In an interview, The Glove explained the mixed reception of the album: "Phone Tap” wasn't the first single. In an interview AZ personally picked Firm Biz, Phone Tap and Throw Your Guns as his favorites songs on the album. Working with the Trackmasters as producers, Brown released her solo debut Ill Na Na (1996), which became a chart success and sold over two million copies. Cormega, whose rapping career had been put on hold due to his incarceration during the early 1990s, was referenced by Nas on " One Love" (1994), and was released from jail in 1995. He initially garnered attention with his appearance on Nas' " Life's a Bitch" (1993). The collaboration came in the wake of the critical success of AZ's debut album Doe or Die (1995). The success of "I Shot Ya" prompted her inclusion, along with rappers AZ and Cormega, in collaborating with Nas on the song "Affirmative Action" for his second studio album, It Was Written (1996). Her appearances sparked a recording company bidding war in early 1996, leading to her signing to Def Jam Recordings. Throughout 19, Brown appeared on several platinum and gold singles, including Jay-Z's " Ain't No Nigga" and the remix of Toni Braxton's " You're Makin' Me High". Smith, contributing a verse to the remix of " I Shot Ya". After impressing the production team with an on-stage freestyle rap, she earned a guest appearance on Mr. Meanwhile, Brooklyn-based female rapper Foxy Brown was brought to the attention of the Trackmasters, who were working on LL Cool J's Mr. While Illmatic attained gold status, Stoute convinced Nas to aim his efforts in a more commercial direction for his second album, after which Nas enlisted production team the Trackmasters, who were known for their mainstream success at the time. at the awards show sent a message to Nas to change his commercial approach, resulting in his hiring of Steve "The Commissioner" Stoute as manager. The success of fellow East Coast act The Notorious B.I.G. Meanwhile, his excessive spending habits had left him with little money, as Nas had to ask for a loan to purchase clothes to wear to the 1995 Source Awards. Nas began to dub himself as Nas Escobar on these guest appearances. Nas began to make appearances on other artists' work, including "Fast Life" on Kool G Rap's "4,5,6" and "Verbal Intercourse" on Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Despite its significant impact on hip hop at the time, Illmatic did not experience the larger sales of most major releases of the day, due in part to Nas' shy personality and withdrawal from promoting the record. Following the acclaim of his landmark debut album Illmatic (1994), Queensbridge-based emcee Nas decided to concentrate his efforts in a mainstream direction. Prior to the formation of The Firm, future members and affiliates of the group were at transitional stages of their careers. Although the album's second single "Phone Tap" failed to chart, it remained the group signature song. Two singles were released from the album, with " Firm Biz" peaking at number twelve on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and number eighteen on the UK Singles Chart. The Album sold 147,000 copies in the debut week and has sold over 925,000 copies in the United States and was certified gold in Canada. It also charted in other countries, such as Canada, France and the United Kingdom. In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Album received mixed reviews from the music critics, who criticized its mainstream pop-oriented sound rather than the members' previous styles. Dre, Chris "The Glove" Taylor and Trackmasters (as Poke and Tone), and feature guest vocals from Pretty Boy, Wizard, Canibus, Dawn Robinson, Noreaga and Half-a-Mill. The songs on the album were mainly produced by Dr. The Album is a concept album that revolves around the themes of mafia and " gangsta" lifestyle. He was replaced by Nature prior to recording of the album. However, Cormega later left the group due to artistic differences between him and Nas, as well as contract disagreements with Stoute. The original line-up included Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Cormega who were all featured on the song "Affirmative Action" from Nas' album It Was Written (1996). Dre and Trackmasters, who came up with the idea of forming a hip hop supergroup. The project was created by rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute and producers Dr. It was released on Octoby Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The Album is the only studio album by American hip hop group The Firm.