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How Ya Like Me Now

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How Ya Like Me Now
Studio albumby
Kool Moe Dee
ReleasedNovember 3, 1987
StudioBattery,London, UK
Genre
Length49:51
Label
Producer
Kool Moe Deechronology
Kool Moe Dee
(1986) 		How Ya Like Me Now
(1987) 		Knowledge Is King
(1989)
SinglesfromHow Ya Like Me Now
  1. "How Ya Like Me Now"
    Released: 1987
  2. "Wild Wild West"
    Released: 1987
  3. "No Respect"
    Released: 1987
Music video
"How Ya Like Me Now"onYouTube
Music video
"Wild Wild West"onYouTube
Music video
"No Respect"onYouTube

How Ya Like Me Nowis the second solo studio album by American rapperKool Moe Deefrom theTreacherous Three.It was recorded atBattery StudiosinLondon, Englandand released on November 3, 1987, viaJive Records.

The album was produced byTeddy Riley,Bryan "Chuck" New, LaVaba Mallison, Pete Q. Harris, and Kool Moe Dee. It peaked at No. 35 on theBillboard200[2]and No. 4 on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[3]It is his best-selling album to date, achievingplatinumcertification by theRIAA.[4]The album spawned threesingles:"How Ya Like Me Now","Wild Wild West"and" No Respect ".

Recording and production

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Mixing and recording forHow Ya Like Me Nowtook place in London at Battery Studios. Alongside Kool Moe Dee, audio production was shared with and handled byTeddy Riley,Bryan "Chuck" New, LaVaba Mallison and Pete Q. Harris, with whom he worked on his previousself-titled album.

On the front cover made by Doug Rowell, Moe Dee takes musical aim at rival rapperLL Cool J,by crushing a redKangolhat under a front wheel of theJeep Wranglerin the backdrop. The long running feud began when Kool Moe Dee claimed that LL had stolen his rap style. He also felt that LL was disrespecting rap pioneers likeMelle MelandGrandmaster Caz,by proclaiming that he was "rap's new grandmaster" without paying due respect to those who came before him.[5]The feud persisted into the mid-1990s with more songs, and ended with both MCs proclaiming themselves the victor.

The photograph was taken on4th St in Manhattanbetween Avenues C and D inAlphabet City,in an empty lot across from theSan Isidoro y San Leandro Western Orthodox Catholic Church of the Hispanic Mozarabic Rite.Moe Dee references aspects the neighborhood in lyrics on the album.

Release and promotion

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FollowingKool Moe Dee,How Ya Like Me Nowwas released throughJive Recordswith distribution byRCA Records,making it Kool Moe Dee's second album on the label. It was dropped on November 3, 1987, and was supported by three singles: "How Ya Like Me Now","Wild Wild West"and" No Respect ", and its music videos.

Its self-titled single peaked at #22 on theUSBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[6]and #86 on theUK Singles Chart.[7]"Wild Wild West" peaked at #62 on theUSBillboardHot 100[8]and #4 on theUSBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[6]The single "No Respect" did not get into any major music chart.

Reception

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Commercial

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Reaching a peak position of number thirty-five on theUSBillboard200,How Ya Like Me Nowremained on the chart for a total of 50 weeks.[2]The album has been certified gold by theRecording Industry Association of Americaon April 14, 1988, and then wentplatinumon November 14, 1988, indicating US sales of over one million units.[4]

Critical

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
New Musical Express8/10[10]
Robert ChristgauA−[11]

In a contemporary review, theWashington Postcompared the album to work by hip hop artistsSchooly DandLL Cool J,stating that Kool Moe Dee "comes across like a hip guidance couselor" and that the album was a "def aural collage:James Brownbeats on the title cut,Queenon "Rock You" evenPaul Simonon "50 Ways". The production is sophisticated without sacrificing the improvisational swagger that is central to rap's appeal. "[12]American music journalistRobert Christgaudescribed the album as "out-of-kilter swing generated by his electronic percussion [...] - trick rhymes, variable lengths, filters, double tracks, sung refrains, and the occasional extra instrument all work to shift the beat without undercutting its dominance". Alex Henderson ofAllMusicsaid that Kool Moe Dee "had a major hit with his sophomore effort" and that "it definitely has its share of classics".[9]

Accolades

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In 2017, the album was ranked #35 onConsequence of SoundTop 50 Albums of 1987,[13]and #41 ofComplex50 Greatest Rap Albums 1980s.[14]

Legacy

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In 2008, the title track "How Ya Like Me Now" was ranked #31 onVH1's 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs.

In 2017, the song "How Ya Like Me Now" was used in theEmpireepisode "Strange Bedfellows".

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."How Ya Like Me Now"5:37
2."Wild Wild West"4:40
3."Way Way Back"4:32
4."50 Ways"5:00
5."No Respect"5:24
6."Don't Dance"4:25
7."I'm A Player"3:37
8."Suckers"4:44
9."Stupid"4:25
10."Rock You"3:57
11."Get Paid"3:19
Total length:49:51

Personnel

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  • Mohandes Dewese– vocals, producer
  • Bryan Chuck New – mixing, engineer, producer
  • Edward Theodore Riley– producer
  • Peter Brian Harris – producer
  • LaVaba Mallison – producer
  • Doug Rowell – photography
  • Kofi Tuda – grooming

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

^Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^Kennedy, Jake (September 2011)."Kool Moe Dee – Kool Moe Dee".Record Collector.No. 392.RetrievedJuly 28,2016.
  2. ^abc"Kool Moe Dee How Ya Like Me Now Chart History".Billboard 200.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  3. ^ab"Kool Moe Dee How Ya Like Me Now Chart History".Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  4. ^ab"Gold & Platinum – RIAA".RIAA.November 14, 1988.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  5. ^Patrick Goldstein,"Kool Moe Grades Rappers: Give Him A+,"Los Angeles Times,November 29, 1987.
  6. ^abc"Kool Moe Dee Chart History".Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  7. ^ab"KOOL MOE DEE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company".UK Singles Chart.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  8. ^ab"Kool Moe Dee Chart History".Hot 100.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  9. ^abHenderson, Alex."How Ya Like Me Now – Kool Moe Dee".AllMusic.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  10. ^Kirsch, Michele (December 12, 1987). "Cool Moe Dee:How Ya Like Me Now".New Musical Express.p. 33.
  11. ^Christgau, Robert."Robert Christgau: CG: Kool Moe Dee".Robert Christgau.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  12. ^Jenkins, Mark (January 17, 1988). "Achieving a Bad Rap: Beat Box Artists Talk Trash for Cash Schooly D: 'Saturday Night!' Rap Kool Moe Doe: 'How Ya Like Me Now' Just Ice: 'Kool and Deadly (Justicizms)' M.C. Shan: 'Down by Law'".The Washington Post.Washington, D.C., United States: WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post. p. 111.ISSN0190-8286.ProQuest139891546.
  13. ^"Top 50 Albums of 1987".Consequence of Sound.July 10, 2017.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  14. ^Gonzales, Michael (October 26, 2017)."The Best Rap Albums of the '80s".Complex.RetrievedNovember 28,2017.
  15. ^"American album certifications – Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now".Recording Industry Association of America.
[edit]

"Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now".Discogs.

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