1988 (Knxwledge album) explained

Cover:1988 (Knxwledge album).jpg
1988
Type:studio
Artist:Knxwledge
Released:March 27, 2020
Studio:Knxwledge's home
Genre:Instrumental hip hop, funk, jazz, soul, R&B
Length:37:57
Label:Stones Throw Records
Prev Title:MEEK.VOL5
Prev Year:2020
Year:2020
Next Title:HX.PRT14.8
Next Year:2020

1988 is the second studio album by American hip hop record producer Knxwledge, released on March 27, 2020 through Stones Throw Records.

Background

Knxwledge has released over 100 projects; 1988 is his second studio album released through Stones Throw Records.[1] 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.[2] [3] [4] The album is named after the year that Knxwledge was born.[5] It contains themes of emotional growth as one ages.[6] It was produced at his home studio, using instruments including a SP-303, Mellotron, and Prophet keyboard.

Composition

The album is primarily an instrumental hip hop record and contains samples from a variety of media sources, including music, film, and radio interviews.[7] [8]

"Dont be afraid" features a pitched-up sample of “Surrender” by Kut Klose and galvanizing percussion and horns.[9] “[Bc] tm_s not promised” is an ambient track that contains a piano loop and vocal samples. “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.[10] [11] "Listen" contains a sample of a church pastor and gospel singers. "Learn" is a "warm, electro-based and lo-fi" track composed of drums and bass lines.[12] "Howtokope." contains a vocal sample of a Ebro Darden radio interview. "With[reality]" features a rapper making aggressive threats over an analogue synth riff that gives the track a "dreamlike quality." "Solivelife" contains pitched Anderson .Paak vocals over horn samples.[13] “Watchwhoyoukallyourhomie” samples a Meek Mill freestyle.[14] [15] "Don_tgottabe" contains a humming vocal sample, guitar strums, punchy drums, and minimalistic percussion. “Awomanslifeislove” is a funk track containing bass, drums, and a cracking snare. "Amansloveislife_keepon" contains a sample of "Keep On" by Kut Klose.

Release

On January 7, 2020, Knxwledge released the album's lead single, "Do You".[16] [17] On February 12, 2020, the album's next two singles, "Learn" and "Howtokope." were released.[18] [19] [20] 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.[21] [22] [23] [24] The album released on March 27, 2020.[25] [26] An animated music video for "makeitliveforever" was released on the same day.[27] An animated music video for "Don_tgottabe" was released on May 7, 2020.[28] [29]

Critical reception

Writing for Q, Rupert Howe said that the album "radiates a warmth often missing from other hi-tech laptop jams." Exclaim!'s Kyle Mullin concludes that the album maintains a "soulful throwback sound" while "stretching in unpredictable new directions." 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. Andy Kellman of AllMusic praised the variety of samples used in the album as "cutting across genres, decades, and moods."

Micah Peters of The Ringer described the album as "a shifting collage of analog sounds and surprise vocals." 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." The Asbury Park Press listed the album as a top Jersey album of 2020.[30] Writing for The Fader, Shaad D'Souza described the album as "another warm, soulful chapter of Knxwledge’s output."[31] Jim Wilson of The Michigan Daily wrote that the album was innovative in an "ultra-modern landscape" despite its "throwback nature."[32]

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRank
Okayplayer
XLR8R

Track listing

All music produced by Glen Earl Boothe.

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mlynar . Phillip . 2020-04-08 . Knxwledge Breaks Down the Process Behind His Projects . 2023-11-20 . Bandcamp Daily.
  2. Web site: Peters . Micah . 2020-04-01 . Knxwledge's '1988' and Finding Solace in a Beat Tape . 2023-11-20 . . en.
  3. Web site: Kenneally . Cerys . 13 February 2020 . Kendrick Lamar collaborator Knxwledge announces new album with two singles "learn" and "howtokope." . 2024-04-24 . . en-US.
  4. Web site: Bell . Max . 2020-03-25 . The Best Beat Tapes on Bandcamp: March 2020 . 2023-11-20 . Bandcamp Daily.
  5. Web site: Johnson . Patrick . 2020-04-03 . Knxwledge Can't Stop Working . 2023-11-20 . Hypebeast.
  6. Web site: Johnson . Patrick . 2020-03-04 . Knxwledge Is Smooth and Emotional on New Tracks "dont be afraid" and "[bc]tm_s not promised" ]. 2024-04-24 . Hypebeast.
  7. Web site: Price . Joe . March 27, 2020 . Knxwledge Returns With New Album '1988' . 2023-11-20 . . en-us.
  8. Web site: Psaltis-Ivaniš . Stefanos . 2020-04-17 . Album Review: Knxwledge – 1988 - WVCW . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  9. Web site: Droke . Carolyn . 2020-03-04 . Knxwledge Offers Serenity On The Smooth Track 'Don't Be Afraid' . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  10. Web site: Ingvaldsen . Torsten . 2020-01-07 . Knxwledge Drops Funky New Single "Do You" . 2024-04-24 . Hypebeast.
  11. Web site: January 9, 2020 . Knxwledge Kicks Off His Big Year With 'Do You' . 2024-04-24 . SoulBounce.
  12. Web site: Johnson . Patrick . 2020-02-13 . Knxwledge Premieres New Project with "Learn / Howtokope." Singles . 2023-11-20 . Hypebeast.
  13. Web site: Green . Dylan . 2020-03-27 . Knxwledge Bends Time to His Will on '1988': Album Review . 2023-11-20 . DJBooth . en.
  14. Web site: Lewis . Amaya . 2023-03-17 . Knxwledge is Power . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  15. Web site: Senay . Connor . 2020-04-09 . Review: Knxwledge's '1988' is music from the soul, for the soul . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  16. Johnson II . Jarrod . January 7, 2020 . Knxwledge Drops New Single "Do You," with Album to Follow in Spring . Paste.
  17. Web site: Watson . Elijah . January 7, 2020 . Knxwledge Releases New Single "Do You" . registration . 2024-04-24 . Okayplayer . en.
  18. Web site: Ismael Ruiz . Matthew . Bloom . Madison . 2020-02-13 . Knxwledge Announces New Album 1988, Shares New Songs . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  19. Elder . Sajae . February 15, 2020 . Knxwledge announces new album, shares double single "learn" and "howtokope" . 2023-11-20 . . en.
  20. Web site: Threadcraft . Torry . February 13, 2020 . Knxwledge Drops Two New Tracks, to Release '1988' LP in March . registration . 2023-11-20 . . en.
  21. Web site: 2020-03-04 . Knxwledge Drops Off Two More Joints From Sophomore Album "1988" . 2024-04-24 . . en.
  22. Web site: Kenneally . Cerys . 5 March 2020 . Knxwledge unveils new tracks "Don't Be Afraid" and "[bc] tm_s not promised" ]. 2024-04-24 . . en-US.
  23. Web site: Threadcraft . Torry . March 4, 2020 . Check Out Knxwledge's Video for "Don't Be Afraid," Animated by Rhymezlikedimez . registration . 2024-04-24 . Okayplayer . en.
  24. Web site: Otis . Erik . 2020-03-06 . Knxwledge Shares Animated Video for Album Single 'Don't Be Afraid' . 2024-04-24 . . en-US.
  25. Web site: Breihan . Tom . 2020-03-27 . Anderson .Paak Reunites With NxWorries Partner Knxwledge On New Song "Itkanbe[Sonice]": Listen ]. 2023-11-20 . . en.
  26. Web site: Childs . Jesse . 2020-03-27 . Knxwledge drops '1988' album — peep here . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  27. Web site: Johnson . Patrick . 2020-03-27 . Prolific Producer Knxwledge Returns With Smooth, Soulful Instrumentals on '1988' . 2023-11-20 . Hypebeast.
  28. Web site: Adams . Danny . 2020-05-08 . Don_tgottabe- [Knxwledge] ]. 2024-04-24 . . en-US.
  29. Web site: Johnson . Patrick . 2020-05-07 . Knxwledge's "Don_Tgottabe" Animated Visual Is a Mellow Dose of Escapism . 2023-11-20 . Hypebeast.
  30. Web site: Jordan . Chris . 2020-12-24 . The year in music: The 9 best Jersey albums of 2020 . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  31. Renshaw . David . D'Souza . Shaad . March 27, 2020 . The 10 new albums you should stream right now . 2023-11-20 . The Fader . en.
  32. Web site: Wilson . Jim . 2020-03-31 . Knxwledge pushes the old school into modernity with '1988' . 2023-11-20 . . en-US.
  33. Web site: 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 . 2023-11-20 . . en.

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