Yeeeah Baby

''Yeeeah Baby'' (titled as ''Yeah Baby'' on streaming services) is the second and final studio album by rapper Big Pun, released April 4, 2000, through Columbia Records, SRC Records, Loud Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions. It debuted and peaked at number 3 on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 179,000 units during the first week. It was subsequently certified gold in July 2000, and received platinum certification on October 31, 2017. Fat Joe served as the executive producer of the album.

Struggling with morbid obesity, Pun experienced breathing problems throughout the album's recording process, slowing down his signature flow. He died at 28 years of age, just two months before the album's release. The album, though released, was unfinished at the time of his death.

Background

In his last magazine interview, conducted by ''Industry Insider'' only a week before his death, Pun detailed that his approach on ''Yeeeah Baby'' was not as " hardcore" as his previous album ''Capital Punishment'', in an attempt to reach out to an even wider fanbase than his debut album already had.

Reception

Commercial

''Yeeeah Baby'' posted a strong debut on the ''Billboard'' 200, the album sold more than 179,000 copies in its first week in stores to take the third slot on the chart. It reached Gold status within three months.

Critical

''Yeeeah Baby'' received favorable reviews from music critics.
*''Rolling Stone'' (4/13/00, p. 128) – 3.5 stars out of 5 – "... unhas gone out with a bang. He attacked standard hip-hop topics with witty, unpredictable elasticity. ... Pun is at his habanero hottest ..."
*'' Q'' (7/00, p. 111) – 3 stars out of 5 – "... Would have established imas both a radio-friendly commercial force and rebellious icon ..."
*''CMJ'' (4/24/00, p. 30) – "... Beams the spotlight on the Boricua bomber's unparalleled breath control and hilarious jaw-dropping wordplay."
*''Vibe'' (6/00, p. 214) – "... A triumphant final effort for one of the Boogie Down Bronx's favorite super-lyrical sons.... tshowcases Pun's matured artistic vision and newly mastered flows but never ceases to move bodies and minds ..."
*''The Source'' (5/00, p. 186) – 4 mics out of 5 – "... An even more in-depth peep inside the heart and soul of a man in constant struggle with himself. ... a backstage pass to the all-out jam that was Pun's personality: street-wise, intellectually sharp, sex-crazed – and funny as hell ..."
*''NME'' (4/29/00, p. 35) – 7 out of 10 – "... raucous final musical statement. ... like a library of every cool contemporary hip-hop sound squeezed onto one compact disc. ... One for delinquent work experience boys everywhere."

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Notes
* signifies a co-producer

Sample credits
* "Watch Those" contains a sample of "Gotcha (Theme from Starsky & Hutch)", written and performed by Tom Scott.
* "We Don't Care" contains excerpts from "Exclusively for Me", written by Colin Blunstone and David Jones.
* "New York Giants" contains a sample of "World Famous", written by Anne Dudley and Malcolm McLaren, performed by Malcolm McLaren.
* "My Dick" contains excerpts from "2 Hype", written by Eric Smith and Eric McCaine; and contains samples of "Jo Jo", written and performed by Gino Vannelli.
* "Leather Face" contains excerpts from "Redemption", written and performed by Bill Conti; and contains a sample from "Niggaz Done Started Something", written by Earl Simmons, Sean Jacobs, Jason Phillips, Mason Betha, David Styles, and Damon Blackman, performed by DMX featuring the Lox and Mase.
* "100%" contains samples from "Anita", written and performed by Lalo Schifrin.
* "Laughing at You" contains excerpts from "Don't You (Forget About Me)", written by Steve Schiff and Keith Forsey.

Album chart positions

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles chart positions

Certifications

References

{{Authority control

2000 albums
Big Pun albums
Albums published posthumously
Albums produced by Just Blaze
Albums produced by Buckwild
Albums produced by the Infinite Arkatechz
Albums produced by Knobody
Albums produced by L.E.S. (record producer)