1988 (Knxwledge album)
1988 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 27, 2020 | |||
Studio | Knxwledge's home[1] | |||
Genre | Instrumental hip hop,[2] funk,[3] jazz,[3] soul,[3] R&B[4] | |||
Length | 37:57 | |||
Label | Stones Throw Records | |||
Knxwledge chronology | ||||
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Singles from 1988 | ||||
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1988 is the second studio album by American hip hop record producer Knxwledge, released on March 27, 2020 through Stones Throw Records.
Background
[edit]Knxwledge has released over 100 projects; 1988 is his second studio album released through Stones Throw Records.[1][5] It follows MEEK.VOL5, released on January 24, 2020, the fifth in a remix album series of Meek Mill freestyles, and is an official follow up to his first studio album, Hud Dreems, released on May 5, 2015.[4][6][7] The album is named after the year that Knxwledge was born.[8][9] It contains themes of emotional growth as one ages.[10] It was produced at his home studio, using instruments including a SP-303, Mellotron, and Prophet keyboard.[1]
Composition
[edit]The album is primarily an instrumental hip hop record and contains samples from a variety of media sources, including music, film, and radio interviews.[8][11][2][12]
"Dont be afraid" features a pitched-up sample of “Surrender” by Kut Klose and galvanizing percussion and horns.[8][13][14][15] “[Bc] tm_s not promised” is an ambient track that contains a piano loop and vocal samples.[13] “Do You” contains layers of synths, piano chords, drum loops, and bass guitar, alongside a vocal sample of "Just Because I'm Wrong" by Gerald Levert.[16][17][18] "Listen" contains a sample of a church pastor and gospel singers.[7][15] "Learn" is a "warm, electro-based and lo-fi" track composed of drums and bass lines.[19][20] "Howtokope." contains a vocal sample of a Ebro Darden radio interview.[19] "With[reality]" features a rapper making aggressive threats over an analogue synth riff that gives the track a "dreamlike quality."[15] "Solivelife" contains pitched Anderson .Paak vocals over horn samples.[15][21] “Watchwhoyoukallyourhomie” samples a Meek Mill freestyle.[22][23] "Don_tgottabe" contains a humming vocal sample, guitar strums, punchy drums, and minimalistic percussion.[24] “Awomanslifeislove” is a funk track containing bass, drums, and a cracking snare.[7] "Amansloveislife_keepon" contains a sample of "Keep On" by Kut Klose.[8][2]
Release
[edit]On January 7, 2020, Knxwledge released the album's lead single, "Do You".[16][17][25] On February 12, 2020, the album's next two singles, "Learn" and "Howtokope." were released.[5][20][26] He released the album's next two singles "dont be afraid" and "[bc]tm_s not promised" on March 3, 2020, alongside an animated music video by Rhymezlikedimez.[14][27][28][29] The album released on March 27, 2020.[11][30][31] An animated music video for "makeitliveforever" was released on the same day.[32] An animated music video for "Don_tgottabe" was released on May 7, 2020.[24][33]
Critical reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 80/100[34] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Exclaim! | 7/10[15] |
Pitchfork | 7/10[8] |
Q | [3] |
On the review aggregator website Metacritic, 1988 received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 80 out of 100 from 5 critics.[34]
Writing for Q, Rupert Howe said that the album "radiates a warmth often missing from other hi-tech laptop jams."[3] Exclaim!'s Kyle Mullin concludes that the album maintains a "soulful throwback sound" while "stretching in unpredictable new directions."[15] In his review for Pitchfork, Stephen Kearse praised Knxwledge as a "distinctive and prolific sculptor of sounds" but that said that 1988 did not do enough to distinguish itself from his other albums.[8] Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the variety of samples used in the album as "cutting across genres, decades, and moods."[2]
Micah Peters of The Ringer described the album as "a shifting collage of analog sounds and surprise vocals."[8] Hypebeast's Patrick Johnson wrote that the album "craft[s] a narrative of gratitude, and offers up a soundtrack that can even be considered soothing given the current unprecedented times of self-quarantines and isolation."[32] The Asbury Park Press listed the album as a top Jersey album of 2020.[35] Writing for The Fader, Shaad D'Souza described the album as "another warm, soulful chapter of Knxwledge’s output."[36] Jim Wilson of The Michigan Daily wrote that the album was innovative in an "ultra-modern landscape" despite its "throwback nature."[37]
Accolades
[edit]Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Okayplayer | Best Albums of 2020 | 15 | |
XLR8R | Our Favorite Releases of 2020 | — |
Track listing
[edit]All music produced by Glen Earl Boothe.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Dont Be Afraid" | 1:34 |
2. | "[Bc] Tm_s Not Promised" | 0:54 |
3. | "Do You" | 2:49 |
4. | "Thats Allwekando." | 0:57 |
5. | "Listen" | 1:14 |
6. | "Learn" | 1:41 |
7. | "Howtokope." | 2:00 |
8. | "With[reality]" | 0:54 |
9. | "Uonlygetone" | 0:55 |
10. | "Solivelife" | 1:39 |
11. | "Be Safe" | 1:00 |
12. | "Watchwhoukallyourhomie" | 1:29 |
13. | "Theykome&go" | 1:33 |
14. | "Don_tgottabe" | 2:09 |
15. | "Gangstallthetime" | 1:58 |
16. | "Believeme" | 1:08 |
17. | "Itkanbe[sonice]" (featuring NxWorries) | 1:43 |
18. | "Makeuseofthetime" | 1:18 |
19. | "Makeitliveforever" | 1:50 |
20. | "Awomanslifeislove" | 1:15 |
21. | "Amansloveislife_keepon" | 3:19 |
22. | "Minding_my Business" (featuring Durand Bernarr and Rose Gold) | 4:28 |
Total length: | 37:57 |
Notes
- "dont be afraid" contains a sample of "Surrender" by Kut Klose.[8]
- "do you" contains a sample of "Just Because I'm Wrong" by Gerald Levert.[18]
- "howtokope" features additional vocals from Ebro Darden.[19][10]
- "solivelife" features additional vocals from Anderson .Paak.[8]
- "watchwhoukallyourhomie" features additional vocals from Meek Mill.[8][22][40]
- "believeme" features additional vocals from Vodka.[40]
- "amansloveislife_keepon" contains a sample of "Keep On" by Kut Klose.[8][2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Mlynar, Phillip (2020-04-08). "Knxwledge Breaks Down the Process Behind His Projects". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b c d e f Kellman, Andy, "Knxwledge - 1988 Album Reviews, Songs & More", AllMusic, retrieved 2023-11-20
- ^ a b c d e Hower, Rupert (2020-06-01). "Q Review New Albums". Q. p. 102. ISSN 0955-4955.
- ^ a b Peters, Micah (2020-04-01). "Knxwledge's '1988' and Finding Solace in a Beat Tape". The Ringer. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Ismael Ruiz, Matthew; Bloom, Madison (2020-02-13). "Knxwledge Announces New Album 1988, Shares New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (13 February 2020). "Kendrick Lamar collaborator Knxwledge announces new album with two singles "learn" and "howtokope."". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b c Bell, Max (2020-03-25). "The Best Beat Tapes on Bandcamp: March 2020". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kearse, Stephen (2020-04-08). "Knxwledge: 1988". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Johnson, Patrick (2020-04-03). "Knxwledge Can't Stop Working". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Johnson, Patrick (2020-03-04). "Knxwledge Is Smooth and Emotional on New Tracks "dont be afraid" and "[bc]tm_s not promised"". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b Price, Joe (March 27, 2020). "Knxwledge Returns With New Album '1988'". Complex. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Psaltis-Ivaniš, Stefanos (2020-04-17). "Album Review: Knxwledge – 1988 - WVCW". WVCW. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Droke, Carolyn (2020-03-04). "Knxwledge Offers Serenity On The Smooth Track 'Don't Be Afraid'". Uproxx. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b "Knxwledge Drops Off Two More Joints From Sophomore Album "1988"". HotNewHipHop. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b c d e f Mullin, Kyle (March 24, 2020). "Knxwledge - 1988". Exclaim!. ISSN 1207-6600.
- ^ a b Ingvaldsen, Torsten (2020-01-07). "Knxwledge Drops Funky New Single "Do You"". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b Johnson II, Jarrod (January 7, 2020). "Knxwledge Drops New Single "Do You," with Album to Follow in Spring". Paste.
- ^ a b "Knxwledge Kicks Off His Big Year With 'Do You'". SoulBounce. January 9, 2020. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b c Johnson, Patrick (2020-02-13). "Knxwledge Premieres New Project with "Learn / Howtokope." Singles". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Elder, Sajae (February 15, 2020). "Knxwledge announces new album, shares double single "learn" and "howtokope"". The Fader. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Green, Dylan (2020-03-27). "Knxwledge Bends Time to His Will on '1988': Album Review". DJBooth. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Lewis, Amaya (2023-03-17). "Knxwledge is Power". KTSW. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Senay, Connor (2020-04-09). "Review: Knxwledge's '1988' is music from the soul, for the soul". The Diamondback. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Adams, Danny (2020-05-08). "Don_tgottabe- [Knxwledge]". Lyrical Lemonade. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Watson, Elijah (January 7, 2020). "Knxwledge Releases New Single "Do You"". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Threadcraft, Torry (February 13, 2020). "Knxwledge Drops Two New Tracks, to Release '1988' LP in March". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (5 March 2020). "Knxwledge unveils new tracks "Don't Be Afraid" and "[bc] tm_s not promised"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Threadcraft, Torry (March 4, 2020). "Check Out Knxwledge's Video for "Don't Be Afraid," Animated by Rhymezlikedimez". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Otis, Erik (2020-03-06). "Knxwledge Shares Animated Video for Album Single 'Don't Be Afraid'". XLR8R. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (2020-03-27). "Anderson .Paak Reunites With NxWorries Partner Knxwledge On New Song "Itkanbe[Sonice]": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Childs, Jesse (2020-03-27). "Knxwledge drops '1988' album — peep here". Revolt . Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Johnson, Patrick (2020-03-27). "Prolific Producer Knxwledge Returns With Smooth, Soulful Instrumentals on '1988'". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Johnson, Patrick (2020-05-07). "Knxwledge's "Don_Tgottabe" Animated Visual Is a Mellow Dose of Escapism". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b 1988 by Knxwledge, Metacritic, retrieved 2023-11-20
- ^ Jordan, Chris (2020-12-24). "The year in music: The 9 best Jersey albums of 2020". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Renshaw, David; D'Souza, Shaad (March 27, 2020). "The 10 new albums you should stream right now". The Fader. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Wilson, Jim (2020-03-31). "Knxwledge pushes the old school into modernity with '1988'". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Okayplayer's Best Albums of 2020". Okayplayer. December 23, 2020. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Our Favorite Releases of 2020". XLR8R. 2020-12-24. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b Rahman, Abdur (2020-04-09). "Hip-hop producer Knxwledge pulls in influences from 90s R&B to the Philly rap battle DVD era with new album 1988". WXPN. Retrieved 2023-11-20.