Beware of the Monkey explained

Cover:Beware of the Monkey.album.jpg
Beware of the Monkey
Type:mixtape
Artist:Mike
Released:December 21, 2022
Genre:Hip hop
Length:33:32
Language:English
Label:10k
Producer:dj blackpower
Prev Title:Disco!
Prev Year:2021
Year:2022
Next Title:Faith Is a Rock
Next Year:2023

Beware of the Monkey is the fifth mixtape by American rapper Mike, released on December 21, 2022, through 10k.

Background and release

The album followed a trend of many of Mike's albums, releasing on a solstice.[1] The album is named after a horoscope Mike saw in a Chinese restaurant.[2] [3] [4]

On October 13, 2022, Mike announced the album and released its first single, "nuthin i can do is wrng", alongside a music video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa.[5] [6] In his review for Pitchfork, Dylan Green praised the single as a "glimpse of an already masterful talent polishing his craft."[7] James Rettig of Stereogum described the single as "hypnotic."[8] On November 3, 2022, Mike released the album's second single, "What Do I Do?", alongside a music video directed by Xin Wang.[9] He also announced the Ipari Park Tour with 454 and Slauson Malone 1 in support of the album.[10] [11] The Faders Raphael Helfand described the single as a "characteristically woozy slow burn."[12] Gabriel Bras Nevares of HotNewHipHop called the single "moody and ethereal." On November 29, 2022, Mike released the album's third single, "Stop Worry!", featuring Jamaican singer Sister Nancy, alongside a music video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa.[13] [14] [15] Jada Ojii of HotNewHipHop described Sister Nancy's feature as "melodic and hypnotizing." Stereogum's Tom Breihan described Mike's verse as a "sleepy stream-of-consciousness."[16]

The album released on December 21, 2022, alongside a music video for "No Curse Lifted (rivers of love)" directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa.[17] [18] [19] On January 26, 2023, Mike released a music video directed by Christopher Currence for "Weary Love".[20] On March 10, 2023, Mike released a music video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa for "As 4 Me". On September 7, 2023, Mike released a music video for "Ipari Park" directed by Cynthia Igbokwe and Danny Gubber.[21]

Critical reception

Writing for Beats Per Minute, Tim Sentz praised Mike's writing on the album, stating that "he raps about pain and perseverance like he's lived a hundred lifetimes already." Anthony Malone of HipHopDX praised the album's themes of dealing with death, grief, and depression. Ryan Dillon of Glide Magazine praised Mike's instrumental production on the album, writing: "the instrumentals presented on this album are put together gives them the feeling of history being stitched together through muddy drum loops and dancing sample chops."[22] In his review for Spin, Tomas Miriti Pacheco described Mike's lyricism as "layered" and "effortless" and that the album "delivers his boldest songs yet."[23] Jaelani Turner Williams of Okayplayer called the album Mike's "most meditative album yet."[24] Stereogum's Chris Deville described the album's production as Mike's most engaging to date.[25] Isaac Fontes of HotNewHipHop writes that the album "further cements [Mike] as one of underground rap's best storytellers."[26] Writing for Pitchfork, Stephen Kearse described the album as "self-assured and polyvalent, a current of shifting emotional states that MIKE's exquisite word and production choices shape into rich affirmations."

Track listing

All tracks written by Michael Bonema and produced under his alias dj blackpower, except where noted.

External links

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Helfand . Raphael . December 21, 2022 . MIKE drops new album Beware of the Monkey . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  2. Web site: Corcoran . Nina . 2022-11-03 . MIKE Announces Tour, Drops Video for New Song "What Do I Do?" . 2023-11-21 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  3. Web site: Ojii . Jada . 2022-11-30 . MIKE Drops New Single "Stop Worry!" With Dancehall Icon Sister Nancy . 2023-11-24 . HotNewHipHop . en.
  4. Web site: Curto . Justin . 2022-12-21 . Mike Is Searching for Something 'More Than Just Sad or Happy' . 2023-11-24 . . en.
  5. Web site: Arcand . Rob . 2022-10-13 . MIKE Announces New Album Beware of the Monkey, Shares Video . 2023-11-21 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  6. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . 2022-10-13 . MIKE announces new album 'Beware of the Monkey,' shares new song . 2023-11-21 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: Green . Dylan . October 13, 2022 . MIKE: "nuthin i can do is wrng" . 2023-11-24 . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Rettig . James . 2022-10-13 . MIKE Announces New Album, Shares "nuthin i can do is wrng": Listen . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  9. Web site: Nevares . Gabriel Bras . 2022-11-05 . MIKE Shares Woozy New Track, "What Do I Do?" . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  10. Slingerland . Calum . November 3, 2022 . MIKE to Play Canada on 2023 North American Tour . . 1207-6600.
  11. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . 2022-11-03 . MIKE shares "What Do I Do?," announces 2023 tour . 2023-11-21 . BrooklynVegan . en-US.
  12. Web site: Helfand . Raphael . November 3, 2022 . MIKE announces North American tour, shares "What Do I Do?" . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  13. Web site: Arcand . Rob . 2022-11-29 . MIKE Shares Video for New Song Featuring Sister Nancy . 2023-11-21 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  14. Web site: Williams . Aaron . 2022-11-29 . MIKE Soaks Up His Success In The 'Stop Worry!' Video With Sister Nancy . 2023-11-24 . . en-US.
  15. Web site: Darville . Jordan . November 29, 2022 . Song You Need: Save MIKE and Sister Nancy's "Stop Worry!" for your summer 2023 playlists . 2023-11-24 . The FADER . en.
  16. Web site: 2022-11-29 . MIKE Teams Up With Sister Nancy On New Single "Stop Worry!": Listen . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  17. Web site: Sacher . Andrew . 2022-12-21 . Stream MIKE's new album 'Beware of the Monkey' and watch a new video . 2023-11-21 . BrooklynVegan . en-US.
  18. Web site: Turner Williams . Jaelani . MIKE Releases New Album 'Beware of the Monkey' - Okayplayer . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  19. Web site: Arcand . Rob . 2022-12-21 . Watch MIKE's New "No Curse Lifted (Rivers of Love)" Video . 2023-11-21 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  20. Web site: Gonda . Christopher . 2023-01-26 . Watch MIKE's Christopher Currence-Directed "Weary Love" Music Video . 2023-11-24 . V13 . en-CA.
  21. Web site: 2023-09-07 . MIKE is back to share a new music video for "Ipari Park," featuring Klein. . 2023-11-24 . RapIndustry.com . en-US.
  22. Dillon . Ryan . 2022-12-20 . MIKE Serves Up Ambitious Song Craftmanship On 'Beware of the Monkey' (ALBUM REVIEW) . 2023-11-21 . Glide Magazine . en-US.
  23. Miriti Pacheco . Tomas . December 21, 2022 . MIKE Is Fearless on Beware of the Monkey . . 0886-3032.
  24. Web site: Turner Williams . Jaelani . 2023-12-23 . 5 New Hip-Hop Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of December 23) - Okayplayer . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  25. Web site: Deville . Chris . 2022-12-21 . Stream MIKE's New Album 'Beware Of The Monkey' . 2023-11-21 . . en.
  26. Web site: Fontes . Isaac . 2022-12-22 . New York's MIKE Drops New Album, "Beware Of The Monkey" . 2023-11-21 . HotNewHipHop . en.