Wood Work (album)


Wood Work is the only studio album by Decatur-based Southern hip hop duo Da BackWudz. It was released on April 18, 2006, via Rowdy Records. Production was handled by Milwaukee Black and Dallas Austin, both also served as executive producers, as well as Aleem Hood, Chris "Hammy" Norman, DJ Toomp, Mr. DJ, Organized Noize, and The Execs. It features guest appearances from Aleem Hood, BIg Gipp, Bo Hagon, Bud, Caz Clay, George Clinton, Jasper Cameron, Jeff B, Killer Mike, Milwaukee Black, Nas, Sleepy Brown and Slim Thug.
The album debuted at number 94 on the Billboard 200 and number 23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums selling over 9,000 copies in its first week. Its lead single, "You Gonna Luv Me", sampled Jennifer Holliday's "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going".
Wood Work became the duo's final album under 'Da BackWudz' name, as the members left Rowdy Records and by 2007, they teamed up with Heavy Slim and G Wiz to form the 'Labratz' quartet, releasing an album called Atlantis Rising. Along the way, Sho Nuff changed his stage name to Marty McFly, and Big Marс changed his moniker to Aleon Craft.

Critical reception

In the Sun Sentinel, Corbin Moseley praised the diversity of songs on the album, concluding that "Da BackWudz might easily be the rookies of the year in the rap music genre". The Chicago Tribune David Drake thought Wood Work was "an intelligent debut that is enthusiastic and ambitious". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sonia Murray gave the album a "C" grade, praising the single "I Don't Like the Look of It ", as well as Nas's rap on "You Gonna Luv Me ", but finding the rest of the tracks lacking.

Personnel

  • James "Sho Nuff/Marty McFly" Redding – vocals
  • Marcus "Big Marc/Aleon Craft" Thomas – vocals, keyboards
  • Darren "Milwaukee Black" Jordan – vocals, keyboards, producer, executive producer
  • Cortazius "Caz Clay" Caldewell – vocals
  • Michael "Killer Mike" Render – vocals
  • Cedric "Bo Hagon" Leonard – vocals
  • Jeff Bowden – vocals
  • Jasper Cameron – vocals & guitar
  • Elizabeth "Yummy" Bingham – backing vocals
  • Aleem Hood – vocals & producer
  • Cameron Gipp – vocals
  • Bud – vocals
  • Patrick "Sleepy" Brown – vocals & producer
  • Trina Mead – backing vocals
  • George Clinton – vocals
  • Nasir "Nas" Jones – vocals
  • Stayve "Slim Thug" Thomas – vocals
  • DJ Ruckus – scratches
  • Chris "Hammy" Norman – guitar & producer
  • Tony Reyes – guitar & bass
  • Tomi Martin – guitar
  • Graham Marsh – guitar
  • DJ Tariq – scratches
  • Albert André Bowman – keyboards & bass
  • Richard Drake – producer
  • Desmond Murray – producer
  • Aldrin "DJ Toomp" Davis – producer
  • David "Mr. DJ" Sheats – producer
  • Ray Murray – producer
  • Rico Wade – producer
  • Dallas Austin – producer, executive producer
  • Carlton Lynn – mixing
  • Leslie Brathwaite – mixing
  • Mark Stephens – mixing
  • Micah Bennett – mixing
  • Chris Bellman – mastering