Welcome to the Zoo
| Welcome to the Zoo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 25, 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 2006–07 | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | Hip-hop | |||
| Length | 1:02:48 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
| |||
| Gorilla Zoe chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from 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. 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.
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
| 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" | Drumma Boy | 4:40 | |
| 2. | "Hood Nigga" |
|
| 3:20 |
| 3. | "Money Man" |
| Mike The Track Blazer | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Tryna Make a Jug" (featuring Big Gee) |
| Fatboi | 4:10 |
| 5. | "Crack Muzik (This That Muzik)" (featuring Jody Breeze) |
| Drumma Boy | 4:36 |
| 6. | "Battle Field" (featuring Block and Big Gee) |
| Dee Jay Dana | 3:55 |
| 7. | "Take Your Shoes Off" (featuring Yung Joc) |
|
| 4:25 |
| 8. | "I Know" |
| Flawda Water | 4:47 |
| 9. | "Count on Me" (featuring Jody Breeze and JC) |
| Jay Mac | 4:04 |
| 10. | "Real Motherfucka" (performed by Boyz n da Hood) |
| Jay Mac | 5:04 |
| 11. | "Juice Box" (featuring Yung Joc) |
| Drumma Boy | 4:09 |
| 12. | "Money Up" |
| Win | 3:37 |
| 13. | "You Don't Know Me" (featuring D. Woods) |
| Willie "Chuck" Shivers | 3:28 |
| 14. | "Lil Shawty" |
| Drumma Boy | 4:09 |
| 15. | "Last Time I Checked" |
| 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 |
References
- ^ Hasty, Katie (October 3, 2007). "Rascal Flatts Races To No. 1 In Debut-Heavy Week". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "Welcome to the Zoo - Gorilla Zoe". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ a b Juon, Steve 'Flash' (October 9, 2007). "Gorilla Zoe :: Welcome to the Zoo :: Block Ent./Bad Boy Records". RapReviews. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b Christgau, Robert (January 2008). "Consumer Guide: Babyshambles, Ghostface Killah, Rilo Kiley Get High Marks Chuck D, Ponytail, Soulja Boy and Wu-Tang Clan All Make the Dean's List As Well". MSN Music. Retrieved July 24, 2025 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ a b Garland, Maurice G. (October 11, 2007). "Gorilla Zoe Welcome to the Zoo". XXL. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Key to Icons". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ "Gorilla Zoe Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
External links
- Welcome To The Zoo at Discogs (list of releases)