Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast

Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast is the debut studio album by American musician Kid Rock. Released on November 27, 1990 by Jive Records, the album is marked by a straightforward hip hop style, in contrast to the rock-oriented sound of his later albums. Jive found the album difficult to promote due to its explicit lyrics, but upon release, it made Kid Rock one of Detroit hip hop's most successful recording artists, selling over 100,000 copies.

History

Kid Rock began his professional music career as a member of the hip hop music group the Beast Crew in the late 1980s.<ref name=Biography/> During this time, Kid Rock met rapper D-Nice, which led to Kid Rock opening at local shows for Boogie Down Productions.<ref name=Biography>Template:Cite web</ref> During this time, Kid Rock began his professional association with producer Mike E. Clark, who was initially skeptical of the idea of a white rapper, but was impressed by Kid Rock's performance; Kid Rock had prepared his own beats and used his own turntables to demonstrate his skills for Clark.<ref name=freepearly>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1988, Clark produced a series of demos with Kid Rock, which led to offers from six major record labels, including Atlantic and CBS Records.<ref name=freepearly/><ref name="Allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> With the help of D-Nice, Kid Rock signed with Jive Records at the age of 17, releasing his debut studio album, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast in 1990, which featured production by D-Nice and Too Short.<ref name=Biography/><ref name=freepearly/><ref name=cowboysindians>Template:Cite web</ref> According to Kid Rock, the contract with Jive resulted in animosity from fellow rapper Vanilla Ice, who felt that he should have been signed.<ref name=freepearly/>

Artistry

In contrast to Kid Rock's later albums, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast features a straightforward hip hop sound.<ref name="MTV2">Template:Cite web</ref> While the album primarily reflects what reviewers perceived as a strong Beastie Boys influence, "Grits Sandwiches nevertheless contains a few elements of the Bob Seger-loving, turntable-scratching dirt-ass pimp character who would later emerge as the American Bad Ass",<ref name=Loftus/> according to Allmusic's Johnny Loftus. Other influences claimed by reviewers on the album's music include LL Cool J and Rob Base.<ref name=Loftus/> "With a One Two" samples the Doobie Brothers' "China Grove",<ref name=Loftus/> predicting Kid Rock's later shift to rap rock.

Release and aftermath

To promote the album, Kid Rock toured nationally with Ice Cube, D-Nice, Yo-Yo and Too Short; Detroit artist James "the Blackman" Harris was Kid Rock's DJ on this tour.<ref name=freepearly/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During instore promotions for the album, Kid Rock met and developed a friendship with local rapper Eminem, who frequently challenged Kid Rock to rap battles.<ref name=freepearly/> In May 1991, the Detroit Free Press reported that the album had become a local hit in Detroit record stores and clubs, with "Wax the Booty" receiving heavy radio requests after midnight.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast eventually sold over 100,000 copies, signaling national success for the Kid Rock;<ref name=orlandoweekly>Template:Cite web</ref> the album's success made Kid Rock one of the two biggest rap stars in Detroit in 1991, along with local independent rapper Esham.<ref name="BehindthePaint164">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="BehindthePaint174">Template:Cite book</ref>

Despite the album's commercial success, Kid Rock felt it was underpromoted by Jive Records, citing its lack of music videos due to the "unprintable" lyrics on every song.<ref name=orlandoweekly/> The lead single, "Yo-Da-Lin in the Valley", which was about oral sex, proved to be controversial when WSUC-FM, a college radio station, was fined $23,700 by the FCC for playing it.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Ultimately, unfavorable comparisons to Vanilla Ice led to Jive dropping Kid Rock, according to Mike E. Clark.<ref name=freepearly/>

Critical reception

In February 1991, Edward Hill of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote that the album "insultingly exploits everyday tenants of black life" and that it was "amazing that other rappers will tolerate this stupid a parody of their art form." Hill also derided the album's press release about Rock's background in Detroit, characterizing it as similar to the "pack of lies Vanilla Ice fed to the press before his middle class roots were exposed."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Grand Rapids Press singled out "New York Is Not My Home" and "Abdul Jabar Cut" as showing potential, but disliked the record's exaggerated profanity and misogyny, calling it a "sad example of the what kind of doors 2 Live Crew" had opened, and gave the album 1.5 stars out of 4.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Retrospective reviews have also looked unfavorably upon the album, with Rolling Stone listing it as one of "20 terrible debut albums by great artists"<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and gave it two and a half out of five stars in its album guide.<ref name="RollingStone"/> AllMusic's Johnny Loftus wrote that "despite Kid's distinct, hard-edged flow and references to the building blocks that would later make his career, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast is a mostly laughable recording".<ref name=Loftus/> Robert Christgau gave the album a "dud" rating.<ref name="Robert Christgau"/> However, the album's music has also received praise from The Village Voice, which called the song "Wax the Booty" a "classic" in an article by Chaz Kangas, who called the track "smooth and sinister" and "a worthwhile tale of fornication from the era where sex in storytelling was king."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personnel

• Robert James Ritchie – Main Artist, Vocals, Producer (tracks: 1–4, 6, 9–10, 12–13), Mixing (tracks: 1–2, 4–13)
• Roz Davis – Vocals (track 11)
• Doug E. Doug – Talking (track 9)
• Patricia Halligan – Guitar (tracks: 4, 6, 9)
• David Bright – Keyboards (track 11)
• Keenan Foster – Keyboards programming (track 7)
• Joe Mendelson – Programming (track 3)
• Todd Anthony Shaw – Producer (tracks: 5, 7)
• The Dice Sound – Producer (tracks: 8, 11)
• The Blackman – Co-Producer (track 1)
• Mike E. Clark – Co-Producer (track 1)
• Barbera Aimes – Mixing (tracks: 1, 8, 13), Engineering
• Walter C. Griggs – Mixing (track 2)
• Derrick Jones – Mixing (tracks: 3, 12)
• Dwayne Sumal – Mixing (track 11), Engineering
• Al Eaton – Engineering
• Anthony Saunders – Engineering
• Chris Floberg – Engineering
• Eric Gast – Engineering
• Sherman Foote – Engineering
• Tim Latham – Engineering
• Tom Vercillo – Engineering
• Tom Coyne – Mastering
• Todd James – Artwork
• Michael Benabib – Photography

External links

• Template:Cite web