Tetsuo & Youth

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Tetsuo & Youth
File:Lupe Fiasco Tetsuo & Youth.jpg
Studio album by Lupe Fiasco
Released January 20, 2015 (2015-01-20)
Recorded 2012–14
Genre Hip hop
Length 78:27
Label
Producer
Lupe Fiasco chronology
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1
(2012)Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 12012		 Tetsuo & Youth
(2015)		 Drogas
(2016)Drogas2016
Singles from Tetsuo & Youth
  1. "Deliver"
    Released: November 10, 2014

Tetsuo & Youth is the fifth studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco. The album was released on January 20, 2015, by Atlantic Records and 1st & 15th Entertainment. It was promoted by the Tetsuo & Youth preview tour, which took place on November 2, 2014 to December 15, 2014.[1] Lupe's label-mate Stalley was a supporting act on the tour, while The Boy Illinois took role as an opening act.

The album was supported by the single "Deliver". Tetsuo & Youth received generally positive reviews from critics and fans alike, citing it as a significant improvement and return to form in comparison to previous work. The album debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200, selling 42,000 copies in its first week.

Background

On February 10, 2013, on the red carpet for the Grammy Awards, Lupe Fiasco has announced that his fifth studio album would be titled Tetsuo & Youth. LupEND (which is a blog for Lupe Fiasco fans) confirmed on his Tumblr account that features on his album would include the guest appearances from Rick Ross, Big K.R.I.T., Chance the Rapper, Ab-Soul, Ed Sheeran and Ty Dolla $ign, among others.[2] Lupe Fiasco says the name of the album was loosely inspired by Tetsuo Shima, a character from the Japanese manga series Akira. "For me, Tetsuo sounds cool" he stated.[3]

Singles

On August 24, 2013, Lupe revealed a preview of "Crack", a single featuring Chris Brown.[4] The track was first said to be the first single released from the album, but since then has not been officially released. Another song, entitled "Drizzy's Law" which was intended to make the album cut,[5] has also not officially been released. Though he still plans to release these songs according to his Twitter account, they were not included on the album.[citation needed] On October 14, 2013, Lupe released a standalone single "Old School Love" featuring English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who contributes vocals to the song's hook.[6][7] The song peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[8] Its music video was filmed with Sheeran in Chicago, and was premiered on MTV December 9, 2013.[9]

On May 19, 2014, Lupe released the first promotional single titled "Mission", which tells the story of several cancer sufferers. The intro to the song features singer-songwriter (and cancer survivor) Charlie Wilson and other cancer survivors detailing their type of cancer and when they were diagnosed.[10]

On June 24, 2014, Lupe released the second promotional single titled "Next to It" featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The song was produced by Ty Dolla $ign, and co-produced by Shafiq Husayn of the Los Angeles production team Sa-Ra.[11]

On November 10, 2014, Lupe released the first official single from Tetsuo & Youth titled "Deliver"; which features background vocals by recent frequent collaborator Ty Dolla $ign.[12]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 80/100[13]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4/5 stars[14]
The A.V. Club B+[15]
Consequence of Sound B[16]
Cuepoint A–[17]
Exclaim! 8/10[18]
HipHopDX 4.5/5 stars[19]
Pitchfork Media 7.2/10[20]
PopMatters 8/10 stars[21]
Rolling Stone 3/5 stars[22]
XXL XL (4/5)[23]

Tetsuo & Youth received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 80, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 12 reviews.[13] David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "His 2006 debut may still be the one to pick, since it's leaner and more instant, but Tetsuo & Youth strolls its way into greatness after a couple listens and wipes out all the bitter aftertaste of Lasers as if that misstep never happened."[14] Sheldon Pearce of The A.V. Club said, "Tetsuo & Youth finds its equilibrium by not pushing as hard, opting for subtle and interesting angles to get points across (See: “Deliver”)."[15] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound said, "Lupe is still a guy to root for, and Tetsuo & Youth is full of daring songs that remind you of why."[16] Kevin Jones of Exclaim! said, "Tetsuo & Youth is Lupe's "magnum opus" record — a serious, detail-rich production free from the binds of a previous story or series, and one that turns its back completely on any pressure to placate commercial radio."[18] Stephen F. Kearse of Paste said, "On the whole, Tetsuo and Youth is a shaky album by a newly energized Lupe Fiasco who is newly energized. This energy isn't always wielded coherently or even interestingly, but he seems to have found comfort in his murals and dots and lines."[24] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews.com said, "Lupe Fiasco doesn't present tracks that are just a hot beat and some memorable bars--he's aiming for cinematic moments and drawing you into the atmosphere he seeks to create."[25]

Justin Hunte of HipHopDX said, "Tetsuo & Youth glistens with maturity and imagination. Where the Judo Master Of Juxtaposition has grown more challenging lyrically, he’s also grown more naturally emotive."[19] Jayson Greene of Pitchfork Media said, "It's a tricky muse, but every Lupe project has found a way to harness at least 15 or 20 minutes of his fluid, fleeting mind. Tetsuo & Youth is the most generous gulp he's managed in years."[20] Sean McCarthy of PopMatters said, "At the end of the album, it's more than clear that third, fourth, and fifth listens are demanded to appreciate its scope."[21] Kellan Miller of XXL said, "Lupe Fiasco’s career has been a mix of blooming ingenuity and surprising mediocrity. Sonically separated by the four different seasons, Lupe has arguably released his most thematically layered and engaging album to date."[23] Christopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone said, "Lupe Fiasco's fifth album is a swirl of double meanings, extended metaphors about yoga and math, and increasingly labyrinthine ways to say "I'm dope.""[22]

Accolades

Country Publication List Rank
United States Complex The Best Albums of 2015 (So Far)[26]
11
The Best Albums of 2015[27]
11
HipHopDX Top 25 Albums of 2015[28]
*
Rolling Stone 40 Best Rap Albums of 2015[29]
27

* denotes an unordered list

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, selling 42,000 copies in total.[30] The sales figures may be a result of the declining relationship between Lupe Fiasco and Atlantic Records, with the album receiving little to no promotion from the record label.[19] In its second week the album fell to number 37, selling 12,000 copies.[31]

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Summer"       1:26
2. "Mural"  
The Buchanans 8:48
3. "Blur My Hands" (featuring Guy Sebastian)
5:27
4. "Dots & Lines"  
  • Jaco
  • Simon Morel
6:32
5. "Fall"       1:13
6. "Prisoner 1 & 2" (featuring Ayesha Jaco)
  • Jaco
  • Maurice "MoeZ'art" Thomas
 MoeZ'art 8:36
7. "Body of Work" (featuring Troi and Terrace Martin)
  • Jaco
  • L. Griffin, Jr.
  • J. Griffin
  • S1
  • Vohn Beatz
 5:53
8. "Little Death" (featuring Nikki Jean)
  • S1
  • Vohn Beatz
 4:29
9. "No Scratches" (featuring Nikki Jean)
DJ Simonsayz 4:22
10. "Winter"       1:31
11. "Chopper" (featuring Billy Blue, Buk of Psychodrama, Trouble, Trae tha Truth, Fam-Lay and Glasses Malone)
DJ Dahi 9:32
12. "Deliver"  
  • Jaco
  • Tyrone Griffin
  • M. Thomas
  • P. Jones
  • MoeZ'art
  • Marcus Stephens
 3:52
13. "Madonna (And Other Mothers in the Hood)" (featuring Nikki Jean)
  • Jaco
  • Natche
  • Leary
 DJ Dahi 4:43
14. "Adoration of the Magi" (featuring Crystal Torres)
  • Jaco
  • Natche
 DJ Dahi 5:06
15. "They. Resurrect. Over. New." (featuring Ab-Soul and Troi)
  • DJ Dahi
  • Blood Diamonds
 5:38
16. "Spring"       1:35
Notes
  • "Dots & Lines" contains background vocals from Nikki Jean
  • "Prisoner 1 & 2" contains background vocals from Nikki Jean
  • "Body of Work" contains background vocals from Marisol
  • "Deliver" contains background vocals from PJ and Ty Dolla $ign
Sample credits
  • "Mural" contains elements of "Chanson d'Un Jour d'Hiver" performed by Alain Mion & Cortex
  • "No Scratches" contains a sample of "You Remind Me of Something" performed by R. Kelly

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[32] 69
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[33] 183
UK Albums (OCC)[34] 58
US Billboard 200[35] 14
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[36] 2

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  35. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Lupe Fiasco.
  36. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Lupe Fiasco.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Tetsuo_%26_Youth&oldid=722119772"