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Bow Down
Studio album by Westside Connection
Released	October 22, 1996 (1996-10-22)
Recorded	1995–96
Studio	Westside Studios (California) Treehouse Studios (South Africa)
Genre	West Coast hip hop gangsta rap G-funk
Length	48:12
Label	Lench Mob Priority
Producer	Ice Cube (also exec.) Binky Mack Bud'da QDIII Cedric Samson
Westside Connection chronology
Bow Down (1996) Terrorist Threats (2003)
Mack 10 chronology
Mack 10 (1995) Bow Down (1996) Based on a True Story (1997)
WC chronology
Curb Servin' (1995) Bow Down (1996) The Shadiest One (1998)
Ice Cube chronology
Lethal Injection (1993) Bow Down (1996) War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc) (1998)
Singles from Bow Down
"Bow Down" Released: August 28, 1996 "Gangstas Make the World Go Round" Released: January 24, 1997

Bow Down is the debut studio album by American West Coast hip hop supergroup Westside Connection. It was released on October 22, 1996, through Lench Mob Records and Priority Records. The recording sessions took place at Ice Cube's house studio, Westsiiiiide Studios, in California, except for the song "Gangstas Make the World Go Round", which was recorded at Treehouse Studios in South Africa. The production was handled by Bud'da, Quincy Jones III, Binky Mack, and Ice Cube, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Allfrumtha I and the Comrads.

The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, shipping 145,000 units. It went on to sell 1.7 million copies in the United States receiving Platinum certification status by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 10, 1997. It was also certified Gold by Canadian Recording Industry Association for selling 50,000 units in Canada.

Its singles, a title track and "Gangstas Make the World Go Round", made it to the Billboard Hot 100, landing at number 21 and 40, respectively. The songs "King of the Hill", "Cross 'Em out and Put a 'K" and "Hoo Bangin' (WSCG Style)" are diss tracks towards hip hop group Cypress Hill, Q-Tip and rapper Common.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Entertainment Weekly	C
Los Angeles Times
Muzik
RapReviews	9/10
Rolling Stone
The Source
The Village Voice	D+

The Indianapolis Star called the album "one of the strongest gauntlet-throw-downs on disc, but it may well be a last gasp from the gangsta style that is suffering from Tupac Shakur's murder."

Track listing

Sample credits

• Track 3 contains an interpolation of "People Make the World Go Round" written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed
• Track 7 contains a sample from "Hurt" written by Trent Reznor as recorded by Nine Inch Nails
• Track 10 contains an interpolation of "With a Little Help from My Friends" written by Lennon-McCartney

Personnel

• O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson – main performer, producer (tracks: 3, 13), co-producer (track 4), engineering, mixing, executive producer
• Dedrick "Mack 10" Rolison – main performer
• William "WC" Calhoun Jr. – main performer
• Kelly "K-Mac" Garmon – featured artist (tracks: 5, 13)
• Terrell "Gangsta" Anderson – featured artist (track 13)
• Ryan "Binky Mack" Garner – featured artist (track 13), producer (track 4)
• Marcus "Squeak Ru" Moore – featured artist (track 13)
• Jonathan Hyde – vocals (track 1)
• Stephen "Bud'da" Anderson – producer (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 8, 10)
• Quincy Delight Jones III – producer (tracks: 9, 11)
• Cedric Samson – co-producer (track 3)
• Keston Wright – engineering
• Art Shoji – art direction, design
• Manuel J. Donayre – art direction, design
• Michael Miller – photography
• Steven Wills – logo artwork
• Marvin Watkins – A&R

Charts

Certifications

See also

• List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 1996

References

1. "CNN.com - Studdard album debuts at No. 1 - Dec. 19, 2003". CNN. December 19, 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-12-26. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
2. "West Coast rap supergroup to release CD". September 27, 2003. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2007.
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Bow Down - Westside Connection | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
4. Bernard, James (December 13, 1996). "Bow Down". Entertainment Weekly. No. 357. p. 82. Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
5. Coker, Cheo Hodari (November 6, 1996). "Ice Cube and Friends Make Violent Westside Connection : WESTSIDE CONNECTION "Bow Down"; Priority (**)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
6. Ashon, Will (December 1996). "Westside Connection: Bow Down" (PDF). Muzik. No. 19. p. 141. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
7. Chandler, Justin (July 3, 2007). "Westside Connection :: Bow Down :: Priority Records". RapReviews. Archived from the original on 2007-07-07. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
8. Powell, Kevin (December 12, 1996). "Recordings: Westside Connection – Bow Down". Rolling Stone. No. 749. p. 86. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
9. Gordon, Allen S. (December 1996). "Record Report: Westside Connection – Bow Down". The Source. No. 87. New York. p. 123.
10. Christgau, Robert (December 3, 1996). "Consumer Guide Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. Vol. 41, no. 49. p. 84. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
11. Miley, Scott L. (24 Nov 1996). "'Bow Down' disc fuels West-East rap feud". The Indianapolis Star. p. I4.
12. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
13. "Westside Connection Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
14. "Westside Connection Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
15. "Billboard 200 albums year end 1996". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2017-01-07. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
16. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
17. "Billboard 200 albums year end 1997". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
18. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
19. "Canadian album certifications – Westside Connection – Bow Down". Music Canada.
20. "American album certifications – Westside Connection – Bow Down". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Westside Connection – Bow Down at Discogs (list of releases)

• Westside Connection albums
• 1996 debut albums
• Priority Records albums
• G-funk albums
• Albums produced by Bud'da
• Albums produced by Quincy Jones III