Operation Stackola

{{Infobox album

| name = Operation Stackola

| type = studio

| artist = Luniz

| cover = Operation Stackola.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|1995|07|04}}

| recorded =

| studio = {{hlist|Pajama Studios (Oakland, CA)|Infinite Studios (Oakland, CA)}}

| genre = {{hlist|West Coast hip hop|gangsta rap}}

| length = 66:34

| label = {{hlist|Virgin|C-Note|Noo Trybe}}

| producer = {{hlist|CMT|DJ Daryl|DJ Fuze|E-A-Ski|Gino Blacknell|N.O. Joe|Shock G|Terry T.|Tone Capone}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = Lunitik Muzik

| next_year = 1997

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Operation Stackola

| type = studio

| single1 = I Got 5 on It

| single1date = May 23, 1995

| single2 = Playa Hata

| single2date = November 1995

}}

Operation Stackola is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Luniz. It was released on July 4, 1995, through Virgin Records, C-Note Records and Noo Trybe Records. The album was produced by DJ Fuze, N.O. Joe, Tone Capone, Shock G, DJ Daryl, E-A-Ski & CMT, Gino Blacknell, and Terry T. It features guest appearances from Dru Down, Knucklehead, Eclipse, Michael Marshall, Nik Nack, Richie Rich, Shock G and Teddy.

The album peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. On June 20, 2000, it received a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling over one million units in the United States. It also made it to number 14 on the Dutch Album Top 100, number 19 on the Swiss Hitparade, number 23 in Germany, number 37 in Sweden, number 41 on the UK Albums Chart and number 46 in Austria.

Its lead single "I Got 5 on It" became a huge hit, reaching top 10 in several countries music charts, was certified Platinum by the RIAA, BPI and BVMI and Gold by SNEP, IFPI Norway and IFPI Switzerland. The album's second single, "Playa Hata", peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart, number 12 on the Dance Singles Chart and number 4 on the Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart in the UK, number 51 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 13 on the Hot Rap Songs in the US.

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Kieran |title=Operation Stackola - Luniz {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/operation-stackola-mw0000173540 |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

| rev2 = Robert Christgau

| rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|cut}}{{Cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=January 23, 1996 |title=Luniz |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Luniz |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=Robert Christgau}}

| rev3 = Los Angeles Times

| rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{Cite web |last=Cuda |first=Heidi Siegmund |date=August 6, 1995 |title=In Brief |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-06-ca-31916-story.html |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

| rev4 = Muzik

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Ashon |first=Will |author-link=Will Ashon |date=March 1996 |title=The Luniz: Operation Stackola |url=http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik010_march_1996.pdf |magazine=Muzik |issue=10 |page=96 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403015354/http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik010_march_1996.pdf |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |access-date=July 14, 2022}}

| rev5 = NME

| rev5score = 4/10{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=John |date=March 30, 1996 |title=LUNIZ - Operation Stackola (Noo Trybe) |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000553reviews.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/19991112055933/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000553reviews.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1999-11-12|access-date= |website=NME |via=Wayback Machine}}

| rev6 = Rap Pages

| rev6score = 7/10{{Cite magazine |last=Sneed |first=Mark T. |date=September 1995 |title=Flippin Da Traxx |magazine=Rap Pages |publisher=LFP, Inc. |location=Beverly Hills, California |pages=26–27 |volume=4 |issue=8 |issn=1063-1283}}

| rev7 = RapReviews

| rev7score = 9/10{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Pedro |date=October 23, 2007 |title=Luniz :: Operation Stackola :: C-Note Records |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2007/10/luniz-operation-stackola/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_operationstackola.html |archive-date=October 23, 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=www.rapreviews.com}}

| rev8 = The Source

| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite magazine |date=August 1995 |title=Record Report |magazine=The Source |page=79}}

}}

The Tampa Tribune opined that "the wordplay of Yukmouth and Knumskull glide over bassed-up tracks like mercury."{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Phil |title=Luniz, Operation Stackola |work=The Tampa Tribune |date=Aug 18, 1995 |department=Friday Extra! |page=23}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro

| writer1 =

| extra1 = DJ Fuze

| length1 = 0:51

| title2 = Put the Lead on Ya

| note2 = featuring Dru Down

| writer2 = {{hlist|Jerold Ellis|Garrick Husband|Darnel Robinson|Anthony Gilmour}}

| extra2 = Tone Capone

| length2 = 5:25

| title3 = I Got 5 on It

| note3 = featuring Michael Marshall

| writer3 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Gilmour|Robert Bell|Ronald Bell|Donald Boyce|George Brown|Robert Mickens|Claydes Charles Smith|Dennis Thomas|Richard Westfield|Denzil Foster|Thomas McElroy|Jay King}}

| extra3 = Tone Capone

| length3 = 4:13

| title4 = Broke Hos

| writer4 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Gregory Jacobs}}

| extra4 = Shock G

| length4 = 4:11

| title5 = Pimps, Playas & Hustlas

| note5 = featuring Dru Down and Richie Rich

| writer5 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Robinson|Richard Serrell|Joseph Johnson}}

| extra5 = N.O. Joe

| length5 = 5:02

| title6 = Playa Hata

| note6 = featuring Teddy

| writer6 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Bobby Caldwell}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|E-A-Ski|CMT}}

| length6 = 4:31

| title7 = Broke Niggaz

| note7 = featuring Knucklehead and Eklipze

| writer7 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Knuckle Head|Erick Carson|David Elliot}}

| extra7 = DJ Fuze

| length7 = 5:19

| title8 = Operation Stackola

| writer8 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Johnson|Robinson|Serrell}}

| extra8 = N.O. Joe

| length8 = 4:36

| title9 = 5150

| note9 = featuring Shock G

| writer9 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Jacobs}}

| extra9 = Shock G

| length9 = 4:03

| title10 = 900 Blame a Nigga

| writer10 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Elliot|Jacobs}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|DJ Fuze|Shock G ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})|Numskull ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}

| length10 = 4:18

| title11 = Yellow Brick Road

| writer11 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Johnson}}

| extra11 = N.O. Joe

| length11 = 5:35

| title12 = So Much Drama

| note12 = featuring Nic Nac

| writer12 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Terrence Butler}}

| extra12 = Terry T.

| length12 = 4:14

| title13 = She's Just a Freak

| note13 = featuring Knucklehead

| writer13 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Knuckle Head}}

| extra13 = Gino Blacknell

| length13 = 4:12

| title14 = Plead Guilty

| writer14 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|David Reeves|Kurtis Walker|Larry Smith}}

| extra14 = DJ Daryl

| length14 = 4:23

| title15 = I Got 5 on It

| note15 = Reprise

| writer15 = {{hlist|Ellis|Husband|Gilmour|Bell|Bell|Boyce|Brown|Mickens|Smith|Thomas|Westfield|Foster|McElroy|King}}

| extra15 = Tone Capone

| length15 = 5:08

| title16 = Outro

| writer16 =

| extra16 =

| length16 = 0:33

| total_length = 1:06:34

}}

Personnel

Garrick "Numskull" Husbands – vocals, co-producer (track 10)
Jerold "Yukmouth" Ellis – vocals
Darnel "Dru Down" Robinson – vocals (tracks: 2, 5)
Michael Marshall – vocals (track 3)
Richard "Richie Rich" Serrell – vocals (track 5)
Teddy – vocals (track 6)
Knuckle Head – vocals (tracks: 7, 13)
Erick "Eklipze" Carson – vocals (track 7)
Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs – vocals (track 9), keyboards (track 4), producer (tracks: 4, 9), co-producer (track 10)
Demetrius Nicole "Nic Nac" Lyles – vocals (track 12)
David "DJ Fuze" Elliot – producer (tracks: 1, 7, 10)
Anthony "Tone Capone" Gilmour – producer (tracks: 2, 3, 15)
Joseph "N.O. Joe" Johnson – producer (tracks: 5, 8, 11)
Shon "E-A-Ski" Adams – producer (track 6)
Mark "CMT" Ogleton – producer (track 6)
Terrence "Terry T." Butler – producer (track 12)
Ellis "Gino" Blacknell – producer (track 13)
Daryl Anderson – producer (track 14)
Dave "D-Wiz" Evelingham – engineering
Michael Denten – engineering
Darrin Harris – engineering
Tom Baker – mastering
Eric L. Brooks – executive producer, A&R
Accrraaa J. Pavel – executive producer, management
Chris "C&H" Hicks – executive producer
Jason Clark – art direction, design
Victor Hall – photography

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (1995–96) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{album chart\|Austria\|46\|artist=Luniz\|album=Operation Stackola\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 6, 2024}}
{{Album chart\|Netherlands\|14\|artist=Luniz\|album=Operation Stackola\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 6, 2024}}
{{album chart\|Germany4\|23\|id=2235\|artist=Luniz\|album=Operation Stackola\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 6, 2024}}
{{album chart\|Sweden\|26\|artist=Luniz\|album=Operation Stackola\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 6, 2024}}
{{album chart\|Switzerland\|37\|artist=Luniz\|album=Operation Stackola\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 6, 2024}}
{{Album chart\|UK2\|41\|date=19960310\|artist=Luniz\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 6, 2024}}
{{album chart\|UKR&B\|9\|date=19960310\|artist=Luniz\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 6, 2024}}
scope="row" \|US Billboard 200{{Cite magazine \|date=July 22, 1995 \|title=The Billboard 200 \|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1995-07-22/?rank=20 \|magazine=Billboard \|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. \|volume=107 \|issue=29 \|page=86 \|issn=0006-2510 \|access-date=April 6, 2024}} \| 20
scope="row" \|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{Cite magazine \|date=July 22, 1995 \|title=Top R&B Albums \|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-albums/1995-07-22/ \|magazine=Billboard \|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. \|volume=107 \|issue=29 \|page=18 \|issn=0006-2510 \|access-date=April 6, 2024}} \| 1

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (1995) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Billboard 200{{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-billboard-200-albums\|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995\|work=Billboard\|access-date=May 9, 2021}} \| 141
scope="row"\| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums\|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995\|work=Billboard\|access-date=May 9, 2021}} \| 37

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

scope="col"| Chart (1995)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995|work=Billboard|access-date=May 9, 2021}}

| 141

scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995|work=Billboard|access-date=May 9, 2021}}

| 37

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Luniz|title=Operation Stackola|award=Platinum|relyear=1995|certyear=2000|refname=riaa}}