Built from Scratch

2002 studio album by The X-Ecutioners
Built from Scratch
Studio album by
The X-Ecutioners
ReleasedFebruary 26, 2002
Recorded1999–2001
Genre
  • Hip hop
  • rap rock
Length68:02
Label
  • Loud Records
  • Columbia
Producer
  • Sean Cane
  • The X-Ecutioners
  • Beat Junkies
  • Chris Frantz
  • CJ Moore
  • Dan the Automator
  • DJ Apollo
  • DJ Premier
  • Kenny Muhammad The Human Orchestra
  • Knobody
  • Large Professor
  • Lo-Fidelity Allstars
  • Mike Shinoda
  • Tina Weymouth
The X-Ecutioners chronology
X-Pressions
(1997) 		Built from Scratch
(2002) 		Scratchology
(2003)
Singles from Built from Scratch
  1. "It's Goin' Down"
    Released: March 2002
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
RapReviews.com[2]
Rolling Stone[3]

Built from Scratch is the second studio album by New York City DJ group The X-Ecutioners. It was released on February 26, 2002, through Loud Records and Columbia Records. The album was produced by Beat Junkies, Chris Frantz, CJ Moore, Dan the Automator, DJ Apollo, DJ Premier, Kenny Muhammad The Human Orchestra, Knobody, Large Professor, Lo-Fidelity Allstars, Mike Shinoda of American rock band Linkin Park, Sean Cane, The X-Ecutioners, Tina Weymouth, and was executive produced by Peter Kang.

History

The record only spawned one hit single from the album, entitled "It's Goin' Down", which was released in March 2002. The single was heavily written, produced, and performed by Linkin Park members Shinoda and Hahn. They both appear in the official music video along with other Linkin Park members, including Rob Bourdon and Dave "Phoenix" Farrell on drums and bass respectively, with Wayne Static from American rock band Static-X on the guitars. However, Bourdon and Phoenix of Linkin Park, and Static of Static-X were all not involved with the recording session for the single in the studio.

The main album cover is based on Public Enemy's first album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show; an alternative cover simply shows the DJ group's logo and album title on a scratched orange surface (similar as the "It's Goin' Down" single cover).

Critical reception

In a reviewing article for Resident Advisor, it clearly describes The X-Ecutioners as a "four-man DJ battle group as a team that consists of Rob Swift, Mista Sinista, Total Eclipse and Roc Raida coming out with a new album, Built from Scratch, to take the music genre of turntablism from an underground phenomenon to a more accessible sound. The record is more than a P.Diddy record, as it is a straight up hip-hop record of 2002 using the techniques being more built up from the days when Grandmaster Flash had his own adventure behind the wheel."[4]

"No hip-hop record is complete nowadays without the usual intro," as described from the article via Resident Advisor, "and ever since producer Prince Paul (formerly De La) brought them out the Skit. A lot of albums really have skits that are wack and get way too played out. However, The X-Ecutioners pulled off decent skits and incorporated a lot of scratching routines into 'em, as well as being quite funny."[4]

"The album isn't just about skits," continuously being described from Resident Advisor, "but all about the hip-hop music and turntablism, and proper tracks that have all been done quite well. All the skits and the songs appear on this album as listed in the record."[4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" (featuring DJ Apollo, DJ Shortkut & DJ Vinroc) DJ Apollo1:12
2."XL" (featuring Large Professor)R. AguilarLarge Professor2:39
3."X-ecutioners Scratch"
3:38
4."A Journey Into Sound" (featuring Kenny Muhammad The Human Orchestra)
  • R. Aguilar
  • A. Williams
  • J.J. Wright
4:32
5."Hip-Hop Awards" (skit)  2:50
6."3 Boroughs"
Rob Swift1:24
7."Let It Bang" (featuring M.O.P.)
  • R. Aguilar
  • A. Williams
  • J.J. Wright
  • A. Johnson
  • K. Muchita
3:30
8."X-ecutioners (Theme) Song" (featuring Dan the Automator)
Dan the Automator3:19
9."Feel the Bass"
  • R. Aguilar
  • A. Williams
  • J.J. Wright
Roc Raida3:56
10."You Can't Scratch" (skit)  1:22
11."It's Goin' Down" (featuring Mike Shinoda & Mr. Hahn of Linkin Park)
Mike Shinoda4:09
12."Premier's X-ecution"
  • R. Aguilar
  • A. Williams
  • J.J. Wright
  • A. Johnson
  • K. Muchita
  • C. Martin
DJ Premier4:42
13."The X (Y'all Know the Name)" (featuring Pharoahe Monch, Xzibit, Inspectah Deck & Skillz)
  • R. Aguilar
  • A. Williams
  • J.J. Wright
  • J.K. Hunter
  • Dr. Butcher
  • Rob Swift
3:40
14."Genius of Love 2002" (featuring Tom Tom Club & Biz Markie)3:56
15."Choppin' Niggas Up"
  • R. Aguilar
  • A. Williams
  • J.J. Wright
Roc Raida2:26
16."B-Boy Punk Rock 2001" (featuring Everlast)A. WilliamsRoc Raida2:29
17."Who Wants to Be a Motherfuckin' Millionaire" (skit)  2:48
18."Play That Beat"I. Freeman III
  • CJ Moore
  • Dr. Butcher
4:47
19."Dramacyde" (featuring Big Pun & Kool G Rap)
Sean Cane3:37
20."X-ecution of a Bum Rush" (featuring Beat Junkies)
Beat Junkies2:58
21."Play That Beat" (Lo-Fidelity Allstars Remix) (Bonus Track)I. Freeman IIILo-Fidelity Allstars4:23
Total length:1:08:02

Notes

  • "Play That Beat" features uncredited rap vocals from Fatman Scoop

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Built from Scratch
Chart (2002) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] 62
French Albums (SNEP)[6] 121
US Billboard 200[7] 15
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] 13

Year-end charts

2002 year-end chart performance for Built from Scratch
Chart (2002) Position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[9] 150
Canadian Rap Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)[10] 76

References

  1. ^ Hopkin, Kenyon. "Built from Scratch - The X-ecutioners". Allmusic. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  2. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (February 26, 2002). "X-Ecutioners :: Built From Scratch :: Loud Records". RapReviews. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Caramanica, Jon (April 11, 2002). "The X-ecutioners Built from Scratch". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 22, 2002. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  4. ^ a b c DJ Robotek RA Reviews: X-ecutioners - Built from Scratch on Sony (Album) Resident Advisor Retrieved July 31, 2014
  5. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 306.
  6. ^ "Lescharts.com – X-Ecutioners – Built from Scratch". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "X-Ecutioners Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "X-Ecutioners Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  9. ^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Top 100 rap albums of 2002 in Canada". Jam!. Archived from the original on October 12, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • Total Eclipse
  • DJ Boogie Blind
  • DJ Precision
Studio albums
  • X-Pressions (1997)
  • Built from Scratch (2002)
  • Revolutions (2004)
Compilation albumsCollaboration albumsSingles
  • "It's Goin' Down"
Related albums
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
  • MusicBrainz release group