El Duende! is the third studio album by American rapper Radamiz. It was released on October 25, 2023, by Big Enough Home. The album features guest appearances and production from ICECOLDBISHOP, Sadhugold, Verde Madera, Morning Effect, JUNIE., Graymatter of Mutant Academy, Crooklin, Dimadidthis, DJ Cutbird, Kenny Rivero, and Rafael Moure-Eraso, the latter serving as the album's narrator and the father of the album's mixing and mastering engineer, Rafael Moure.[1][2]
| El Duende! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 25, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2023 | |||
| Studio | Basewood Studios in Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 23:50 | |||
| Label | Big Enough Home | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Radamiz chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from El Duende! | ||||
| ||||
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Radamiz - The Monk's Ferrari (prod. Verde Madera) (September 29, 2023) | |
| Not The Angel, Not The Muse (October 12, 2023) |
Concept
editThe concept behind the project,"El Duende!" comes from the adjective "Duende," as it was brought to Radamiz's attention after his panel at Harvard University by Rafael Moure-Eraso, the narrator of the project and the father of this album's mixing/mastering engineer. Defined by Federico Lorca, represents the essence that makes great art exceptional, touched by the divine. Radamiz, inspired by the concept, sought to shed light on the idea and the intricate work behind it. "Duende" is a concept that thrives in the shadows, emerging due to the artist's hidden toils, making it a vital but enigmatic element of artistic creation. "Duende" is the dark matter that makes great art incredible, that makes incredible art touched by God. It absolves itself from form and is solely attainable when mortality and sacrifice have properly been addressed and executed, respectively.[3]
Release and promotion
editOn September 27, 2023, Radamiz released his first single "The Monk's Ferrari", which he explained as "This is the first song Verde Madera and I are releasing together after building a 10-year friendship. The title comes from a book that was at our AirBnB in Topanga called The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Verde had just made those two beats the morning I showed up and when I heard them, we decided to merge them before I added my vocals. I knew we had something special immediately. Verde was also the graphic designer for my last 3-song EP 3 Days Outside Your Body, so it really all is serendipitous."[4][5] The song later received a co-sign from Eminem on his "The Art of Bars" playlist in partnership with Audiomack.[6]
On September 30, 2023, Radamiz announced his short film "Not The Angel, Not The Muse" that touches on the concept of the project, live performances of songs from the project, and interviews from people connected to the project. With the screening event held at Slow Jamz Gallery on October 4, in Los Angeles, California. Later being released on his YouTube channel on October 12.
On October 18, 2023, the album's second and final single, "Ffiirree" featuring ICECOLDBISHOP, produced by Sadhugold.[7] Days after the release of "Ffiirree", Radamiz was a part of Los Angeles Fashion Week, opening the show for Gypsy Sport's 10-year anniversary, walking the runway and performing "The Monk's Ferrari".[8][9] He's quoted saying "it felt like an honor to represent the ten years of something, it's so hard to get one season done, it's so hard to get two shirts done, and it looks bloody behind the scenes and it's not always great. So just to be the first person to walk out in commemoration of somebody lasting ten years, it was a responsibility that I enjoyed having."[10]
Track listing
editCredits adapted from Tidal and iTunes' metadata.[11][12]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Angel & Muse" |
| Kenny Rivero | 1:46 |
| 2. | "Strings" |
|
| 2:23 |
| 3. | "STTTRETCH" |
| JUNIE. | 1:55 |
| 4. | "The Monk's Ferrari" |
|
| 3:16 |
| 5. | "7 Enemies" (with JUNIE.) |
| JUNIE. | 2:13 |
| 6. | "warriorr" |
|
| 2:24 |
| 7. | "Ffiirree" (with ICECOLDBISHOP & Sadhugold) |
|
| 3:24 |
| 8. | "Ffrreeee (Tuesday)" |
|
| 2:55 |
| 9. | "Tell The Truth Only" (featuring Rafael Moure-Eraso) |
| DJ Cutbird | 3:34 |
| Total length: | 23:50 | |||
Notes
- ^a signifies an additional producer
- "Angel & Muse" features additional vocals by Rafael Moure-Eraso and Gabrielle Borrajo
- "The Monk's Ferrari" features guitar by Morning Effect and additional vocals by Frsh Waters, Gabrielle Borrajo, and Rafael Moure-Eraso
- "7 Enemies" features additional vocals by Gabrielle Borrajo and Rafael Moure-Eraso
- "warriorr" features guitar by Dimadidthis and additional vocals by Frsh Waters
- "Ffiirree" features guitar by Dimadidthis
- "Ffrreeee (Tuesday)" features guitar by Dimadidthis and additional vocals by Kamal Wilson & Rafael Moure-Eraso
Personnel
edit- Alec Dibell – creative producer
- Brandon "Brigante" Marquez – management
- Crooklin – producer ("Ffrreeee (Tuesday)")
- Dimadidthis - guitar; producer ("warriorr", "Ffiirree", "Ffrreeee (Tuesday)")
- DJ Cutbird – producer ("Tell The Truth Only")
- Frsh Waters – additional vocals ("The Monk's Ferrari", "warriorr")
- Gabrielle Borrajo – textile design; additional vocals ("Angel & Muse", "The Monk's Ferrari", "7 Enemies")
- ICECOLDBISHOP – featured artist
- JUNIE. - producer ("STTTRETCH", "7 Enemies"); featured artist
- Kamal Wilson - additional vocals ("Ffrreeee (Tuesday)")
- Kenny Rivero – producer ("Angel & Muse", "Strings")
- Leandro Lara – photographer
- Morning Effect – guitar; producer ("The Monk's Ferrari")
- Muhozi Nintunze - art direction; graphic design
- Nicholas "NickyChulo" Fulcher - management; graphic design
- Radamiz – vocals
- Rafael Moure - mixing engineer; mastering engineer
- Rafael Moure-Eraso – featured artist; additional vocals ("Angel & Muse", "The Monk's Ferrari", "7 Enemies", "Ffrreeee (Tuesday)")
- Sadhugold – producer ("Strings", "Ffiirree"); featured artist
- Verde Madera – producer ("The Monk's Ferrari")
- WASEEL – recording at Basewood Studios in Los Angeles, California
References
edit- ^ Sadler, Armon (October 27, 2023). "Kodak Black, 42 Dugg, AZ, And More New Music Friday Releases You Need In Rotation". Vibe. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Meara, Paul (October 27, 2023). "New Music Friday: Brent Faiyaz, Mariah The Scientist, and Rema Start Your Week with A Fresh Batch of New Tunes". BET. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Radamiz Releases New Album "El Duende!"". musicxclusives.com. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Grant, Shawn (October 27, 2023). "Radamiz Unleashes Art-Inspired Album 'El Duende'". The Source. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Radamiz - The Monk's Ferrari". HipHopDX. October 1, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "25 Hip Hop Artists Got Co-Sign From Eminem on His New Playlist". Eminem.news. October 25, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Jaxon (October 27, 2023). "Radamiz and ICECOLDBISHOP set the stage ablaze with "Ffiirree"". Lyrical Lemonade. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Nguyen, Andrew (November 1, 2023). "Rio Uribe Is Saying Goodbye to 'Gypsy Sport'". Paper. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Sayej, Nadja (October 24, 2023). "Gypsy Sport Designer Rio Uribe On LAFW, Fragrance And New Brand Name". Forbes. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ Hilliard, Ariauni (October 30, 2023). "Gypsy Sport Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary at LAFW". The Chic Daily. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "El Duende! / Radamiz – TIDAL". Tidal. 25 October 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "El Duende! by Radamiz on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved November 8, 2023.