Once Upon a Crime (album)

Once Upon a Crime is the debut studio album by American New York-based hip hop duo the Godfathers. It was released on November 19, 2013, through Psycho+Logical-Records. Production was handled by member Necro with one song, "Unsub", co-produced by member Kool G Rap. It features the lone guest appearance from Mr. Hyde. Songs "Heart Attack" and "Wolf Eyes" were released as singles.

Once Upon a Crime
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 19, 2013 (2013-11-19)
Recorded2011–2013
Genre
Length55:13
LabelPsycho+Logical
Producer
Kool G Rap chronology
Riches, Royalty, Respect
(2011)
Once Upon a Crime
(2013)
Return of the Don
(2017)
Necro chronology
DIE!
(2010)
Once Upon a Crime
(2013)
The Notorious Goriest
(2018)

Background

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Necro and Kool G Rap first announced their Godfathers project and collaboration in 2011 and released two mix CDs consisting of fifty previously released songs from the pair, The Pre-Kill Volume I in November 2011 and then The Pre-Kill Volume II in July 2012. They had initially announced that their first official album would be released in the first half of 2012, but Once Upon a Crime would not launch until November 2013.[1] The album was executive produced by Necro and Domingo.[2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!7/10[3]
HipHopDX3/5[4]
RapReviews6/10[5]

Once Upon a Crime received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Mark Bozzer of Exclaim!gave the album 7 out of 10, praising the duo's synergy.[3] Jay Balfour of HipHopDX noted, "the casual fan or those keeping up with G Rap's late career output might find a handful of songs worth mining, but without a previous investment in the over-the-top style, listening through is a test of endurance".[4] Matt Jost of RapReviews concluded: "yet despite some fundamental flaws Once Upon a Crime is a record hip-hop can be proud of, one that represents the part of the family with ties to the underworld (and sometimes the afterworld) with aplomb".[5]

Track listing

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No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Teflon Dons"Necro2:35
2."The City"Necro2:47
3."High Tension"Necro3:07
4."Punched Dead in the Face (Skit)"Necro0:17
5."Black Medicine"Necro2:40
6."Omerta"Necro3:00
7."The Pain"Necro3:44
8."Hustler"Necro3:19
9."We'll Kill You"Necro2:53
10."Crook Catastrophe & the Gunblast Kid"Necro3:46
11."Unsub"4:40
12."I Hate You (Skit)"Necro0:11
13."Gangsta"Necro4:16
14."Trigga 4 Hire"Necro3:16
15."American Sickos"Necro2:36
16."Wolf Eyes" (featuring Mr. Hyde)Necro4:15
17."Heart Attack"Necro3:24
18."Once Upon a Crime"Necro4:27
Total length:55:13

Personnel

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  • Ron "Necro" Braunstein – vocals, producer, executive producer
  • Nathaniel "Kool G Rap" Wilson – vocals, co-producer (track 11)
  • Christopher "Mr. Hyde" Catenacci – vocals (track 16)
  • Domingo Padilla – executive producer

References

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  1. ^ "Necro & Kool G Rap - The Godfathers - Once Upon A Crime Review". The Wild Styles. December 5, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Meara, Paul (December 20, 2013). "Kool G Rap & Necro Talk Production Methods & Bonding Over "The Godfathers"". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Bozzer, Mark (November 29, 2013). "The Godfathers (Necro and Kool G Rap) Once Upon a Crime | Exclaim!". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Balfour, Jay (November 19, 2013). "Kool G Rap & Necro (Godfathers) - Once Upon A Crime". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Jost, Matt (January 21, 2014). "The Godfathers :: Once Upon a Crime – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
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