America is Dying Slowly

1996
TracklistError Loading File
  • No Rubber, No Backstage Pass Biz Markie, Chubb Rock, & Prince Paul
    Play Pause
  • The Yearn Pete Rock & Lost Boyz
    Play Pause
  • America Wu-Tang Clan & Killah Priest
    Play Pause
  • Blood (feat. Big Rube) Goodie Mob (feat. Big Rube)
    Play Pause
  • I Breaks 'Em Off Coolio
    Play Pause
  • Listen to Me Now Eightball & MJG
    Play Pause
  • Street Life Mobb Deep & ACD
    Play Pause
  • Games Money Boss Players
    Play Pause
  • Check Ya Self Spice 1, Celly Cel, 187 Fac, Ant Banks, & Gangsta P
    Play Pause
  • (Lately) I've Been Thinking Common & Sean Lett
    Play Pause
  • Decisions Organized Konfusion & Dj O.Gee
    Play Pause
  • The Hustle De La Soul & Da Beatminerz
    Play Pause
  • What I Represent O.C. & Buckwild
    Play Pause
  • (Stay Away from the) Nasty Hoes Sadat X, Fat Joe, & Diamond D
    Play Pause
  • Sport That Raincoat Domino
    Play Pause
  • Suckas P.H. Mac Mall
    Play Pause

OVERVIEW

America Is Dying Slowly (an acronym for AIDS) was the second Red Hot project focused on raising awareness about HIV/AIDS in communities of color in the United States.  It featured collaborations from several hip hop acts, including Mobb Deep, De La Soul, Common, Coolio, Biz Markie, Chubb Rock, The Lost Boyz, Pete Rock, Eightball & MJG and Wu-Tang Clan. Dubbed “a masterpiece” by The Source on its release, AIDS was one of the first of such efforts aimed at reaching out to African American men through pop culture. The Wu Tang Clan’s title track got tremendous airplay on Hip Hop and Rap radio stations and functioned as one of the most effective public service announcements ever created during the AIDS crisis. The last live performance of the entire original Wu-Tang Clan was for the MTV special called “Red Hot + Rap” produced for the album. Old Dirty Bastard was so late that MTV got frustrated and started filming the song without him. He arrived in the middle, climbed on stage and did his verse, which appeared in the show and can be seen at the end of show, embedded here; along with interviews with Dr. Dre talking about Easy-E dying of AIDS and a young Cee Lo performing with his group Goodie Mob.

The CD included one of the first enhanced interactive elements ever released: a virtual DJ application that allowed people to remix tracks on the album, watch exclusive extra video segments and learn more about HIV/AIDS and safer sex.

Around the same time, Red Hot was approached by R. Kelly to do a superstar ballad to raise money and awareness to fight AIDS called “Every Nation.” The track was recorded with additional vocals by Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Curtis Mayfield and others; but the track and related project stalled when other artists who were scheduled to appear didn’t come to the session and the project was dropped by the record label. It was eventually released as part of a tribute to Princess Diana, but never achieved the level of success R. Kelly had in mind.

PRESS


INTERVIEW

Though the tracks contain plenty of the rote-but-necessary wear-a-condom, don’t-share-needles platitudes, most offer vignettes that hit home, as on the record’s cornerstone, Wu-Tang Clan’s “America,” and on “Listen to Me Now” from Eightball and MJG, which draws out sinister similarities between the virus and drive-by.


vibe

The June release of the Red Hot Organization’s fund-raising rap compilation, America Is Dying Slowly (Elektra)– featuring artists including Goodie, MoB, Coolio, and Common– stands as testimony to the hip hop community’s recently reformed attitude towards AIDS. Red Hot, a nonprofit group whose six collections of rock, dance, country, and acid jazz music have garnered more than $6 million for AIDS relief since 1989. 


THE SOURCE

Since the sudden loss of rapper Eazy-E to the AIDS virus, hip-hop has apparently awakened from its “I like it raw” stage and has gravitated toward the “stay protected” side of things. Aside from the many dangers of the virus itself, America is Dying Slowly focuses on the other crummy aspects of urban life, including “Money” (Luniz, Dru Down), “Games” (Money Boss Playas) and “Nasty Hoes” (Sadat X & Fat Joe). All contribute solid efforts, but 8-Ball & MJG’s “Listen To Me Now”–in which the two metaphorically play the role of the virus– is the wake-up call of this masterpiece. 


CREDITS

Produced By:
Grace Harry & Rene McLean
Music Supervisor:
Rene McLean
Executive Producer:
John Carlin