24, 1992, by MCA Records, and featured production from Teddy Riley and Ty Fyffe, as well as Riley's engineers Franklyn Grant and David Wynn. This marked Wreckx-n-Effect's first album following the death of member Brandon Mitchell, who was fatally shot in 1990.

Hard or Smooth became the group's highest entry on the Billboard 200, where it debuted and peaked at number nine. Its lead single, "Rump Shaker", peaked at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts, as well as number nine on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play. The album's second single, "Knock-N-Boots", peaked at number 72 on the Hot 100, while its third, "My Cutie", peaked at number 75 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The fourth single, "Wreckx Shop", peaked at number 11 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rump Shaker"
5:13
2."New Jack Swing, Pt. 2" (Hard Version)
  • Davidson
  • T. Riley
  • M. Riley
  • Tyrone Fyffe
  • Williams
  • Franklyn Grant
4:50
3."Wreckx Shop"
  • Davidson
  • Fyffe
  • T. Riley
  • M. Riley
4:39
4."Knock-N-Boots"
  • Davidson
  • T. Riley
  • Menton L. Smith
4:51
5."Here We Come"
  • Davidson
  • T. Riley
  • M. Riley
4:27
6."Tell Me How You Feel"
  • Davidson
  • T. Riley
4:59
7."My Cutie"
  • M. Smith
  • T. Riley
4:07
8."Wreckx-N-Effect"
  • Davidson
  • T. Riley
  • M. Riley
3:53
9."Ez Come Ez Go (What Goes Up Must Come Down)"
  • Davidson
  • T. Riley
  • David Wynn
3:44
10."Hard"
  • T. Riley
  • Davidson
  • Fyffe
2:04
11."Smooth"
  • M. Riley
  • Fyffe
  • T. Riley
  • Franklyn Grant
  • M. Smith
2:59
Total length:46:04

Personnel

Samples

"Rump Shaker"

"New Jack Swing, Pt. 2"

"Wreckx Shop"

"Knock-N-Boots"

"My Cutie"

"Hard"

"Smooth"

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA) Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gill, Andy (January 7, 1993). "RECORDS / No ifs, diggity-do, no butts, diggity-dah: Andy Gill, exploring this week's releases, uncovers the latest addition to the long and distinguished line of buttock anthems". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  2. ↑ Hard or Smooth at AllMusic
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "CG: Wreckx-n-Effect". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  4. ↑ Bernard, James (December 18, 1992). "Hard or Smooth Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 21, 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Wreckx-n-Effect – Hard or Smooth CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 306.
  7. ↑ "Wreckx-N-Effect, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Wreckx-N-Effect, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Wreckx N Effect – Hard or Smooth". Music Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ "American album certifications – Wreckx 'N' Effect – Hard or Smooth". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 1, 2023.