Here to Save You All is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Chino XL. It was released on April 9, 1996, through American Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Platinum Island Studios and Firehouse Studio in New York, at Canyon Post Digital and Kitchen Sync Studios in Los Angeles, and at Secret Six Studios. Production was handled by B-Wiz, Bird, DJ Homicide, Eric Romero, KutMasta Kurt, and Dan Charnas, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Gravitation, Kool Keith and Ras Kass.
The album did not make it to the Billboard 200, however it debuted at No. 56 on the Top R&B Albums and No. 39 on the Heatseekers Albums in the United States.
Background
The lyrical content revolved around dark, hardcore themes (mostly metaphorical braggadoccio), dismissing the commercialized hip hop that was starting to gain momentum at this time. It contains the infamous but well-known song "Riiiot!" which had a line that possibly alluded to the rumor of West Coast rapper 2Pac being raped in prison. 2Pac later called him out on "Hit 'Em Up", and Chino responded with a freestyle diss. Chino himself stated that the line was not meant as a diss, and he and 2Pac were on good terms at the time of his death.
Track listing
Notes
Tracks 17 to 59 are 4 to 5 seconds of silence and track 61 is 28 seconds of silence.
Sample credits
Track 4 contains a sample from "Five/Four" by Gene Harris and a sample from "To The Break Of Dawn" by LL Cool J. Track 5 contains a sample of "After The Dance (Instrumental Version)" by Marvin Gaye. Track 11 contains elements from "Success" by Fat Joe. Track 12 embodies portions of the composition "Creep" by Radiohead, contains samples of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly and samples of "Levitate" by the Brecker Brothers. Track 13 contains a sample of "Phony As You Wanna Be" by The Genius, a sample from "Time's Up" by O.C. and a sample from "Worker Man" by Patra. Track 15 contains a sample of "The Sick Rose" by David Axelrod. Track 16 contains a sample from "Been Such A Long Time Gone" by Hugh Masekela and a sample from "Make Me Say It Again Girl" by The Isley Brothers.
Personnel
Derek "Chino XL" Barbosa – vocals
Rosalin "Drama Child" Harris – vocals (track 1) Jamie Stewart – additional vocals (track 2) Jut Boogie – additional vocals (track 3) Dionna Brooks-Jackson – additional vocals (track 6), vocals (track 10) John "Ras Kass" Austin – vocals (track 7) Ab-Style – vocals (track 8) Duganz – vocals (track 8) Raggedy Man – vocals (track 8) Christine Palma – additional vocals (track 9) "Kool Keith" Thornton – vocals (track 14) Sheena Lester – additional vocals (track 15) Jay Vietnam – scratches (tracks: 4, 10) Craig "DJ Homicide" Bullock – scratches (track 9), producer (track 11) DJ Mark Luv – scratches (track 13) R. "B-Wiz" Stevens – producer (tracks: 1, 3-5, 8-10, 13-15) "KutMasta Kurt" Matlin – producer (track 2) Lamont "Bird" Holbdy – producer (tracks: 6, 7) Erik Romero – producer (track 12) Dan Charnas – producer (track 16), recording (tracks: 9, 14, 15), executive producer Chip Mullaney – recording (track 2) Carlos Bess – recording (tracks: 3-5, 8, 12, 13), mixing (tracks: 8, 12) Sean Freehill – recording (tracks: 6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16), mixing (tracks: 3-7, 9, 10, 13-16) Rod "King Tech" Sepand – mixing (track 3) Tom Coyne – mastering Stephen Stickler – photography