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The Real Rock is a studio album by the reggae/rap musician Shinehead, released in 1990 via Elektra Records.[1][2]

The Real Rock
Studio album by Shinehead
Released	1990
Genre	Reggae, rap
Label	Elektra Records
Shinehead chronology
Unity (1988) The Real Rock (1990) Sidewalk University (1992)

The album peaked at No. 155 on the Billboard 200.[3]

Production

The album was recorded in New York and Jamaica, with contributions from the rhythm section of Steely & Clevie.[4] It contains interpretations of the songs "Family Affair", "Love and Marriage", and "Till I Kissed You".[5][6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Chicago Sun-Times	[4]
Robert Christgau	[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[9]
Los Angeles Times	[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[11]

The Los Angeles Times thought that "even the strongest songs are more well-crafted than inspirational, and the cleverest verbal forays are undercut by the musical retrenchment."[10] Trouser Press wrote that "the music on The Real Rock is more sophisticated in terms of technology and styling, but the songs are hit-and-miss."[12] The Washington Post declared that "the album's highlight ... is an inspired remake of Sly Stone's 'Family Affair', which mixes slap bass, scratching, soul singing and speed-rapping into an imaginative defense of black music, black neighborhoods and the black family."[5]

AllMusic called the album "one of the best rap releases of 1990," writing that "the East Coast resident wisely avoids being predicable."[7]

Track listing

References

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