Codename: Ego Stripper

Codename: Ego Stripper
Studio album by Ces Cru
Released	August 5, 2014
Recorded	2013–14
Studio	Various Strangeland Studios (Kansas City, Missouri) Grey Room Studios (Atlanta, Georgia) Make Believe Studio (Omaha, Nebraska) Ongaud Productions (Chicago, Illinois) The Cuban American Social Club (Miami, Florida)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	0:54:53 1:05:08 (Deluxe edition)
Label	Strange Music
Producer	Various Travis O'Guin (exec.) Leonard Dstroy Info Gates
Ces Cru chronology
Constant Energy Struggles (2013) Codename: Ego Stripper (2014) Recession Proof (2015)
Singles from Codename: Ego Stripper
"Sound Bite" Released: June 26, 2014 "Power Play" Released: July 22, 2014 "Jimmy Stewart" Released: July 30, 2014

Codename: Ego Stripper is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Ces Cru. The album was released on August 5, 2014, by Strange Music. The album debuted at number 40 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
HipHopDX	[2]

Upon its release, Codename: Ego Stripper was met with generally positive reviews. David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Still a force to be reckoned with, Ces Cru's sophomore effort for Tech N9ne's Strange Music label retains the energy and intensity of their debut while walking the pimp walk with a more comfortable, sure strut."^[1] Kellan Miller of HipHopDX said, "Ces Cru is still a band with a witty-lyrics heavy approach, but overall Codename: Ego Stripper excels at putting the entire package together; a glaring problem with their last release. Ushering in a lengthy tracklist for an audience easily enticed by instagram, vines, (is-that-a-baby-smoking-a cigarette?) attention spans shows that Ces feel that they deserve their massive viral hype. On that note, “Hope” features the duo waxing poetic over a jazzy instrumental about exactly how far they envision their careers will soar. It is a fitting nightcap to an impressive release."^[2]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 40 on the Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 6,354 copies in the United States.^[3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Fate"	Mike Viglione Donnie King Michael Summers	Seven	2:56
2.	"Jimmy Stewart"	Viglione King Summers	Seven	3:27
3.	"Sound Bite"	Viglione King Kyle Dykes	Leonard Dstroy	3:32
4.	"Whips"	Viglione King Summers	Seven	2:39
5.	"Give It to Me"	Viglione King Summers	Seven	2:58
6.	"Pressure" (featuring Rittz)	Viglione King Summers Jonathan McCollum	Seven	4:02
7.	"Double OT"	Viglione King Summers	Seven	3:44
8.	"Power Play" (featuring Tech N9ne)	Viglione King Summers Aaron D. Yates	Seven	3:30
9.	"Que Lastima" (featuring Angel Davanport)	Viglione King Ashley Hart Summers	Seven	3:43
10.	"Blindfold" (featuring Wrekonize)	Viglione King Summers Benjamin Miller	Seven	4:51
11.	"Phineas Gage"	Viglione Summers	Seven	2:56
12.	"Strange Creature" (featuring Murs)	Viglione King Nicholas Carter Summers	Seven	4:42
13.	"Every Weapon"	King Justin Gillespie	Info Gates	2:29
14.	"Hope" (featuring Bernz)	Viglione King Bernardo Garcia Summers	Seven	4:36
15.	"Axiom"	Viglione King Summers	Seven	4:49
Total length:				54:53

Track listing
No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Gutter Race"		4:00
2.	"Catch Vibes"		3:02
3.	"Passenger"		2:55
Total length:			1:05:08

Notes

• Track listing and credits from album booklet.
• "Whips" features additional vocals by Seven and Kerry Rounds.
• "Pressure" features additional vocals by Crystal Clayton and guitar by Tyler Lyon.
• "Double OT" features additional vocals by Crystal Clayton.
• "Phineas Gage" and "Strange Creature" feature scratches by DJ Sku.
• "Hope" features bass guitar by Chris Handley.
• "Axiom" features additional vocals by Adrian Truth and piano by Mark Lowrey.

Personnel

Credits for Codename: Ego Stripper adapted from the album liner notes.

• Richie Abbott – publicity
• Angel Davanport – featured artist
• Tom Baker – mastering
• Aaron Bean – marketing & promotions, street marketing
• Bernz – featured artist
• Brent Bradley – internet marketing
• Violet Brown – production assistant
• Valdora Case – production assistant
• Jared Coop – merchandising
• Glenda Cowan – production assistant
• Godemis – primary artist
• Ben Cybulsky – mixing, producer
• Penny Ervin – merchandising
• Braxton Flemming – merchandising
• Ben Grossi – project consultant, general management
• Mary Harris – merchandising
• Info Gates – producer
• Leonard Dstroy – producer
• Robert Lieberman – legal
• Ryan Lindberg – internet marketing
• Liquid 9 – art direction & design
• Korey Lloyd – production assistant, project management
• James Meierotto – photography
• Murs – featured artist
• Jeff Nelson – internet marketing
• Cory Nielsen – production assistant
• Dawn O'Guin – production assistant
• Travis O'Guin – executive producer, A&R
• Rob Prior – art direction & design
• Jose Ramirez – street marketing
• Mark Reifsteck – booking
• Rittz – featured artist
• Victor Sandoval – internet marketing
• Brian Shafton – project consultant, general management
• Michael "Seven" Summers – producer
• Tech N9ne – featured artist
• Ubiquitous – primary artist
• Dave Weiner – A&R, associate producer
• Wrekonize – featured artist

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[4]	40
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5]	4
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[6]	4

References

1. David Jeffries (2014-08-05). "Codename: Ego Stripper - Ces Cru | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
2. Miller, Kellan (2014-08-10). "Ces Cru - Codename: Ego Stripper". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
3. Tardio, Andres (2014-08-13). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Iggy Azalea, Trey Songz, Ces Cru". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
4. "Ces Cru – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Ces Cru. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
5. "Ces Cru – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Ces Cru. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
6. "Ces Cru – Chart history" Billboard Independent Albums for Ces Cru. Retrieved July 19, 2015.