Performer Notes

Producers: Art & Rhythm (tracks 1, 9); Mike "Nice" Chapman, Trent Thomas (tracks 2-3); R. Kelly (tracks 4, 6-7); Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (tracks 5, 8); A-Plus (track 10); Lyvio G. (track 11); Toure (track 12); Erick Sermon (track 13); Organized Konfusion (track 14); K. Fingers (track 15); Pimp C (track 16); Duane "Snupe" Lee (track 17); Cold 187um (track 18).
Engineers: Stephen George, Adam Kudzin (track 1); Mike "Nice" Chapman, Lee Mars, Keith Senior (track 2); Mike "Nice" Chapman, Lee Mars, Jason Shablik (track 3); Peter Mokran (tracks 4, 7); Steve Hodge (track 5); Peter Mokran, Martin Stebbing (track 6); Steve Hodge, Jeff Taylor (track 8); Eric Gast, Chris Trevett (track 9); Matt Kelley (tracks 10, 12); Adam Kudzin (track 11); Bob Fudjinski (track 13); Antonio Smalios (track 14); Stephen George (track 15); NHP Sound (track 16); Mark Paladino (track 18).
If nothing else, the soundtrack to Keenen Ivory Wayans' A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME clearly demonstrates the debt modern R&B owes to hip-hop. Having incorporated everything from sculpted "beats"--behind new-style soul divas like Aaliyah--to DJ-styled, sample filled collages--for modern day vocal groups such as Zhane--R&B has shifted from an artist-dominated form to a producer-dominated one. In fact, listeners have to dig deep into the mix of most tracks on LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME to find a guitar, a bass or a real-live funky drummer; on the surface they'll mostly discover samples, keyboards and drum machines.
Yet the beats, samples and rhymes collected on LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME are also some of the funkiest around, making the soundtrack a first-rate R&B compilation. Nuttin' NYCe's "Down 4 Whateva," built on Soul II Soul's infamous groove; "Get The Girl, Grab The Money And Run," by Oakland's freestyle mavens Souls Of Mischief; and Organized Konfusion's "Let's Organize," which features Q-Tip's easily-recognizable pipes, are the most obvious highlights of an album that simply refuses to stop keepin' one movin'.
If you don't believe it, just cue up LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME in the middle of your next soiree, and watch the party heat up.
Personnel: Raja-Nee (vocals, chant, background vocals); Jellybean Johnson (vocals, chant); Terry Lewis (vocals, percussion); Jeff Taylor (vocals, drum programming); Ocee, Q-Tip, Tevin Campbell, Changing Faces (vocals); R. Kelly (rap vocals); Jeff Taylor (chant, programming); McKinley Horton (chant); Peter Mokran (guitar, programming); Joshua Shapera, Keith Henderson, Robert Cunningham (guitar); Bill Ortiz (horns); Lafayette Carthon, Trent Thomas (piano, keyboards); Mike Chapman (keyboards, drums); Cold 187um (keyboards, background vocals); B-Laid Back Edwards, Jimmy Jam (keyboards); Lance Alexander (programming, drum programming); Martin Stebbing (programming); Tour (scratches); Robert "The Professor" Anderson, Geraldine Sigler, Stephanie Edwards, Daniel Stokes, Stephanie Huff, Steve Gray (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Chip Fu; Chris Trevett; David Rideau; Organized Konfusion; Peter Mokran; R. Kelly; Ron Allaire; Steve Hodge ; Tony Maserati ; Bob Fudjinski.
Audio Remixer: R. Kelly.
Recording information: Battery Studios; Beachwood Recording Studios, Beachwood, OH; Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL; Doppler Recording Studios, Atlanta, GA; Doppler Studios; Dungeon Studio; Flyte Tyme studios, Edina, MN; GTR Studios; Music Palace; Platinum Island Recording Studios, New York, NY; Purple Dragon Studios, Atlanta, GA; Record Plant Studio; Soundtrack Studios; South Beach Studios.
Unknown Contributor Role: Redman.
Arrangers: Jimmy Jam; Terry Lewis.
The soundtrack to the urban comedy A Low Down Dirty Shame is a by-the-books collection of urban soul, hip-hop, and new jack R&B. It's well-produced -- the entire album sounds good -- but there is a noticeable lack of memorable material, leaving the record as nothing but a pleasant genre exercise. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Professional Reviews

The Source (1/95, p.86) - "...While one can only hope that the film delivers as well-balanced an offering as the soundtrack, one thing is guaranteed: this album's mixture of hip-hop and R&B will cause heads at your party to either start slowdancing or talking much shit..."

Melody Maker (7/15/95, p.37) - "...The soundtrack leans toward heavy swingbeat and it's pretty good stuff, R. Kelly, Silk and Aaliyah oozing out that addictive New Jack (anti)formula that seems so right this sticky sunny aft..."