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Knowledge Is King

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Knowledge Is King
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 30, 1989
StudioSoundtrack Studios (New York, NY) Unique Recording Studios, New York City
GenreHip hop
Length44:32
LabelJive
Producer
Kool Moe Dee chronology
How Ya Like Me Now
(1987)
Knowledge Is King
(1989)
Funke, Funke Wisdom
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB+[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Knowledge Is King is the third solo studio album by American rapper Kool Moe Dee, released on May 30, 1989, via Jive Records.

Background

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The album was recorded at Soundtrack Studios in New York City, New York. Production for the album was handled by Teddy Riley, LaVaba Mallison, Pete Q. Harris, and Kool Moe Dee himself. The record peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200[4] and number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[5] It is his second best-selling album, achieving gold certification by the RIAA on August 22, 1989 (his previous album How Ya Like Me Now was certified platinum).[6]

The album spawned four charted singles: "Let's Go", "All Night Long", "I Go to Work", and "They Want Money". "They Want Money" went the most successful single of the effort, peaking at #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #2 on the Hot Rap Songs and #91 on the UK Singles Chart. "I Go to Work" peaked at #13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #5 on the Hot Rap Songs. "All Night Long" peaked at #70 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and "Let's Go", a diss track towards Kool Moe Dee's foe LL Cool J, peaked at #11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."They Want Money"3:52
2."The Avenue"M. Dewese3:46
3."I Go to Work"M. Dewese4:40
4."All Night Long"M. Dewese4:11
5."Knowledge is King"
  • M. Dewese
  • P. Harris
3:38
6."I'm Hittin' Hard"M. Dewese4:34
7."Get the Picture"
  • M. Dewese
  • L. Mallison
5:19
8."I'm Blowin' Up"M. Dewese4:55
9."The Don"M. Dewese5:10
10."Pump Your Fist"M. Dewese4:27
11."Let's Go"M. Dewese5:24
Total length:44:32

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

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  • Mohandes Dewese - vocals, producer
  • LaVaba Mallison - mixing, producer
  • Edward Theodore Riley - producer
  • Peter Brian Harris - producer
  • Chris Trevett - engineering
  • Josh Chervokas - engineering
  • George Karras - mixing
  • Kafi Tuda - grooming
  • Pietro Alfieri - artwork
  • Doug Rowell - photography
  • Ralph Wernli - photography

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Knowledge Is King - Kool Moe Dee". AllMusic. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Kool Moe Dee". Robert Christgau. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  3. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 406–407.
  4. ^ "Kool Moe Dee Knowledge Is King Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  5. ^ "Kool Moe Dee Knowledge Is King Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. August 22, 1989. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  7. ^ "Kool Moe Dee Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  8. ^ "Kool Moe Dee Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  9. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "Kool Moe Dee Chart History". Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  11. ^ "Kool Moe Dee Chart History". Hot Rap Songs. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  12. ^ "KOOL MOE DEE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". UK Singles Chart. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  13. ^ "American album certifications – Kool Moe Dee – Knowledge Is King". Recording Industry Association of America.
[edit]

"Kool Moe Dee - Knowledge Is King". Discogs.