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In a Word or 2

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In a Word or 2
Studio album by
Monie Love
Released23 March 1993
Recorded1992–1993
GenreHip hop, new jack swing
Length50:27
LabelWarner Bros. Records
45054
Cooltempo/Chrysalis/EMI Records
0946 3 21993 2 4
F2-21993
ProducerMarley Marl[1]
Prince
Aaron "Freedom" Lyles
Steve "Silk" Hurley
Monie Love chronology
Down to Earth
(1990) 		In a Word or 2
(1993)
Singles from In a Word or 2
  1. "Full Term Love"
    Released: 1992
  2. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."
    Released: 1993
  3. "In a Word or 2"
    Released: 1993
  4. "Never Give Up"
    Released: 1993
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Chicago Tribune[1]
Robert Christgau(dud)[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
Los Angeles Times[5]
Music Week[6]
NME7/10[7]
Orlando Sentinel[8]

In a Word or 2 is the second and final studio album by English rapper Monie Love.[9] It was released on 23 March 1993 by Warner Bros. Records and was mostly produced by Marley Marl. Prince cowrote and coproduced the title track and "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."[10] Monie and producer Aaron "Freedom" Lyles produced the song "I'm a Believer," while producer/remixer Steve "Silk" Hurley was brought in for additional production and remix for the first single "Born to B.R.E.E.D."

Although In a Word or 2 did not chart on the UK Albums Chart or the US Billboard Top 200 Album chart, it reached No. 75 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 36 on the US Top Heatseekers chart. Two singles charted in the US: "Full Term Love" peaked at No. 96 and "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." reached No. 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

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AllMusic wrote that "Love's musical voice and singsong delivery are still in effect, but her raps are decidedly more aggressive, lacking the playful air of her first record."[2] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music called the album "another challenging and articulate set ... informed by Love's recent experience of motherhood."[4] The Los Angeles Times wrote: "A combination of substance and sass, Monie Love’s second album is tougher and funkier than the pop-hop featured on 1990’s Down to Earth.”[5] Trouser Press opined that "only 'There’s a Better Way,' a cautionary story about HIV, hits the right mix of music and mind."[11]

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "Wheel of Fortune"- 3:55
  2. "Greasy"- 4:08
  3. "Sex U All"- 5:03
  4. "Mo' Monie"- 4:14
  5. "I'm a Believer"- 3:43
  6. "Let a Woman B a Woman"- 4:15
  7. "Full Term Love"- 4:44
  8. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D."- 4:06
  9. "In a Word or 2"- 3:36
  10. "There's a Better Way"- 3:58
  11. "4 da Children"- 4:26
  12. "Born 2 B.R.E.E.D." (Hip-Hop Mix)- 4:12

Weekly charts

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Chart (1993) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[12][13] 147

References

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  1. ^ a b May, Mitchell. "Monie Love In A Word Or 2..." chicagotribune.com.
  2. ^ a b "In a Word or 2 - Monie Love | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Monie Love". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 349.
  5. ^ a b "MONIE LOVE"In a Word or 2" Warner..." Los Angeles Times. 2 May 1993.
  6. ^ Jones, Alan (27 March 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums" (PDF). Music Week. p. 31. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  7. ^ Moody, Paul (3 April 1993). "Long Play". NME. p. 28. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  8. ^ Gettelman, Parry (16 April 1993). "Monie Love". Orlando Sentinel.
  9. ^ "Monie Love | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  10. ^ "SOUND BITES". Tampa Bay Times.
  11. ^ "Monie Love". Trouser Press. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  12. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 1 July 1991". Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Monie Love ARIA Chart history (1988-2024)". ARIA. Retrieved 28 July 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
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