The Piece Maker
Encyclopedia
The Piece Maker is the debut album by Tony Touch
, released on April 18, 2000 through Tommy Boy Records.
's most prominent mixtape
DJ's, releasing hundreds of mixtapes since the early 90s. By 2000, Tony Touch had signed a deal with Tommy Boy to release his first album that not only included his production, but his own raps as well. In addition to himself, the album featured production from the likes of Gang Starr
's DJ Premier
, Cypress Hill
's DJ Muggs
and The Alchemist
, among several others. The album also included several guest artists on it including Gang Starr, Cypress Hill and the Wu-Tang Clan
. In addition, two singles were released from the album "I Wonder Why? (He s The Greatest DJ)" and "The Return Of The Diaz Bros.", both of which found minor chart success on the Billboard R&B charts. The Piece Maker proved popular enough that Tony Touch released a sequel in 2004 entitled The Piece Maker 2.
The album was mildly successful commercially. It spent 9 weeks on the Billboard 200
, peaking at No. 57, but it achieved greater success on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
, spending 44 weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 19.
Tony Touch
Tony Touch is an American hip hop break dancer, rapper, DJ, producer and actor of Puerto Rican descent.Tony Touch began as a B-boy during the rap music renaissance era of the early 1980s...
, released on April 18, 2000 through Tommy Boy Records.
Background
Tony Touch had already made an name for himself as one of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's most prominent 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...
DJ's, releasing hundreds of mixtapes since the early 90s. By 2000, Tony Touch had signed a deal with Tommy Boy to release his first album that not only included his production, but his own raps as well. In addition to himself, the album featured production from the likes of Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
's DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
's DJ Muggs
DJ Muggs
Lawrence Muggerud , better known as DJ Muggs, is Cypress Hill's DJ and producer. He also produced tracks for Funkdoobiest on the albums Which Doobie U B? and Brothas Doobie.-Cypress Hill :...
and The Alchemist
The Alchemist (producer)
Alan Daniel Maman , better known as The Alchemist, is an American hip hop producer, DJ and rapper. He hails from Beverly Hills, California...
, among several others. The album also included several guest artists on it including Gang Starr, Cypress Hill and the Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
. In addition, two singles were released from the album "I Wonder Why? (He s The Greatest DJ)" and "The Return Of The Diaz Bros.", both of which found minor chart success on the Billboard R&B charts. The Piece Maker proved popular enough that Tony Touch released a sequel in 2004 entitled The Piece Maker 2.
Reception
Michael Gallucci of Allmusic gave the album 2.5 out of a possible five stars, proclaiming "DJ Touch has assembled an impressive list of guests", while also stating the album was "marred by homophobic proclamations and played-out clichés". Steve "Flash" Juon of Rap Reviews gave the album a much more favorable review. He gave the album a 9 out 10 and in his review he stated "Tony Touch keeps his mic time both minimal and unannoying and gives a VERY solid selection of hip-hop's best artists time to shine on fat new joints. If this was ANY movie's soundtrack, it would easily outgross the film. High marks to Touch for reviving a field which lesser contemporaries like DJ Clue nearly killed with boring CD's."The album was mildly successful commercially. It spent 9 weeks on 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...
, peaking at No. 57, but it achieved greater success on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
, spending 44 weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 19.
Track listing
- "Toca's Intro"- 2:52 (featuring Baby Touch, Bonz Malone and Pedro Albizu Campos)
- "The Piece Maker"- 2:42 (featuring Gang StarrGang StarrGang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
) - "Set It on Fire"- 4:20 (featuring Flipmode SquadFlipmode SquadThe Flipmode Squad is a production crew and musical group, founded and fronted by rapper Busta Rhymes. The first Flipmode album debuted in 1998 with The Imperial, Rampage and Rah Digga went on to record solo efforts...
) - "U Know the Rules (Mi Vida Loca)"- 3:55 (featuring Cypress HillCypress HillCypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
) - "The Abduction"- 3:26 (featuring Wu-Tang ClanWu-Tang ClanThe Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
) - "Likwit Rhyming"- 3:12 (featuring TashTash (rapper)Rico Smith, better known by his stage name Tash, is an American rapper. He is most known for his work as a member of West Coast hip hop group, Tha Alkaholiks alongside J-Ro and E-Swift. He has released two solo albums, Rap Life and Control Freek, and has worked on five albums with Tha Alkaholiks...
, DefariDefariD.A. Johnson Jr., also known as Defari, is a West Coast hip hop artist. Primarily, he is a solo artist, additionally he is a member of the Likwit Junkies, a rap duo with DJ Babu of Dilated Peoples. He was born at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of...
and XzibitXzibitAlvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success...
) - "Royce the 5'9 [skit]"- 0:57 (featuring Royce da 5'9")
- "Return of the Diaz Bros."- 3:24 (featuring Doo Wop and Pain in da Ass)
- "No No No"- 4:33 (featuring Heltah SkeltahHeltah SkeltahHeltah Skeltah is a hip hop duo consisting of members Rock and Ruck . The two are members of New York supergroup Boot Camp Clik, along with Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and O.G.C....
and Starang WondahStarang WondahStarang Wondah is an American rapper and member of the trio O.G.C. and Boot Camp Clik supergroup. Starang debuted in 1995 on Smif-N-Wessun's Dah Shinin album, appearing on the single "Sound Bwoy Bureill" and the crew cut "Cession at da Doghillee." Later in 1995, Starang and O.G.C...
) - "I Wonder Why? (He's the Greatest DJ)"- 3:55 (featuring Total)
- "Basics"- 2:56 (featuring ProdigyProdigy (rapper)Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....
) - "Pit Flight"- 4:28 (featuring Greg NiceNice & SmoothNice & Smooth was an East Coast hip hop duo from New York that consists of Greg Nice and Smooth B . The duo released four albums from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s...
and Psycho Les) - "What's That? (Que Eso?)"- 4:02 (featuring De La SoulDe La SoulDe La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
and Mos DefMos DefDante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
) - "The Club"- 4:07 (featuring D.I.T.C.Diggin' in the Crates CrewThe Diggin' in the Crates Crew, also known as D.I.T.C., is a New York-based hip-hop collective, deriving its name from the art of seeking out records to sample for production. Its members have achieved substantial and consistent recognition in underground rap circles, often collaborating with...
, Kid CapriKid CapriDavid Anthony Love, Jr , also known by his stage name Kid Capri, is an American musician.He was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, USA....
and Party ArtyParty ArtyArthur Sheridan , better know by his stage name Party Arty was an American rapper . He died of undisclosed health complications. He was part of the rap group Ghetto Dwellas alongside partner D-Flow and signed with Get Dirty Productions.Party Arty appeared on various projects including D.I.T.C...
) - "Cormega [skit]"- 1:56 (featuring CormegaCormegaCory Mckay , better known as Cormega, is an American emcee best known for his vivid and poignant narratives about inner-city life.- Early life :...
) - "The Foundation"- 3:49 (featuring Big PunBig PunChristopher Lee Rios , better known by his stage name Big Pun , was an American rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s...
, Reif-Hustle and Sunkiss) - "Get Back"- 3:38 (featuring D12D12D12, an acronym for The Dirty Dozen, is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. D12 has had chart-topping albums in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia...
) - "Adolf "8-Off" Agahar"- 1:58 (featuring 8-OffAgallahAgallah , born Angel Aguilar, is a Puerto Rican and Filipino-American rapper who was a member of the The Diplomats-affiliated group Purple City and the group Propain campaign. He was formerly known as 8-Off Agallah, but changed the name because it was controversial; 8-Off is a variation of the name...
) - "Class of 87"- 3:22 (featuring Big Daddy KaneBig Daddy KaneAntonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
, KRS-OneKRS-OneLawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
and Kool G RapKool G RapNathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
) - "P.R. All-Stars"- 5:19 (featuring Don ChezinaDon ChezinaDon Chezina is a singer, producer, and talent scout of reggaeton music. He is known for his high, nasal voice and fast rapping style , along with his most famous song "Tra Tra Tra", which in 1998 became one of the first reggaeton songs to become popular in the US...
, Daddy YankeeDaddy YankeeRamón Luis Ayala Rodríguez , known artistically as Daddy Yankee, is a Latin Grammy Award winning Puerto Rican Reggaeton recording artist. Ayala was born in Río Piedras, the largest district of San Juan, where he became interested in music at a young age. In his youth he was interested in baseball,...
, La Queen, Mexicano 777 and Rey Pirin) - "Borinquen"- 3:17
Charts
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 | 57 |
| Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop | 19 |