Rocktrospectiva: Monie Love's Succesful Album "Down To Earth" Turns 35

Released on 30 October 1990 "Down To Earth" was the debut studio album by English rapper Monie Love. It peaked at 109 on the Billboard 200 and at 26 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spawned three charting singles. "It's a Shame (My Sister)" which became Monie's only top-40 hit in the U.S., and peaked at 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Monie in the Middle" and "Down 2 Earth" were both successful on the R&B and hip hop charts.

Monie Love career began thru a few cameos the rapper made in 89′: one, on the remix to De La Soul’s classic posse cut "Buddy", and the other on Queen Latifah's "Ladies First". These would work in Monie's favor, since both songs were released as singles, whose videos got a lot of airtime back in the day and expose the world to Monie's charm and cuteness.  This would eventually lead to Monie inking a deal with Warner Bros. and releasing her debut album Down to Earth in 1990, making her the first british hip-hop artist (male or female) singed to a major label.

Down to Earth would go on to be a commercial success, earning Monie a Grammy nod for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1990 for "Monie In The Middle", and again the following year for "It's A Shame (My Sister)". 

The album highlights include: "Monie In The Middle" her first single released from the album found Monie sharing a tale of a high school love triangle that she's involved in, then the brilliant "It's Shame (My Sister)" remained as the main favourite from listeners in her entire catalog just two albums. The production duo of Cox & Steele worked again, this time sampled The Spinners classic of the same title (minus the “My Sister”).  Monie used this one to encourage a friend in a bad relationship to call it quits and move on.  "Don’t Funk With The Mo" Afrika Baby Bambaataa (of the Jungle Brothers), Kevin Maxwell, and Jerry Callendar collaboratedfor their first production credit of the evening.  They provided a simple funk instrumental for Monie to gave a brief run down of her start in the rap game,  which includes a crooked producer who tried to get more credit than deserved for his role in getting her signed, another good one was "Ring My Bell" back in 1990 when house music was the link and then everyone including hip hop jumped on it, Monie Love was not exempt from that fairweather ride.   "R U Single" was Monie’s posing question to a prospect."Just Don’t Give A Damn" the production firm of Afrika & Associates somewhat redeems himself from the previous song’s failure, and provided a decent backdrop for Monie to discuss a relationship with her man who has left her the victim of domestic violence,  "Down 2 Earth" was a true humility, "I Do As I Please" Cox & Steele returned to the production helm for this one, but unfortunately the magic just passed, 

"Pups Lickin Bone" for this one Monie recruited JuJu from the world-famous Beatnuts to provided the instrumental for her calling out of a gardening tool trying to work her man’s field. "Read Between The Lines" it was based on the instrumental, which was, surprisingly brought to you courtesy of no other then…Afrika & Asscociates "Swiney Swiney" again Afrika & Associates provided a stale instrumental for Monie to proclaimed her distaste for the other white meat. and finally "Grandpa’s Party" which was like a mess but one of her finest of the record.

The critics gave Down to Earth an "A−" and was impressed by Love's proud sensibilities, as she "radiated sisterhood even though she concentrates on the guys, and positivity and tradition" without much culturally or politically conscious lyrics, it seetled for midtempo pop raps with slight insights".

 

Down To Earth Track List: 

 

1. Monie In The Middle

2. It's A Shame (My Sister)

3. Don't Funk Wid The Mo

4. Ring My Bell

5. R U Single

6. Just Don't Give A Damn

7. What I'm Supposed 2 B

8. Dettrimentally Stable

9. Down 2 Earth

10. I Do As I Please

11. Pups Lickin' Bone

12. Read Between The Lines

13. Race Against Reality

14. Swiney Swiney

15. Give It 2 U Like This

16. I Can Do This

17. I'm Driving You Crazy

18. Grandpa's Party.