Natural Progression

{{Infobox album | name = Natural Progression | type = studio | artist = [[Sweatshop Union]] | cover = Natural Progression.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2003|10|7}} | recorded = April 19, 2003 – May 27, 2003 | studio = {{hlist|[[Hipposonic Studios]] ([[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia|BC]])|Dub Vibe Studios}} | genre = [[Hip-hop]] | length = {{Duration|h=1|m=2|s=53}} | label = [[Battle Axe Records]] | producer = {{hlist|Bookworm|Conscience|Dusty Melodica|Metty The Dert Merchant|[[Kyprios]]|Mos Eisley|Mr. Marmalade|[[Swollen Members|Rob The Viking]]|[[Tawgs Salter]]}} | prev_title = [[Local 604]] | prev_year = 2002 | next_title = [[United We Fall (album)|United We Fall]] | next_year = 2005 | misc = }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacNeil |first=Jason |title=Natural Progression - Sweatshop Union {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/natural-progression-mw0000318674 |access-date=June 23, 2025 |website=[[AllMusic]] |language=en}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Now (newspaper)|Now]]'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|5|full=Noto Color- N.svg|empty=Blue square N.PNG|rating=N}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Richards |first=Jason |date=February 12, 2004 |title=SWEATSHOP UNION - NOW Magazine |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/sweatshop-union-2004-02-12/ |access-date=June 23, 2025 |magazine=[[NOW Toronto]] |language=en-CA |volume=23 |issue=24}}</ref> | rev3 = RapReviews | rev3score = 8/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jost |first=Matt |date=October 10, 2006 |title=Sweatshop Union :: Natural Progression – RapReviews |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2006/10/sweatshop-union-natural-progression-5/ |access-date=June 23, 2025 |website=www.rapreviews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> }} '''''Natural Progression''''' is the second studio album by [[Canadian hip-hop]] group [[Sweatshop Union]]. It was released on October 7, 2003 via [[Battle Axe Records]]. Production was handled by Mos Eisley, [[Swollen Members|Rob The Viking]], Mr. Marmalade, Bookworm, Dusty Melodica, [[Tawgs Salter]], [[Kyprios]], Conscience, and Metty The Dert Merchant, with co-producer Daniel Elmes. It features one [[guest appearance]] from [[Moka Only]] on the song “Better Days”, which peaked at #23 on the [[Countdown (Canadian TV program)|MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown]] in August of 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sweatshop Union - Better Days|url=https://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=10687|website=Top40-Charts.com|access-date=2026-02-01|language=en}}</ref>

At the [[Juno Awards of 2004]], the album was nominated for a [[Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year]], but lost to [[Choclair]]'s ''Flagrant''. The album was also nominated for [[Western Canadian Music Awards]] Outstanding Rap/Hip-Hop Recording in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manitoba Nets 33 Nominations at 2004 WCMAs|url=https://www.manitobamusic.com/news/read,article/1363/manitoba-nets-33-nominations-at-2004-wcmas|website=Manitoba Music|date=2004-08-17|access-date=2026-02-02|language=en|first=Manitoba|last=Music}}</ref>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = The Answer | writer1 = | extra1 = Mos Eisley | length1 = 2:39 | title2 = Radio Edit | writer2 = | extra2 = Rob The Viking | length2 = 3:16 | title3 = News Flash | writer3 = | extra3 = | length3 = 0:21 | title4 = I Got News | writer4 = | extra4 = {{hlist|Rob The Viking|[[Tawgs Salter]]|[[Kyprios]] ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length4 = 4:03 | title5 = Don't Be Afraid | writer5 = | extra5 = Mos Eisley | length5 = 3:59 | title6 = Better Days | note6 = featuring [[Moka Only]] | writer6 = | extra6 = Bookworm | length6 = 3:15 | title7 = Today | writer7 = | extra7 = {{hlist|Rob The Viking|Daniel Elmes ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length7 = 3:33 | title8 = Us | writer8 = | extra8 = Mr. Marmalade | length8 = 3:06 | title9 = Truman Show | writer9 = | extra9 = {{hlist|Mr. Marmalade|Daniel Elmes ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}} | length9 = 3:06 | title10 = Baho Ang Titi Mo | writer10 = | extra10 = Dusty Melodica | length10 = 1:31 | title11 = On the Sly | writer11 = | extra11 = Rob The Viking | length11 = 3:41 | title12 = P.O.T.B. | writer12 = | extra12 = Mos Eisley | length12 = 3:50 | title13 = Garbage Love Songs & Cheesy Jingles | writer13 = | extra13 = Metty the Dert Merchant | length13 = 3:35 | title14 = The Way | writer14 = | extra14 = Rob The Viking | length14 = 4:12 | title15 = Stolen Memories | writer15 = | extra15 = {{hlist|Tawgs Salter|Kyprios}} | length15 = 4:20 | title16 = Any Reason | writer16 = | extra16 = Bookworm | length16 = 3:04 | title17 = The Thing About It | writer17 = | extra17 = Conscience | length17 = 4:24 | title18 = The Question (Outro) | writer18 = | extra18 = {{hlist|Mr. Marmalade|Dusty Melodica}} | length18 = 6:58 | total_length = 1:02:53 }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Discogs master|134347|Natural Progression|type=album}}

[[Category:2003 albums]] [[Category:Sweatshop Union albums]] [[Category:Battle Axe Records albums]] [[Category:Albums recorded at Hipposonic Studios]] [[Category:Albums produced by Rob the Viking]]