Same as It Ever Was

Same as It Ever Was did not reach the same commercial heights as the group's previous album; however, Same as It Ever Was peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart (their highest position to date) and also reached gold status by Recording Industry Association of America. AllMusic gave it four out five stars. Andrew Love of The Ocala Star-Banner gave it four stars saying "this is a band that has definitely progressed over the course of one album". Roger Catlin of the Hartford Courant said that while finding the continuity monotonous it's "hard and compelling" as well as a "strong outing". Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A− and described it as "the hardest hip hop of the year." == Track listing ==

Sample credits • "Back from the Dead" contains a sample of "Rumors", performed by the Timex Social Club. • "I'm a Swing It" contains a sample of "You're Slippin'", performed by Boogie Down Productions. • "All That" contains a sample of "Snakin' the Grass", performed by Cannonball Adderley. • "On Point" contains a sample of "Inside Straight", performed by Cannonball Adderley. • "Over There Shit" contains a sample of "Make It Funky (Milk Is Chillin') by Audio Two. • "Word Is Bond" contains a sample of: • "Rivers Invitation", performed by Freddie Robinson. • "Death Becomes You", performed by Pete Rock & CL Smooth. • "It Ain't a Crime" contains a sample of "Get Out of My Life, Woman", performed by Lee Dorsey. • "Who's the Man" contains a sample of "The Master Plan", performed by the Kay Gees. • "On Point" contains a sample of "Inside Straight", performed by Cannonball Adderley. ==Personnel==

• Eric Francis Schrody – vocals (tracks 1–2, 4–8, 10–15), mixing (tracks 12, 14) • Daniel O’Connor – vocals (tracks 2, 4, 10, 14–15), art direction • Leor Dimant – vocals (tracks 4, 15), production (tracks 2–4, 9, 11–15), mixing (tracks 3, 9, 12, 14, 15) • Lawrence Muggerud – executive production, production (tracks 1, 5–6, 8, 10–11), mixing (tracks 1–2, 4–6, 8, 10–11, 13, 15) • Joseph Kirkland – vocals, production and mixing (track 7) • Nick Vidal – production (track 1) • Eric Vidal – production (track 1) • Tom Coyne – mastering • Jason Roberts – engineering • Erwin Gorostiza – art direction • Butch Belair – photography • Ron Jaramillo – design • Kenton Parker – logo design ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts ==Certifications==