Dare Iz a Darkside

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Dare Iz a Darkside | type = studio | artist = [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]] | cover = Dare iz.jpg | alt = | released = November 22, 1994 | recorded = March 1993 – August 1994 | venue = | studio = | genre = * [[East Coast hip-hop]] * [[experimental rap]] * [[gangsta rap]] | length = 68:37 | label = [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]] | producer = * [[Erick Sermon]] ([[Executive producer#Music|exec.]]) * [[Redman (rapper)|Reggie Noble]] * [[Rockwilder]] | prev_title = [[Whut? Thee Album]] | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = [[Muddy Waters (album)|Muddy Waters]] | next_year = 1996 | misc = {{Singles | name = Dare Iz a Darkside | type = studio | single1 = [[Rockafella (song)|Rockafella]] | single1date = September 29, 1994 | single2 = [[Can't Wait]] | single2date = February 7, 1995 }} }} '''''Dare Iz a Darkside''''' is the second [[studio album]] by [[United States|American]] rapper [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]]. It was released on November 22, 1994, by [[Def Jam Recordings]]. The album debuted at No. 13 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="BllbrdAlbms">{{cite web|last=|first=|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r207143|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))|format=|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=December 2, 2010}}</ref> The album was certified [[RIAA Certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA).<ref name="RedmanRIAA">{{cite web|last=|first=|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Redman&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2010&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum - December 02, 2010 : Search Results - Redman|format=|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]|accessdate=December 2, 2010}}</ref>

The album cover features Redman buried in the ground up to his neck, a reference to the cover of [[Funkadelic]]'s 1971 album ''[[Maggot Brain]]''. In addition, the song "Cosmic Slop" shares its name with a [[Cosmic Slop|1973 Funkadelic album]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/07/11/arts/music/funkadelic-maggot-brain.html |title=Before & After 'Maggot Brain' |first=Christopher R. |last=Weingarten |date=July 11, 2021 |publisher=New York Times |access-date=2023-02-05 }}</ref> The album spawned the two singles "[[Rockafella (song)|Rockafella]]" & "[[Can't Wait]]".

In 2010, Redman told [[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe Magazine]] that he never performed any songs from ''Dare Iz A Darkside'' in recent years - primarily due to the album being made during one of the dark times in his life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Full Clip: Redman Runs Down His Entire Catalogue|url=http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/full-clip-redman-runs-down-his-entire-catalogue?page=2|work=interview|publisher=vibe.com|accessdate=February 14, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304160504/http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/full-clip-redman-runs-down-his-entire-catalogue?page=2|url-status=dead}}</ref> The positive reaction to the album stunned Redman, who said "I was doing a lot of drugs on ''Dare Iz A Darkside''. I have chicks that come up to me and say, 'Yo, ''Dare Iz A Darkside'' is my favorite fuckin' album, ever.' I swear, I have not played ''Dare Iz A Darkside'' damn near since I did it. Seriously! I was so lost, I was so fucked up during that album".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Paine|first1=Jake|title=Redman Revisits "Dare Iz A Darkside" And Talks Gilla House, Saukrates|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.13301/title.redman-revisits-dare-iz-a-darkside-and-talks-gilla-house-saukrates|website=hiphopdx.com|publisher=Cheri Media|accessdate=April 26, 2016}}</ref> However, during his [[Verzuz]] battle with fellow rapper [[Method Man]] on April 20, 2021, Redman performed "Can't Wait" for the first time since its single release in 1995.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Madison |last2=Minsker |first2=Evan |title=Method Man and Redman’s VERZUZ Battle: Here’s What Happened |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/method-man-and-redmans-verzuz-battle-heres-what-happened/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref>

==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllmscRvw">{{cite web|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|title=allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Review )))|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r207143|pure_url=yes}}|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|accessdate=December 2, 2010}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Music Week]]'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="MW">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-12-03.pdf#page=35|title=Reviews: Albums|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=December 3, 1994|page=23|access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev3score = 8.7/10<ref name="Pitchfork review">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/redman-dare-iz-a-darkside/ |title=Redman: ''Dare Iz A Darkside'' |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=March 8, 2026 |accessdate=March 8, 2026 |last=Greene |first=Jayson}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="CDMuze">{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1084916/a/Dare+Iz+A+Darkside.htm|title=Redman - Dare Iz a Darkside CD Album|publisher=[[Muze]]. [[CD Universe]]|accessdate=October 10, 2011}}</ref> | rev5 = ''RapReviews'' | rev5score = 9/10<ref name="RRRvw">{{cite web|first=Steve|last='Flash' Juon|title=Redman :: Dare Iz a Darkside :: Def Jam|publisher=RapReviews.com|date=March 5, 2002|url=https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_darkside.html|accessdate=December 2, 2010}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="CDMuze"/> | rev7 = ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' | rev7score = (favorable)<ref name="CDMuze"/> }} ''Dare Iz a Darkside'' has been regarded by critics as an anomaly in Redman's discography due to its darker, more muted sound in comparison to his other work. Steve Juon of ''RapReviews'' described the album as "the most obscure and unappreciated" of Redman's albums in a 2002 review.<ref name="RRRvw" /> Writing in 2026, Jayson Greene of ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' calls the album "the one time in his long career that Reggie Noble forgot to be ingratiating", and describes the characteristic features of its sound as "atmospheric" darkness and "clotted and muffled" bass.<ref name="Pitchfork review" /> Jason Birchmeier of [[AllMusic]] describes ''Dare Iz a Darkside'' as having polarized Redman's fanbase, saying that some "admire{{nbsp}}... its eccentricities" while others find it "too inaccessible"; Birchmeier himself gave the album a mixed review, saying that its production lacked the "trademark funk" of other albums [[Erick Sermon]] had worked on.<ref name="AllmscRvw" />{{efn|Birchmeier directs his criticism of the production toward Sermon, although the majority of ''Dare Iz a Darkside'' was in fact produced by Redman himself.<ref name="Pitchfork review" />}} A contemporary review from ''[[Music Week]]'' found that the production was "sometimes too dense", but was overall positive, offering praise for Redman's lyricism.<ref name="MW" />

In 2025, ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' placed ''Dare Iz a Darkside'' at number 78 on their list of the "100 Best Rap Albums of All Time". The website's writer Paul A. Thompson said that Redman "struck a delicate balance between outre zaniness and undeniable chops, ensuring that every joke landed, but that the method of delivery would elicit gasps."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-rap-albums-all-time/|title=The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time|last=Thompson|first=Paul A.|display-authors=etal|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=September 30, 2025|access-date=October 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251002232453/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-rap-albums-all-time/|archive-date=October 2, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Commercial performance== ''Dare Iz a Darkside'' debuted at number 13 on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, and number one on the US [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] selling 83,000 copies,<ref>https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/12/03/kenny-g-puts-yule-atop-charts/</ref> becoming his first number one on the chart.<ref name="BllbrdAlbms"/> On January 27, 1995, the album was certified [[RIAA Certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) for sales of over 500,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=redman&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title=RIAA Certifications - Redman|accessdate=March 1, 2020}}</ref> As of October 2009, the album has 587,000 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hiphop-n-more.com/2009/10/xxl-scans-def-jams-entire-discography-record-sales/|title=XXL SCANS: DEF JAM'S ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY & RECORD SALES|date=October 18, 2009|accessdate=March 1, 2020}}</ref>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = Dr. Trevis | writer1 = Reggie Noble | extra1 = [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]] | length1 = 1:37 | title2 = Bobyahed2dis | writer2 = {{hlist|Noble|[[Rockwilder|Dana Stinson]]|J. Stewart|[[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton Jr.]]|[[Garry Shider|Garry Marshall Shider]]|David Lee Spradley}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Redman|[[Rockwilder]]}} | length2 = 3:24 | title3 = Journey Throo da Darkside | writer3 = {{hlist|Noble|[[Erick Sermon]]|[[Norman Whitfield]]}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Redman|[[Erick Sermon]] ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length3 = 2:26 | title4 = Da Journee | writer4 = Noble | extra4 = Redman | length4 = 2:12 | title5 = A Million and 1 Buddah Spots | writer5 = {{hlist|Noble|Sermon}} | extra5 = {{hlist|Erick Sermon|Redman ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length5 = 3:23 | title6 = Noorotic | writer6 = {{hlist|Noble|Stinson}} | extra6 = {{hlist|Rockwilder|Redman ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length6 = 3:32 | title7 = Boodah Session | writer7 = Noble | extra7 = Redman | length7 = 0:31 | title8 = Cosmic Slop | note8 = featuring [[Erick Sermon]] and [[Keith Murray]] | writer8 = {{hlist|Noble|Sermon|[[Keith Murray]]}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Redman|Erick Sermon ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length8 = 2:56 | title9 = Rockafella (R.I.P.) | writer9 = {{hlist|Noble|Sermon}} | extra9 = Redman | length9 = 0:25 | title10 = [[Rockafella (song)|Rockafella]] | writer10 = {{hlist|Noble|[[Leon Haywood]]|Clinton Jr.|[[Bernie Worrell|Bernard George Worrell]]|[[Bootsy Collins|William Collins]]}} | extra10 = Redman | length10 = 4:44 | title11 = Green Island | writer11 = {{hlist|Noble|[[Robert Alexander Anderson (composer)|Robert Alexander Anderson]]|A. Stillman}} | extra11 = Redman | length11 = 5:42 | title12 = Basically | writer12 = Noble | extra12 = Redman | length12 = 2:03 | title13 = [[Can't Wait]] | writer13 = {{hlist|Noble|Sermon|[[Rick James]]|[[Big Daddy Kane|Antonio Hardy]]}} | extra13 = {{hlist|Erick Sermon|Redman ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length13 = 4:13 | title14 = Winicumuhround | writer14 = {{hlist|Noble|Sermon|Clinton Jr.|Shider|Spradley}} | extra14 = {{hlist|Erick Sermon|Redman ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length14 = 4:28 | title15 = Wuditlooklike | writer15 = Noble | extra15 = Redman | length15 = 4:09 | title16 = Slide and Rock On | writer16 = {{hlist|Noble|Vaughan Mason|Robert Telson|Clinton Jr.|Shider|Spradley}} | extra16 = Redman | length16 = 3:54 | title17 = Sooperman Luva II | writer17 = {{hlist|Noble|[[Johnny "Guitar" Watson|John Watson]]|Reynaldo Rey|Timothy Gatling|Alton Stewart}} | extra17 = Redman | length17 = 4:50 | title18 = We Run N.Y. | note18 = featuring [[Hurricane G]] | writer18 = {{hlist|Noble|[[Hurricane G|Gloria Rodríguez]]|[[KRS-One|Lawrence Parker]]|[[Showbiz (producer)|Rodney LeMay]]|Alan Lomax|[[Eric Burdon]]|[[Chas Chandler|Bryan Chandler]]}} | extra18 = Redman | length18 = 4:13 | title19 = Dr. Trevis (Signs Off) | writer19 = Noble | extra19 = Redman | length19 = 1:39 | title20 = Tonight's da Nite (Remix) [CD Only Track] | note20 = | writer20 = Noble | extra20 = Redman | length20 = 3:51 | total_length = 1:04:03 }}The original cassette version is in a solid red shell.

==Personnel== Information taken from [[Allmusic]].<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r207143|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Credits )))|format=|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=December 2, 2010}}</ref> *Engineering – Mike Bona, Bob Fudjinski, Dave Greenberg, Bob Morse *Executive Production – Erick Sermon *Mastering – [[Tony Dawsey]] *Mixing – Bob Fudjinski, Dave Greenberg, Bob Morse *Narration – Jeff Stewart *Performing – Hurricane G, Keith Murray, Erick Sermon *Photography – [[Danny Clinch]] *Production – Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon *Sequencing – Reggie Noble, Jeff Trotter *Vocals – Reggie Noble, Erick Sermon

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

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1994) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- {{album chart|Billboard200|13|artist=Redman|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 21, 2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Redman|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 21, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1995) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 21, 2021|archivedate=January 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123044853/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/the-billboard-200|url-status=live}}</ref> | 191 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 21, 2021|archivedate=October 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003211718/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1995/top-r-b-hip-hop-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> | 33 |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" !rowspan="2"|Year !rowspan="2"|Single !colspan="4"|Peak chart positions<ref name="BllbrdSingles">{{cite web|last=|first=|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r207143|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( Dare Iz a Darkside > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))|format=|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=December 2, 2010}}</ref> |- !width="100"|U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] !width="100"|U.S. [[Hot Dance Singles Sales|Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales]] !width="100"|U.S. [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks]] !width="100"|U.S. [[Hot Rap Songs|Hot Rap Singles]] |- |align="center"|1994 |align="left"|"[[Rockafella (song)|Rockafella]]" |align="center"|— |align="center"|3 |align="center"|62 |align="center"|10 |- |align="center"|1995 |align="left"|"[[Can't Wait]]" |align="center"|94 |align="center"|5 |align="center"|61 |align="center"|11 |- | colspan="6" style="text-align:center; font-size:10pt;"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Redman|title=Dare Iz a Darkside|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=1995}} {{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

==See also== * [[List of number-one R&B albums of 1994 (U.S.)]]

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== * {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r207143|label=''Dare Iz a Darkside''}} * ''[http://www.discogs.com/Redman-Dare-Iz-A-Darkside/release/1921136 Dare Iz a Darkside]'' at [[Discogs]]

[[Category:1994 albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Erick Sermon]] [[Category:Def Jam Recordings albums]] [[Category:Redman (rapper) albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Redman]]