Unbothered is the second studio album by American rapper Lil Skies. It was released on January 22, 2021, by All We Got Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa and Lil Durk. The deluxe version was released on May 14, 2021. It features additional guest appearances from Trippie Redd, Zhavia Ward, and Drakeo the Ruler. It follows Skies' previous album, Shelby (2019).[1]
| Unbothered | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 22, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:00 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
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| Lil Skies chronology | ||||
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| Alternate cover | ||||
.jpg) Deluxe edition cover | ||||
| Singles from Unbothered | ||||
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Background
editIn an interview with Complex, Skies elaborated on the album, explaining:
I just hope people take away from my album—just from me in general—is to just chase your dreams, and don't let nobody tell you what to do. I'm learning that still myself. I got a lot of people around me in my life tellin' me what I should do, what I shouldn't do… Do what you love, man. Life is too short.[2]
The title of the album is a self-analysis of Skies, that nothing can distract him from doing what he is doing. The cover art depicts him in a room that is filled with items that are distracting, in which he sits down in a chair, thinking about his ideas. He chose Wiz Khalifa and Lil Durk to appear on the album as they are some of his most favorite artists. As with Shelby (2019), the project that was released before Unbothered, it only contains a few features for Skies to showcase his own talent.
Release and promotion
editSkies announced the album along with its title, cover art, and release date in an Instagram post on December 16, 2020.[3] The track listing was revealed three days before its release, on January 19, 2021.
Singles
editSkies released the album's lead single, "Havin My Way", which features fellow American rapper Lil Durk, on March 4, 2020.[4] It was followed by the second single, "Riot", which was released on May 14, 2020.[5] The third single, "On Sight", was released on November 6, 2020.[6] "Ok" was released as the fourth and final single on December 16, 2020.[7] The lead single of the deluxe edition of the album, "My Baby", which features American singer Zhavia Ward, was released on April 29, 2021.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Clash | 7/10[9] |
| Vinyl Chapters | 3/5[10] |
Writing for Clash, Robin Murray felt that "every element on the album feels exact, placed with real precision"; Murray specifically praised the singles "Ok" and "Havin My Way", the latter of which features Lil Durk, opining that the album is an "inward journey" and the two singles exemplify that, while complimenting the songs "Trust Nobody", "Riot", and "Think Deep Don't Sink".[9]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fade Away" |
|
| 3:21 |
| 2. | "Take 5" |
|
| 2:52 |
| 3. | "Excite Me" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) | CashMoneyAP | 2:51 | |
| 4. | "Havin My Way" (featuring Lil Durk) |
| Slim Pharaoh | 3:31 |
| 5. | "Ok" |
| Buddah Bless | 2:35 |
| 6. | "Dead Broke" |
|
| 2:24 |
| 7. | "On Sight" |
|
| 2:41 |
| 8. | "Think Deep Don't Sink" |
|
| 4:07 |
| 9. | "Red Wine & Jodeci" |
|
| 2:27 |
| 10. | "Locked Up" |
|
| 3:05 |
| 11. | "Trust Nobody" |
|
| 3:34 |
| 12. | "Riot" |
|
| 2:46 |
| 13. | "Sky High" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 14. | "Mhmmm" | 2:21 | ||
| Total length: | 42:00 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Ice Water" (featuring Trippie Redd) |
| Based1 | 3:00 |
| 16. | "Bloody Emotions" |
|
| 2:41 |
| 17. | "My Baby" (featuring Zhavia Ward) |
|
| 2:12 |
| 18. | "How You Feel" |
|
| 3:04 |
| 19. | "Perfect Groove" |
| Ghxst | 3:01 |
| 20. | "Posse" (featuring Drakeo the Ruler) |
|
| 2:49 |
| 21. | "Backup" |
|
| 2:37 |
| Total length: | 1:01:25 | |||
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Tidal.[11]
Musicians
edit- Lil Skies – primary artist (all tracks)
- Wiz Khalifa – featured artist (track 3)
- Lil Durk – featured artist (track 4)
- Trippie Redd – featured artist (track 15)
- Zhavia Ward – featured artist (track 17)
- Drakeo the Ruler – featured artist (track 20)
Technical
edit- Samantha Kossoff – assistant mixing (tracks 5, 8–11, 14)
- Chris Athens – mastering (tracks 2, 3, 6–11, 13, 14)
- Neek – mixing (tracks 1–6, 12, 13), mastering (tracks 1, 4, 12)
- Joe Fitz – mixing (tracks 5, 7–11, 14), mastering (track 5)
- Based1 – programming (tracks 1, 2, 8)
- Jakik – programming (track 1)
- Hagan – programming (tracks 2, 6)
- CashMoneyAP – programming (tracks 3, 12)
- Slim Pharaoh – programming (tracks 4, 6, 7)
- Buddah Bless – programming (track 5)
- Sprite Lee – programming (track 6)
- Vendr – programming (track 7)
- Gibbo & Armada – programming (track 8)
- Pvlace – programming (track 9)
- Danny Wolf – programming (tracks 9, 13)
- Rello – programming (track 10)
- Steeze – programming (track 10)
- Noahsaki – programming (track 11)
- MVA Beats – programming (track 11)
- Neel & Alex – programming (track 12)
- Nils – programming (track 13)
- LMC – programming (track 13)
- T-Minus – programming (track 14)
- Cubeatz – programming (track 14)
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] | 48 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[13] | 60 |
| US Billboard 200[14] | 50 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] | 29 |
References
edit- ^ Mahadevan, Tara C. (January 22, 2021). "Listen to Lil Skies' Album 'Unbothered' f/ Lil Durk and Wiz Khalifa". Complex. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (January 20, 2021). "Lil Skies on New Album 'Unbothered' and Lil Wayne Supporting Trump". Complex. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Lil Skies on Instagram: "My new album "Unbothered" is out now for pre-sale!🦋 New single "Ok" for you guys being patient with me!❣🤓wouldn't be shit without you guys!!!!!! LOVE🖤link in bio let's go up🤯🤯1/22". Instagram. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Okon, Wongo (March 4, 2020). "Lil Skies And Lil Durk Earn Their Freedom In 'Havin My Way' Video". Uproxx. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Lilah, Rose (May 14, 2020). "Lil Skies Is Ready To "Riot"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Pickus, Brandon (November 6, 2020). "Lil Skies - "On Sight" [STREAM + VIDEO]". Rhyme Hip Hop. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Zidel, Alex (December 16, 2020). "Lil Skies Releases New Single "Ok" And Announces "Unbothered" Album". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Thomas, Fred. "Unbothered - Lil Skies | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (January 22, 2021). "Lil Skies - Unbothered". Clash. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ Lawlor, Imogen (January 26, 2021). "Lil Skies: Unbothered - Album Review". Vinyl Chapters. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ "Unbothered / Lil Skies - TIDAL". Tidal. January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart: February 6, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ "2021 4-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 29, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard 200: February 6, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart: February 6, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.