Nocturnal | ||||||||||
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Studio album by Heltah Skeltah | ||||||||||
Released | June 18, 1996 | |||||||||
Recorded | July 1995-March 1996 | |||||||||
Genre | East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop | |||||||||
Length | 65:21 | |||||||||
Label |
Duck Down/Priority/EMI Records 0499 2 50532 2 7 P2-50532 |
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Producer |
Buckshot Lord Jamar Baby Paul Shaleek DJ Evil Dee Shawn J. Period Supreme Mr. Walt E-Swift |
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Heltah Skeltah chronology | ||||||||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
The Source |
Nocturnal is the debut album from hip hop duo Heltah Skeltah, consisting of members Rock and Ruck (who later became known as Sean Price), members of Brooklyn supergroup Boot Camp Clik. It was the first BCC album to feature some outside producers, such as Shawn J. Period and E-Swift.
The two made their debut on Smif-N-Wessun's 1995 album Dah Shinin'. Later in 1995, Rock and Ruck teamed up with O.G.C. to form the Fab 5, and released the single "Blah" b/w "Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka". "Leflah", included here, became a Billboard Hot 100 hit in '95 and the biggest hit from the Boot Camp family to date. "Leflah" was re-released as an A-Side single in early 1996, featuring the first sole Heltah Skeltah track, "Letha Brainz Blo", as its B-Side. The first official single released from the album was "Operation Lock Down", produced by Tha Alkaholiks' E-Swift. Other singles released from the album were "Therapy" and "Da Wiggy".
The "Twin Towers" of the Boot Camp Clik gained much recognition and respect in the Hip Hop world with the release of their debut, now hailed as a 90's Hip Hop classic. Led by Rock's rough, booming voice and Ruck's strong lyrical ability, and backed by dark, grimy beats by Da Beatminerz, Shaleek, and others, the release received wide acclaim in the Hip Hop world, but didn't reach much further, selling around 250,000 copies in the US.