Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler

"Da Hustler" redirects here and is not to be confused with The Hustler.

Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler is the second studio album by American rapper Noreaga. It was released on August 24, 1999, by Penalty Recordings. Recording sessions took place at The Hit Factory and Sound on Sound Studios in New York and at Criteria Studios in Miami. Production was handled by SPKilla, Ez Elpee, The Neptunes, Trackmasters, Anthony Barners, Charly "Suga Bear" Charles, Jamal Edgerton, Mannie Fresh and Swizz Beatz. It features guest appearances from Musaliny-N-Maze, Final Chapter, Goldfingaz, Juvenile, Kelis, Lil Wayne, Mike B., Missy Elliott, Scarlet O'Harlem and Troy Outlaw. The album debuted at number 9 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. On October 27, 1999, it received a Gold status by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 500,000 certified units.

Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler
Studio album by Noreaga
Released	August 24, 1999 (1999-08-24)
Recorded	1998–1999
Studio	The Hit Factory (New York, NY) Sound On Sound (New York, NY) Criteria Studios (Miami, FL)
Genre	Gangsta rap
Length	1:10:23
Label	Penalty Violator Tommy Boy
Producer	Anthony Barners Charly "Suga Bear" Charles EZ Elpee Jamal Edgerton Mannie Fresh SPKilla Swizz Beatz The Neptunes Trackmasters
Noreaga chronology
N.O.R.E. (1998) Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler (1999) God's Favorite (2002)
Singles from Melvin Flynt - Da Hustler
"Oh No" Released: September 14, 1999 "Blood Money Pt. 3" Released: 1999

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
NME	[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]
The Source	[4]
XXL	L (3/5)[5]

Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club wrote: "Melvin Flynt's formula proves promising and frustrating in equal measures, as Noreaga's engagingly demented flow struggles to compensate for the tiresome subject matter".^[6] Soren Baker of Chicago Tribune wrote that "Noreaga tackles familiar topics—inferior rappers, corrupt police—yet his signature off-pace delivery and the lethal beats backing him more than compensate for his typical lyrical fare".^[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Hospital / Funeral Intro"			3:42
2.	"Sometimes" (featuring Maze)	Victor Santiago Michael Allen Lamont Porter Jerry Peters	EZ Elpee	5:03
3.	"Gangsta's Watch"	Santiago Edwin Almonte Manuel Álvarez-Beigbeder Pérez Ana Magdalena	SPK	3:55
4.	"Da Hustla" (featuring Musaliny-N-Maze)	Santiago Musa Abdallah Allen Jean-Claude Olivier Samuel Barnes	Poke & Tone	3:31
5.	"Cocaine Business (Hysteria)" (featuring Kelis)	Santiago Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo Lawrence Parker Scott Sterling	The Neptunes	4:13
6.	"The Pigeon (Skit)" (featuring Mike B.)			1:07
7.	"Blood Money Pt. 3" (performed by Capone-N-Noreaga)	Santiago Porter Michael Dunford Betty Mary Thatcher	EZ Elpee	3:49
8.	"Wethuggedout" (featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott)	Santiago Melissa Elliott Kaseem Dean	Swizz Beatz	4:54
9.	"Going Legit" (featuring Musaliny)	Santiago Abdallah Almonte	SPK	3:53
10.	"Real or Fake Niggas" (featuring Final Chapter)	Santiago Allen Joseph Brandon Burke Charly Charles	Suga Bear	3:34
11.	"What the Fuck Is Up?" (featuring Scarlet O' Harlem)	Santiago Olivier Barnes	Poke & Tone Anthony Barners Jamal Edgerton	3:48
12.	"First Day Home"	Santiago Almonte	SPK	4:05
13.	"Da Tunnel (Skit)"			1:01
14.	"Hold Me Down" (featuring Final Chapter and Troy Outlaw)	Santiago Joseph Burke Almonte	SPK	4:46
15.	"If U Want It"	Santiago Almonte	SPK	4:20
16.	"Oh No"	Santiago Williams Hugo	The Neptunes	4:31
17.	"Play That Shit" (featuring Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Musaliny-N-Maze, and Goldfingaz)	Santiago Dwayne Carter Terius Gray Abdallah Allen Byron Thomas	Mannie Fresh	3:39
18.	"Flagrant Cops"	Santiago Almonte Maurice White	SPK	4:29
19.	"Animal Thug Goes Hollywood (Skit)"			2:03
Total length:				1:10:23

Sample credits

• Track 2 contains a sample of "One More Time for Love", written by Jerry Peters, as performed by Syreeta.
• Track 3 contains a sample of "Frente a Frente", written by Manuel Alejandro and Ana Magdalena, as performed by Jeanette.
• Track 5 contains an interpolation of "Illegal Business", written by Scott Sterling and Lawrence Parker.
• Track 7 contains a re-play of "Can You Understand", written by Michael Dunford and Betty Mary Thatcher.
• Track 18 contains a re-played portion of "Brazilian Rhyme", written by Maurice White.

Charts

Chart (1999)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[8]	20
US Billboard 200[9]	9
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[10]	3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[11]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.