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1988 (Knxwledge album)

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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.

1988
Studio album by
Knxwledge
ReleasedMarch 27, 2020
StudioKnxwledge's home[1]
GenreInstrumental hip hop,[2] funk,[3] jazz,[3] soul,[3] R&B[4]
Length37:57
LabelStones Throw Records
Knxwledge chronology
MEEK.VOL5
(2020) 		1988
(2020) 		HX.PRT14.8
(2020)
Singles from 1988
  1. "Do You"
    Released: January 7, 2020
  2. "Learn"
    Released: February 12, 2020
  3. "Howtokope."
    Released: February 12, 2020
  4. "dont be afraid"
    Released: March 4, 2020
  5. "[bc]tm_s not promised"
    Released: March 4, 2020
  6. "Listen"
    Released: March 22, 2020

Background

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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

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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

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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

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[34]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Exclaim!7/10[15]
Pitchfork7/10[8]
Q     [3]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, 1988 received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 80 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[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

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Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Okayplayer
Best Albums of 2020
15
[38]
XLR8R
Our Favorite Releases of 2020
 —
[39]

Track listing

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All music produced by Glen Earl Boothe.

No.TitleLength
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

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  1. ^ a b c Mlynar, Phillip (2020-04-08). "Knxwledge Breaks Down the Process Behind His Projects". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kellman, Andy, "Knxwledge - 1988 Album Reviews, Songs & More", AllMusic, retrieved 2023-11-20
  3. ^ a b c d e Hower, Rupert (2020-06-01). "Q Review New Albums". Q. p. 102. ISSN 0955-4955.
  4. ^ a b Peters, Micah (2020-04-01). "Knxwledge's '1988' and Finding Solace in a Beat Tape". The Ringer. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  5. ^ a b Ismael Ruiz, Matthew; Bloom, Madison (2020-02-13). "Knxwledge Announces New Album 1988, Shares New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c Bell, Max (2020-03-25). "The Best Beat Tapes on Bandcamp: March 2020". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kearse, Stephen (2020-04-08). "Knxwledge: 1988". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  9. ^ Johnson, Patrick (2020-04-03). "Knxwledge Can't Stop Working". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b Price, Joe (March 27, 2020). "Knxwledge Returns With New Album '1988'". Complex. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  12. ^ Psaltis-Ivaniš, Stefanos (2020-04-17). "Album Review: Knxwledge – 1988 - WVCW". WVCW. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  13. ^ a b Droke, Carolyn (2020-03-04). "Knxwledge Offers Serenity On The Smooth Track 'Don't Be Afraid'". Uproxx. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  14. ^ a b "Knxwledge Drops Off Two More Joints From Sophomore Album "1988"". HotNewHipHop. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Mullin, Kyle (March 24, 2020). "Knxwledge - 1988". Exclaim!. ISSN 1207-6600.
  16. ^ a b Ingvaldsen, Torsten (2020-01-07). "Knxwledge Drops Funky New Single "Do You"". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  17. ^ a b Johnson II, Jarrod (January 7, 2020). "Knxwledge Drops New Single "Do You," with Album to Follow in Spring". Paste.
  18. ^ a b "Knxwledge Kicks Off His Big Year With 'Do You'". SoulBounce. January 9, 2020. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  19. ^ a b c Johnson, Patrick (2020-02-13). "Knxwledge Premieres New Project with "Learn / Howtokope." Singles". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  20. ^ a b Elder, Sajae (February 15, 2020). "Knxwledge announces new album, shares double single "learn" and "howtokope"". The Fader. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  21. ^ Green, Dylan (2020-03-27). "Knxwledge Bends Time to His Will on '1988': Album Review". DJBooth. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  22. ^ a b Lewis, Amaya (2023-03-17). "Knxwledge is Power". KTSW. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  23. ^ Senay, Connor (2020-04-09). "Review: Knxwledge's '1988' is music from the soul, for the soul". The Diamondback. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  24. ^ a b Adams, Danny (2020-05-08). "Don_tgottabe- [Knxwledge]". Lyrical Lemonade. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  25. ^ Watson, Elijah (January 7, 2020). "Knxwledge Releases New Single "Do You"". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  26. ^ Threadcraft, Torry (February 13, 2020). "Knxwledge Drops Two New Tracks, to Release '1988' LP in March". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ Threadcraft, Torry (March 4, 2020). "Check Out Knxwledge's Video for "Don't Be Afraid," Animated by Rhymezlikedimez". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  29. ^ Otis, Erik (2020-03-06). "Knxwledge Shares Animated Video for Album Single 'Don't Be Afraid'". XLR8R. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  30. ^ Breihan, Tom (2020-03-27). "Anderson .Paak Reunites With NxWorries Partner Knxwledge On New Song "Itkanbe[Sonice]": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  31. ^ Childs, Jesse (2020-03-27). "Knxwledge drops '1988' album — peep here". Revolt . Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  32. ^ a b Johnson, Patrick (2020-03-27). "Prolific Producer Knxwledge Returns With Smooth, Soulful Instrumentals on '1988'". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  33. ^ Johnson, Patrick (2020-05-07). "Knxwledge's "Don_Tgottabe" Animated Visual Is a Mellow Dose of Escapism". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  34. ^ a b 1988 by Knxwledge, Metacritic, retrieved 2023-11-20
  35. ^ Jordan, Chris (2020-12-24). "The year in music: The 9 best Jersey albums of 2020". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  36. ^ Renshaw, David; D'Souza, Shaad (March 27, 2020). "The 10 new albums you should stream right now". The Fader. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  37. ^ Wilson, Jim (2020-03-31). "Knxwledge pushes the old school into modernity with '1988'". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  38. ^ "Okayplayer's Best Albums of 2020". Okayplayer. December 23, 2020. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  39. ^ "Our Favorite Releases of 2020". XLR8R. 2020-12-24. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  40. ^ 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.
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