The Darkside Vol. 1
The Darkside Vol. 1 marks the tenth studio album by American hip hop artist Fat Joe, officially released on July 27, 2010, through Terror Squad Entertainment and E1 Music. The album's production roster includes notable names such as Cool & Dre, Streetrunner, DJ Infamous, Just Blaze, Scram Jones, DJ Premier, Raw Uncut, and Scoop DeVille. Featured guest appearances come from artists like Trey Songz, Too Short, R. Kelly, Cam'ron, Clipse, Lil Wayne, and Young Jeezy.
Background
Fat Joe announced The Darkside Vol. 1 in January 2010, describing it as a shift back toward a grittier sound in contrast to his prior release, J.O.S.E. 2. On March 28, 2010, he inked a deal with E1 Music to distribute the album in July. He highlighted this project as a means to cement his legacy, emphasizing its representation of his hardcore hip hop origins and labeling it a classic body of work.
Singles
The lead single off The Darkside is "(Ha Ha) Slow Down", featuring rapper Young Jeezy. It reached number 54 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and climbed to number 23 on the Hot Rap Songs list. The follow-up single, "If It Ain't About Money" with guest vocals from Trey Songz, peaked at number 57 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 25 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
Critical reception
Overall, The Darkside Vol. 1 was met with generally positive critiques, earning a score of 70 out of 100 on Metacritic. AllMusic awarded it 3½ stars, commenting that Fat Joe sounds "on fire, as if this were his grand debut." HipHopDX rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, praising its "hardcore lyricism" and describing it as his "best-produced album in over a decade." RapReviews gave it a 7/10 rating, noting Joe's revitalized reputation alongside compelling street storytelling. ThaCorner also granted 3½ stars, focusing on Joe’s talent for crafting a cohesive album rather than purely individual rap skills.
Commercial performance
The Darkside Vol. 1 entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number 27 with first-week sales totaling 12,300 copies. Additionally, it secured the ninth position on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and ranked seventh on the Top Rap Albums charts. On the US Top Independent Albums chart, it achieved its highest peak at number two.
Track listing
The following track listing was sourced from Amazon.
- Sample credits
- "Intro" – Incorporates elements from "Just a Memory" by The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Clipse
- "Valley of Death" – Contains samples from "Do I Stand a Chance" by The Montclairs
- "Kilo" – Samples "I Weigh With Kilos" by Jimmy Van & Richard Hieronymus
- "Rappers Are in Danger" – Uses portions of "Time's Up" by O.C.
- "(Ha Ha) Slow Down" – Features samples from "Back to Life (A cappella)" by Soul II Soul
- "No Problems" – Samples "Flash's Theme" by Queen and "Terminator X to the Edge of Panic" by Public Enemy
- "Heavenly Father" – Incorporates elements from "Pray to the Lord" by Lil Wayne
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Highest position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 27 |
| US Top Independent Albums (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 9 |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard) | 7 |