Welcome to the Zoo

Welcome to the Zoo is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Gorilla Zoe. It was released on September 25, 2007, via Block Entertainment/Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place at McKoy St. Studios and Funkshop Studio in Atlanta, and the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami. Production was handled by Drumma Boy, Dee Jay Dana, Jay Mac, Canei Finch, Chris Flame, DOA, Fatboi, Flawda Water, Lazyboi, Mike The Track Blazer, Willie "Chuck" Shivers and Win. It features guest appearances from Boyz n da Hood, Yung Joc, Block, D. Woods and JC.

Welcome to the Zoo
Studio album by Gorilla Zoe
Released	September 25, 2007 (2007-09-25)
Recorded	2006–07
Studio	McKoy St. Studios (Atlanta, GA) The Hit Factory Criteria (Miami, FL) Funkshop Studio (Atlanta, GA)
Genre	Hip-hop
Length	1:02:48
Label	Block Bad Boy Atlantic
Producer	Canei Finch Chris Flame Dee Jay Dana DOA Drumma Boy Fatboi Flawda Water Jay Mac Lazyboi Mike The Track Blazer Willie "Chuck" Shivers Win
Gorilla Zoe chronology
Welcome to the Zoo (2007) Don't Feed da Animals (2009)
Singles from Welcome to the Zoo
"Hood Nigga" Released: April 24, 2007 "Juice Box" Released: March 18, 2008

The album debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200, number 8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 3 on the Top Rap Albums, selling 35,000 copies in its first week in the United States.^[1] The album was supported by two singles: "Hood Figga", which peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and "Juice Box", which made it to number 78 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
RapReviews	6/10[3]
Robert Christgau	[4]
XXL	L (3/5)[5]

Welcome to the Zoo received mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic's Jason Birchmeier said that the album was well-produced but criticized Zoe for being too similar to Young Jeezy, saying that "Jeezy can be witty and adorns his raps with a signature array of ad libs".^[2] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews praised Gorilla for his voice and humorous lyrics but felt he was being dragged by the typical hip-hop clichés, concluding that "Welcome to the Zoo proves that Zoe has star potential - it's just that he may have been shoved into the spotlight prematurely".^[3] Maurice G. Garland of XXL stated: "unfortunately, Gorilla throws a monkey wrench in his trap jam with a barrage of frivolous fare".^[5] Robert Christgau cited "Money Man", "Take Your Shoes Off" and "Do Something" as "choice cuts",^[4] indicating good songs on "an album that isn't worth your time or money".^[6]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Do Something"	Alonzo Mathis Christopher Gholson	Drumma Boy	4:40
2.	"Hood Nigga"	Mathis Dana Ramey Chris Ussery	Dee Jay Dana Chris Flame	3:20
3.	"Money Man"	Mathis Michael Armour, Jr.	Mike The Track Blazer	4:08
4.	"Tryna Make a Jug" (featuring Big Gee)	Mathis Miguel Scott LaDamon Douglas	Fatboi	4:10
5.	"Crack Muzik (This That Muzik)" (featuring Jody Breeze)	Mathis Jacoby White Gholson	Drumma Boy	4:36
6.	"Battle Field" (featuring Block and Big Gee)	Mathis Russell Spencer Scott Ramey	Dee Jay Dana	3:55
7.	"Take Your Shoes Off" (featuring Yung Joc)	Mathis Jasiel Robinson Derek Allen Saleem Asad	DOA Lazyboi	4:25
8.	"I Know"	Mathis Lester Purnell	Flawda Water	4:47
9.	"Count on Me" (featuring Jody Breeze and JC)	Mathis White Justin Crowder James Beard	Jay Mac	4:04
10.	"Real Motherfucka" (performed by Boyz n da Hood)	Mathis Scott White Lee Dixon Beard	Jay Mac	5:04
11.	"Juice Box" (featuring Yung Joc)	Mathis Robinson Gholson	Drumma Boy	4:09
12.	"Money Up"	Mathis Kenwin Gates	Win	3:37
13.	"You Don't Know Me" (featuring D. Woods)	Mathis Wanita Woodgett William Shivers	Willie "Chuck" Shivers	3:28
14.	"Lil Shawty"	Mathis Gholson	Drumma Boy	4:09
15.	"Last Time I Checked"	Mathis Canei Finch Michael Clervoix	Canei Finch	4:16
Total length:				1:02:48

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[7]	18
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8]	8
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[9]	3