Vices

Vices is the second studio album by Livonia, Michigan rapper Paradime. It was released on October 23, 2001, on his own label, Beats At Will Records (catalog BAW101-2).

The story

Paradime made Vices after his 1999 debut Paragraphs, while he was also working as turntablist and backing vocalist in Kid Rock’s Twisted Brown Trucker band. The guest list covers much of Detroit’s hip-hop scene at the time. D12’s Kon Artis and Swifty McVay appear, Shi Dog and Guilty Simpson represent the Almighty Dreadnaughtz, and Cansa and Hush also feature. Proof, Uncle Kracker and Hex Murda make cameos.

Sound and production

Paradime co-produced the record with Scott Sumner, Mike E. Clark, Mr. Porter (Denaun Porter), Hush, Ess Man, MoSS and DJ AMF, and DJ Mark EP added scratches on several tracks. It was recorded at Nation Studios and Audio Magic. The album has 21 tracks and runs just under 56 minutes, with interludes between songs such as “What I’m All About,” “Sultan of Slang,” “The Sentences” and “Skull Therapy 2002,” ending with “Closure.”

Legacy

In 2002, following the album’s release, Paradime won three Detroit Music Awards: Outstanding Hip-Hop Recording, Outstanding Hip-Hop Artist and Outstanding Hip-Hop MC. Vices remains the best-known record from his Beats At Will period and the clearest record of his links with D12 and the Dreadnaughtz.