Crushin'

{{Infobox album

| name = Crushin'

| type = studio

| artist = The Fat Boys

| cover = Crushin' Cover.jpg

| alt =

| released = August 14, 1987

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio = D&D Recording
Digitel Computer Music
INS Recording
QUAD Recording Studios
Ralston Recording Studio
The Sound Solution
Soundworks Studios NYC
Unique Recording Studios, New York City

| genre = Hip hop

| length = 43:03

| label = Tin Pan Apple/Polydor
831 948

| producer = The Fat Boys
The Latin Rascals
Gary Rottger
Eddison Electrik, Van Gibbs

| prev_title = Big & Beautiful

| prev_year = 1986

| next_title = Coming Back Hard Again

| next_year = 1988

}}

Crushin' is the fourth studio album by the hip hop group the Fat Boys, released in 1987.{{cite news |last1=Coto |first1=Juan Carlos |title=Rappers Enjoy Heavyweight Success |work=Sun-Sentinel |date=14 Aug 1987 |department=Features Showtime |page=6}}{{cite news |title=Record Reviews |work=The Patriot-News |agency=UPI |date=May 28, 1987 |page=C3}} It was their breakout album, charting in the top 10 on both Billboard Pop and R&B album charts and selling more than a million copies by the end of the year.{{cite news |last1=Holden |first1=Stephen |title=The Pop Life |work=The New York Times |date=30 Dec 1987 |page=C12}} It includes a cover version of the Surfaris' hit "Wipe Out" with the Beach Boys singing back-up vocals.{{cite news |title=Music Update |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=29 Mar 1987 |department=Calendar |page=4}} The cover made it to No. 12 on the Billboard chart, and No. 10 on the corresponding R&B listing. The album peaked at No. 49 on the UK Albums Chart.{{cite web |title=Fat Boys |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22496/fat-boys/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=23 April 2023}}

The group supported the album with the Wipeout Tour, which included Salt-N-Pepa, Heavy D, 4 by Four, and Dana Dane.{{cite news |last1=Snider |first1=Eric |title=Heavy mettle propels the rapping Fat Boys |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=11 Sep 1987 |page=1D}}

Production

"Protect Yourself/My Nuts" promotes the use of condoms during sex.{{cite news |title=Short Takes |work=Newsday |date=1 Apr 1987 |department=Part II}} "Falling in Love" was inspired by Darren Robinson's experience with infidelity.{{cite news |last1=Sangiacomo |first1=Michael |title=The Fat Faces of Rap |work=Post-Tribune |date=June 19, 1987 |location=Merrillville |department=Weekend |page=3}}

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 =AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic |class=album |id=feel-the-fire-mw0000651234 |label=The Fat Boys: Crushin > Review |first=Ron |last=Wynn |accessdate=February 17, 2013}}

|rev2 = Robert Christgau

|rev2score = B{{cite web |title=Fat Boys |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Fat+Boys |website=Robert Christgau |access-date=23 April 2023}}

|rev3 = Los Angeles Times

|rev3score = {{rating|1|4}}{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Connie |title=Portly Rappers |work=Los Angeles Times |date=21 June 1987 |department=Calendar |page=82}}

|rev4 = (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev4score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=2004 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |page=295}}

}}

The Los Angeles Times determined that "if you like your rap riffs recycled, your messages simplistic and your rhythms hard and good-to-go, you just might be satisfied by the offerings of this portly trio." The Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote that "the synthetic drums alone don't satisfy anymore, and there aren't enough of those delightful verbal sound effects to flesh out the songs."{{cite news |last1=Holmberg |first1=Mark |title=Fat, Cool, But Not Hot |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |date=May 31, 1987 |page=J14}} The Times opined that the album employs "just the right mix of spring-heeled rhythm tracks and jokey, 'get busy' declamations."{{cite news |last1=Sinclair |first1=David |title=Arts (Rock Records) |work=The Times |date=September 19, 1987}} Trouser Press deemed the album "a mild but winning party collection of mainstream cuts with boundless entertainment spirit and unfailing good humor."{{cite web |title=Fat Boys |url=https://trouserpress.com/reviews/fat-boys/ |website=Trouser Press |access-date=23 April 2023}}

Track listing

"Crushin'" – 4:46
"Protect Yourself/My Nuts" – 4:08
"Rock Ruling" – 3:50
"Making Noise" – 3:40
"Boys Will Be Boys" – 4:39
"Falling in Love" – 5:03
"Fat Boys Dance" – 3:42
"Wipeout" featuring the Beach Boys – 4:32
"Between the Sheets" – 4:24
"Hell, No!" – 4:19

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (1987) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200{{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=Fat+Boys&charttitle=&label=&chartcode=TLP\|title=Fat Boys, TLP\|work=Billboard\|accessdate=April 4, 2021\|url-access=subscription}} \| 8
scope="row"\| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=Fat+Boys&charttitle=&label=&chartcode=BLP\|title=Fat Boys, BLP\|work=Billboard\|accessdate=April 4, 2021\|url-access=subscription}} \| 4

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (1987)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=Fat+Boys&charttitle=&label=&chartcode=TLP|title=Fat Boys, TLP|work=Billboard|accessdate=April 4, 2021|url-access=subscription}}

| 8

scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/search?artistname=Fat+Boys&charttitle=&label=&chartcode=BLP|title=Fat Boys, BLP|work=Billboard|accessdate=April 4, 2021|url-access=subscription}}

| 4

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (1987) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200{{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1987/top-billboard-200-albums\|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1987\|work=Billboard\|accessdate=April 4, 2021}} \| 65
scope="row"\| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1987/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums\|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1987\|work=Billboard\|accessdate=April 4, 2021}} \| 26

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (1987)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1987/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1987|work=Billboard|accessdate=April 4, 2021}}

| 65

scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1987/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1987|work=Billboard|accessdate=April 4, 2021}}

| 26

=Singles=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2"\| Single ! colspan="2"\|Chart positions
style="font-size:smaller;" ! US Pop ! US R&B
rowspan="1"\|1987 \| align="left"\| "Wipe Out"{{Cite web\|url={{AllMusic\|class=artist\|id=the-fat-boys-mn0000066743/awards\|pure_url=yes}}\|title=The Fat Boys US singles chart history\|publisher=allmusic.com\|access-date=February 17, 2013}} \| 12 \| 10
rowspan="1"\|1987 \| align="left"\| "Falling In Love" \| - \| 16

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="2"|Chart positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

! US Pop

! US R&B

rowspan="1"|1987

| align="left"| "Wipe Out"{{Cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=the-fat-boys-mn0000066743/awards|pure_url=yes}}|title=The Fat Boys US singles chart history|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=February 17, 2013}}

| 12

| 10

rowspan="1"|1987

| align="left"| "Falling In Love"

| -

| 16

References

External links

[http://www.discogs.com/Fat-Boys-Crushin/master/80453 The Fat Boys-Crushin at Discogs]

Category:The Fat Boys albums

Category:1987 albums

Category:Polydor Records albums

Category:Albums recorded at Unique Recording Studios