A Future Without a Past...

A Future Without a Past... is the debut studio album from American hip hop group Leaders of the New School.[2][3] It was released in 1991 on Elektra Records.[4]

A Future Without a Past...
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 2, 1991
Recorded1990–1991
GenreAlternative hip hop[1]
Length66:06
LabelElektra
Producer
Leaders of the New School chronology
A Future Without a Past...
(1991)
T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye)
(1993)
Singles from A Future Without a Past...
  1. "Case of the P.T.A."
    Released: 1991
  2. "Sobb Story"
    Released: 1991
  3. "The International Zone Coaster"
    Released: 1992

Production

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A Future Without a Past... is a loose concept album about high school, divided into three parts.[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [6]
RapReviews8/10[7]
The Village Voice [8]

The Baltimore Sun noted that "the group modulates the density of each track, [so] there's always a sense of flow to the sound, of tension and release, buildup and climax."[9]

Stanton Swihart of AllMusic praised the work, calling the group's debut "one of the most infectious rap albums ever created."[1] Trouser Press called the album "highly amiable," writing that the group's "subtle Afrocentric politics came coated in tasty upbeat rhymes."[5] Complex wrote that the album revives "the barbershop quartet-style group dynamics of early hip-hop crews like the Treacherous 3 and the Cold Crush Brothers."[10] Fact called it "a jolly throwback affair ... enlivened by Busta's freewheeling presence and some smart production work."[11]

Track listing

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A Future Without a Past...
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Homeroom"  2:25
2."Case of the P.T.A."
3:42
3."Too Much on My Mind"
4:26
4."What's the Pinocchio's Theory?"
3:43
5."Just When You Thought It Was Safe..."
2:30
6."Lunchroom"  2:30
7."Sound of the Zeekers @#^**?!" (featuring Cracker Jacks, Rumpletilskinz and Kollie Weed)
  • Higgins
  • Smith
  • Jackson
  • Scott
  • Desmon Gordon
  • B. Freedom
  • Shawn Oliver
  • K. Porter
  • T. Pierce
  • E. Romero
  • Koolie Weed
5:16
8."Sobb Story"4:51
9."Feminine Fatt"3:08
10."Transformers"4:00
11."Afterschool"  1:24
12."Show Me a Hero"4:35
13."Trains, Planes and Automobiles"4:04
14."The International Zone Coaster"5:05
15."Teachers, Don't Teach Us Nonsense!!"Leaders of the New School4:06
16."My Ding-a-Ling"3:41
17."Where Do We Go from Here?"6:51

Charts

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Chart (1991) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200[3] 128
U.S. Heatseekers 1
U.S. R&B Albums 53

Personnel

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  • assistant engineering – John Gamble
  • engineering – Dr. Shane Faber, Mike Mangini, Christopher Shaw
  • mixing – Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown, Geeby Dajani, John Gamble, Dante Ross, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler
  • production – Busta Rhymes, Charlie Brown, Cut Monitor Milo, Geeby Dajani, Dinco D, John Gamble, Leaders of the New School, Dante Ross, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Swihart, Stanton. "A Future Without a Past... Review by Stanton Swihart". AllMusic. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  2. ^ Lazerine, Devin; Lazerine, Cameron (February 29, 2008). Rap-Up: The Ultimate Guide to Hip-Hop and R&B. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9780446511629.
  3. ^ a b "Today in Hip-Hop: Leaders of the New School Drop Debut Album". XXL.
  4. ^ "Leaders of the New School Biography & History". AllMusic.
  5. ^ a b "Leaders of the New School". Trouser Press. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. pp. 131–132.
  7. ^ "Leaders of the New School A Future Without a Past..." RapReviews.
  8. ^ Christgau, Robert (November 5, 1991). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Considine, J. D. (Sep 1, 1991). "Rap: There's Music Behind the Words". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1K.
  10. ^ "The 25 Best Long Island Rap Albums". Complex.
  11. ^ "Leaders of the New School definitely reuniting for Brooklyn festival". Fact. July 13, 2012.
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