There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story

There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story^[6] is the debut studio album by American rapper Remy Ma. It was released on February 7, 2006, by SRC Records, Universal Records and Terror Squad Entertainment. The album's release date served as the sixth anniversary of her mentor Big Pun's death. The title and cover art coincides with the 1998 film There's Something About Mary. The album sold over 35,000 copies in its first week ^[6] and as of 2007, has sold over 160,000 copies.^[7]

There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story
Studio album by Remy Ma
Released	February 7, 2006 (2006-02-07)
Recorded	2005
Genre	Hip hop
Length	55:43
Label	SRC Universal Terror Squad
Producer	Remy Ma (exec.) Cool & Dre Knobody Scott Storch Swizz Beatz The Alchemist Emile
Remy Ma chronology
There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story (2006) I'm Around (2014)
Singles from There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story
"Whuteva" Released: August 2, 2005 "Conceited" Released: December 13, 2005 "Feel So Good" Released: April 25, 2006

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
HipHopDX	^[2]
PopMatters	^[3]
Spin	Positive^[4]
Vibe	^[5]

Background

While growing up with her sister Kristin Devereaux, in Castle Hill Projects in the Bronx, New York, Remy Ma often saw the consequences and terrors of her family's drug abuse with her own eyes. She was forced to take care of her little brothers and sisters at her young age and retreated from her home issues by writing poetry. Her reputation quickly grew around the Bronx and word eventually got to the late MC Big Pun of her and her work. After one meeting and a freestyle session, Pun became her mentor.^[8] Ma made her first appearances in the music industry on Big Pun's album Yeeeah Baby (under the name Remy Martin) on the tracks such as "Ms. Martin" and "You Was Wrong".^[9]

Upon the death of Big Pun, rapper Fat Joe signed Smith to his imprint label under SRC and Universal and made her a member of Terror Squad. Following the success of Lean Back, which garnered Remy a Grammy nomination, Ma released three singles from her debut album There's Something About Remy, the songs "Whuteva", "Conceited" and "Feels So Good" The album moved 40,000 units in its opening week and 160,000 units within the first year. The album received good reviews from XXL Magazine with XL to Rolling Stone and Vibe Magazine despite its low sales.^{[citation needed]} Remy was frustrated at the way the album was being promoted by Universal and how the label wasn't releasing the right singles. With the solo albums lackluster debut, Smith decided to end her relationship with Fat Joe and the Terror Squad, breaking her deal with SRC/Universal in the process.

Commercial performance

Despite lack of promotion from the label, There's Something About Remy: Based On A True Story peaked at number 33 on Billboard 200, number 33 on Billboard Top Album Sales, number 2 on Billboard Top Rap Albums and number 7 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Singles

The album's lead single, called "Whuteva" was released on August 2, 2005. The song peaked at number 1 on Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 79 on the Top R&B Songs. In December 2006, the music video was added to her Official YouTube account.

The album's second single, called "Conceited" was released on December 13, 2005. The song peaked at number 7 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song Recurrents chart, number 17 on the Hot Rap Tracks, number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 71 on Billboard Radio Songs chart, number 24 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, number 4 on Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 17 on Billboard Rap Airplay chart. The music video premiered on January 7, 2006, on VH1.

The album's third single, "Feel So Good" was released on April 25, 2006. The song features a guest appearance from American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. The song peaked at number 1 on Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number 11 on Billboard Hot Rap Songs, number 11 on Billboard Rap Airplay chart and number 2 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents chart with no promotion. The visual was scheduled to film in Dominican Republic but never resumed due to Remy completely shutting down all disagreements and dehumanizing staff with brutal verbal confrontations that ultimately lead her to cut ties ending all business deals with both Record Labels.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Pun's Words"	Reminisce Smith Christopher Rios Michael "DJ Shok" Gomez		0:40
2.	"She's Gone"	R. Smith Anthony Best Kaz Tabata Bunny Sigler Phil Hurtt	Buckwild	2:54
3.	"Lights, Camera, Action"	R. Smith Rios Jerome Foster Angel Aguilar Marc Shemer Tom Scott Kevin Keaton Mohandas Dewese Lamar Hill	Agallah Scram Jones	3:23
4.	"Tight" (featuring Fat Joe)	R. Smith Joseph Cartagena Marcello Valenzano Andre Lyon	Cool & Dre	4:21
5.	"Whuteva"	R. Smith Kasseem Dean David Shire Modest Mussorgsky	Swizz Beatz	3:46
6.	"Conceited Messages (skit)" (featuring Roc Raida)	Anthony Williams		1:46
7.	"Conceited (There's Something About Remy)"	R. Smith Scott Storch	Scott Storch	3:39
8.	"Feel So Good" (featuring Ne-Yo)	R. Smith Shaffer Smith Foster Levar Coppin	Knobody LV	4:02
9.	"I'm"	R. Smith Lavell Crump	David Banner	4:07
10.	"Thug Love" (featuring Big Pun)	R. Smith Rios Alan Maman Lamont Dozier McKinley Jackson	The Alchemist	3:58
11.	"Secret Location"	R. Smith Yefry Ramirez	J-Notes	3:38
12.	"In-Da-Street (skit)" (featuring Roc Raida)			0:16
13.	"Bilingual" (featuring Ivy Queen)	R. Smith Martha Pesante Coppin	LV	4:03
14.	"Conscience (skit)" (featuring Roc Raida and Wize G)			0:58
15.	"Guilty"	R. Smith Deleno Matthews	Sean C	2:57
16.	"Crazy"	R. Smith Emile Haynie Luther Vandross	Emile	4:02
17.	"What's Going On" (featuring Keyshia Cole)	R. Smith Claudette Ortiz Matthews Che Harris Joe Davi	Che Harris Joe Davi	3:55
18.	"Still"	R. Smith Valenzano Lyon	Cool & Dre	5:02

iTunes bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
19.	"My Life"	R. Smith

Japan bonus tracks

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
19.	"Can't Nobody"	R. Smith, A. Lyon, M. Valenzano	Cool & Dre	3:02
20.	"Lights, Camera, Action (Remix)" (featuring Kreva)	R. Smith, A. Aguilar, M. Shemer	Agallah, Scram Jones	3:26

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2006) Peak position US Billboard 200^[10] 33 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[10] 7 US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)^[10] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2006) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[11] 92

References

1. Allmusic review
2. HipHopDX review
3. PopMatters review
4. Spin review
5. "Vibe". January 2006.
6. "HITS Daily Double: Previous Album Sales Chart". Archived from the original on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
7. Concepcion, Mariel (June 9, 2007). "A Bad Rap? Facing Declining Sales and Limited Opportunities, the Female Hip-Hop Industry Ponders Its Future". Billboard.
8. . Sing365.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
9. "Yeeeah Baby: Big Pun: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
10. "Artist Chart History - Remy Ma - Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
11. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2020.