# Informal Introduction > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Informal_Introduction > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Informal_Introduction.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_Introduction > Source revision: 1339544014 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Informal Introduction | type = [Studio album](/source/Studio_album) | artist = [Shade Sheist](/source/Shade_Sheist) | cover = Informal Introduction.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|2002|9|10}} | recorded = 2000–02 | studio = {{hlist|[Larrabee Sound Studios](/source/Larrabee_Sound_Studios)|Soundcastle|Skip Saylor Recording|[Westlake Recording Studios](/source/Westlake_Recording_Studios) ([Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), [CA](/source/California))}} | genre = {{hlist|[West Coast hip hop](/source/West_Coast_hip_hop)|[gangsta rap](/source/gangsta_rap)}} | length = {{Duration|h=1|m=1|s=39}} | label = {{hlist|[Baby Ree](/source/Damizza)|[MCA](/source/MCA_Records)}} | producer = {{hlist|[Damizza](/source/Damizza) (also [exec.](/source/Executive_producer))|[DJ Quik](/source/DJ_Quik)|Eddie Berkeley|Howie Hersh|[KayGee](/source/KayGee)|[Timbaland](/source/Timbaland)}} | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Before The Waitin' Before The Hatin' | next_year = 2005 | misc = {{Singles | name = Informal Introduction | type = studio | single1 = [Where I Wanna Be](/source/Where_I_Wanna_Be_(Shade_Sheist_song)) | single1date = October 7, 2000 | single2 = Money Owners | single2date = May 14, 2002 | single3 = John Doe | single3date = 2002 | single4 = Wake Up | single4date = 2002 }} }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) | rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/informal-introduction-mw0000224446|title=Informal Introduction - Shade Sheist {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Henderson|first=Alex|date=|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|language=en-us|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 7, 2020}} | rev2 = [HipHopDX](/source/HipHopDX) | rev2score = 2.5/5{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.210/title.shade-sheist-informal-introduction|title=Shade Sheist - Informal Introduction|last=Williams|first=DeMarco|date=September 20, 2002|website=[HipHopDX](/source/HipHopDX)|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=March 7, 2020}} }} '''''Informal Introduction''''' is the debut studio album by American rapper [Shade Sheist](/source/Shade_Sheist). It was released on September 10, 2002, through [Baby Ree Productions](/source/Damizza) and [MCA Records](/source/MCA_Records). Recording sessions took place at [Larrabee Studios](/source/Larrabee_Sound_Studios), at Soundcastle, at Skip Saylor Recording, and at [Westlake Recording Studios](/source/Westlake_Recording_Studios) in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). [Production](/source/Hip_hop_production) was handled by [Damizza](/source/Damizza), Eddie Berkeley, [KayGee](/source/KayGee), [DJ Quik](/source/DJ_Quik), Howie Hersh and [Timbaland](/source/Timbaland). It features [guest appearance](/source/guest_appearance)s from [Nate Dogg](/source/Nate_Dogg), [AMG](/source/AMG_(rapper)), [DJ Clue](/source/DJ_Clue), [Fabolous](/source/Fabolous), [Hi-C](/source/Hi-C_(rapper_born_1973)), [Knoc-turn'al](/source/Knoc-turn'al), [Kurupt](/source/Kurupt), [Vita](/source/Vita_(rapper)) and [Warren G](/source/Warren_G) among others. Due to little promotion, the album was not a commercial success, only reaching number 69 on the ''[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'' [Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums](/source/Top_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Albums). It did, however, feature his biggest hit to date "[Where I Wanna Be](/source/Where_I_Wanna_Be_(Shade_Sheist_song))", which peaked at 95 on the [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) and 12 on the ''Billboard'' [Hot Rap Songs](/source/Hot_Rap_Songs). The album spawned three additional singles, "Money Owners", "John Doe" and "Wake Up" all of which became minor hits on the R&B charts. ==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = Holla Boyz Intro | note1 = featuring DJ Echo and DJ Vice | writer1 = | extra1 = | length1 = 1:08 | title2 = Somebody Steals the Show | note2 = | writer2 = {{hlist|[T. Thompson](/source/Shade_Sheist)|[D. Young](/source/Damizza)|H. Hersh}} | extra2 = [Damizza](/source/Damizza) | length2 = 4:25 | title3 = Act Like You Know Me | note3 = featuring [Fabolous](/source/Fabolous) and [Knoc-turn'al](/source/Knoc-turn'al) | writer3 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|[J. Jackson](/source/Fabolous)|[R. Harbor](/source/Knoc-turn'al)|H. Hersh}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Howie Hersh|Damizza ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length3 = 5:04 | title4 = John Doe | note4 = featuring [DJ Quik](/source/DJ_Quik), [AMG](/source/AMG_(rapper)), [Hi-C](/source/Hi-C_(rapper_born_1973)) and Swift | writer4 = {{hlist|[D. Blake](/source/DJ_Quik)|[C. Wilkerson](/source/Hi-C_(rapper_born_1973))|[J. Lewis](/source/AMG_(rapper))|K. Martin}} | extra4 = [DJ Quik](/source/DJ_Quik) | length4 = 3:25 | title5 = X2 | note5 = featuring [DJ Clue](/source/DJ_Clue) | writer5 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|D. Young|H. Hersh|[W. Withers](/source/Bill_Withers)}} | extra5 = Damizza | length5 = 4:27 | title6 = Walk a Mile | note6 = featuring Barbara Wilson, [Nate Dogg](/source/Nate_Dogg), N.U.N.E. and [Vita](/source/Vita_(rapper)) | writer6 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|[N. Hale](/source/Nate_Dogg)|C. McCauley|[L. Raynor](/source/Vita_(rapper))|D. Young|H. Hersh}} | extra6 = Damizza | length6 = 3:45 | title7 = Stop...And Think About It | note7 = featuring Big Caz | writer7 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|D. Young|H. Hersh|B. Eland}} | extra7 = {{hlist|Damizza|[Shade Sheist](/source/Shade_Sheist) ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length7 = 4:50 | title8 = Money Owners | note8 = featuring [Timbaland](/source/Timbaland) | writer8 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|[T. Mosley](/source/Timbaland)}} | extra8 = [Timbaland](/source/Timbaland) | length8 = 4:26 | title9 = Wake Up | note9 = featuring [Nate Dogg](/source/Nate_Dogg) and [Warren G](/source/Warren_G) | writer9 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|N. Hale|[W. Griffin III](/source/Warren_G)|E. Berkeley|[K. Gist](/source/KayGee)|[J. Mtume](/source/James_Mtume)|[R. James](/source/Rick_James)}} | extra9 = {{hlist|Eddie Berkeley|[Kay Gee](/source/KayGee)}} | length9 = 4:33 | title10 = BMF | note10 = | writer10 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|D. Young|H. Hersh}} | extra10 = Damizza | length10 = 4:17 | title11 = Thug Luv | note11 = featuring Barbara Wilson | writer11 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|D. Young|H. Hersh}} | extra11 = Damizza | length11 = 3:42 | title12 = Cali Diseaz (Musik) | note12 = featuring [Nate Dogg](/source/Nate_Dogg) | writer12 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|N. Hale|D. Young|H. Hersh}} | extra12 = Damizza | length12 = 4:12 | title13 = Here I Come | note13 = featuring [Damizza](/source/Damizza) | writer13 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|D. Young|H. Hersh}} | extra13 = Damizza | length13 = 3:24 | title14 = [Where I Wanna Be](/source/Where_I_Wanna_Be_(Shade_Sheist_song)) | note14 = featuring [Kurupt](/source/Kurupt) and [Nate Dogg](/source/Nate_Dogg) | writer14 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|[R. Brown](/source/Kurupt)|N. Hale|E. Berkeley|K. Gist|[R. Kimball](/source/Bobby_Kimball)|[D. Paich](/source/David_Paich)}} | extra14 = {{hlist|Eddie Berkeley|Kay Gee|Damizza ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length14 = 4:20 | title15 = The Urban Gospel | note15 = featuring King Arthur and N.U.N.E. | writer15 = {{hlist|T. Thompson|D. Young|H. Hersh}} | extra15 = {{hlist|Damizza|Shade Sheist ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length15 = 4:18 | title16 = Holla Boys Outro | note16 = featuring DJ Echo, DJ Vice and [Damizza](/source/Damizza) | writer16 = | extra16 = | length16 = 1:24 | total_length = 1:01:39 }} ==Personnel== *[Tramayne Thompson](/source/Shade_Sheist) – main artist, co-producer (tracks: 7, 15), co-executive producer, mixing (track 10) '''Guest artists/vocalists''' {{div col}} *Henry "DJ Echo" Olortegui – featured artist (tracks: 1, 16) *Eric "DJ Vice" Aguirre – featured artist (tracks: 1, 16) *[Damion Young](/source/Damizza) – featured artist (tracks: 13, 16), backing vocals (track 2) *Latonya Holmes – backing vocals (track 2) *[John Jackson](/source/Fabolous) – featured artist (track 3) *[Royal Harbor](/source/Knoc-turn'al) – featured artist (track 3) *[David Blake](/source/DJ_Quik) – featured artist (track 4) *[Crawford Wilkerson](/source/Hi-C_(rapper_born_1973)) – featured artist (track 4) *[Jason Lewis](/source/AMG_(rapper)) – featured artist (track 4) *Kenyan "Swift" Martin – featured artist (track 4) *Ernesto "[DJ Clue](/source/DJ_Clue)" Shaw – featured artist (track 5) *Barbara Wilson – featured artist (tracks: 6, 11), backing vocals (tracks: 6, 7, 11, 13) *[Nathaniel Dwayne Hale](/source/Nate_Dogg) – featured artist (tracks: 6, 9, 12, 14) *Chris "Nune" McCauley – featured artist (tracks: 6, 15) *[LaVita Raynor](/source/Vita_(rapper)) – featured artist (track 6) *Caz – featured artist (track 7) *[Timothy Mosley](/source/Timbaland) – featured artist (track 8) *[Warren Griffin III](/source/Warren_G) – featured artist (track 9) *Ricardo "[Kurupt](/source/Kurupt)" Brown – featured artist (track 14) *King Arthur – featured artist (track 15) {{div col end}} '''Instrumentalists''' {{div col}} *Damion "[Damizza](/source/Damizza)" Young – drums (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 10–13, 15), programming (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15), percussion (tracks: 2, 6, 13, 15), keyboards (track 5) *Howard B. Hersh – bass & keyboards (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 10–13) *[DeVante Swing](/source/DeVante_Swing) – keyboards (track 4) *Emmanuel "DJ EMan" Coquia – scratches (track 5) *Anthony Mazza – guitar (tracks: 7, 10) *Florian Ammon – Pro Tools (tracks: 6, 7, 12, 13) *D.B. Murda – programming (track 12) *B.W.N. – programming (track 12) {{div col end}} '''Technicals''' {{div col}} *[Damizza](/source/Damizza) – producer (tracks: 2, 5–7, 10–13, 15), co-producer (tracks: 3, 14), executive producer, recording (tracks: 6, 7, 11, 13) *Howie Hersh – producer (track 3) *David "[DJ Quik](/source/DJ_Quik)" Blake – producer & mixing (track 4) *Timothy "[Timbaland](/source/Timbaland)" Mosley – producer & mixing (track 8) *Edward Berkeley – producer (tracks: 9, 14) *[Kier Gist](/source/KayGee) – producer (tracks: 9, 14) *Michael Schlesinger – mixing (tracks: 2, 5–7, 10–15), recording (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 10–15) *[Jimmy Douglass](/source/Jimmy_Douglass) – mixing (track 8) *Steve Penny – engineering (track 8) *Jeremy – recording (tracks: 6, 8) *Ray – recording (track 7) *Jason Schweitzer – recording (track 13) *Evren Göknar – mastering *Brian – additional editing (track 5) *Aaron – additional engineering (track 8) {{div col end}} '''Additional''' {{div col}} *Jesse Alvarez – art direction, design & illustration *JP Robinson – art direction, design & illustration *Manuel J. Donayre – art direction, design & illustration *David Irvin – photography *[Anthony Mandler](/source/Anthony_Mandler) – photography *Naim Ali – A&R *Alicia N. Graham – A&R *[Sujit Kundu](/source/Sujit_Kundu) – management, co-executive producer {{div col end}} ==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2002) ! scope="col"| Peak
position |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|69|artist=Shade Sheist|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 7, 2020}} |- {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|20|artist=Shade Sheist|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 7, 2020}} |} === Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of singles, with selected chart positions |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="4" | Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[US](/source/Rhythmic_Airplay_Chart)
{{cite web | title=Shade Sheist| website=Billboard | date=18 November 2000 | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shade-sheist/chart-history/rhythmic-top-40/ | access-date=29 November 2023}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[US
R&B](/source/Hot_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Songs)
{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shade-sheist/chart-history/r%26b/hip-hop-songs|title=Shade Sheist|website=Billboard }} {{dead link|date=November 2023}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[US
Airplay](/source/Hot_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Airplay)
{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/shade-sheist/chart-history/r%26b/hip-hop-airplay|title=Shade Sheist|website=Billboard}} {{dead link|date=November 2023}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|[UK](/source/UK_Singles_Chart)
{{Cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/shade%20sheist%20featuring%20nate%20dogg%20%26%20kurupt/ |title=Official charts |access-date=2013-01-29 |archive-date=2013-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313030140/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/shade%20sheist%20featuring%20nate%20dogg%20%26%20kurupt/ |url-status=dead }} |- ! scope="row"| "[Where I Wanna Be](/source/Where_I_Wanna_Be_(Shade_Sheist_song))"
(featuring [Nate Dogg](/source/Nate_Dogg) & [Kurupt](/source/Kurupt)) | rowspan="1"| 2000 | 37 || 60 || 50 || 14 |- ! scope="row"| "Wake Up"
(featuring [Warren G](/source/Warren_G) & [Nate Dogg](/source/Nate_Dogg)) | rowspan="3"| 2002 | 36 || 53 || 52 || — |- ! scope="row"|"John Doe"
(featuring [DJ Quik](/source/DJ_Quik), [Hi-C](/source/Hi-C_(rapper_born_1973)), [AMG](/source/AMG_(rapper)) & Swift) | — || 66 || 64 || — |- ! scope="row"|"Money Owners"
(featuring [Timbaland](/source/Timbaland)) | — || 81 || — || — |- |colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{Discogs master|583591|Informal Introduction}} {{Authority control}} Category:2002 debut albums Category:MCA Records albums Category:Albums produced by KayGee Category:Albums produced by Damizza Category:Albums produced by DJ Quik Category:Albums produced by Timbaland Category:Hip-hop albums by American artists --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Informal Introduction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_Introduction) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_Introduction?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.