Operation Stackola

Operation Stackola is the debut album by hip hop duo Luniz, which was released on July 4, 1995. The album was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over one million records on June 20, 2000.^[2] It features the group's most famous song to date, "I Got 5 on It." The album is The Luniz's best selling album, and it topped the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart for over 2 weeks and making the Top 20 on the Billboard 200.

Operation Stackola
Studio album by Luniz
Released	July 4, 1995^[1]
Recorded	May-December 1994
Studio	Pajama Studios (Oakland, California) Infinite Studios (Oakland, California)
Genre	West Coast hip hop Gangsta rap
Length	66:34
Label	Virgin Noo Trybe C-Note
Producer	Chris "C&H" Hicks (exec.) DJ Fuze N.O. Joe Tone Capone E-A-Ski
Luniz chronology
Operation Stackola (1995) Lunitik Muzik (1997)
Singles from Operation Stackola
"I Got 5 on It" Released: May 23, 1995 "Playa Hata" Released: November 1995

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
Robert Christgau	^[4]
Los Angeles Times	^[5]
Melody Maker	(recommended)^[6]
Muzik	^[7]
RapReviews	^[8]
The Source	^[9]

Critical response

The Source (8/95, p. 79) - 3.5 mics—Dope—"The Luniz...take the typical Oakland sound to another level...a combination of insane lyrics and street-core knowledge....tight lyrics and tight tracks...a must to compete in this diverse rap game...."

Melody Maker (3/23/96, p. 38)—Recommended—"Luniz aren't gangstas but playas.... The lifestyle depicted on Operation Stackola involves claiming Welfare and carrying a bus pass so that you can still afford to smoke Indo and drink Tanqueray and wear the latest Phat Farm."

Main Promoter K9 1995 Rap Pages (9/95, p. 26)—7 (out of 10)—"1995 is the year of Operation Stackola.... A balanced attack of Yukmouth's laid-back delivery and Knumskull's pinched vocal pitch...the Luniz do mental atomic pile drivers on ears and heads while ripping up microphones...."

Track listing

1. "Intro" – 0:51
2. "Put the Lead on Ya" (featuring Dru Down) – 5:25
3. "I Got 5 on It" (featuring Michael Marshall) – 4:13
4. "Broke Hos" – 4:11
5. "Pimps, Playas & Hustlas" (featuring Dru Down and Richie Rich) – 5:02
6. "Playa Hata" (featuring Teddy) – 4:31
7. "Broke Niggaz" (featuring Knucklehead and Eclipse) – 5:19
8. "Operation Stackola" – 4:36
9. "5150" (featuring Shock G) – 4:03
10. "900 Blame a Nigga" – 4:18
11. "Yellow Brick Road" – 5:35
12. "So Much Drama" (featuring Nik Nack) – 4:14
13. "She's Just a Freak" (featuring Knucklehead) – 4:12
14. "Plead Guilty" – 4:23
15. "I Got 5 on It (Reprise)" – 5:08
16. "Outro" – 0:33

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995) Peak position US Billboard 200^[10] 20 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[11] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position US Billboard 200^[12] 141 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[13] 37

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[14]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1995 (U.S.)

References

1. "Allmusic - Operation Stackola". AllMusic. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
2. RIAA Database June 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
3. AllMusic review
4. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Luniz". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
5. Siegmund Cuda, Heidi (August 6, 1995). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
6. Melody Maker review
7. Ashon, Will (March 1996). (PDF). Muzik. No. 10. p. 96. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
8. RapReviews review
9. The Source review
10. "Luniz, TLP". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
11. "Luniz, BLP". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
12. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
13. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
14. "American album certifications – Luniz – Operation Stackola". Recording Industry Association of America.