UGodz-Illa Presents: The Hillside Scramblers


UGodz-Illa Presents: The Hillside Scramblers is the only studio album by American eleven-piece hip-hop group the Hillside Scramblers, led by Wu-Tang Clan member U-God. It was released on March 16, 2004 through INDIEgo/Synergy Distribution. Produced by members Leatha Face and DJ Homicide, Mark Alston, Que Tracks and Six Mill, it features contributions from U-God, Inf-Black, Leatha Face, Autumn Rue, Desert Eagle, Black Ice, Kawz, King Just, Frank Banger and Ja-Mal.
Despite the imminent disintegration of the group, member Leatha Face took part in U-God's subsequent albums Mr. Xcitement and Dopium, and DJ Homicide produced tracks on the albums Mr. Xcitement, The Keynote Speaker and Venom.

Background

Originally a member of the cult hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, U-God, renounced further work in the group due to disagreements with its leader RZA, which led to the creation of the Hillside Scramblers project. He recruited Wu-Tang affiliated Shaolin Soldiers members Leathafase and King Just, producer DJ Homicide and seven other aspiring rappers. U-God claimed that the project is not an attempt at resurrecting a crew like the Wu-Tang.

Reception

UGodz-Illa Presents: The Hillside Scramblers was met with mixed or average reviews from music critics, who panned the album because they believed that it did not completely satisfy the listeners. AllMusic gave the album three-and-a-half stars out of five. Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews complained that the words were mostly clichéd and the beats were similar to U-God's Golden Arms Redemption tracks. Wolfman of Tiny Mix Tapes labeled it as "for collectors only", resuming: "if you're indifferent to U-God's work, this album won't do anything but reaffirm your indifference".

Track listing

Personnel

  • Lamont "U-God" Hawkins – performer, executive producer, sleeve notes
  • Lamar "Black Ice" Manson – performer
  • Orlando "Leatha Face" Irizarry – performer, producer
  • Inf-Black – performer
  • Desert Eagle – performer
  • Michael "Kawz" Kawse – performer
  • Autumn Rue – performer
  • Adrian "King Just" Angevin – performer
  • Frank Banger – performer
  • Ja-Mal – performer
  • Anthony "DJ Homicide" Mercado – producer
  • Que Tracks – producer
  • Six Mill – producer
  • Mark Alston – producer
  • Nick Jackson – design, layout