Bad Sister is the debut album by Roxanne Shanté, released in 1989 on Cold Chillin' Records. The album peaked at No. 52 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Contents
Production
Bad Sister was produced by Marley Marl. Big Daddy Kane contributed lyrics to a couple of the album's songs. In Rolling Stone, Chuck Eddy said the album's "homemade double-entendre slang gets as nasty as its beat. That beat – which Marley Marl's mix thickens house style with up-to-the-minute boogie piano, Shaft-derived wah-wah, dub echo, frat-party noise and horny horns – just couldn't be nastier."
Critical reception
The New York Times wrote that the songs "combine humor and raw rhythmic power with Ms. Shante's sturdy sense of identity ... [they] proves she's tougher and wittier than the competition." Trouser Press thought that "Shanté has a cute, coy voice that takes on an authoritative edge when she kicks into high gear." The Spin Alternative Record Guide called Bad Sister "a true hip-hop masterpiece" and a "definitive Cold Chillin' album." USA Today praised the "hilarious, sometimes risque stories."
In 2022, Rolling Stone placed Bad Sister at number 175 on their list of the 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. The magazine's writer Charles Aaron said, "Her old-school playground sass, pitiless flow, and casually eviscerating wit turned songs like "Bad Sister," "Live on Stage," "Have a Nice Day," and "Go on Girl" into giddy celebrations."
Track listing
"Bad Sister" (D. Clear, M. Williams)—5:00
"Live on Stage" (N. Wilson, M. Williams)—6:57
"Independent Woman" (D. Clear, M. Williams)—4:35
"Knockin' Hiney" (L. Gooden, C. Curry, K. Coaxum, M. Williams)—3:36
"My Groove Gets Better" (K. Coaxum, M. Williams)—3:30
"Feelin' Kinda Horny" (J. Loving, P. Bourke)—4:10
"Have a Nice Day" (remix) (A. Hardy, M. Williams)—3:21
"Let's Rock, Y'all" (L. Gooden, M. Williams)—4:17
"Fatal Attraction" (D. Clear, M. Williams)—4:28
"Wack Itt (Remix)" (L. Gooden, M. Williams, A. Booth)—6:00
"Skeezer" (A. Hardy, M. Williams)—2:45
"What's on Your Mind" (R. Diggs Hamlian, M. Williams)—3:20
"Go On, Girl (Remix)" (A. Hardy, M. Williams)—5:01
"Gotta Get Paid" (featuring Craig G) (L. Gooden, M. Williams)—1:52
Personnel
Producer: Marley Marl except "Feelin' Kinda Horny" produced by Jae Supreme & Q. Neighbor
Mixing: Marley Marl except "Feelin' Kinda Horny" mixed by Jae Supreme & Q. Neighbor
Assistant engineers: Leon Lee, Thomas on Time, and Clash
Engineer: Jae Supreme and Richard Joseph on "Feelin' Kinda Horny"
Remixing: C.J. Mackintosh and David Dorrell on "Live on Stage"
Art Direction and Design: JoDee Stringham
Photography: George DuBose
Album Coordinator: Kelly Haley