ARTIST: Da BackwudzTITLE: Wood WorkLABEL: UniversalGENRE: RapBITRATE: 191kbps avgPLAYTIME: 1h 06min totalRELEASE DATE: 2006-04-18RIP DATE: 2006-04-10
Track List———-01. Welcome 2 Da Backwudz 2:5102. You Gonna Luv Me (Feat. 3:38Milwaukee Black)03. I Don’t Like The Look Of It 4:04(Oompa) (Feat. Caz Clay)04. Getting 2 It (Feat. Killer 3:55Mike)05. Makin’ Money Counting Hundreds 3:5406. The World Could Be Yours 4:1907. Fantastic (Feat. Bohagon & 4:47Jeff B)08. I’ll Do (Feat. Jasper) 3:5509. Wood Grain (Interlude) 1:3010. Whatcha Know ‘Bout My Life 4:56(Feat. Big Gipp)11. Mama Always Told Me (Feat. 4:51Sleepy Brown)12. Feelin’ Lonely 4:4313. Lock And Load 4:1514. Same Song 4:0715. Smoke N Ride 6:5416. You Gonna Luv Me (Remix) 3:49(Feat. Nas & Slim Thug)
Release Notes:
Just a few miles East of Atlanta is the parlayed countryside known as Decatur,with its multitude of trees, dilapidated houses and southern players. It’s thehome of famed comedian and actor Chris Tucker, Jazzy T’s and Club Mirage, aswell as the birthplace of the rap duo known as Da BackWudz.
Da BackWudz debut album Wood Work, is a Hip-Hop masterpiece- a down-homecompilation of classic crunk, throwback funk and juke-joint soul. It is theirhistory, both raw and worldly, introducing the mainstream to the genuine andgrimy realities of the sometimes inhospitable southern underworld. Signed tosuperstar music producer Dallas Austin’s Rowdy Records in conjunction with MajorWay Entertainment, Da BackWudz are poised to re-launch the label that helpedthrust Monica into multi-platinum status, as well as to continue thesouthern-fried music-with-a-message tradition set forth by influentialinnovators OutKast. As a matter of fact, Austin, who served as the ExecutiveProducer and Music Producer of 2002’s, 20th Century Fox Film “Drumline” and asthe Music Producer of the successful Tyler Perry/Lions Gate movie “Diary of aMad Black Woman”, revived his record label just to work with the skilledlyricists. “This is the best rap group to hit the Atlanta Hip-Hop market sinceI’ve been here,” said Austin.
Georgia’s suburb of Decatur, where it is said to be “greater”, served as themusical breeding ground for blood related cousins Sho-Nuff and Big Marc. “Ourfathers are brothers, so we’ve been down since the womb,” explains Big Marc.“We’re family and we have our differences but at the same time, we never partways mad at each other,” says Sho-Nuff. “If there’s a disagreement, it’s goingto be settled right then. And I’m happy about working with somebody that I cantrust and communicate with.”While Da BackWudz are known for their introspective and inventive rhymes, thetalented duo began their musical career like most R&B artists- singing in thechurch. “We’re both singers,” says Sho-Nuff. “We’re some choir boys who wereraised on different genres of music but Gospel is a major influence. Our fatherswere in the choir and are two of the best male singers I know.” From 70’s Souland classic Rhythm & Blues to P-Funk, Rap and rebellious Crunk, Wood Work offersa glimpse into the world of definitive Hip-Hop.
Da BackWudz ambitious disc is as diverse as their rich and eclectic brew ofmusical inspirations. From yesteryear legends such as the O’Jay’s, the Barkay’s,Sam Cooke, the Temptations, Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor, Earth, Wind & Fire,Donny Hathaway, Aretha Franklin and Sly & the Family Stone, to Run DMC, LL CoolJ, Tupac, Biggie, OutKast and Goodie Mob, their music is a manifestation ofrevolutionary power.
“I appreciate real, good music, which is why I respect the whole Dungeon Familyand Organized Noize camp,” comments Big Marc. “They talked about everyday stuffthat happens and that people could relate to; subject matter that spoke to thespirit. The words, the beats, really helped me out of the negative mind frame Iwas in when I was younger and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Though destined to come together, Da BackWudz began their musical missionseparately. With Sho-Nuff attending Lakeside High School and Big Marc at Redan,they became members of separate Hip-Hop groups. Sho-Nuff, who is known to studypoetry, particularly the works of famed poet, EE Cummings, began crafting flowsby laying his thoughts to paper and then battling other MCs in the schoolcafeteria, meanwhile Big Marc, who plays the saxophone, was in the midst ofperfecting his production skills. “I’ve been doing beats since the tenth grade,”Big Marc points out. “But my cousin didn’t know I could spit, too. So when hisgroup situation didn’t work out and mine fell apart, we connected on the musictip, which was a blessing.”
Magic was born when Sho-Nuff and Big Marc merged their talents forming their owngroup and naming it Da BackWudz, which is an ode to the woody landscape of theirhome town. For their first single, “You Gonna Luv Me,” platinum producerMilwaukee Black (TLC, 8-Ball & MJG, Pastor Troy) crafted an effortless melodythat combines an old-school sampling of Jennifer Holiday’s lush soul groove,“And I Am Telling You,” with tricked-out brash bass and jazzy orchestrations.The record’s irresistible and catchy hook instantly became etched into thememory of anyone who heard it, which is why radio stations across the countryimmediately began bumping the track, quickly scoring the group their first hitsingle.
While the head-bobbing tracks are laced with plenty of personality and are theheart of their success, it’s their lyrics that provide the soul. Creating asoundtrack of their lives, Da BackWudz shine on choice cuts like “Same Song”and “Feeling Lonely,” which is a conversation-inspired narrative. “We’retelling three different stories about how crazy this world is and how peopleneed to come down off these high horses and chill and look at the biggerpicture,” describes Big Marc. “We talk about some of the stuff that’s going onthat makes you be like, ‘man, the devil is busy.’ It makes you sit back andthink about what we’re saying.”
You can feel the electric energy of this duo when you listen to their music,but when they’re performing live on stage with a microphone, Da BackWudz knowhow to move the crowd. TJ the DJ of TJ’s DJ Record Pool declares, “Da BackWudzare the next level of superstars. Not only do they musically have the industryon lock, but they have a banging live show, too.” Since the break of theirsingle, Da BackWudz have become one of the most sought-after rap groups in thebusiness. They have been featured in a myriad of industry publications,including Billboard, have appeared on UPN’s Atlanta Tonight and have toured allover the country, including opening shows for artists such as 8-Ball, Rasheedaand The INC’s young R&B heartthrob, Lloyd.
On Wood Work, Da BackWudz erase the lines between musical genres, allowing themthe ability to encompass all sounds and vibes without getting stuck in aone-dimensional groove. “Wood Work is about versatility, lyrics and beats- thewhole thing. A lot of people think dudes can’t rap down in Atlanta, thateverybody’s in love with crunk music, but the thing that sets us apart is thatwe can do it all. Down bottom, up top, Left Coast, Midwest, whatever; we talkabout a lot of issues that set us apart from lots of people. And when it boilsdown, it’s always about creativity and we got a lot of creativity,” Sho-Nuffinsists. West Coast rapper, Daz Dillinger of DPG sums up Da BackWudz sound withone word, “gangsta.”