Things Go Better with RJ and AL
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Things Go Better with RJ and AL
| type = studio
| artist = Soul Position
| cover = Things_Go_Better_With_RJ_And_AL_%28Album_Cover%29.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2006|04|04}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=42|s=28}}
| label = Rhymesayers Entertainment
| producer = RJD2
| prev_title = 8 Million Stories
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Things Go Better with RJ and AL
| type = studio
| single1 = Hand-Me-Downs / Blame It on the Jäger
| single1date = 2006
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| MC = 64/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/things-go-better-with-rj-and-al/soul-position|title=Things Go Better With RJ And Al by Soul Position|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=November 26, 2015}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/things-go-better-with-rj-and-al-mw0000348647|title=Soul Position - Things Go Better with RJ and Al|work=AllMusic|first=Marisa|last=Brown|access-date=August 1, 2014}}
| rev2 = Exclaim!
| rev2score = mixed{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/soul_position-things_go_better_with_rj|title=Soul Position: Things Go Better with RJ & AL|work=Exclaim!|first=Noel|last=Dix|date=April 1, 2006|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
| rev3 = HipHopDX
| rev3score = 4.5/5{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.625/title.soul-position-things-go-better-with-rj-and-al|title=Soul Position - Things Go Better With Rj and Al|work=HipHopDX|author=((J-23))|date=April 15, 2006|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
| rev4 = Now
| rev4score = NNNN{{cite web|url=http://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/soul-position/|title=Soul Position|work=Now|first=Tim|last=Perlich|date=April 13, 2006|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
| rev5 = Phoenix New Times
| rev5score = favorable{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/soul-position-6405370|title=Soul Position|work=Phoenix New Times|first=Mosi|last=Reeves|date=March 16, 2006|access-date=November 26, 2015}}
| rev6 = Pitchfork
| rev6score = 6.3/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7370-things-go-better-with-rj-and-al/|title=Soul Position: Things Go Better With RJ and Al|work=Pitchfork|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=April 3, 2006|access-date=November 26, 2015}}
| rev7 = PopMatters
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/soul-position-things-go-better-with-rj-and-al/|title=Soul Position: Things Go Better with RJ and Al|work=PopMatters|first=Justin|last=Cober-Lake|date=May 23, 2006|access-date=November 26, 2015}}
| rev8 = Prefix
| rev9 = RapReviews.com
| rev10 = XLR8R
| rev10score = favorable{{cite web|url=https://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/2006/05/things-go-better-with-rj-and-al/|title=Soul Position: Things Go Better With RJ and AL|work=XLR8R|first=Scott|last=Thill|date=May 1, 2006|access-date=November 26, 2015}}
}}
Things Go Better with RJ and AL is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Soul Position. It was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment on April 4, 2006. It peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.
Critical reception
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 64% based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Marisa Brown of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, saying, "Soul Position don't deviate much from their combination of original rhymes and interesting, thoughtful music, but there's really no need to when it sounds so good." Mosi Reeves of Phoenix New Times called it "a solid banger from start to finish." Noel Dix of Exclaim! said, "Soul Position definitely have what it takes to make an incredible album, but given the fact their best effort thus far is an EP, maybe RJ and Blueprint should limit their collaborations to six solid joints at a time from now on."
In 2018, Henry Adaso of ThoughtCo placed "The Cool Thing to Do" at number 99 on the "100 Best Rap Songs of the 2000s" list.{{cite web|url=http://www.thoughtco.com/best-rap-songs-of-the-2000s-2857792|title=The 100 Best Rap Songs of the 2000s|work=ThoughtCo|first=Henry|last=Adaso|date=May 22, 2018|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| title1 = The Beginning
| length1 = 0:44
| title2 = No Gimmicks
| length2 = 3:12
| title3 = Hand-Me-Downs
| length3 = 3:17
| title4 = The Extra Mile
| length4 = 3:37
| title5 = Blame It on the Jäger
| length5 = 3:12
| title6 = I Need My Minutes
| length6 = 3:11
| title7 = Keep It Hot for Daddy
| length7 = 3:13
| title8 = I'm Free
| length8 = 2:26
| title9 = Keys
| length9 = 4:18
| title10 = The Cool Thing to Do
| length10 = 3:01
| title11 = Priceless
| length11 = 3:35
| title12 = Drugs, Sex, Alcohol, Rock-n-Roll
| length12 = 4:10
| title13 = Things Go Better
| length13 = 4:32
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
!scope="col"| Chart !scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-position/chart-history/ind/|title=Soul Position: Chart History (Independent Albums)|work=Billboard|access-date=June 12, 2018}}
| 45 |
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|67250|Things Go Better with RJ and AL}}
{{Authority control}}