In Control, Volume 1 is the debut studio album by American hip hop record producer Marley Marl, of the Juice Crew.[1] It was released on September 20, 1988, through Cold Chillin' Records with distribution via Warner Bros. Records.
| In Control, Volume 1 | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 20, 1988 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Marley Marl | |||
| Marley Marl chronology | ||||
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| Singles from In Control, Volume 1 | ||||
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The album compiles ten studio recordings by fellow Juice Crew members and artists affiliated with Marley Marl. It showcased his style of hip hop production and sampling at a time when he became one of the first super-producers in hip hop music.[2] The album is broken down track-by-track by Marley Marl in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.[3]
The opulent cover stood in contrast to Marley Marl's real living conditions: "I was still living in the projects. I was paying like $110 a month for my rent, free electricity. So New York City Housing Authority kind of co-produced some of my earlier hits".[4]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[6] |
Chris Witt of AllMusic wrote that: "Marley Marl's groundbreaking production and the strength of the various MCs showcased on In Control, Vol. 1 make the album a must for anyone even remotely interested in hip-hop's history."[5] Ira Robbins of Trouser Press noted that "the album's diversity is to its credit, but Marl gives too much play to second-string rhymers, leaving the LP's few highlights (such as the Biz twigging Barry Manilow in 'We Write the Songs' and Shanté playing cute word games in 'Wack Itt') adrift on a sea of verbal boreplay."[7]
In 2022, Rolling Stone placed In Control, Volume 1 at number 171 on their list of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. The magazine's writer Christopher R. Weingarten said, "Not just a showcase for the funkiest producer of the early sampling era, not just the first attempt by a rap producer to step out as an artist, but a platform for the entire Juice Crew umbrella, easily the most powerful and virtuosic rap crew of the late Eighties."[8]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Droppin' Science" (featuring Craig G) | 4:59 | |
| 2. | "We Write the Songs" (featuring Heavy D and Biz Markie) |
| 5:25 |
| 3. | "The Rebel" (featuring Tragedy Khadafi) |
| 3:46 |
| 4. | "Keep Your Eye on the Prize" (featuring Master Ace and Action) |
| 5:42 |
| 5. | "The Symphony" (featuring Master Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane) |
| 6:06 |
| 6. | "Live Motivator" (featuring Tragedy Khadafi) |
| 4:45 |
| 7. | "Duck Alert" (featuring Craig G) |
| 4:12 |
| 8. | "Simon Says" (featuring Master Ace and Action) |
| 4:02 |
| 9. | "Freedom" (featuring M.C. Shan) |
| 4:27 |
| 10. | "Wack Itt" (featuring Roxanne Shante) |
| 4:45 |
Personnel
edit- Marlon "Marley Marl" Williams – main artist, producer, mixing
- Craig "Craig G" Curry – featured artist (tracks: 1, 5, 7)
- Marcel "Biz Markie" Hall – featured artist (track 2)
- Dwight "Heavy D" Myers – featured artist (track 2)
- Percy "Tragedy Khadafi" Chapman – featured artist (tracks: 3, 6)
- Duval "Masta Ace" Clear – featured artist (tracks: 4, 5, 8)
- Action – featured artist (tracks: 4, 8)
- Nathaniel "Kool G Rap" Wilson – featured artist (track 5)
- Antonio "Big Daddy Kane" Hardy – featured artist (track 5)
- Shawn "MC Shan" Moltke – featured artist (track 9)
- Lolita "Roxanne Shanté" Gooden – featured artist (track 10)
- George DuBose – photography
- James Colosimo – logo design
Charts
edit| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[9] | 163 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] | 25 |
References
edit- ↑ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 376.
- ↑ MacInnes, Paul (June 13, 2011). "Marley Marl becomes the first super-producer, due to In Control, Volume One". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
- ↑ Muhammad, Ali Shaheed; Kelley, Frannie (September 12, 2013). "Marley Marl on The Bridge Wars, LL Cool J and Discovering Sampling". NPR. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- 1 2 Witt, Chris. "In Control, Vol. 1 - Marley Marl". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (March 14, 1989). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- ↑ Robbins, Ira. "Marley Marl". Trouser Press. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ↑ Weingarten, Christopher R.; et al. (June 7, 2022). "The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Marley Marl Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- ↑ "Marley Marl Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
External links
edit- Marley Marl – In Control, Volume 1 at Discogs (list of releases)