The Devil Made Me Do It is the debut album by the American rapper Paris. It was released on October 9, 1990, on Tommy Boy Records. Paris toured the US and Europe that year to promote the record. The album eventually sold over 300,000 copies according to the emcee.

Release

The title track was banned on MTV. Some record stores refused to carry a version of the album, due to a cover image of a police officer putting a young Black male in a chokehold.

Critical reception

"Menacing...the vocals intensify and get hyper, creating a heightened sense of anxiety...his lyrics are intense and he drops science while showing skills on the mic..."

- The Source

"Rap music reaches new heights of political invective on Paris' jolting debut recording...Paris boosts his message with unique, sleek music...adding a primal beast-on-the-hunt quality..."

Track listing

  1. "Intro" – 0:40
  2. "Scarface Groove" – 4:35
  3. "This Is a Test" – 2:47
  4. "Panther Power" – 3:58
  5. "Break the Grip of Shame" 3:34
  6. "Warning" – 1:07
  7. "Ebony" – 3:56
  8. "Brutal" – 3:53
  9. "On the Prowl" – 1:10
  10. "The Devil Made Me Do It" – 4:12
  11. "The Hate That Hate Made" – 1:09
  12. "Mellow Madness" – 4:50
  13. "I Call Him Mad" – 4:17
  14. "Escape from Babylon" – 5:18
  15. "Wretched" – 3:32
  16. "Break the Grip of Shame (The Final Call)" (Bonus track) – 8:06
  17. "Devil Made Me Do It (Poach a Pig Mix)" (Bonus track) – 5:44

Charts

Weekly charts

{| class="wikitable"

|-

!Album Charting

! Billboard 200

! R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

|-

|The Devil Made Me Do It

| 158

| 41

|-

|}

Singles

{| class="wikitable"

! Single

! Chart

! Position

|-

| "The Devil Made Me Do It"

| Hot Rap Singles

| 20

|}

References