State of the Arts

State of the Arts
State of the Arts
Studio album by Afu-Ra
Released	June 14, 2005
Studios	The Wax Museum (Brooklyn, NY); Crib Studios;
Genre	Hip-hop
Length	1:01:26
Labels	Lifeforce; Decon;
Producers	Afu-Ra; Big Syphe; Bronze Nazareth; Compressor Beats; DJ Kemo; DJ Premier; DJ Roach; Eric Weis; Natty Dread; P.F. Cuttin'; Preservation;
Afu-Ra chronology
Singles from State of the Arts
	"Poisonous Taoist/Sucka Free"; Released: May 3, 2005; "Why Cry"; Released: August 23, 2005; "God of Rap"; Released: January 17, 2006;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
PopMatters	4/10
RapReviews	7/10

State of the Arts is the third solo studio album by American rapper Afu-Ra. It was released on June 14, 2005 via Lifeforce Records and Decon. Recording sessions took place at the Wax Museum in Brooklyn and at Crib Studios. Production was handled by P.F. Cuttin', Eric Weis, Big Syphe, Bronze Nazareth, Compressor Beats, DJ Kemo, DJ Premier, DJ Roach, Natty Dread, Preservation, and Afu-Ra himself. It features guest appearances from Gentleman, Jahdan Blakkamoore, Kardinal Offishall, Lady Blue, Masta Killa, Q and Royce da 5'9". The album was supported by three singles: "Poisonous Taoist/Sucka Free", "Why Cry" and "God of Rap". The latter was featured in 2005 video game NBA Live 06.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"		Afu-Ra	1:29
2.	"God of Rap"	Aaron Phillip Eric Steinen	Eric Weis	3:59
3.	"Power Skit #1"		P.F. Cuttin' Afu-Ra	0:44
4.	"Pusha" (featuring Royce da 5'9")	Phillip Ryan Montgomery Joe Roach	DJ Roach	4:52
5.	"Prankster"	Phillip Felix Rovira	P.F. Cuttin'	4:12
6.	"Livin Like Dat" (featuring Masta Killa)	Phillip Elgin Turner Justin Cross	Bronze Nazareth	3:26
7.	"Rumble"	Phillip Steinen	Eric Weis	3:51
8.	"Power Skit #2"		P.F. Cuttin' Afu-Ra	0:12
9.	"Why Cry" (featuring Gentleman)	Phillip Tilmann Otto Cristian Bahamonde	DJ Kemo	4:34
10.	"Ghetto Hell"	Phillip Gavan Daly	Natty Dread	3:44
11.	"Cry Baby" (featuring Lady Blue and Q)	Phillip	Compressor Beats	4:31
12.	"Dynamite"	Phillip	Preservation	3:57
13.	"Sucka Free"	Phillip Christopher Martin	DJ Premier	3:58
14.	"Deal Wit It" (featuring Kardinal Offishall and Jahdan Blakkamoore)	Phillip Jason Harrow Wayne Henry Rovira	P.F. Cuttin'	4:47
15.	"BK Dance"	Phillip Adrian Trejo	Big Syphe	4:18
16.	"Only U"	Phillip Steinen	Eric Weis	4:18
17.	"Poisonous Taoist"	Phillip Rovira	P.F. Cuttin'	4:03
18.	"Power Skit #3"		P.F. Cuttin' Afu-Ra	0:31
Total length:				1:01:26

Personnel

Aaron "Afu-Ra" Phillip – producer (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 18), executive producer, A&R
Eric Steinen – producer, recording & mixing (tracks: 2, 7, 16)
Felix "P.F. Cuttin'" Rovira – producer (tracks: 3, 5, 8, 14, 17, 18), recording (tracks: 2, 4-7, 9-17), mixing (tracks: 4-6, 9-12, 14, 17), associate producer, production coordinator
Joe Roach – producer (track 4)
Justin "Bronze Nazareth" Cross – producer (track 6)
Cristian "DJ Kemo" Bahamonde – producer (track 9), mixing (track 15)
Gavan "Natty Dread" Daly – producer (track 10)
Compressor Beats – producer (track 11)
Jean "DJ Preservation" Daval – producer (track 12)
Christopher "DJ Premier" Martin – producer & mixing (track 13)
Adrian "Big Syphe" Trejo – producer (track 15)
Larry Lachmann – mastering
Azad Mardukhi – co-executive producer, A&R, management
Peter Bittenbender – co-executive producer
Mattias Lundin – art direction, design
Stella Magliore – photography

References

↑ Lee, Cosmo (July 7, 2005). "Afu-Ra: State of the Arts » PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
↑ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (June 28, 2005). "Afu-Ra :: State of the Arts :: Life Force Records/Decon". RapReviews. Retrieved August 17, 2026.

External links

State Of The Arts at Discogs (list of releases)

[1] Lee, Cosmo (July 7, 2005). "Afu-Ra: State of the Arts » PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved August 17, 2026.

[2] Juon, Steve 'Flash' (June 28, 2005). "Afu-Ra :: State of the Arts :: Life Force Records/Decon". RapReviews. Retrieved August 17, 2026.