Jewelz is the second album by the rapper O.C. Unlike his debut, 1994's Word...Life, Jewelz features a wider number of guest producers and rappers. Producer DJ Premier (who also oversaw and mixed other parts of the album) lends his hand on four songs, while Buckwild and Da Beatminerz drop 3 songs each. O.Gee handles the production for two songs. D.I.T.C. members Showbiz and Lord Finesse each contribute one number and as the album was released the production was highly praised for its clean, crispy but at the same time dark and menacing sound.
O.C. plays with a wide array of styles on the album, from the war-metaphor battle song "War Games" to abstract stories on the haunting "The Crow" and a very special history on a mystique woman that enters Credle's life in "Stronjay". Though the differences between O.C.'s two first efforts are very noticeable many fans are constantly, and still, arguing which was the better album out of them.
This album, like his first, received strong reviews, but lacked in sales. He made his first appearance on the Billboard 200 album chart with the album, and also made his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, with the single "Far from Yours". The album is now out of print.
As part of the concept for Jewelz, the CD was sold with different colored disc art inspired by the color palette of various jewels.
Critical reception
Matt Conaway from AllMusic praised O.C. for maintaining his "street-based" musicianship by having top-notch New York producers and rappers contribute quality work throughout the record and delivering strong lyricism of his own, highlighting "My World" and "Dangerous" as examples. Vibe contributor Noah Callahan-Bever also gave praise to the album's production team for emitting an aura of "melodic contentment" for O.C.'s more naturalistic flow to deliver solid rhymes on "Dangerous" and the title track, despite "Far From Yours" being the only dud, concluding that: "Thankfully, O.C. is still concerned with the decline of rap music, only now he's stopped criticizing and has started to lead by example, unveiling one of his most finely polished Jewelz this year has seen."
Track listing
#TitleSongwritersProducer(s)Performer (s)1"Intro"*Interlude*2"My World"O. Credle, C. MartinDJ PremierO.C.3"War Games"O. Credle, C. MartinDJ PremierO.C., Organized Konfusion4"Can't Go Wrong"O. Credle, G. ScottDJ OgeeO.C.5"The Chosen One"O. Credle, A. BestBuckwildO.C.6"Dangerous"O. Credle, W. Dewgarde,L. Coleman, R. LapreadMr. Walt of Da BeatminerzO.C., Big L7"Win the G"O. Credle, C. Martin,J. CampbellDJ PremierO.C., Freddie Foxxx8"Far from Yours"O. Credle, A. Best,M. Bryant, G. Johnson,L. Johnson, E. Barrier,W. GriffinBuckwild; intro interlude by DJ PremierO.C., Yvette Michele, Roc Raida9"Stronjay"O. Credle, W. DewgardeMr. Walt of Da BeatminerzO.C.10"M.U.G."O. Credle, C. Martin,J. CampbellDJ PremierO.C., Freddie Foxxx11"The Crow"O. Credle, R. LemayShowbizO.C.12"You & Yours"O. Credle, G. ScottDJ OgeeO.C.13"Hypocrite"O. Credle, A. Best,W. Garfield, C. ClayBuckwildO.C.14"It's Only Right"O. Credle, W. Dewgarde,C. WardMr. Walt of Da BeatminerzO.C.15"Jewelz"O. Credle, R. HallLord Finesse; intro interlude by DJ PremierO.C.
Samples credits
"My World" samples "Killer's Lullaby" by Barry White and "Theme d'Amour" by Ennio Morricone. "War Games" samples "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney. "Can't Go Wrong" samples "American Tango" by Weather Report. "The Chosen One" samples "White Clouds" by Hiroshi Fukumura and Sadao Watanabe. "Dangerous" samples "Daisy Lady" by 7th Wonder. "Far From Yours" samples "Tomorrow" by The Brothers Johnson and "For the Listeners" by Eric B. & Rakim. "M.U.G." samples "The Saddest Thing of All" by Michel Legrand. "The Crow" samples "Zen-Gun" by Ryuichi Sakamoto. "You & Yours" samples "A Garden of Peace" by Lonnie Liston Smith. "Hypocrite" samples "Sensitize" by Roy Ayers. "It's Only Right" samples "Do You Like It" by B.T. Express. "Jewelz" samples "Changing Faces" by J.J. Band and "I'll Take Time" by John Kasandra.
Album singles Single information "Far From Yours" Released: July 28, 1997 B-Side: "My World" "Can't Go Wrong" Released: December 16, 1997 B-Side: "Dangerous"
Personnel Adapted credits from the liner notes of Jewelz.
Patrick Moxey - executive producer Mr. Dave - executive producer Eddie Sancho - engineering Max Vargas - engineering Norty Cotto - engineering Tony Smalios - engineering Chris Conway - engineering Kieran Walsh - engineering Michael Gilbert - engineering
DJ Premier - mixing Ogee - mixing Buckwild - mixing Da Beatminerz - mixing Showbiz - mixing Lord Finesse - mixing Tony Dawsey - mastering Danny Clinch - photography Gregory Burke - art direction, design
Petawane & Miles Anthony -Backgrounds (Can't Go Wrong)
Album chart positions Chart (1997) Peak position
Singles chart positions Year Song Chart positions Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales1997 "Far From Yours"81431223 "My World" – – –15 1998 "Can't Go Wrong" –90 – –
References