From Me To U
Encyclopedia
From Me to U is the debut album by the American Hip-Hop rapper Juelz Santana
Juelz Santana
LaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"...

, released on August 19, 2003. The album was seen as the introspective introduction of the rapper to mainstream entertainment. Following the success of various unofficial street mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...

s and being part of the rap group The Diplomats
The Diplomats
The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem...

, co-founded by rappers Cameron Giles (a.k.a Cam'ron
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....

) and Joseph Guillermo Jones II (a.k.a Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...

), From Me to U was the second official album to be released while the super group was signed to Diplomat Records, a sublabel of Roc-A-Fella Records at the time, following Cam'ron's
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....

 Roc-A-Fella debut Come Home with Me
Come Home with Me
Come Home with Me is the third studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron, it is also his debut on Roc-A-Fella Records. It served as an introduction of the Cam'ron-fronted rap group, The Diplomats, to the general public. There are featured guest appearances from The Diplomats, DJ Kay Slay, Daz...

. Upon its release in 2003,after one year of recording and mastering, the 20-tracked album found commercial success, reaching #8 on Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top Hip-Hop/Rap Albums, even though it did not receive critical acclaim throughout the industry. Though some tracks originally were featured on Juelz's street mixtape Final Destination, they were still applied to the track listing of the official album as well.

Background

After the signing of The Diplomats
The Diplomats
The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem...

, also known as The Dips or Dipset, to Roc-a-Fella Records in 2002, there was an influx of mixtape
Mixtape
A Mix Tape or Mixed Tape is a compilation of songs recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto an audio Compact Cassette.A Mix Tape, which usually reflects the musical tastes of its compiler, can range from a casually selected list of favorite songs, to a conceptual mix of songs linked by a...

s, features on other artists' records, television and radio interviews, in which Juelz achieved mainstream recognition not previously gained through the various Diplomat mixtapes, and his solo mixtape Final Destination. After recording feature verses on the two singles, "Hey Ma" and "Oh Boy", which were on Cam'ron's
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....

 first Roc-a-fella/Diplomat Records release
Come Home with Me
Come Home with Me is the third studio album by Harlem rapper Cam'ron, it is also his debut on Roc-A-Fella Records. It served as an introduction of the Cam'ron-fronted rap group, The Diplomats, to the general public. There are featured guest appearances from The Diplomats, DJ Kay Slay, Daz...

, Juelz started working on his as well since he was going to be the next solo album released on Diplomat records. In addition, Diplomatic Immunity
Diplomatic Immunity (album)
Diplomatic Immunity is the debut album by The Diplomats, released on March 25, 2003. After the release of group leader Cam'ron's third album, Come Home With Me, the quartet teamed up to release their first collaborative effort...

 was a Dipset compilation and showcasing of the entire roster, mainly Juelz, who is featured on the majority of the songs.

Track listing

"The Champ is Here" is a drum-filled chant type of song, based on the famous Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...

 proclamation during the training before his final fight in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975
Thrilla in Manila
The Thrilla in Manila was the third and final famous boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World, fought at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on October 1, 1975....

. The song contains no rapping, but rather has Juelz and Dipset
The Diplomats
The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem...

 labelmate and friend, Freekey Zekey boasting and introducing Juelz's CD and the members of the crew.

"One Day I Smile" is a personal testament of the journey Juelz has taken to become signed and how he is on the right path, starting off with the contrast of the many young Hip-Hop entertainers that have died before their time. In addition, he tells of how the pressure is on him to produce a good and deserving album that explains the experiences of his life.

"Okay, Okay" is a declaration of how he has arrived with his Dipset crew and no one will be able to stop them, paralleling himself to Neo
Neo (The Matrix)
Thomas A. Anderson is a fictional character and the main protagonist in The Matrix franchise, as well as having a cameo in The Animatrix short film, Kid's Story. He was portrayed by Keanu Reeves in The Matrix Trilogy and The Animatrix. Andrew Bowen provided Neo's voice in The Matrix: Path of Neo...

 of The Matrix
The Matrix
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...

. It breaks the somber and serious mood of the previous track, and sounds like a continuation of "The Champ is Here."

"Down (skit)" is an interlude that has a young woman vomiting as she performs oral sex on a man, who has the voice of Freekey Zekey. After the act, he proceeds to kick her out of the car and drive off leaving her on the side of the road.

"Down" tells of Juelz taking care of his business and telling those who doubted him that "he tried to tell you" about his future success. Nonetheless, with its sped-up sample, it has resemblance to that of "One Day I Smile," it is just a more confident mood.

"Monster Music" contains an opera sample and is a declaration for everyone to start marching with The Diplomats
The Diplomats
The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are a Harlem-based hip hop group founded by Cam'ron and Jim Jones in 1997. The original members of the group were Cam'ron, Freekey Zekey, and Jim Jones ; who all grew up together in Harlem...

. It also tells of Juelz's boasting and gun-toting ways.

"Back Again" features RnB
RNB
RNB is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* Nankai Broadcasting – , a broadcasting station in Ehime Prefecture, Japan* Rhythm and blues* Contemporary R&B* Russian National Library...

 singer Razah, who has been featured on many Dipset tracks throughout the years. The song is filled with boasting of the nice cars and women that Juelz possesses as well that Juelz is at the top of Hip-Hop music.

"Jealousy (Envy)" is a tale of a fallen relationship between Juelz and a woman. Though it is not about love, Juelz weaves the tale of the hostile relationship that he and the "one he wanted to marry" begins to cheat on me. He admits sorrow for the choices he made in trying to love her when she did not love him.

"How I Feel" is another pro-Dipset Movement song that gives Juelz's thoughts on how to overcome adversity and his thoughts on the current state of music.

"Why" emphasizes the reason why Juelz sees himself bringing a different perspective and style to Hip-Hop as the sample voice in the background continually asks him, "why?"

"Wherever I Go" has Juelz proclaiming with the assistance of Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...

 that wherever he goes he will stay true to the Harlem neighborhood that he came from and that he will never change.

"Dipset (Santana's Town)(skit)" is an interlude in which Juelz calls a woman, while her boyfriend screams in the background that he is going to be signed to Diplomat Records. The comedic voice in the background is also provided by Freekey Zekey.

"Dipset (Santana's Town)" is a very eccentric song that features Cam'ron
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....

. Juelz and Cam'ron, who is only on the chorus, exclaim that it is Juelz's town and he is Dipset. This was the first single of the album, and there was also a video released in anticipation for the album.

"Squalie (skit)" is a scene as one man is selling drugs (i.e. purple tops), and as an addict comes to buy, the drug dealer becomes suspicious and figures out that the addict is a law enforcement agent. Squalie is an advisory chant when law enforcement is noticed in urban neighborhoods.

"Squalie" is a warning song that the cops are coming and that all those who are doing illegal activities should watch out. The song features J.R.Writer who was later signed to Diplomat Records.

"Rain Drops" shows the introspective side of Juelz as he tells of how proud he is of his journey and where he came from while speaking to his grandmother and grandfather, whom have died.

"My Love (Remix)" features Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...

  as they both talk about their experiences of a fast life and having women experience it with them.

"Let's Go" is a Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....

 sampled track that has Juelz slowly rapping and boasting about the person that he is and telling that there is no other person like him.

"Now What" contains the only feature from a non-Dipset crew member, T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....

. It is seen as a regional crossover and Southern inspired track. Juelz and T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....

 continued to collaborate on many other projects after this initial feature.

"This is for My Homies" is a prayer-inspired track that has Juelz reminiscing on his friends that have either died, are in jail, or have lost "their souls to the streetlife." It also features Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...

 as he raps a verse and intros the song with a declaration of those who are missed.

Features and Production Credits

# Title Producer(s) Featured Guest(s) Composer(s) Time
1 "The Champ Is Here" Heatmakerz Freekey Zekey Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron 2:25
2 "One Day I Smile" Heatmakerz Harding, G./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron 2:45
3 "Okay Okay" Heatmakerz Hart, W./Bell, T./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron, King Abdul of Zuzan 3:21
4 "Down (Skit)" Freekey Zekey, Monique Garnett 1:25
5 "Down" Heatmakerz Whitfield, Norman/Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron 3:45
6 "Monster Music" Heatmakerz Opera Steve Steinman, J./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron 4:17
7 "Back Again" Heatmakerz Hudson, H./King, W./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron 4:44
8 "My Problem (Jealousy)" Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...

Payne, H./Pease, E./Scarpiello, M./Charlemagne, H./James, Laron 3:44
9 "How I Feel" Heatmakerz Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron 1:40
10 "Why" Heatmakerz Lewis, T./Raymond, U./Green, G./Harris, James Producer/Thomas, S./James, Laron 3:57
11 "Wherever I Go" Chad Hamilton, Ryan Press (Co-producer) Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...

Hamilton, C./Jones, J./Presson, R./James, Laron 4:18
12 "Dipset (Santana's Town) (Skit)" Freekey Zekey, Monique Garnett 1:16
13 "Dipset (Santana's Town)
Dipset (Santana's Town)
"Dipset " is a song by rapper Juelz Santana released as the first single from his debut album From Me to U. It features rapper Cam'ron....

"
Edward "Self Service" Hinson Cam'ron
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....

Hinson, E./Giles, Cameron/James, Laron 3:38
14 "Squalie (Skit)" Freekey Zekey, Mike Peters
Mike Peters
Michael Bartley Peters , better known as Mike Peters, is an American cartoonist.He draws the comic strip Mother Goose and Grimm, as well as syndicated editorial cartoons that appear in papers all over the United States...

, Monique Garnett
0:55
15 "Squalie" Heatmakerz J. R. Writer Brito, R./Green, G./White, B./Thomas, S./James, Laron 4:16
16 "Rain Drops" Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...

Johnson, J./Lewis, K./Charlemagne, H./James, Laron 4:34
17 "My Love (Remix)" Heatmakerz Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...

Ingram, J./Jones, J./Green, G./Thomas, S./James, Laron 3:09
18 "Let's Go" Heatmakerz Cam'ron
Cam'ron
Cameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....

Gaye, M./Townsend, E./Green, G./Thomas, S./Giles, Cameron 4:42
19 "Now What" Jazze Pha
Jazze Pha
Phalon Anton Alexander , also known as Jazze Pha , is an American singer, and songwriter.raised in Memphis, TN; son of James Alexander ....

T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....

Alexander, P./Harris, C./James, Laron 5:21
20 "This Is for My Homies" Heatmakerz Jim Jones
Jim Jones
James Warren "Jim" Jones was the founder and leader of the Peoples Temple, which is best known for the November 18, 1978 mass suicide of 909 Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana along with the killings of five other people at a nearby airstrip.Jones was born in Indiana and started the Temple in...

Jackson, C./Jones, J./Stinson, T./Turner, M. Jr./Thomas, S./Carter, T./James, Laron 6:23

Samples

  • "One Day I Smile"
    • "My Heartbreak" by Delegation
      Delegation
      Delegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to another person to carry out specific activities. However the person who delegated the work remains accountable for the outcome of the delegated work. Delegation empowers a subordinate to make decisions, i.e...

  • "Okay, Okay"
    • "Trying Make a Fool of Me" by The Delfonics
      The Delfonics
      The Delfonics are a pioneering Philadelphia soul singing group, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their most notable hits include "La-La ", "Didn't I ", "Break Your Promise," "I'm Sorry," and "Ready or Not Here I Come "...

  • "Down"
    • "I'm Going Down" by Mary J. Blige
      Mary J. Blige
      Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...

  • "Monster Music"
    • "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" by Air Supply
      Air Supply
      Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...

  • "Back Again"
    • "You're Special" by The Commodores
  • "How I Feel"
    • "Woman To Woman" by Shirley Brown
      Shirley Brown
      Shirley Brown is an American soul singer, best known for her million-selling single "Woman to Woman" which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1975.-Woman to Woman:...

  • "Why"
    • "Can You Help Me" by Usher
      Usher (entertainer)
      Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...

  • "Dipset (Santana's Town)"
    • "Anvil Chorus" by Verdi
  • "Squalie"
    • "I Love You So, Never Gonna Let You Go" by Love Unlimited Orchestra
  • "Rain Drops"
    • "Nights Like This" by After 7
      After 7
      After 7 is an R&B group founded in 1988 by brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, and Keith Mitchell. The Edmonds brothers are the siblings of popular pop and R&B singer-songwriter-producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds"...

  • "My Love"
    • "Look What You've Done" by The Moments
      The Moments
      The Moments may refer to:*The Moments, an American R&B vocal group later known as Ray, Goodman & Brown*The Moments , an English group of the early 1960s who featured Steve Marriott...

  • "Let's Go"
    • "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
      Marvin Gaye
      Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....

  • "This Is For My Homies"
    • "Gangsta Lean
      Gangsta Lean (song)
      "Gangsta Lean" is a song by American R&B group DRS, from their 1993 debut album Gangsta Lean.It spent six weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...

      " by DRS

Chart performance

From Me to U peaked at #8 in the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 2003.
Chart Position
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums # 3
Billboard 200 # 8

External links

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