Mac's musical style differed from many other Southern hip hop artists in this period, and he often displayed a level of lyrical complexity that has come to be associated with East Coast hip hop. The album did not fare as well commercially as his first No Limit release, peaking at #44 on the Billboard 200. While it was still on the label, this release differed from usual No Limit releases in that it was not exclusively produced by the production team Beats by the Pound, and featured only three guest appearances from major No Limit names Master P, C-Murder, and Silkk the Shocker. In 1999, he released his second album on the label, World War III. Mac again was featured on many other No Limit artist's releases that year. The album is Mac's most commercially successful to date, reaching #11 on the Billboard 200.
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The next year in 1998, Mac released his second solo album and first with No Limit, Shell Shocked. He was featured on Master P's Ghetto D, Mystikal's Unpredictable, and Mia X's Unlady Like, among others. and Europe, and made guest appearances on many other artists' albums before releasing his own. He toured with No Limit throughout the U.S. In 1997, the group released their debut album, to acclaim, with many naming Lil Mac as the standout artist.Īfter rejecting an offer to move to New York and sign with Def Jam Records, Lil Mac changed his name to simply Mac and signed with Master P's No Limit Records. This made them favorites of local hip hop fans who often prefer this style to other local acts. Psychoward is known in New Orleans for having a sound that separates itself from the usual Bounce music and gangster/hustler lyrics that typifies most of the New Orleans rap scene, rather focusing on lyricism and a sound which could be described as a "New Orleans Wu-Tang Clan". Lil Mac would later join the Psychoward, a New Orleans group consisting of more than 28 MCs. Late 1990s: No Limit Records, Shell Shocked, and World War III The album was one of the earliest commercial hip-hop albums to come out of New Orleans, and featured production from New Orleans producer Mannie Fresh. He began his music career in 1990, and by the time he was 13 years old, under the name "Lil Mac", he released his debut album, The Lyrical Midget. in New Orleans, Louisiana, the oldest of their six children. to Sheila Phipps and McKinley Phipps, Sr.