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| We Rock Hard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Freestylers | ||||
| Released | 14 June 1998 | |||
| Genre | Breakbeat, big beat, electronic | |||
| Length | 73:05 | |||
| Label | Freskanova (UK) PIAS Mammoth (US) | |||
| Producer | Freestylers | |||
| Freestylers chronology | ||||
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| Singles from We Rock Hard | ||||
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We Rock Hard is the debut album by the English electronic group Freestylers. It was their most commercially successful release to date. AllMusic describes the album as a run through of the band members' back catalogue, but it still showcases the classic big beat and breakbeat electronica that would remain the band's trademark sound along with ragga and dub twists.
The album features the single "Ruffneck", which garnered MTV rotation.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| NME | 7/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
The Guardian noted: "They've got tunes like the British breaks scene has never had tunes, which gives their superb productions a sweetness grievously lacking at the more ascetic end of breakbeat."
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Freestyle Noize" | 5:37 |
| 2. | "Dancehall Vibes" (featuring Tenor Fly) | 6:21 |
| 3. | "Drop the Boom" | 3:01 |
| 4. | "Don't Stop" | 4:43 |
| 5. | "Here We Go" (featuring Definition of Sound) | 4:51 |
| 6. | "The Darkside" | 4:50 |
| 7. | "B–Boy Stance" (featuring Tenor Fly) (scratches by Funk Wizard Jay Rock) | 4:36 |
| 8. | "We Rock Hard" (featuring Soul Sonic Force) | 7:08 |
| 9. | "Breaker Beats (Part 1)" | 2:54 |
| 10. | "Breaker Beats (Part 2)" | 2:57 |
| 11. | "Scratch 22 (Jay-Rock's Theme)" (produced by Funk Wizard Jay Rock) | 5:25 |
| 12. | "Ruffneck" (featuring Navigator) (scratches by Funk Wizard Jay Rock) | 5:40 |
| 13. | "Feel the Panic" | 5:54 |
| 14. | "Hold Up Your Hands" | 3:58 |
| 15. | "Warning" (featuring Navigator) (scratches by Funk Wizard Jay Rock) | 5:10 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Freestyle Noize" | 5:36 |
| 2. | "Dancehall Vibes" (featuring Tenor Fly) | 6:17 |
| 3. | "Drop the Boom" | 3:01 |
| 4. | "Don't Stop" | 4:20 |
| 5. | "Here We Go" (featuring Definition of Sound) | 4:56 |
| 6. | "B–Boy Stance" (featuring Tenor Fly) (scratches by Funk Wizard Jay Rock) | 4:21 |
| 7. | "We Rock Hard" (featuring Soul Sonic Force) | 7:10 |
| 8. | "Breaker Beats (Part 1)" | 4:36 |
| 9. | "Spaced Invader" | 7:19 |
| 10. | "Ruffneck" (featuring Navigator) (scratches by Funk Wizard Jay Rock) | 5:43 |
| 11. | "Feel the Panic" | 5:57 |
| 12. | "Check the Skillz" | 7:10 |
| 13. | "Warning" (featuring Navigator) (scratches by Funk Wizard Jay Rock) | 4:57 |
| Total length: | 1:11:23 | |
- The female vocals on track 4 "Don't Stop" are sampled from the 1976 song "I Know" by Candi Staton.
- The 1999 US release omits the tracks "The Darkside", "Breaker Beats (Part 2)", "Scratch 22 (Jay-Rock's Theme)" and "Hold Up Your Hands" and includes "Spaced Invader" and "Check the Skillz" (from the B-sides of the singles "Ruffneck" and "B-Boy Stance", respectively).
References
- NME
- Mason, Neil (1 August 1998). "Theme from Bangers'n'mash". Melody Maker. Vol. 75, no. 31. p. 20.
- Comer, M. Tye (January 1999). "Mixed Signals". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 64/65. p. 55.
- ^ AllMusic review
- NME review
- Rolling Stone review
- Bennun, David (31 July 1998). "Everybody's Free". Features. The Guardian. p. 14.
External links
| Freestylers | |
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| Studio albums |
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| Compilation albums |
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| Singles |
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| Featured singles | |