You Can't Stop the Reign
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = You Can't Stop the Reign
| type = studio
| artist = Shaquille O'Neal
| cover = You Can't Stop the Reign.jpg
| alt = A black-and-white image of a man wearing a white waistcoat vest and sunglasses, flexing his left arm with a "Superman" logo on his shoulder.
| released = {{Start date|1996|11|19}}
| recorded = 1996
| studio = {{hlist|T.W.IsM. Studios (Orlando, Florida)|Skip Saylor Studios (Los Angeles, California)|Bosstown Recording Studios (Atlanta, Georgia)}}
| genre = Hip-hop
| length = {{Duration|m=68|s=38}}
| label = {{hlist|T.W.IsM.|Interscope}}
| producer = {{hlist|Bobby Brown|Chris Large|Dave Atkinson|Darkchild|DJ Quik|Domingo|Easy Mo Bee|G-1|I-Roc|Jammin' James Carter|Mobb Deep|Poke & Tone|Ralph Tresvant|Ross "Spyda" Sloan}}
| prev_title = Shaq Fu: Da Return
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = Respect
| next_year = 1998
| misc = {{Singles
| name = You Can't Stop the Reign
| type = studio
| single1 = You Can't Stop the Reign
| single1date = October 20, 1996
| single2 = Strait Playin'
| single2date = January 18, 1997
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Stanley |first=Leo |title=You Can't Stop the Reign - Shaquille O'Neal {{!}} Album |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/you-cant-stop-the-reign-mw0000082498 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}
| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev2score = B-{{Cite web |last=Diehl |first=Matt |date=December 13, 1996 |title=You Can't STOP the REIGN |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/12/13/you-cant-stop-reign/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}
| rev3 = Muzik
| rev3score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Springer |first=Jacqueline |date=January 1997 |title=Shaquille O'Neal: You Can't Stop The Reign |url=http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik020_january_1997.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402181253/http://www.muzikmagazine.co.uk/issues/muzik020_january_1997.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2022 |access-date=July 16, 2022 |magazine=Muzik |page=117 |issue=20}}
}}
You Can't Stop the Reign is the third studio album by American basketball player and rapper Shaquille O'Neal. It was released on November 19, 1996, through T.W.IsM./Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place at T.W.IsM. Studios in Orlando, Skip Saylor in Los Angeles and Bosstown Recording Studios in Atlanta, with additional recordings done at Soundtrack Studios and The Hit Factory in New York. Production was handled by Dave Atkinson, Ross "Spyda" Sloan, Domingo, Trackmasters, Darkchild, Bobby Brown, Chris Large, DJ Quik, Easy Mo Bee, G-1, I-Roc, Jammin' James Carter, Mobb Deep and Ralph Tresvant. It features guest appearances from The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, S.H.E., Bobby Brown, Jay-Z, Mobb Deep and Peaches.
The album was moderately successful, peaking at number 82 on the Billboard 200 and number 21 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was supported by two singles with accompanying music videos for "You Can't Stop the Reign" and "Strait Playin'".
Its lead single, "You Can't Stop the Reign", made it to {{abbr|No.|number}} 54 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay in the United States, No. 40 on the UK singles chart, No. 17 on the Official Dance Singles Chart and No. 9 on the Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart in the United Kingdom and No. 47 in New Zealand. The song has multiple versions, including one that features a verse from The Notorious B.I.G., which was re-used in 2001 for Michael Jackson's song "Unbreakable" from his Invincible album. The "Still Can't Stop the Reign" version peaked at No. 36 on the US Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.
The second single from the album, "Strait Playin'", reached No. 72 on the Radio Songs, No. 33 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, No. 32 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and No. 40 on the Rhythmic Airplay in the US, and No. 17 in New Zealand. Its "Superman Remix" version was included in 1997 Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture Steel soundtrack album.
On June 28, 2024, the album was officially re-released onto streaming platforms, now featuring the original unreleased version of "No Love Lost", which included a verse from Nas.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Shaquille (Interlude)
| writer1 = Shaquille O'Neal
| extra1 =
| length1 = 0:58
| title2 = Still Can't Stop the Reign
| note2 = featuring The Notorious B.I.G.
| writer2 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Christopher Wallace|Craig Williams|Chris Jones|Carl McIntosh|Jane Eugene|Steve Nichols}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Chris "Large" Jones|Ross "Spyda" Sloan ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})|Dave Atkinson ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})}}
| length2 = 4:43
| title3 = D.I.V.A. Radio (Interlude)
| note3 = performed by Peaches
| writer3 =
| extra3 =
| length3 = 0:55
| title4 = It Was All a Dream
| writer4 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Peter Pankey|Sean Hamilton|Dave Atkinson|Ross Sloan}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Dave Atkinson|Ross "Spyda" Sloan}}
| length4 = 4:43
| title5 = No Love Lost
| note5 = featuring Jay-Z and Lord Tariq
| writer5 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Shawn Carter|Hamilton|Jean-Claude Olivier|Samuel Barnes}}
| extra5 = Poke & Tone
| length5 = 3:51
| title6 = Strait Playin'
| writer6 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Pankey|David Blake|George Archie}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|DJ Quik|G-One}}
| length6 = 4:35
| title7 = Best to Worst
| note7 = featuring Peter Gunz
| writer7 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Pankey|Hamilton|Domingo Padilla}}
| extra7 = Domingo
| length7 = 3:58
| title8 = Legal Money
| note8 = featuring Mobb Deep
| writer8 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Kejuan Muchita|Albert Johnson|Hamilton|Thom Bell|Linda Creed}}
| extra8 = Mobb Deep
| length8 = 4:36
| title9 = Edge of Night
| note9 = featuring Bobby Brown
| writer9 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Pankey|Hamilton|Williams|Padilla}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Domingo|Dave Atkinson ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})|Ross "Spyda" Sloan ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})}}
| length9 = 4:26
| title10 = S.H.E. (Interlude)
| note10 = performed by S.H.E.
| writer10 = {{hlist|Jania Foxworth|Tyren Perry|Jaimee Foxworth}}
| extra10 =
| length10 = 0:30
| title11 = Let's Wait a While
| note11 = featuring Jania
| writer11 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Williams|Olivier|S. Barnes|James Harris III|Terry Lewis}}
| extra11 = Poke & Tone
| length11 = 4:04
| title12 = Can I Play
| note12 = featuring Peter Gunz
| writer12 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Pankey|Hamilton|Rodney Jerkins}}
| extra12 = Darkchild
| length12 = 4:24
| title13 = Just Be Good to Me
| writer13 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Pankey|Hamilton|Atkinson|Sloan|Harris III|Lewis}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|Dave Atkinson|Ross "Spyda" Sloan}}
| length13 = 4:32
| title14 = More to Life
| writer14 = {{hlist|Bobby Brown|Ralph Tresvant|Kenneth Finnel|Darryl Barnes|Pankey|Thomas Reyes}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|Bobby Brown|Ralph Tresvant|Ken Finnel ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})|}}
| length14 = 4:24
| title15 = Big Dog Stomp
| writer15 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Todd Gaither|James Carter|Sherwin Charles}}
| extra15 = {{hlist|Jammin' James Carter|I-Roc|Pat & Jimbob ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})}}
| length15 = 4:11
| title16 = Game of Death
| writer16 = {{hlist|O'Neal|William Griffin|Pankey|Hamilton|Osten S. Harvey}}
| extra16 = Easy Mo Bee
| length16 = 4:12
| title17 = Outtro (Interlude)
| note17 = performed by Lord Tariq
| writer17 = Hamilton
| extra17 =
| length17 = 1:20
| title18 = Player (Bonus Track)
| note18 = performed by S.H.E.
| writer18 = {{hlist|Bernadette Cosgrove|Kevin Bruce Clark|Antonina Armato}}
| extra18 = Antonina Armato
| length18 = 4:15
| title19 = Don't Wanna Be Alone (Bonus Track)
| note19 = performed by 1 Accord
| writer19 = {{hlist|Japhe Tejeda|Charles Paul|Jerkins}}
| extra19 = Darkchild
| length19 = 4:01
| total_length = 1:08:38
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = 2024 streaming release
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length =
| title5 = No Love Lost
| note5 = featuring Jay-Z, Nas and Lord Tariq
| writer5 = {{hlist|O'Neal|Shawn Carter|Nasir Jones|Hamilton|Jean-Claude Olivier|Samuel Barnes}}
| extra5 = Poke & Tone
| length5 = 4:55
}}
;Sample credits
- Track 1 contains elements of "Superman Theme" by John Williams.
- Track 2 contains elements of "You Can't Stop the Rain" by Loose Ends.
- Track 4 contains elements of "Don't Do Me This Way" by Alicia Myers.
- Track 8 contains elements of "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
- Track 9 contains elements of "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.
- Track 11 contains elements of "Let's Wait Awhile" by Janet Jackson.
- Track 13 contains elements of "Just Be Good to Me" by The S.O.S. Band.
;Notes
- Track 2 features uncredited rap vocals by Notorious B.I.G.
- Track 14 features uncredited rap vocals by Smooth B.
- Track 16 features uncredited rap vocals by Rakim.
Personnel
{{div col}}
- Shaquille O'Neal – vocals (tracks: 1, 2, 4–9, 11–16), executive producer
- Jane Eugene – background vocals (track 2)
- Nanci Fletcher – background vocals (track 2)
- Peaches – vocals (track 3)
- Peter "Peter Gunz" Pankey – vocals (track 12), background vocals (tracks: 4, 6, 7)
- Sherry Watson – additional background vocals (track 4)
- Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter – vocals (track 5)
- Sean "Lord Tariq" Hamilton – vocals (tracks: 5, 17), background vocals (track 8)
- Enrico Consilus Gates – background vocals (track 5), A&R
- David "DJ Quik" Blake – background vocals & producer (track 6)
- Kejuan "Havoc" Muchita – vocals & producer (track 8)
- Albert "Prodigy" Johnson – vocals & producer (track 8)
- Bobby Brown – vocals (track 9), background vocals & producer (track 14)
- Jania Foxworth – vocals (track 10), background vocals (track 11)
- Tyren Perry – vocals (track 10), background vocals (track 11)
- Jaimee Foxworth – vocals (track 10), background vocals (track 11)
- Alicia "Blue" Renee – lead vocals (track 13), background vocals (tracks: 12, 13)
- Ralph Tresvant – background vocals & producer (track 14)
- Dave Atkinson – keyboard programming (track 2), keyboards (tracks: 4, 9), producer (tracks: 4, 13), additional producer (tracks: 2, 9), additional mixing (tracks: 8, 14)
- Ross "Spyda" Sloan – drum programming (track 4), producer (tracks: 4, 13), additional producer (tracks: 2, 9), additional mixing (track 14)
- Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier – keyboards (track 5), keyboard programming (track 11), producer (tracks: 5, 11)
- Samuel "Tone" Barnes – drum programming (track 5), producer (tracks: 5, 11)
- Kenneth Crouch – additional keyboards (track 6)
- Domingo Padilla – drum programming (track 7), producer (track 7, 9)
- Sherwin "I-Roc" Charles – additional keyboards & producer (track 15)
- Osten S. "Easy Mo Bee" Harvey, Jr. – keyboards, drum programming & producer (track 16)
- Chris "Large" Jones – producer (track 2)
- George "G-One" Archie – producer (track 6)
- Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins – producer (track 12)
- "Jammin'" James Carter – producer (track 15)
- Ken Finnel – co-producer & engineering (track 14)
- Pat & Jimbob – additional producers (track 15)
- Fred McGuinn – engineering (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16), mixing assistant (track 2)
- Gary Platt – mixing (tracks: 2, 4), engineering (track 13)
- Dexter Simmons – mixing (tracks: 3, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15)
- Bill Esses – mixing (tracks: 5, 11)
- Chris Puram – engineering & mixing (track 6), editing, sequencing
- Tony Smalios – mixing (track 7)
- Mario Rodriguez – mixing (track 8)
- Eric Lynch – engineering & mixing (track 16)
- Robert Vosgien – mastering
- Frank Edwards – editing, sequencing, executive producer, A&R
- Leonard Armato – executive producer
- Hasan Pore – associate producer, A&R
- Kevin Mitchell – associate producer, A&R
- Paul Palmer – A&R
- Rob Kahane – A&R
- Sharon Ronen – album coordinator
- Cindy Cooper – album coordinator
{{div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"|Chart (1996)
! scope="col"|Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Billboard200|82|artist=Shaquille ONeal|rowheader=true|access-date=April 22, 2024}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|21|artist=Shaquille ONeal|rowheader=true|access-date=April 22, 2024}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|74534|Shaquille O'Neal – You Can't Stop The Reign}}
{{Shaq}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Shaquille O'Neal albums
Category:Albums produced by G-One
Category:Interscope Records albums
Category:Albums produced by DJ Quik
Category:Albums produced by Easy Mo Bee
Category:Albums produced by Trackmasters
Category:Albums produced by Rodney Jerkins