Release the Pressure is the debut album by the American rap group Criminal Nation. It was released in 1990 for Nastymix Records and was produced by the group's producers, Eugenius and Womack. The album peaked at No. 73 on the Billboard charts Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and also featured the hit single "Insane", which made it to No. 17 on the Hot Rap Singles. The video for another single, "Black Power Nation", gained some airplay.