Grey Skies

This article is about the 1999 album by Crooked Lettaz. For the topic, see Overcast.
Grey Skies
Studio album by
Crooked Lettaz
ReleasedApril 20, 1999 (1999-04-20)
Recorded1998–1999
Studio
  • Wendy's Crib
  • DARP Studios (Atlanta, GA)
  • The Cutting Room (New York, NY)
  • Fly Productions
  • Momma's House (Chicago, IL)
  • United Technique Recording (Chicago, IL)
  • Freddie Young's Spot (Jackson, MS)
  • Tiger Traxx (Jackson, MS)
  • Platinum Island Studios (New York, NY)
  • Terminal Studios (Jackson, MS)
GenreHip hop
Length1:05:38
LabelPenalty
Producer
David Banner chronology
Grey Skies
(1999) 		Them Firewater Boyz, Vol. 1
(2000)
Kamikaze chronology
Grey Skies
(1999) 		Firewater Boy #2
(2001)
Singles from Grey Skies
  1. "Firewater/Get Crunk"
    Released: March 9, 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
RapReviews8/10
The Source

Grey Skies is the only studio album by American hip hop group Crooked Lettaz. It was released on April 20, 1999 via Penalty Recordings. Production was handled by David Banner, Gensu Dean, Andy C and Pimp C. It features guest appearances from Aliou Diallo, Budz, J Da Groova, N.O.R.E., Pimp C, and Dirrt's Us. In the United States, the album peaked at number 75 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

The album was supported with a 1998 promotional single "Caught Up In The Game" and a 1999 single "Firewater" b/w "Get Crunk".

Despite Crooked Lettaz's disbandment in early 2000s, members Kamikaze and David Banner would occasionally reuniting on various solo projects.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mama Lena Intro" David Banner0:45
2."Get Crunk" (featuring Pimp C)
Pimp C4:23
3."Fire Water" (featuring Noreaga)
David Banner4:37
4."South's on My Mind"
  • Crump
  • Franklin
David Banner4:09
5."Chicken and Swine" (featuring J Da Groova)
  • Crump
  • Franklin
  • J. Martin
  • Andy Craemer
Andy C.3:59
6."Straight Outta Africa" (featuring Aliou Diallo)Aliou DialloDavid Banner1:28
7."Daydreamin'"
David Banner4:05
8."A Girl Named Cim"
  • Crump
  • Franklin
David Banner4:18
9."It's Ours" (featuring Us)
  • Crump
  • Franklin
  • J. Windom
  • D. Cross
David Banner3:43
10."Tupelo"
  • Crump
  • Franklin
David Banner4:43
11."Trill"
  • Crump
  • Franklin
  • David Banner
  • Timothy Deal (co.)
6:14
12."Pimp Shit" (featuring Budz)
  • Crump
  • Franklin
  • A. Cook
  • Craemer
  • Douglas Fontaine Brown
Andy C.4:25
13."Grey Skies"
  • Crump
  • Franklin
  • Eddie Alexander
Gensu Dean4:24
14."Brad's Interlude" Gensu Dean0:46
15."Caught in the Game"
  • Crump
  • Franklin
  • Alexander
  • Gensu Dean
  • David Banner (co.)
4:12
16."I Know"
  • Crump
  • Franklin
David Banner4:45
17."Outro" David Banner4:43
Total length:1:05:38
Sample credits

Personnel

  • Lavell "David Banner" Crump – vocals, producer (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6-11, 16, 17), co-producer (track 15), recording (track 1), executive producer
  • Brad "Kamikaze" Franklin – vocals, executive producer
  • DJ Phinga Print – scratches, executive producer
  • Chad "Pimp C" Butler – vocals & producer (track 2)
  • Victor "Noreaga" Santiago – vocals (track 3)
  • Daphne Mitchell – additional vocals (track 4)
  • J. "J Da Groova" Martin – vocals (track 5)
  • Aliou Diallo – vocals (track 6)
  • J. Windom – vocals (track 9)
  • D. Cross – vocals (track 9)
  • Avon Marshall – background vocals (track 10), keyboards (tracks: 4, 10, 16)
  • Kandii Saje – background vocals (track 11)
  • A. "Budz" Cook – vocals (track 12)
  • Jeff Davidson – guitar (tracks: 4, 16), bass (track 16), keyboards (track 17)
  • Artie Reynolds – bass (track 4)
  • Andy Craemer – keyboards (track 5), producer & engineering (tracks: 5, 12)
  • Dale Morris – bass (track 10), recording (tracks: 8, 10, 16)
  • Timothy Deal – keyboards & co-producer (track 11)
  • Eddie "Gensu Dean" Alexander – producer (tracks: 13-15)
  • Kevin Crouse – recording (tracks: 2, 6), mixing (tracks: 1-4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 16)
  • Nastee – recording (tracks: 3, 9)
  • Freddie Young – recording (tracks: 4, 7)
  • Rae Nimeh – recording & mixing (tracks: 5, 12)
  • Shawn Mackie – recording (track 13)
  • Devon Kirkpatrick – recording (track 14)
  • Won Bee – recording & mixing (track 17)
  • Joe Quinde – mixing (track 8)
  • Patrick Viala – mixing (track 9)
  • D'Anthony Johnson – mixing (tracks: 13, 14)
  • Michael Sarsfield – mastering
  • Edwin Holmes – production coordinator
  • Julian Alexander – art direction
  • Daniel Hastings – photography
  • Mayhem – A&R direction
  • Karen Zweig – A&R administration
  • Geno Sims – A&R coordination
  • Carolyn Williams – management

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 75

References

  1. ^ Azpiri, Jon. "Grey Skies - Crooked Lettaz | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (May 13, 1999). "Crooked Lettaz :: Grey Skies – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Braxton, Charlie R. (April 1999). "Record Report: Crooked Lettaz – Grey Skies". The Source. No. 115. New York. p. 198. Archived from the original on January 24, 2000. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "Crooked Lettaz Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2024.