Top tracks — play these first
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Money, Power & Respect — The title track serves as a manifesto for the trio, combining anthemic production with powerful verses that encapsulate their motivations and struggles in the industry.
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Livin' The Life — This track exemplifies The Lox's signature blend of bravado and vulnerability, painting vivid pictures of their lifestyle while also addressing the consequences that accompany it.
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We'll Always Love Big Poppa — A poignant tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., this track highlights The Lox's emotional depth and connection to hip-hop culture, showcasing their respect for fallen legends.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong writing and production typical of late '90s East Coast hip-hop but includes some uneven pacing.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of hard-hitting beats, with many tracks incorporating layered samples and heavy bass lines.
- Each rapper takes turns delivering verses, often overlapping their flows to create a dynamic interplay between them.
- Several tracks include interludes that break up the flow, providing context or commentary on the themes presented in the songs.
- The final track serves as a tribute, contrasting with the preceding gritty narratives by reflecting on loss and legacy.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic flow with interludes
- raw energy for late nights
- reflective moments of urban struggle
- engaging storytelling in two halves
- hard-hitting anthems for motivation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer standalone tracks only
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 1998, 'Money, Power & Respect' was The Lox's debut studio album following their initial success as members of Diddy’s Bad Boy Records. This album solidified their transition from promising newcomers to established forces in the hip-hop scene, showcasing their lyrical prowess and distinctive style.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Jadakiss· Styles P· Sheek Louch
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Yonkers Tale (intro) 1:45
- 2 Livin' The Life 3:35
- 3 If You Think I'm Jiggy 4:40
- 4 The Interview, Part I (interlude) 0:39
- 5 Money, Power & Respect 4:30
- 6 Get This $ 3:58
- 7 Lets Start Rap Over 4:28
- 8 Mad Rappe 1:15
- 9 I Wanna Thank You 4:02
- 10 Goin' Be Some Shit 4:20
- 11 The Heist, Part I 2:51
- 12 Not to Be Fucked With 4:23
- 13 The Set-Up (interlude) 0:48
- 14 Bitches From Eastwick 4:13
- 15 Can't Stop, Won't Stop 3:38
- 16 All for the Love 3:33
- 17 So Right 3:30
- 18 The Snitch (interlude) 1:30
- 19 Everybody Wanna Rat 4:17
- 20 The Interview, Part II (interlude) 0:14
- 21 We'll Always Love Big Poppa 4:59
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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