The Album (The Firm album)
The sole studio album by the hip-hop supergroup The Firm.
The Album is the sole studio release from the American hip-hop supergroup The Firm, arriving on October 21, 1997, through Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute, and producers Dr. Dre and Trackmasters put the group together. The initial lineup—Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega—first worked together on the track "Affirmative Action" from Nas's 1996 album *It Was Written*. Cormega exited the group before recording started because of creative disagreements with Nas and contract issues with Stoute, and Nature took his place.
The Album is a concept record built around themes of the American Mafia and the gangsta lifestyle. It is arranged like a compilation, with songs credited to individual artists—whether Firm members or guests—and all performers are listed as main artists except Dawn Robinson, who is specifically credited as a featured artist. No single track features every member of the Firm together, and one song is credited entirely to a non-member.
Production duties were handled mainly by Dr. Dre, Chris "The Glove" Taylor, and Trackmasters (working as Poke and Tone). Guest appearances include Dr. Dre, Pretty Boy, Wizard, Canibus, Dawn Robinson, Noreaga, and Half-a-Mill.
Critics gave The Album mixed reviews, criticizing its mainstream pop-oriented sound as a departure from the members' earlier styles. In the United States, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It charted in Canada, France, and the United Kingdom as well. The album sold 147,000 copies in its first week and has moved over 925,000 copies in the U.S., earning a gold certification in Canada. Two singles were released: "Firm Biz" peaked at number twelve on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart. The second single, "Phone Tap," failed to chart but became the group's signature song and is considered one of Dr. Dre's most enduring productions.
Before the group formed, its future members were at turning points in their careers. After the acclaim of his debut *Illmatic* (1994), Queensbridge rapper Nas decided to aim for a mainstream audience. *Illmatic* had not sold as well as many major releases, partly because Nas was shy and avoided promoting it.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- The Firm
- Released
- 1997-10-21
- Recorded
- November 1996 – August 1997
- Studio
- Criteria (Miami) / Crescent Moon (Miami) / Record One (Los Angeles) / Doppler (Atlanta)
- Genre
- Mafioso rap
- Length
- 52:54
- Label
- Aftermath · Interscope
- Producer
- Dr. Dre / Trackmasters / Chris "The Glove" Taylor / L.E.S.
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Album is a concept album centered around themes of the American Mafia and the "gangsta" lifestyle. The project is structured similarly to a compilation, with songs credited individually to the participating artists—whether Firm members or guests—with all performers listed as main artists except Dawn Robinson, who is specifically credited as a featuring artist. There is no song on the album that features all members of the Firm together on a single track, and one song is credited solely to a non-member. The album's production was handled mainly by Dr. Dre, Chris "The Glove" Taylor, and Trackmasters (operating as Poke and Tone), and it features guest appearances by Dr. Dre, Pretty Boy, Wizard, Canibus, Dawn Robinson, Noreaga, and Half-a-Mill.
The Album received mixed reviews from music critics, who criticized its mainstream pop-oriented sound rather than the members' previous styles. In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also charted in other countries, such as Canada, France and the United Kingdom. The album sold 147,000 copies in the debut week and has sold over 925,000 copies in the United States and was certified gold in Canada. Two singles were released from the album, with "Firm Biz" peaking at number twelve on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart. Although the album's second single "Phone Tap" failed to chart, it remained the group's signature song and is considered one of Dr. Dre's most enduring productions.
Reader's Guide
The Album stands as a notable artifact of mid-1990s hip-hop, representing an attempt to merge East Coast lyricism with West Coast production and mainstream pop appeal. Despite mixed critical reception, its commercial success—debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over 925,000 copies in the United States—demonstrated the drawing power of its constituent artists. The album's concept, inspired by Mafia themes, and its compilation-like structure, where no single track features all Firm members, set it apart from typical group releases. The behind-the-scenes difficulties, including limited studio time with members and Foxy Brown's missed flights, contributed to a project that many felt did not fulfill its potential. Nevertheless, "Phone Tap" endured as the group's signature track and a highlight of Dr. Dre's production catalog. The Album remains the only studio output from The Firm, a supergroup that never recorded together again, making it a unique snapshot of a particular moment in hip-hop history.
Did You Know?
- The Album is the only studio album by The Firm; the group never released another.
- One song on the album is credited solely to a non-member of the group.
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