Big & Beautiful
{{Infobox album
| name = Big & Beautiful
| type = studio
| artist = the Fat Boys
| cover = Big & Beautiful Cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1986
| recorded =
| studio = {{hlist|Brooklyn Music Factory, Ltd.|D&D Studios (New York, NY)|Quad Recording Studios (New York, NY)|Synth-Net, Inc.}}
| genre = Hip hop
| length =
| label = Sutra
| producer = {{hlist|Dave Ogrin|Fresh Gordon|the Fat Boys|the Latin Rascals}}
| prev_title = The Fat Boys Are Back
| prev_year = 1985
| next_title = Crushin'
| next_year = 1987
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Big & Beautiful
| type = studio
| single1 = Sex Machine
| single1date = 1986
| single2 = In the House
| single2date = 1986
}}
}}
Big & Beautiful is the third studio album by American hip hop trio the Fat Boys. It was released in 1986 through Sutra Records, marking the group's final release for the label.{{Cite news |last=A. |first=T. |date=July 6, 1986 |title=ROTUND, REPETITIVE |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-06-ca-22879-story.html |access-date=October 26, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |department=Calendar |page=63 |language=en-US}} The recording sessions took place at Brooklyn Music Factory, D&D Studios, Quad Recording Studios, and Synth-Net, Inc. The album was produced by Dave Ogrin, Fresh Gordon, the Latin Rascals, and the Fat Boys, with Gary Rottger serving as co-producer. In the United States, the album peaked at number 62 on the Top Pop Albums and number 10 on the Top Black Albums charts. It was supported with two singles: "Sex Machine" and "In the House", both went charted on the Hot Black Singles chart, reaching {{abbr|No.|number(s)}} 23 and 51, respectively.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{Cite web |last=Wynn |first=Ron |author-link=Ron Wynn |title=Big & Beautiful Fat Boys |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-beautiful-mw0000857601 |access-date=October 26, 2024 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}
| rev3 = (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev2 = The Philadelphia Inquirer
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{Cite news |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=May 11, 1986 |title=The Fat Boys, Big and Beautiful |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=J5}}
| rev4 = The Village Voice
| rev4score = B+{{Cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=June 3, 1986 |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Fat+Boys |access-date=October 26, 2024 |website=The Village Voice |via=www.robertchristgau.com}}
}}
The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote that the group "overcomes charges of being a mere novelty act with its spectacularly successful interpretation of James Brown's 'Sex Machine', which manages to make clear the roots of funk that lie deep within rap." The New York Times noted that the album "can rapidly become wearing, once the initial impact of its jokes and satire wear off".{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Palmer (American writer) |date=September 21, 1986 |title=Rap Music, Despite Adult Fire, Broadens Its Teen-age Base |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/21/arts/rap-music-despite-adult-fire-broadens-its-teen-age-base.html |access-date=October 26, 2024 |work=The New York Times |page=A23}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Sex Machine
| writer1 = {{hlist|Mark Morales|Damon Wimbley|Darren Robinson|James Brown|Bobby Byrd|Ron Lenhoff}}
| extra1 = Dave Ogrin
| length1 = 4:41
| title2 = Go for It
| writer2 = {{hlist|Morales|Gordon Pickett|Jalil Hutchins}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Prince Markie Dee|Fresh Gordon}}
| length2 = 4:28
| title3 = Breakdown
| writer3 = {{hlist|Morales|Wimbley|Robinson|Albert Cabrera|Anthony Moran}}
| extra3 = The Latin Rascals
| length3 = 4:08
| title4 = Double-O-Fat Boys
| writer4 = David W. Ogrin
| extra4 = Dave Ogrin
| length4 = 4:58
| title5 = Big and Beautiful
| writer5 = {{hlist|Morales|Wimbley|Robinson|Ogrin}}
| extra5 = Dave Ogrin
| length5 = 4:21
| title6 = Rap Symphony (C-Minor)
| writer6 = {{hlist|Morales|Pickett}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Prince Markie Dee|Fresh Gordon}}
| length6 = 3:53
| title7 = Beat Box, Part III
| writer7 = {{hlist|Morales|Wimbley|Robinson|Ogrin}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Dave Ogrin|The Fat Boys}}
| length7 = 3:23
| title8 = In the House
| writer8 = {{hlist|Morales|Pickett}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Dave Ogrin|Prince Markie Dee|Fresh Gordon}}
| length8 = 4:02
| title9 = Beat Box Is Rockin'
| writer9 = {{hlist|Morales|Wimbley|Robinson|Ogrin|Gary Rottger}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Dave Ogrin|Gary Rottger ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}
| length9 = 3:28
| total_length =
}}
Personnel
- Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales — vocals, producer (tracks: 2, 6–8)
- Damon "Kool Rock-Ski" Wimbley — vocals, producer (track 7)
- Darren "Buff Love" Robinson — vocals, producer (track 7)
- Alyson Williams — backing vocals
- Audrey Wheeler — backing vocals
- Cindy Mizelle — backing vocals
- Peter Lewis — backing vocals
- Peter Sturge — backing vocals
- Dave Ogrin — producer (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7–9), mixing (track 1), engineering
- Gordon "Fresh Gordon" Pickett — producer (tracks: 2, 6, 8)
- Albert Cabrera — producer (track 3)
- Tony Moran — producer (track 3)
- Gary Rottger — co-producer (track 9)
- Bobby Di Riso — engineering
- Doug Grama — engineering
- Charles Stettler — executive producer
- Lynda West — cover design
- Howard Menken — photography
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|80444|Fat Boys – Big & Beautiful}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Big and Beautiful}}