Thoughts of a Predicate Felon
Thoughts of a Predicate Felon is the debut studio album by American rapper Tony Yayo. It was originally scheduled to be released on June 28, 2005, then was pushed back to July 12, 2005, but it ended up being released on August 30, 2005, through G-Unit Records and Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place at Sound One, at Integrated Studios, Sony Music Studios, G Unit Studios, Sound on Sound and Right Track Recording in New York, at 54 Sound in Detroit, at Encore Studios in Los Angeles and at Joi Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled by Focus..., Eminem, Black Jeruz, DJ Khalil, Domingo, Havoc, J. R. Rotem, LT Moe, Megahertz, Punch, Ron Browz, Sam Sneed, Sebb, Studio 44, and Sha Money XL, who also served as co-executive producer. It features guest appearances from fellow G-Unit members 50 Cent, who also served as executive producer, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Olivia and Spider Loc, as well as Eminem, Obie Trice, Jagged Edge, Joe and Kokane.
In the United States, the album debuted at number two on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts with 215,000 copies sold in its first week. The album would be the only Tony Yayo solo album with G-Unit records.
The album produced three singles, "So Seductive", "Curious", and "I [Know You Don't Love Me]", and one promotional single "Drama Setter", as well as three music videos for "So Seductive", "Curious"/"Pimpin'" and "I Know You Don't Love Me" starring G-Unit.
Background
"With 50, he has the notoriety of hit records. I actually wrote 'Seductive' before he wrote 'Candy Shop'. you hear him say 'so seductive' . 50, he plays a big part in all our albums. I feel like we can stand on our own cause we're writing all our material," Tony told SOHH.com. "50, he just adds on. I love to hear 50 get on a record. I love the way 50 rides the beat. I did 'Seductive', 50 came on it and I was like, 'I gotta keep him on it' cause it sounds ten times better with him on it."The album was delayed and highly anticipated, due to Tony Yayo's time in prison.
The songs "So Seductive" and "Live by the Gun" were featured in the 2005 Xbox video game 50 Cent: Bulletproof. Tony Yayo appears in the video game providing his own voice and likeness and is a playable character in arcade mode.
Critical reception
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. Some critics noted that the album had stellar production but thought that Tony's vocals and lyrics were not up to par. Writing for Rolling Stone, Christian Hoard said: "With the exception of a few complete duds, Felon is a solid stopgap, although it may also mark the moment when designer bullet holes start to go out of fashion".Track listing
;Notes- signifies an additional producer.
- Track 1 contains recreated dialogue from American Me
- Track 2 contains elements from "Los Hombres De Rabia Tambien Lloran" written by Eliseo Zorrilla and performed by Danny Rivera
- Track 4 contains elements from "Sara Smile" written by Hall & Oates and performed by Impact
- Track 6 contains resung elements from "Mr. Telephone Man" by Ray Parker Jr.
- Track 11 contains elements from "Feelings" by Morris Albert
- Track 12 contains elements from "Toxic" by Britney Spears and "Tere Mere Beech Mein" written by Laxmikant Kudalkarand, Pyarelal Sharma and Anand Bakshi and performed by Lata Mangeshkar & S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Track 15 contains elements from "Early Ev'ry Morning" written by Eugene McDaniels and Leon Pendarvis and performed by Roberta Flack
Personnel
- Marvin "Tony Yayo" Bernard – main artist
- Derick Prosper – vocals & score, A&R
- Dré McKenzie – vocals
- Curtis "Spider Loc" Williams – vocals
- Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson – vocals, executive producer
- Marshall "Eminem" Mathers – vocals & producer, additional producer, mixing
- Obie Trice – vocals
- Christopher "Lloyd Banks" Lloyd – vocals
- Olivia Longott – vocals
- Joseph "Joe" Thomas – vocals
- Jerry "Kokane" Long, Jr. – vocals
- Jagged Edge – vocals
- David "Young Buck" Brown – vocals
- Hailu – backing vocals
- Kenyatta Beasley – score
- Carlos "C12" Bess – score & mixing
- Eric "E Bass" Johnson – bass
- Luis Resto – additional keyboards, additional producer
- Stu "Bassie" Brooks – additional bass, bass
- Steven King – guitar & bass, mixing
- Jeff Bass – keyboards & additional producer
- Tony Burgess – guitar & additional producer
- Domingo Padilla – producer
- Sébastien "Sebb" Vuignier – producer
- Robert "Black Jeruz" Smith – producer
- Michael "Sha Money XL" Clervoix – producer, co-executive producer
- Mike "Punch" Harper – producer
- Bernard "Focus..." Edwards, Jr. – producer
- Jonathan "J.R." Rotem – producer
- Todd "LT Moe" Moore – producer & recording
- Samuel "Sam Sneed" Anderson – producer
- DJ Khalil Abdul-Rahman – producer
- Dorsey "Megahertz" Wesley – producer
- Rondell "Ron Browz" Turner – producer
- Studio 44 – producer
- Kejuan "Havoc" Muchita – producer
- Steve Simons – recording
- Ky Miller – recording
- Mike Strange – recording, additional recording
- Tony Campana – recording, additional recording
- Taurus Scott – recording
- Nicholas "Aqua" McCarrell – recording
- Pat Viala – recording, mixing
- Wesley Morris – recording
- Steve Baughman – mixing
- Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri – mixing
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
- Marcus Heisser – A&R
- Jonathan Mannion – photography