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{{for|similarly titled albums|Professional (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
{{Infobox album
| Name = The Professional
| Type = Album
| name = The Professional
| Artist = [[DJ Clue?]]
| type = album
| Cover = Professional-1.jpg
| artist = [[DJ Clue?]]
| cover = Professional-1.jpg
| Released = {{Start date|1998|12|15|mf=y}}
| Recorded = 1997–98
| alt =
| Genre = {{Flatlist|
| released = {{Start date|1998|12|15}}
| recorded =
*[[East Coast hip hop]]
| studio =
*[[hardcore hip hop]]
*Alien Flyers <small>(New York City)</small>
*Platinum Island <small>(New York City)</small>
*Desert Storm <small>(New York City)</small>
*Soundtrack <small>(New York City)</small>
*[[The Hit Factory]] <small>(New York City)</small>
*Krosswire <small>(Atlanta)</small>
*Sound On Sound <small>(New York City)</small>
*Source <small>(Canton, Massachusetts)</small>
*[[D&D Studios]] <small>(New York City)</small>
| genre = {{hlist|[[hardcore hip hop]]}}
| length = {{Duration|h=1|m=14}}
| label = {{hlist|[[PolyGram]]|[[Def Jam]]|[[Desert Storm Records|Desert Storm]]|[[Roc-A-Fella]]}}
| producer = {{hlist|[[DJ Clue?]] <small>(also [[Executive producer|exec.]])</small>|[[Ken Duro Ifill|DURO]] <small>(also {{abbr|exec.|executive producer}})</small>|[[Buckwild (music producer)|Buckwild]]|[[DJ Scratch]]|[[Hangmen 3]]|Laze-E-Laze|[[M.O.P.]]|Self|[[Swizz Beatz]]|V.I.C.}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = [[Backstage: A Hard Knock Life|DJ Clue? Presents: Backstage Mixtape]]
| next_year = 2000
| misc =
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| Length =
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| Label = {{Flatlist|
| rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-professional-mw0000042277|title=The Professional - DJ Clue? {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|last=Conaway|first=Matt|website=[[AllMusic]]|language=en-us|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>
*[[Desert Storm Records|Desert Storm]]
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
*[[Roc-A-Fella Records|Roc-A-Fella]]
| rev2score = {{Rating-Christgau|dud}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robert Christgau: CG: DJ Clue?|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=2791&name=DJ+Clue?|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=|website=www.robertchristgau.com|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>
*[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]
| rev3 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
}}
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=DJ Clue: The Professional : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/djclue/albums/album/184358/review/6211104/the_professional|last=Diehl|first=Matt|date=January 25, 1999|website=[[Wayback Machine]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718194026/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/djclue/albums/album/184358/review/6211104/the_professional|archive-date=July 18, 2008|access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref>
| Producer = [[DJ Clue?]]
| This album = '''''The Professional'''''<br />(1998)
| Next album = ''[[The Professional 2]]''<br />(2001)
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|2|5}} [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r383148/credits|pure_url=yes}} link]
| rev2 = [[Rolling Stone]]
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}} [http://web.archive.org/web/20080718194026/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/djclue/albums/album/184358/review/6211104/the_professional link]
| noprose = yes
}}
}}
'''''The Professional''''' is the debut studio album by American record producer [[DJ Clue?]]. It was released on December 15, 1998, via [[Def Jam Recordings]], [[Jay-Z]]'s [[Roc-A-Fella Records]], and DJ Clue's [[Desert Storm Records]].


Recording sessions took place at Alien Flyers, at Platinum Island Studios, at Desert Storm Studios, at Soundtrack Studios, at [[The Hit Factory]], at Sound On Sound Studios and at [[D&D Studios]] in [[New York City]], at Krosswire Studios in [[Atlanta]], and at Source Sound Labs in [[Canton, Massachusetts]]. [[Hip hop production|Production]] was handled by [[Ken Duro Ifill|Ken "Duro" Ifill]], [[Buckwild (music producer)|Buckwild]], [[DJ Scratch]], [[Hangmen 3]], Laze-E-Laze, [[M.O.P.]], Self, V.I.C., [[Swizz Beatz]] and Clue himself.
'''''The Professional''''' is [[DJ Clue?]]'s debut studio album. It features appearances from [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]], [[M.O.P]], [[Jay-Z]], [[Ja Rule]], [[Missy Elliott]], [[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]], [[Nicole Wray]] and others. As of 2001, the album has sold 1,000,000 copies in the US, being certified Platinum by the [[RIAA]].

It features guest appearances from [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]], [[Fabolous]], [[Big Noyd]], [[Big Pun]], [[Boot Camp Clik]], [[Cam'ron]], [[Canibus]], [[Drag-On]], [[EPMD]], [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]], [[Flipmode Squad]], [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]], [[Ja Rule]], [[Jadakiss]], Jay-Z, [[Jermaine Dupri]], [[Keith Murray (rapper)|Keith Murray]], [[Lord Tariq]], [[Made Men]], [[Mase|Ma$e]], [[Memphis Bleek]], [[Missy Elliott]], [[Mobb Deep]], Mocha, [[M.O.P.]], [[Nas]], [[Nature (rapper)|Nature]], [[Nicole Wray]], [[N.O.R.E.]], [[Sean Combs|Puff Daddy]], [[Raekwon]], [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], R.O.C. and [[Styles P]].

The album peaked at number twenty-six on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, and number three on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart. It has been certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] on January 27, 1999, and then went platinum on August 20, 2001, indicating US sales of over one million units.

Its sequels, ''[[The Professional 2]]'' and ''[[The Professional 3]]'', were released in 2001 and 2006, respectively.


== Track listing ==
== Track listing ==
All tracks are produced by [[DJ Clue]] and [[Ken Duro Ifill|DURO]], except where noted.
# "Intro" <small>(featuring [[Sean Combs| Sean "Puffy" Combs]])</small> 1:02
{{Track listing
# "[[Ruff Ryders' Anthem#DJ Clue Remix|Ruff Ryders' Anthem]]" (Remix) <small>(featuring [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]], [[Drag-On]], [[Eve (entertainer)|Eve]], [[Jadakiss]] and [[Styles P]])</small> 3:52
| extra_column = Producer
# "It's On" <small>(featuring [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]])</small> 3:25

# "Fantastic 4" <small>(featuring [[Cam'ron]], [[Big Pun]], [[N.O.R.E.]] and [[Canibus]])</small> 5:09
|title1 = Intro
# "Queensfinest" <small>(featuring [[Nas]])</small> 3:26
|note1 = featuring [[Sean Combs|Sean "Puffy" Combs]]
# "Exclusive New Shit" <small>(featuring [[Nature (rapper)|Nature]])</small> 3:08
|writer1 =
# "Gangsta Shit" <small>(featuring [[Jay-Z]] and [[Ja Rule]])</small> 4:38
|extra1 =
# "Thugged Out Shit" <small>(featuring [[Memphis Bleek]])</small> 3:54
|length1 = 1:02
# "It's My Thang '99" <small>(featuring [[EPMD]], [[Keith Murray (rapper)|Keith Murray]] and [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]])</small> 3:00

# "Mariah Carey" (Skit) 0:21
|title2 = [[Ruff Ryders' Anthem]] (Remix)
# "Whatever You Want" <small>(featuring [[Flipmode Squad]])</small> 4:06
|note2 = featuring [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]], [[Jadakiss]], [[Styles P|Styles]], [[Drag-On]] and [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]]
# "That's The Way" <small>(featuring [[Fabolous]], [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]] and [[Mase]])</small> 4:31
|writer2 = {{hlist|[[Jadakiss|Jason Phillips]]|[[Styles P|David Styles]]|[[Drag-On|Melvin Jason Smalls]]|[[DJ Clue|Ernesto Shaw]]|[[Ken Duro Ifill|Ken Ifill]]|[[DMX (rapper)|Earl Simmons]]|[[Swizz Beatz|Kasseem Dean]]|[[Eve (rapper)|Eve Jeffers]]}}
# "[[I Like Control]]" <small>(featuring [[Missy Elliott]], Mocha and [[Nicole Wray]])</small> 3:48
|extra2 = {{hlist|[[Swizz Beatz]]|DURO {{small|({{abbr|rmx|remixer}})}}}}
# "Bitch Be a Ho" <small>(featuring [[Jermaine Dupri]] and R.O.C.)</small> 3:23
|length2 = 3:52
# "If They Want It" <small>(featuring [[Fabolous]])</small> 4:02

# "Pain in da Ass" (Skit) 0:28
|title3 = It's On
# "The Professional" <small>(featuring [[Mobb Deep]] and [[Big Noyd]])</small> 3:39
|note3 = featuring [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]]
# "Brown Paper Bag Thoughts" <small>(featuring [[Raekwon]])</small> 3:15
|writer3 = {{hlist|Simmons|Shaw|Ifill|[[Johnnie Wilder Jr.]]}}
# "Cops & Robbers" <small>(featuring [[Paul Cain]], [[Lord Tariq]]) </small> 3:26
|extra3 =
# "Made Men" <small>(featuring [[Made Men]])</small> 2:41
|length3 = 3:25
# "No Love" <small>(featuring [[M.O.P]])</small> 4:12

# "Come On" <small>(featuring [[Boot Camp Clik]])</small> 4:31
|title4 = Fantastic 4
|note4 = featuring [[Cam'ron]], [[Big Pun]], [[N.O.R.E.|Noreaga]] and [[Canibus]]
|writer4 = {{hlist|[[Cam'ron|Cameron Giles]]|[[Big Pun|Christopher Rios]]|[[N.O.R.E.|Victor Santiago]]|Shaw|Ifill|[[Canibus|Germaine Williams]]|[[Tony Romeo]]}}
|extra4 =
|length4 = 5:09

|title5 = Queensfinest
|note5 = featuring [[Nas]]
|writer5 = {{hlist|[[Nas|Nasir Jones]]|Edward Hinson|Shaw|Ifill}}
|extra5 = Self
|length5 = 3:26

|title6 = Exclusive-New Shit
|note6 = featuring [[Nature (rapper)|Nature]]
|writer6 = {{hlist|[[Nature (rapper)|Jermain Baxter]]|[[Bob James (musician)|Bob James]]|Shaw|Ifill}}
|extra6 =
|length6 = 3:08

|title7 = Gangsta Shit
|note7 = featuring [[Jay-Z]] and [[Ja Rule]]
|writer7 = {{hlist|[[Jay-Z|Shawn Carter]]|[[Ja Rule|Jeffrey Atkins]]|Shaw|Ifill|[[Thom Bell]]|[[Linda Creed]]}}
|extra7 =
|length7 = 4:38

|title8 = Thugged Out Shit
|note8 = featuring [[Memphis Bleek]]
|writer8 = {{hlist|[[Memphis Bleek|Malik Cox]]|Shaw|Ifill}}
|extra8 =
|length8 = 3:54

|title9 = It's My Thang '99
|note9 = featuring [[EPMD]], [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]] and [[Keith Murray (rapper)|Keith Murray]]
|writer9 = {{hlist|[[Erick Sermon]]|[[Redman (rapper)|Reggie Noble]]|[[Keith Murray (rapper)|Keith Murray]]|[[PMD (rapper)|Parrish Smith]]|Shaw|Ifill}}
|extra9 =
|length9 = 3:00

|title10 = Mariah Carey (Skit)
|note10 =
|writer10 =
|extra10 =
|length10 = 0:21

|title11 = Whatever You Want
|note11 = featuring [[Flipmode Squad]]
|writer11 = {{hlist|[[DJ Scratch|George Spivey]]|[[Busta Rhymes|Trevor Smith]]|[[Rampage (rapper)|Roger McNair]]|[[Spliff Star|William Lewis]]|[[Rah Digga|Rashia Fisher]]|[[Flipmode Squad|Leroy Jones]]|[[Flipmode Squad|Wayne Notise]]|[[Chaka Khan|Yvette Marie Stevens]]|[[Ray Parker Jr.]]}}
|extra11 = [[DJ Scratch]]
|length11 = 4:06

|title12 = That's the Way
|note12 = featuring [[Mase]], [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]] and [[Fabolous|Fabolous Sport]]
|writer12 = {{hlist|[[Mase|Mason Betha]]|[[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Inga Marchand]]|[[Fabolous|John Jackson]]|Shaw|Ifill|[[Chris Frantz]]|[[Tina Weymouth]]|[[Steven Stanley]]|[[Adrian Belew]]|[[Harry Wayne Casey]]|[[Richard Finch (musician)|Richard Finch]]}}
|extra12 =
|length12 = 4:31

|title13 = [[I Like Control]]
|note13 = featuring [[Missy Elliott|Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott]], Mocha and [[Nicole Wray]]
|writer13 = {{hlist|[[Missy Elliott|Melissa Elliott]]|Aleesha Richards|[[Nicole Wray]]|Shaw|Ifill|[[El DeBarge]]|[[Randy DeBarge]]|[[Bunny DeBarge|Etterlene Jordan]]|[[Howie Tee]]}}
|extra13 =
|length13 = 3:48

|title14 = Bitch Be a Ho
|note14 = featuring [[Jermaine Dupri]] and R.O.C.
|writer14 = {{hlist|[[Jermaine Dupri]]|Rahman Griffin|Shaw|Ifill|[[T-Connection|Theophilus Coakley]]}}
|extra14 =
|length14 = 3:23

|title15 = If They Want It
|note15 = featuring Fabolous Sport
|writer15 = {{hlist|Jackson|Shaw|Ifill}}
|extra15 =
|length15 = 4:02

|title16 = Pain in da Ass (Skit)
|note16 =
|writer16 =
|extra16 =
|length16 = 0:28

|title17 = The Professional
|note17 = featuring [[Mobb Deep]] and [[Big Noyd|Noyd]]
|writer17 = {{hlist|[[Havoc (musician)|Kejuan Muchita]]|[[Prodigy (rapper)|Albert Johnson]]|[[Big Noyd|TaJuan Perry]]|[[The Beatnuts|Victor Padilla]]|Shaw|Ifill|Felipe Bojalil Garza|Mario Arturo Ramos}}
|extra17 = [[The Beatnuts|V.I.C.]]
|length17 = 3:39

|title18 = Brown Paper Bag Thoughts
|note18 = featuring [[Raekwon]]
|writer18 = {{hlist|[[Raekwon|Corey Woods]]|Shaw|Ifill}}
|extra18 =
|length18 = 3:15

|title19 = Cops & Robbers
|note19 = featuring [[Lord Tariq]] and Muggs
|writer19 = {{hlist|[[Lord Tariq|Sean Hamilton]]|[[Buckwild (music producer)|Anthony Best]]|Paul Cain|Shaw|Ifill|[[George David Weiss]]|[[Hugo Peretti]]|[[Luigi Creatore]]}}
|extra19 = [[Buckwild (music producer)|Buckwild]]
|length19 = 3:26

|title20 = Made Men
|note20 = featuring [[Made Men]]
|writer20 = {{hlist|[[Benzino|Raymond Scott]]|[[Made Men|Marco Ennis]]}}
|extra20 = Hangmen 3
|length20 = 2:41

|title21 = No Love
|note21 = featuring [[M.O.P.]]
|writer21 = {{hlist|[[M.O.P.|Jamal Grinnage]]|[[M.O.P.|Eric Murray]]|Shaw|Ifill|E. DeBarge|R. DeBarge|Jordan}}
|extra21 = {{hlist|M.O.P.|Laze}}
|length21 = 4:12

|title22 = Come On
|note22 = featuring [[Boot Camp Clik]]
|writer22 = {{hlist|Shaw|Ifill|[[Smif-N-Wessun|Tekomin Williams]]|[[Smif-N-Wessun|Darrell Yates Jr.]]|[[Buckshot (rapper)|Kenyatta Blake]]|[[Sean Price]]|[[Heltah Skeltah|Jahmal Bush]]|Louis Johnson}}
|extra22 =
|length22 = 4:31
}}

'''Sample credits'''<!-- From the liner notes -->
* "It's On" contains a sample of "Goin' Crazy", written by [[Johnnie Wilder Jr.]], and performed by [[Heatwave (band)|Heatwave]].
* "Fantastic 4" contains a sample from "[[I Think I Love You]]", written by [[Tony Romeo]], and performed by [[The Partridge Family]].
* "Gangsta Shit" contains a sample from "You and Me", written by [[Thom Bell]] and [[Linda Creed]], and performed by [[The Stylistics]].
* "It's My Thang '99" contains a sample from "Seven Minutes of Funk", written by [[Erick Sermon]] and [[PMD (rapper)|Parrish Smith]], and performed by [[EPMD]].
* "Whatever You Want" contains an interpolation of "[[You Got the Love (Rufus song)|You Got the Love]]", written by [[Chaka Khan|Yvette Marie Stevens]] and [[Ray Parker Jr.]], and performed by [[Chaka Khan]].
* "That's the Way" contains a sample from "[[Genius of Love]]", written by [[Chris Frantz]], [[Tina Weymouth]], [[Steven Stanley]], and [[Adrian Belew]]; and performed by [[Tom Tom Club]]. It also contains an interpolation of "[[That's the Way (I Like It)]]", written by [[Harry Wayne Casey]] and [[Richard Finch (musician)|Richard Finch]].
* "I Like Control" contains an interpolation of "[[I Like It (DeBarge song)|I Like It]]", written by [[El DeBarge]], [[Randy DeBarge]], and [[Bunny DeBarge|Etterlene Jordan]]. It also contains a sample from "Let's Move It", written by [[Howie Tee]] and performed by [[Special Ed (rapper)|Special Ed]].
* "Bitch Be a Ho" contains a sample from "Love Supreme", written by Theophilus Coakley and performed by the [[T-Connection]].
* "The Professional" contains a sample from "Hasta Que Vuelas", written by Felipe Bojalil Garza and Mario Arturo Ramos, and performed by [[Vikki Carr]].
* "Cops & Robbers" contains a sample of "Lucky Me", written by [[George David Weiss]], [[Hugo Peretti]], and [[Luigi Creatore]]; and performed by The Stylistics.
* "No Love" contains an interpolation of "I Like It", written by El DeBarge, Randy DeBarge, and Etterlene Jordan.

==Personnel==
* Juan Allen – engineer (7)
* Paul Arnold – engineer and mixing (20)
* [[Tony Black (record producer)|Tony Black]] – engineer (13)
* Larry DeVoure – string arrangements (18)
* Brian Fyre – engineer (14)
* [[Ken Duro Ifill|Ken DURO Ifill]] – engineer (3, 4, 6, 9, 11-13, 15, 17-19, 22), mixing (2-9, 11-15, 17-19, 22), keyboards (8)
* Jay Groucott – assistant mix engineer (4, 18)
* Fred Hedemark – assistant mix engineer (7, 9, 17)
* Gal Karmi – assistant engineer (2-4)
* David Matos – guitar (12)
* Martha Mook – strings (18)
* Lil' Rob – keyboards (3, 7, 8, 18, 22), bass guitar (11, 12)
* Paul Olivera – assistant engineer (3, 9, 17)
* Greg Pinto – assistant mix engineer (6, 13-15)
* Vaughn Session – engineer (5)
* Soundboy – engineer (6)
* Steve Sounder – engineer (3)
* Jason Stasium – assistant engineer (8, 11)
* Patrick Viala – engineer (4)
* Zach Wind – assistant engineer (18)
* Carlisle Young – engineer (8), assistant mix engineer (3, 5, 12)

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1999)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|26|artist=DJ Clue 2|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 3, 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|3|artist=DJ Clue 2|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 3, 2020}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1999)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999|work=Billboard|accessdate=August 23, 2020}}</ref>
| 111
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1999/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999|work=Billboard|accessdate=August 23, 2020}}</ref>
| 34
|}
{{Col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=DJ CLUE|title=THE PROFESSIONAL|award=Platinum|relyear=1998|certyear=2001}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|46712|DJ Clue? – The Professional}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Professional, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Professional, The}}
[[Category:1998 debut albums]]
[[Category:DJ Clue? albums]]
[[Category:DJ Clue? albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz]]
[[Category:1998 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jermaine Dupri]]
[[Category:Albums produced by DJ Scratch]]
[[Category:Roc-A-Fella Records albums]]
[[Category:Roc-A-Fella Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Buckwild]]
[[Category:Albums produced by DJ Clue?]]
[[Category:Albums produced by DJ Clue?]]
[[Category:Albums produced by DJ Scratch]]

[[Category:Albums produced by Swizz Beatz]]
{{1990s-hiphop-album-stub}}

Latest revision as of 07:03, 10 December 2024

For similarly titled albums, see Professional (disambiguation).
The Professional
Studio album by
DJ Clue?
ReleasedDecember 15, 1998 (1998-12-15)
Studio
  • Alien Flyers (New York City)
  • Platinum Island (New York City)
  • Desert Storm (New York City)
  • Soundtrack (New York City)
  • The Hit Factory (New York City)
  • Krosswire (Atlanta)
  • Sound On Sound (New York City)
  • Source (Canton, Massachusetts)
  • D&D Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length1:14:00
Label
Producer
DJ Clue? chronology
The Professional
(1998) 		DJ Clue? Presents: Backstage Mixtape
(2000)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert Christgau(dud)[2]
Rolling Stone[3]

The Professional is the debut studio album by American record producer DJ Clue?. It was released on December 15, 1998, via Def Jam Recordings, Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records, and DJ Clue's Desert Storm Records.

Recording sessions took place at Alien Flyers, at Platinum Island Studios, at Desert Storm Studios, at Soundtrack Studios, at The Hit Factory, at Sound On Sound Studios and at D&D Studios in New York City, at Krosswire Studios in Atlanta, and at Source Sound Labs in Canton, Massachusetts. Production was handled by Ken "Duro" Ifill, Buckwild, DJ Scratch, Hangmen 3, Laze-E-Laze, M.O.P., Self, V.I.C., Swizz Beatz and Clue himself.

It features guest appearances from DMX, Fabolous, Big Noyd, Big Pun, Boot Camp Clik, Cam'ron, Canibus, Drag-On, EPMD, Eve, Flipmode Squad, Foxy Brown, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Keith Murray, Lord Tariq, Made Men, Ma$e, Memphis Bleek, Missy Elliott, Mobb Deep, Mocha, M.O.P., Nas, Nature, Nicole Wray, N.O.R.E., Puff Daddy, Raekwon, Redman, R.O.C. and Styles P.

The album peaked at number twenty-six on the Billboard 200 chart, and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on January 27, 1999, and then went platinum on August 20, 2001, indicating US sales of over one million units.

Its sequels, The Professional 2 and The Professional 3, were released in 2001 and 2006, respectively.

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are produced by DJ Clue and DURO, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."Intro" (featuring Sean "Puffy" Combs)  1:02
2."Ruff Ryders' Anthem (Remix)" (featuring DMX, Jadakiss, Styles, Drag-On and Eve)
3:52
3."It's On" (featuring DMX)
 3:25
4."Fantastic 4" (featuring Cam'ron, Big Pun, Noreaga and Canibus)
 5:09
5."Queensfinest" (featuring Nas)
Self3:26
6."Exclusive-New Shit" (featuring Nature)
 3:08
7."Gangsta Shit" (featuring Jay-Z and Ja Rule)
 4:38
8."Thugged Out Shit" (featuring Memphis Bleek)
 3:54
9."It's My Thang '99" (featuring EPMD, Redman and Keith Murray)
 3:00
10."Mariah Carey (Skit)"  0:21
11."Whatever You Want" (featuring Flipmode Squad)
DJ Scratch4:06
12."That's the Way" (featuring Mase, Foxy Brown and Fabolous Sport)
 4:31
13."I Like Control" (featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Mocha and Nicole Wray)
 3:48
14."Bitch Be a Ho" (featuring Jermaine Dupri and R.O.C.)
 3:23
15."If They Want It" (featuring Fabolous Sport)
  • Jackson
  • Shaw
  • Ifill
 4:02
16."Pain in da Ass (Skit)"  0:28
17."The Professional" (featuring Mobb Deep and Noyd)
V.I.C.3:39
18."Brown Paper Bag Thoughts" (featuring Raekwon)
 3:15
19."Cops & Robbers" (featuring Lord Tariq and Muggs)
Buckwild3:26
20."Made Men" (featuring Made Men)
Hangmen 32:41
21."No Love" (featuring M.O.P.)
  • M.O.P.
  • Laze
4:12
22."Come On" (featuring Boot Camp Clik)
 4:31

Sample credits

Personnel

[edit]
  • Juan Allen – engineer (7)
  • Paul Arnold – engineer and mixing (20)
  • Tony Black – engineer (13)
  • Larry DeVoure – string arrangements (18)
  • Brian Fyre – engineer (14)
  • Ken DURO Ifill – engineer (3, 4, 6, 9, 11-13, 15, 17-19, 22), mixing (2-9, 11-15, 17-19, 22), keyboards (8)
  • Jay Groucott – assistant mix engineer (4, 18)
  • Fred Hedemark – assistant mix engineer (7, 9, 17)
  • Gal Karmi – assistant engineer (2-4)
  • David Matos – guitar (12)
  • Martha Mook – strings (18)
  • Lil' Rob – keyboards (3, 7, 8, 18, 22), bass guitar (11, 12)
  • Paul Olivera – assistant engineer (3, 9, 17)
  • Greg Pinto – assistant mix engineer (6, 13-15)
  • Vaughn Session – engineer (5)
  • Soundboy – engineer (6)
  • Steve Sounder – engineer (3)
  • Jason Stasium – assistant engineer (8, 11)
  • Patrick Viala – engineer (4)
  • Zach Wind – assistant engineer (18)
  • Carlisle Young – engineer (8), assistant mix engineer (3, 5, 12)

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[8] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Conaway, Matt. "The Professional - DJ Clue? | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: DJ Clue?". www.robertchristgau.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Diehl, Matt (January 25, 1999). "DJ Clue: The Professional : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on July 18, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "DJ Clue 2 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  5. ^ "DJ Clue 2 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  8. ^ "American album certifications – DJ CLUE – THE PROFESSIONAL". Recording Industry Association of America.
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