The Imperial (Flipmode Squad album)

The Imperial is the only studio album by American hip hop group Flipmode Squad. It was released on September 1, 1998, via Flipmode Entertainment and Violator Management; with distribution via Elektra Records. The recording sessions took place at Soundtrack Studios in New York. The album was produced by DJ Scratch, Busta Rhymes, Da Beatminerz, L.E.S., M.D., Rockwilder, Swizz Beatz, and Tony Touch. It features a guest appearance from Buckshot on "We Got U Opin, Pt. 2".

The Imperial
Studio album by Flipmode Squad
Released	September 1, 1998 (1998-09-01)
Studio	Soundtrack (New York City)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	1:14:32
Label	Flipmode Violator Elektra
Producer	Busta Rhymes Da Beatminerz DJ Scratch L.E.S. M.D. Rockwilder Swizz Beatz Tony Touch
Busta Rhymes chronology
When Disaster Strikes... (1997) The Imperial (1998) Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front (1998)
Rampage chronology
Scout's Honor… by Way of Blood (1997) The Imperial (1998) Have You Seen? (2006)
Rah Digga chronology
The Imperial (1998) Dirty Harriet (2000)
Singles from The Imperial
"Everybody on the Line Outside" Released: 1998 "Cha Cha Cha" Released: 1998

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[2]
The Source	[3]

The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States, and at number 85 on the UK Albums Chart. Its single "Cha Cha Cha" made it to No. 61 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 54 on the UK Singles Chart. Music videos were directed for "Everybody on the Line Outside" and "Cha Cha Cha".

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Imperial Intro"			5:00
2.	"To My People"	Trevor Smith William Lewis Roger McNair Rashia Fisher Leroy Jones George Spivey	DJ Scratch	4:56
3.	"Settin' It Off"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones Douglas Brinson	M.D.	4:22
4.	"Run for Cover"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones Wayne Notise Kasseem Dean	Swizz Beatz	3:29
5.	"I Got Your Back"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones Spivey	DJ Scratch	5:49
6.	"This Is What Happens"	McNair Fisher Spivey	DJ Scratch	5:30
7.	"Everybody on the Line Outside"	Smith McNair Notise Spivey	DJ Scratch	5:06
8.	"Last Night"	Smith Lewis	Busta Rhymes	3:59
9.	"Where You Think You Goin'"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones Notise Spivey	DJ Scratch	4:40
10.	"We Got U Opin, Pt. 2" (featuring Buckshot)	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones Notise Kenyatta Blake Walter Dewgarde	Da Beatminerz	5:02
11.	"Straight Spittin"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones Notise Joseph Hernandez	Tony Touch	4:43
12.	"Money Talks"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Spivey	DJ Scratch	4:26
13.	"Cha Cha Cha"	Smith Lewis Fisher Jones Spivey	DJ Scratch	4:11
14.	"Hit Em Wit da Heat"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones Notise Dana Stinson	Rockwilder	4:17
15.	"Do for Self"	Lewis Jones Spivey	DJ Scratch	5:22
16.	"Everything"	Smith Lewis McNair Fisher Jones	L.E.S.	3:40
Total length:				1:14:32

Personnel

Flipmode Squad

• Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith – performer (tracks: 2–5, 7–14, 16), producer (track 8), arranging (tracks: 2–16), executive producer
• William "Spliff Star" Lewis – performer (tracks: 2–5, 8–16)
• Roger "Rampage" McNair – performer (tracks: 2–7, 9–12, 14, 16)
• Rashia "Rah Digga" Fisher – performer (tracks: 2–6, 9–14, 16)
• Leroy "Baby Sham" Jones – performer (tracks: 2–5, 9–11, 13–16)
• Wayne "Lord Have Mercy" Notise – performer (tracks: 4, 7, 9–11, 14)

Technical

• Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake – performer (track 10)
• George "DJ Scratch" Spivey – producer (tracks: 2, 5–7, 9, 12, 13, 15), arranging (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, 13), executive producer
• Douglas "M.D." Brinson – producer (track 3)
• Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean – producer (track 4)
• Walter "Mr. Walt" Dewgarde – producer & arranging (track 10)
• Joseph "Tony Touch" Hernandez – producer (track 11)
• Dana "Rockwilder" Stinson – producer (track 14)
• Leshan "L.E.S." Lewis – producer (track 16)
• Vinnie Nicoletti – recording (tracks: 2–5, 7–13, 15, 16), mixing (tracks: 2, 3, 5–9, 12–14, 16)
• Robert Burnette – recording (tracks: 4, 6, 7, 14), mixing (track 11)
• Andre DeBourg – recording (track 7)
• Dominick Barbera – mixing (tracks: 4, 10, 15)
• Eduardo Larez – assistant engineering (tracks: 2, 7, 9, 11), assistant recording (tracks: 4, 5, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16), assistant mixing (tracks: 4, 7, 11, 12)
• Rich Tapper – assistant engineering (tracks: 3, 10), assistant mixing (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16)
• Jin Won Lee – assistant engineering (track 3), assistant recording (tracks: 5, 14), assistant mixing (track 15)
• Cathy Rich – assistant engineering (track 6)
• Sheldon Guide – assistant engineering (track 9), assistant recording (track 4)
• Tom Passetti – assistant recording (track 8)
• Darren Rapp – assistant recording (track 14)
• Tom Coyne – mastering
• Rick Posada – executive producer
• Gregory Burke – art direction, design
• Alli Burke – art direction
• Amy Guip – photography
• Kevin "Webb" Welch – A&R direction, management
• Lisa Aird – A&R coordination

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[4]	85
US Billboard 200[5]	15
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6]	3