View source for Fantastic, Vol. 2

{{Short description|Album by Slum Village}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Fantastic, Vol. 2
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Slum Village]]
| cover        = SV fantastic.jpg
| alt          = 
| released     = June 13, 2000
| recorded     = 1997−1998
| venue        = 
| studio       = 
| genre        = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[neo soul]]}}
| length       = {{hlist|74:52 (US)|67:51 (UK)}}
| label        = GoodVibe
| producer     = {{hlist|[[J Dilla|Jay Dee]]|[[Pete Rock]]|[[D'Angelo]]}}
| prev_title   = [[Fan-Tas-Tic (Vol. 1)]]
| prev_year    = 1997
| next_title   = [[Best Kept Secret (Slum Village album)|Best Kept Secret]]
| next_year    = 2000
| misc         = {{Singles
| name = Fantastic, Vol. 2
| type = studio
| single1 = Get Dis Money
| single1date = March 23, 1999
| single2 = I Don't Know / Eyes Up
| single2date = August 22, 2000
| single3 = Climax (Girl Shit) / CB4
| single3date = August 22, 2000
| single4 = Raise It Up / Fall In Love (Jay Dee Remix)
| single4date = July 16, 2001
}}
}}

'''''Fantastic, Vol. 2''''' (also referred to as '''''Fantastic Volume II''''') is the second album by [[American people|American]] [[hip hop music|hip hop]] group [[Slum Village]], released on June 13, 2000. During the time of its release the group was still composed of its earliest members T3, [[Baatin]] and [[J Dilla]].

== Overview ==
The album was initially completed in 1998 for [[A&M Records]] shortly before the label became obsolete, leaving [[Slum Village]] in limbo for over a year.  During this period, however, the group's producer Jay Dee greatly increased his profile through work with artists such as [[Common (rapper)|Common]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Erykah Badu]] and [[A Tribe Called Quest]]. At the same time tremendous acclaim from notables such as [[Questlove]] of [[The Roots]] and [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]] built up anticipation for the long-delayed LP.

[[Slum Village]] eventually found an outlet with Goodvibe Recordings & Barak Records, and released ''Fantastic, Vol. 2'' in spring 2000. Although sales were slow (due to heavy [[bootleg recording|bootlegging]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}) the group nevertheless had a huge impact on the [[underground hip-hop|underground]] circuit and were proclaimed torch-bearers for the departing [[A Tribe Called Quest]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}}

In particular Jay Dee's much lauded production work, full of subtle grooves and soul claps, was a blueprint for the direction that [[neo soul]] would take in the coming years.  The album was re-released minus the original version of "Fall-N-Love", which was replaced by the remix due to sample clearance issues, as well as their collaboration with Common, "Thelonius" (which originally appeared on Common's ''[[Like Water for Chocolate (album)|Like Water for Chocolate]]''). "Raise It Up" uses a sample from the song "Extra Dry" by [[Thomas Bangalter]] of [[Daft Punk]].  It was initially used without permission, as producer J Dilla obtained a copy of the song from a [[bootleg recording]], and assumed that the artist was an obscure producer who was unlikely to notice. Bangalter and [[Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo]] however happened to be fans of Slum Village, and rather than demand a payment for the sample, instead asked the group to remix one of their own tracks; this ended up becoming Slum Village's remix of the song "[[Aerodynamic (instrumental)|Aerodynamic]]".<ref>[http://www.stonesthrow.com/news/2009/02/stones-throw-x-ed-banger Stones Throw x Ed Banger] ''[[Stones Throw Records]] meets [[Ed Banger Records]].'' stonesthrow.com. Retrieved on March 22, 2009.</ref>

The album's cover was designed by [[Waajeed]] (of the group [[Platinum Pied Pipers]]).

== Critical reception and aftermath ==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fantastic-vol-2-mw0000602592|title=Fantastic, Vol. 2 – Slum Village|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 9, 2016|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]''
| rev2score = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Slum Village: Fantastic, Vol. 2|magazine=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|issue=144|date=July 2000|page=111|issn=1065-1667}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3score = B+<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2000/06/23/fantastic-vol-2/|title=Fantastic, Vol. 2|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=June 23, 2000|access-date=September 9, 2016|last=Takahashi|first=Corey|issn=1049-0434}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Independent]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|title=Pop: Album Reviews|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=May 20, 2000|last=Perry|first=Tim|issn=0951-9467}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Muzik]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Slum Village: Fantastic Vol II|magazine=[[Muzik]]|issue=52|date=September 1999|last=Lynskey|first=Dorian|page=73|issn=1358-541X}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6score = 6/10<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Slum Village: Fantastic, Vol. 2|magazine=[[NME]]|date=May 27, 2000|page=40|issn=0028-6362}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev7score = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21904-the-fan-tas-tic-box-set/|title=Slum Village: The Fan-Tas-Tic Box Set|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|date=June 4, 2016|access-date=June 6, 2016|last=Ex|first=Kris}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=21704&cf=7805|title=Slum Village: Fantastic, Vol. 2|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 17, 2000|access-date=June 26, 2017|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|issn=0035-791X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030721045453/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=21704&cf=7805|archive-date=July 21, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Williams|first=Felicia A.|title=Slum Village: Fantastic, Vol. 2|magazine=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|issue=116|date=May 1999|page=214|issn=1063-2085}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev10score = 5/10<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6N0JSkTI3j4C&pg=PA158|title=Slum Village: Fantastic Vol. II|magazine=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|volume=16|issue=6|date=June 2000|access-date=September 9, 2016|last=Caramanica|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Caramanica|pages=158–159|issn=0886-3032}}</ref>
}}

The album received highly positive reviews and acclaim upon its release. ''[[SF Weekly]]'' commented that "([[J Dilla|Jay Dee]]'s) production style has been subtly influencing better-recognized producers for years" and even went as far as to claim that "Slum Village is going to single-handedly save rap music".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sfweekly.com/music/slum-village/|title=Slum Village: Fantastic, Vol. 2 (GoodVibe)|newspaper=[[SF Weekly]]|date=June 7, 2000|access-date=October 12, 2021|last=Keast|first=Darren|issn=1060-2526}}</ref> The group themselves have since acknowledged the impact this record had, and while they benefited greatly from it, it has also overshadowed their later, though more commercially successful work.

The twelfth track "Get Dis Money" was originally featured on the soundtrack to the 1999 [[Mike Judge]] cult film ''[[Office Space]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Office Space (1999) - Soundtracks|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0151804/soundtrack|website=imdb.com|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2014-12-30}}</ref> The second track "Conant Gardens" was featured in the 2002 [[Frankie Muniz]] film ''[[Big Fat Liar]]'' as well as the 2003 [[Steve Martin]] film ''[[Cheaper by the Dozen (2003 film)|Cheaper by the Dozen]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cheaper By The Dozen (2003) - Soundtracks|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349205/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd|website=imdb.com|publisher=IMDb|access-date=2014-12-30}}</ref>

The album was re-issued as ''Fantastic Vol. 2.10'' in 2010.

==Track listing==
===Original pressing===
All tracks are solely produced by Jay Dee, except for "Tell Me", which is produced by [[D'Angelo]] and co-produced by Jay Dee, and "Once Upon A Time", which is produced by [[Pete Rock]] and Jay Dee. On subsequent pressings, the album includes the Jay Dee-produced songs "Thelonius" and "Who We Are" as bonus tracks. [[Questlove]] produced the preceding interlude to "Thelonius" but as the entire track is lifted from Common's ''[[Like Water for Chocolate (album)|Like Water For Chocolate]]'', he is not credited.

*All songs written by James Yancey, Titus Glover and R. L. Altman, except as noted

# "Intro" – 1:25
# "[[Conant Gardens]]" – 3:04
# "I Don't Know" – 2:25
# "Jealousy" – 4:05
# "Climax (Girl Shit)" – 3:31
# "Hold Tight" <small>'''(feat. [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]])'''</small> (James Yancey, Titus Glover, R.L. Altman, Kamaal Fareed) – 3:12
# "Tell Me" <small>'''(feat. [[D'Angelo]])'''</small> (James Yancey, Titus Glover, R.L. Altman, Michael Archer) – 4:37
# "What It's All About" <small>'''(feat. [[Busta Rhymes]])'''</small> (James Yancey, Titus Glover, R.L. Altman, Trevor Smith) – 3:36
# "Forth and Back" <small>'''(feat. [[Kurupt]])'''</small> (James Yancey, Titus Glover, R.L. Altman, Ricardo Brown) – 4:26
# "Untitled/Fantastic" – 3:54
# "Fall in Love" – 3:47
# "Get Dis Money" – 3:31
# "[[Raise It Up (Slum Village song)|Raise It Up]]" – 4:27
# "CB4" – 3:45
# "Once Upon a Time" <small>'''(feat. [[Pete Rock]])'''</small> (James Yancey, Titus Glover, R.L. Altman, Peter Phillips) – 5:54
# "Players" – 2:26
# "Eyes Up" – 4:22
# "2U 4U" – 3:08
# "Go Ladies" – 4:43
# "Thelonius" <small>'''(feat. [[Common (rapper)|Common]])'''</small> (James Yancey, Titus Glover, R.L. Altman, Lonnie Lynn) – 4:29 ([[hidden track]])
# "Who Are We" – 3:44 (bonus track found on later pressings)

===2010 re-release===
On February 2, 2010, the album was re-released as the two-disc ''Fantastic Vol. 2.10'', commemorating the 10th anniversary of the original album. This Barak Records release features additional tracks, alternative versions of a few songs, instrumentals, and a different intro from the original release. The songs changed or replaced are "Hold Tight", "Fourth & Back", "Once Upon a Time" and "2U 4U". This version of "Once Upon a Time" is produced by Pete Rock only. "Climax", while the same version of the song, now features a different ending followed by a skit. "Fall-N-Love" is listed as the 'original version' but is the same version to be found on the original release, this is because of some earlier presses that replaced it with the 12" remixes because of a sample problem. It is notable for including many small skits that appear between songs that never appeared on earlier presses.

'''Disc 1''':
# "Intro"
# "Conant Gardens"
# "I Don't Know" (feat. Jazzy Jeff)
# "Skit #1"
# "Jealousy"
# "Climax"
# "Hold Tight (Remix)" (feat. Q-Tip)
# "Tell Me"
# "Skit #2"
# "Forth & Back (Original Version)" (feat. Kurupt)
# "Untitled"
# "Fall-N-Love (Original Version)"
# "Get Dis Money"
# "CB4"
# "Once Upon a Time ([[Pete Rock]] Remix)" (feat. Pete Rock)
# "Players"
# "Eyes Up"
# "2U 4U [Live Drums]"
# "Hustle" (feat. Busta Rhymes)
# "Go Ladies"
# "Skit #3"
# "We Be Dem #1"
# "We Be Dem #2"
# "Get It Together"

'''Disc 2''':
# "Conant Gardens (Instrumental)"
# "I Don't Know (Instrumental)"
# "Climax (Instrumental)"
# "Hold Tight (Remix) (Instrumental)"
# "Tell Me (Instrumental)"
# "Untitled (Instrumental)"
# "Fall-N-Love (Instrumental)"
# "Get Dis Money (Instrumental)"
# "CB4 (Instrumental)"
# "Players (Instrumental)"
# "Eyes Up (Instrumental)"
# "2U 4U (Instrumental)"
# "Hustle (Instrumental)"
# "Go Ladies (Instrumental)"

== Outtakes ==
*"Once Upon A Time" - was originally titled "On A Mission", and was on a [[white label record|white label]] before the album's release. This version is also produced by Pete Rock, but without Jay Dee's added touches.
*"Get Dis Money" - a version with an alternative verse from Baatin.
*"The Hustle" (Ft. Busta Rhymes) - white label.
*"Beej N Dem" - one of the many tracks from Slum's demo debut "Fantastic" that was re-recorded for Volume 2, this was the last and most high-end cut of this song that was released.
*"Forth & Back" - the second of three recordings for "Forth & Back", another song concept from "Fantastic", this version uses a more radio-friendly beat, sampling Tom Browne's "[[Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)]]". The order of verses remains intact, including the feature from Kurupt, except Jay, T3, and Baatin's verses are all older vocal takes with completely different lyrics.
*"2U4U" - a version with drums by Jay Dee & [[Karriem Riggins]].

All of these outtakes are on the re-release of the album.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{YouTube|P5MsfvX5-dA|"Raise It Up" music video}}
{{Slum Village}}
{{J Dilla}}
{{Soulquarians}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2000 albums]]
[[Category:J Dilla albums]]
[[Category:Slum Village albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by J Dilla]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Pete Rock]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Questlove]]
[[Category:Sequel albums]]