Down to Earth (Monie Love album)


Down to Earth is the debut album by Monie Love, which was released on October 30, 1990, on Warner Bros. Records. It peaked at 109 on the Billboard 200 and at 26 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spawned three charting singles. "It's a Shame " became Monie's only top-40 hit in the U.S., and peaked at 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Monie in the Middle" and "Down 2 Earth" were both successful on the R&B and hip hop charts.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau gave Down to Earth an "A–" and was impressed by Love's proud sensibilities, as she "radiates sisterhood even though she concentrates on the guys, and positivity and tradition" without much culturally or politically conscious lyrics. Alex Henderson was less enthusiastic in a retrospective review for AllMusic, in which he gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that Love raps well, but lacks worthwhile stories on an otherwise good album.
At the 33rd Grammy Awards, "Monie in the Middle" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance, but lost to MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." The following year at the 34th Grammy Awards, she was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance again for "It's a Shame " but lost to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out."

Track listing

  1. "Monie in the Middle" 3:45
  2. "It's a Shame " 3:43
  3. "Don't Funk wid the Mo" 3:33
  4. "Ring My Bell" 3:52
  5. "R U Single" 4:07
  6. "Just Don't Give a Damn" 3:57
  7. "What I'm Supposed 2 B" 3:49
  8. "Dettrimentally Stable" 3:28
  9. "Down 2 Earth" 4:03
  10. "I Do as I Please" 3:53
  11. "Pups Lickin' Bone" 4:00
  12. "Read Between the Lines" 3:50
  13. "Race Against Reality" 3:03
  14. "Swiney Swiney" 3:12
  15. "Give It 2 U Like This" 4:03
  16. "I Can Do This " 3:24
  17. "I'm Driving You Crazy" 4:16
  18. "Grandpa's Party" 5:49
Note: Tracks 7, 13, 15, 16, and 17 were included in the UK edition but omitted from the U.S. edition.

Samples