Shaq Fu: Da Return is the second studio album by American basketball player and rapper Shaquille O'Neal. It was released on November 8, 1994, via Jive Records. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, LoRider, The LG Experience, Chyskillz, Redman and Warren G. It features guest appearances from Erick Sermon, General Sha, Ill Al Skratch, Keith Murray, Method Man, Mr. Ruffneck, Redman and RZA.
| Shaq Fu: Da Return | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 8, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1994 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 43:04 | |||
| Label | Jive | |||
| Producer |
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| Shaquille O'Neal chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Shaq Fu: Da Return | ||||
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The album peaked at number 67 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts in the United States. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 11, 1995 for selling 500,000 copies in the US alone.
The album was supported with two singles "Biological Didn't Bother" and "No Hook" with accompanying music videos. Its lead single, "Biological Didn't Bother" (which discusses O'Neal's estrangement from his biological father, with whom he would not reconcile until 2016), reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 54 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 18 on the Hot Rap Songs. The second single off of the album, "No Hook", made it to number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, number 66 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 16 on the Hot Rap Songs.
The kanji 風—meaning 'wind'—is used on the cover, which can be pronounced as 'fu' in Japanese. It has no relation to the fu (夫) in kung fu (功夫), whose name the album's title references.
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |  [2] |
| Entertainment Weekly | C[3] |
| NME | 7/10[4] |
NME reviewer found the album "doesn't have as sense of continuity".[4] David Thigpen of Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Shaquille O’Neal settles for soggy, tired old beats and raps in a monotone so relentlessly laid-back that he sometimes seems to vanish into himself".[3] In his Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s book, Robert Christgau highlighted both of the album's singles, stating "he's got skillz, connectionz, a wicked laugh--and he can rhyme some".[2]
In a retrospective review for AllMusic, JT Griffith called the album "a solid (but not outstanding) rap CD that takes another step forward in that no-man's land between legitimacy and novelty act".[1]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Hook" (featuring RZA and Method Man) | RZA | 3:17 |
| 2. | "Newark to C.I." (featuring Keith Murray) | Redman | 3:57 |
| 3. | "Biological Didn't Bother" (G-Funk Version) |
| 5:07 |
| 4. | "My Dear" | Warren G | 3:42 |
| 5. | "Shaq's Got It Made" |
| 3:57 |
| 6. | "Mic Check 1-2" (featuring Ill Al Skratch) |
| 3:47 |
| 7. | "My Style, My Stelo" (featuring Erick Sermon and Redman) | Erick Sermon | 3:41 |
| 8. | "(So U Wanna Be) Hardcore" | Chyskillz | 3:27 |
| 9. | "Nobody" | Erick Sermon | 3:48 |
| 10. | "Freaky Flow" (featuring Mr. Ruffneck and General Sha) | Chyskillz | 3:43 |
| 11. | "Biological Didn't Bother" (Original Flow) |
| 4:38 |
| Total length: | 43:04 | ||
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Shaq-Fu: Stand & Deliver" | ||
| 13. | "Biological Didn't Bother" (Dr. Ceuss Remix) |
- Notes
- Track 3 is remixed by Warren G.
Charts edit
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[5] | 67 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6] | 19 |
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[7] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References edit
- ^ a b Griffith, JT. "Shaq-Fu: Da Return - Shaquille O'Neal | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (2000). "Consumer Guide '90s: O". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Thigpen, David (December 2, 1994). "Shaq Fu-Da Return". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ a b M, I (June 3, 1995). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 50. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "Shaquille ONeal Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "Shaquille ONeal Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ "American album certifications – Shaquille – Shaq-Fu". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links edit
- Shaq Fu - Da Return at Discogs (list of releases)