Stone Cold Rhymin'

Stone Cold Rhymin'
Stone Cold Rhymin'
Studio album by Young MC
Released	September 5, 1989
Recorded	1988−89
Studio	Matt Dike's apartment (Santa Monica, California)
Genre	Hip-hop
Length	47:24
Label	Delicious Vinyl
Producer	Quincy Jones; Dust Brothers;
Young MC chronology
Singles from Stone Cold Rhymin'
	"I Let 'Em Know"; Released: 1988; "Know How"; Released: 1988; "Bust a Move"; Released: May 22, 1989; "Principal's Office"; Released: 1989; "I Come Off"; Released: 1990; "Pick Up the Pace"; Released: 1990;

Stone Cold Rhymin' is the debut album by the American rapper Young MC. It was released in 1989 on Delicious Vinyl and was later re-issued by Rhino Records. The album reached No. 9 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart.^[2] The third track, "Bust a Move", was Young MC's biggest hit and is his best-known song, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100^[3] and topping the charts in Australia.^[4] His follow-up single, "Principal's Office", reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also nominated for "Best Rap Video" at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[5]
Chicago Tribune	^[6]
Los Angeles Times	^[7]
NME	7/10^[8]
Q	^[9]
RapReviews	6.5/10^[10]
Record Mirror	4/5^[11]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[12]
Tiny Mix Tapes	3.5/5^[13]
The Village Voice	B+^[14]

The Calgary Herald noted that Young MC possesses "perhaps the clearest enunciation in rap: every word comes through perfectly, and yet his delivery is more musical than most."^[15]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Marvin Young, Matt Dike, and Michael Ross except where otherwise noted. All tracks published by PolyGram Music except "Just Say No" published by PolyGram/Warner Chappell.

"I Come Off" (feat. N'Dea Davenport)
"Principal's Office"
"Bust a Move"
"Non Stop"
"Fastest Rhyme" (M. Young)
"My Name is Young" (M. Young/M. Dike)^[a]
"Know How" (M. Young/John "King Gizmo" King/Michael "E.Z. Mike" Simpson)
"Roll with the Punches"
"I Let 'Em Know"
"Pick Up the Pace" (M. Young/M. Dike)
"Got More Rhymes" (M. Young/M. Dike/M. Ross/J. King)
"Stone Cold Buggin'" (M. Young/M. Dike)
"Just Say No" (M. Young/Quincy Jones Jr.)

^ There are two versions of "My Name is Young". The lyrics are the same but the music is distinct.

Personnel

Young MC – vocals, songwriting
Matt Dike – production, arrangement, mixing (all tracks except 7 and 13)
Michael Ross – production, arrangement, mixing (all tracks except 7 and 13)
The Dust Brothers – production, arrangement, mixing (track 7), co-production (track 11)
Quincy Jones Jr. – production, arrangement, mixing (track 13)
Mario Caldato Jr. – engineering
Brian Foxworthy – additional engineering
Salomon – photography, art direction
EMC-0 – production coordinator
Crystal Blake – vocals (tracks 1, 3 and 11)
Flea – bass (tracks 2 and 3)
Kevin O'Neal – bass (tracks 7 and 8)
John Dexter Steward Jr. – drums (tracks 2 and 4)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Stone Cold Rhymin'*
Chart (1989–90)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[16]	38
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[17]	8
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[18]	7
US Billboard 200^[19]	9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[20]	8

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Stone Cold Rhymin'*
Chart (1989)	Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[21]	54
Chart (1990)	Position
US Billboard 200^[22]	25

Certifications

Certifications for *Stone Cold Rhymin'*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[23]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[24]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "About Marvin Young". Young MC. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
^ "Billboard 200™". Billboard. December 9, 1989. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
^ "Billboard Hot 100™". Billboard. October 14, 1989. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
^ "Young M.C. - Bust a Move (song)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Stone Cold Rhymin' – Young MC". AllMusic. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
^ Kot, Greg (October 19, 1989). "Young M.C.: Stone Cold Rhymin' (Delicious Vinyl)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
^ Hilburn, Robert; Hunt, Dennis; Boehm, Mike; Cromelin, Richard; Gold, Jonathan; Hochman, Steve; Johnson, Connie; Lee, Craig; McKenna, Kristine; Lewis, Randy; Snowden, Don; Willman, Chris; Grein, Paul; Marlowe, Duff; Waller, Don (October 29, 1989). "The Record Industry's Big Push". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
^ Fadele, Dele (December 9, 1989). "Young MC: Stone Cold Rhymin'". NME. p. 31.
^ Mulholland, Garry (June 2004). "Young MC: Stone Cold Rhymin'". Q. No. 215.
^ Juon, Steve "Flash" (November 9, 2021). "Young M.C. :: Stone Cold Rhymin'". RapReviews. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
^ Smith, Robin (December 16, 1989). "Young MC: Stone Cold Rhymin'". Record Mirror. p. 15.
^ Coleman, Mark (1992). "Young MC". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. pp. 797–798. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.
^ Holmes, Filmore Mescalito (April 23, 2009). "Young MC – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Tiny Mix Tapes. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
^ Christgau, Robert (May 29, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
^ Mayes, Alison (October 26, 1989). "Discs". Calgary Herald. p. D3.
^ "Australiancharts.com – Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6584". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
^ "Charts.nz – Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^ "Young MC Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^ "Young MC Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6625". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
^ "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1990". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Young MC – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Music Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
^ "American album certifications – Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 27, 2025.

[16] There are two versions of "My Name is Young". The lyrics are the same but the music is distinct.

[1] "About Marvin Young". Young MC. Retrieved July 22, 2025.

[2] "Billboard 200™". Billboard. December 9, 1989. Retrieved May 16, 2024.

[3] "Billboard Hot 100™". Billboard. October 14, 1989. Retrieved May 16, 2024.

[4] "Young M.C. - Bust a Move (song)". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved May 2, 2010.

[5] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Stone Cold Rhymin' – Young MC". AllMusic. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

[6] Kot, Greg (October 19, 1989). "Young M.C.: Stone Cold Rhymin' (Delicious Vinyl)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

[7] Hilburn, Robert; Hunt, Dennis; Boehm, Mike; Cromelin, Richard; Gold, Jonathan; Hochman, Steve; Johnson, Connie; Lee, Craig; McKenna, Kristine; Lewis, Randy; Snowden, Don; Willman, Chris; Grein, Paul; Marlowe, Duff; Waller, Don (October 29, 1989). "The Record Industry's Big Push". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 16, 2024.

[8] Fadele, Dele (December 9, 1989). "Young MC: Stone Cold Rhymin'". NME. p. 31.

[9] Mulholland, Garry (June 2004). "Young MC: Stone Cold Rhymin'". Q. No. 215.

[10] Juon, Steve "Flash" (November 9, 2021). "Young M.C. :: Stone Cold Rhymin'". RapReviews. Retrieved May 16, 2024.

[11] Smith, Robin (December 16, 1989). "Young MC: Stone Cold Rhymin'". Record Mirror. p. 15.

[12] Coleman, Mark (1992). "Young MC". In DeCurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; George-Warren, Holly (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (3rd ed.). Random House. pp. 797–798. ISBN 0-679-73729-4.

[13] Holmes, Filmore Mescalito (April 23, 2009). "Young MC – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Tiny Mix Tapes. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2024.

[14] Christgau, Robert (May 29, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

[15] Mayes, Alison (October 26, 1989). "Discs". Calgary Herald. p. D3.

[ac_Australia_Young_M.C.-17] "Australiancharts.com – Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2022.

[group=-18] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6584". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2025.

[ac_New_Zealand_Young_M.C.-19] "Charts.nz – Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 29, 2022.

[ac_Billboard200_Young_MC-20] "Young MC Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2022.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Young_MC-21] "Young MC Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2022.

[CA_YE-22] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6625". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2025.

[23] "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1990". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved September 2, 2025.

[CanadaYoung_MCStone_Cold_Rhymin'albumCertRef-24] "Canadian album certifications – Young MC – Stone Cold Rhymin'". Music Canada. Retrieved July 27, 2025.

[United_StatesYoung_M.C.Stone_Cold_RhyminalbumCertRef-25] "American album certifications – Young M.C. – Stone Cold Rhymin". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 27, 2025.

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v t e Young MC
Studio albums	Stone Cold Rhymin' (1989) Brainstorm (1991) What's the Flavor? (1993) Return of the 1 Hit Wonder (1997) Ain't Goin' Out Like That (2000) Engage the Enzyme (2002)
Singles	"Bust a Move" "Principal's Office" "We're All in the Same Gang"

Stone Cold Rhymin'

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