Dare Iz a Darkside

Dare Iz a Darkside
Studio album by Redman
Released	November 22, 1994
Recorded	March 1993 - July 1994
Studio	Rockin' Reel Studios (Northport, New York) The Music Palace (West Hempstead, New York) Echo Sound Studio (Atwater Village, California)
Genre	East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, Conscious hip hop, Underground hip hop
Length	68:37
Label	Def Jam Recordings
Producer	Reggie Noble, Rockwilder, Erick Sermon (also exec.)

Redman chronology
Previous	Whut? Thee Album (1992)
Next	Muddy Waters (1996)

Dare Iz a Darkside is the second studio album by American rapper Redman, released on November 22, 1994 via Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Rockin' Reel Studios and The Music Palace in Long Island, New York and at Echo Sound Studios in Los Angeles through March 1993 to July 1994. Production was handled entirely by Redman himself, with co-production by Erick Sermon and Rockwilder. It includes guest appearances by his fellow Def Squad members: Erick Sermon and Keith Murray, and former Hit Squad member Hurricane G. Redman displays a more eccentric personality on this album, so much so that one reviewer states that he may have alienated fans of his earlier work with EPMD.

The album cover features Redman buried in the group up to his neck as a homage to the cover of Funkadelic's 1971 album Maggot Brain. In addition, "Cosmic Slop" shares its name with a 1973 Funkadelic album. Redman has not performed any songs from this album in recent years because it was made during a dark period of his life.

The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200 and #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Dare Iz a Darkside release the two singles: "Rockafella" and "I Can't Wait". On January 27, 1995, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 500,000 copies in the United States. The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics.

Critical reception

Jason Birchmeier of Allmusic gave the album a mixed review, remarking that producer Erick Sermon, who plays a large role in the production of the album, "isn't up to his usual standards here." Birchmeier also noted may have alienated fans of his earlier work with EPMD. Redman's eccentric personality on Darkside in particular hough when checking the production credits, Erick Sermon is only listed as an executive producer. He was executive producer for 5 of the albums' 16 actual tracks, not including skits. In reality, it was Reggie Noble who handled lead production of the album. The Source gave it 4 stars. It is considered a cult classic by a section of Redman's fans who believed the album showed Redman at his most cynical and hardcore.

Track listing

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Time
1.	"Dr. Trevis"	-	Noble	Reggie Noble	2:09
2.	"Bobyahed2dis"	Redman	Clinton, Noble, Shider, Spradley, Stewart, Stinson	Reggie Noble, Rockwilder	3:23
3.	"Journey Throo da Darkside"	Redman	Noble, Sermon, Whitfield	Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon (co.)	2:27
4.	"Da Journee"	-	Noble	Reggie Noble	0:31
5.	"A Million and 1 Buddah Spots"	Redman	Noble, Sermon	Erick Sermon, Reggie Noble (co.)	1:41
6.	"Noorotic"	Redman	Noble, Stinson	Rockwilder, Reggie Noble (co.)	3:00
7.	"Boodah Session"	-	Noble	Reggie Noble	0:23
8.	"Cosmic Slop"	Redman, Erick Sermon, Keith Murray	Murray, Noble, Sermon	Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon (co.)	3:32
9.	"Rockafella (R.I.P.)"	-	Noble, Sermon	Reggie Noble	0:27
10.	"Rockafella"	Redman	Clinton, Collins, Haywood, Noble, Worrell	Reggie Noble	5:08
11.	"Green Island"	Redman	Anderson, Noble, Stillman	Reggie Noble	5:42
12.	"Basically"	-	Noble	-	2:03
13.	"Can't Wait"	Redman	Hardy, James, Noble, Sermon	Erick Sermon, Reggie Noble (co.)	4:13
14.	"Winicumuhround"	Redman	Clinton, Noble, Sermon, Shider, Spradley	Erick Sermon, Reggie Noble (co.)	4:28
15.	"Wuditlooklike"	Redman	Noble	Reggie Noble	3:20
16.	"Slide and Rock On"	Redman	Clinton, Mason, Noble, Shider, Spradley, Telson	Reggie Noble	3:54
17.	"Sooperman Part II"	Redman	Clinton, Mason, Noble, Shider, Spradley, Telson	Reggie Noble	3:54
18.	"We Run N.Y."	Redman, Hurricane G	Burdon, Chandler, LeMay, Lomax, Noble, Parker, Rodriguez	Reggie Noble	4:13
19.	"Dr. Trevis (Signs Off)"	-	Noble	Reggie Noble	1:44

Personnel

Information taken from AllMusic.

• Engineering – Mike Bona, Bob Fudjinski, Dave Greenberg, Bob Morse
• Executive Production – Erick Sermon
• Mastering – Tony Dawsey
• Mixing – Bob Fudjinski, Dave Greenberg, Bob Morse
• Narration – Jeff Stewart
• Performing – Hurricane G, Keith Murray, Erick Sermon
• Photography – Danny Clinch
• Production – Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon
• Sequencing – Reggie Noble, Jeff Trotter
• Vocals – Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon