Rhapsody (Mr. Mike album)

Rhapsody
Studio album by Mr. Mike
Released	September 7, 1999
Recorded	1997 - 1999
Genre	Gangsta Rap, Southern Hip Hop
Length	62:11
Label	Priority
Producer	Mr. Mike, Battlecat, Fredwreck
Mr. Mike chronology
Wicked Wayz (1996) Rhapsody (1999)

Rhapsody is the second album by Mr. Mike, released on September 7, 1999 through Priority Records. The album was mainly produced by Mr. Mike and Battlecat, though Fredwreck produced "How Tha South Was Won".^[1]

Background

After his successful 1996 debut Wicked Wayz, Mr. Mike left his label Suave House and signed with Priority, where he began work on this album. Though Mr. Mike took a lengthy amount of time to complete the album, he worked on the album for almost two years, the album failed to become a commercial success and only made it to 172 on the Billboard 200, a farcry from his previous effort which peaked at 29.^[2]

Along with a single, a music video was released for "Texas 2000", though it failed to make it to the Billboard charts.^[3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]

Though not as commercially successful as Wicked Wayz, Rhapsody did gain a positive review from Allmusic. Allmusic's Keith Farley gave it four stars out of a possible five and called it a "solid balance of groove and reflection that works well for fans of either mood" and credited "Texas 2000", "Why Fall in Love with the Struggle" and "How Tha South Was Won" as the album's highlights.^[5]

Track listing

1. "Intro"- 1:38
2. "Rhapsody"- 4:05
3. "Texas 2000 (Give 'Em What They Want)" - 4:11
4. "It's a Shame"- 3:59
5. "Ghetto Strain"- 4:06
6. "Gasoline Station"- :33
7. "Why Fall in Love With the Struggle"- 3:57 (featuring Mack 10)
8. "Come on Everybody"- 5:15
9. "Killing Fields"- 4:30
10. "How Tha South Was Won"- 4:08
11. "Partners in Crime"- 4:12
12. "What da Deal Iz"- 4:07
13. "Don't Nobody Really Care"- 3:55
14. "Know One Knows"- 4:58
15. "Play the Cards I Was Given"- 4:01 (featuring Ras Kass)
16. "Every Time I Close My Eyes"- 4:37

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Billboard 200	172
Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop	36

Personnel

Battlecat - Producer, Mixing Dah-Dah - Producer Manuel J. Donayre - Artwork, Art Direction, Design, Digital Artwork William Hames - Photography Gerardo Hernandez - Producer, Mixing Mack 10 - Performer Mike B. - Producer

Mr. Mike - Vocals, Producer, Liner Notes, Executive Producer, Mixing Fredwreck Nassar - Producer Ras Kass - Performer Art Shoji - Art Direction Kris Solem - Mastering Marvin Watkins - Executive Producer

References

1. "Rhapsody production credits at Discogs.com". Discogs.com. 2010-09-07.
2. "Rhapsody chart history at Billboard.com". Billboard.com. 2010-09-07.
3. "Texas 2000 official music video at Youtube.com". Youtube.com. 2010-09-07.
4. Allmusic review
5. "Rhapsody review at Allmusic.com". Allmusic.com. 2010-09-07.