Music Is the Weapon is the fourth studio album by American electronic band Major Lazer, released on October 23, 2020, via Mad Decent. It is Major lazer's first album in five years since Peace Is the Mission (2015).[1][2] First announced in 2015, many conflicting statements have been made about the album, with the latest reports being that it will be the final Major Lazer album.[3] It was later announced in 2019 that the album would instead be titled Lazerism, but the name was later changed back to the original title.[4][2] It is the first album to be released after Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums.[5] A deluxe edition of the album titled Music Is the Weapon (Reloaded) was released on March 26, 2021.[6]
| Music Is the Weapon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 23, 2020 | |||
| Length | 33:55 | |||
| Label | Mad Decent | |||
| Producer |
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| Major Lazer chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Music Is the Weapon | ||||
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Background and singles
editOn April 27, 2015, Diplo revealed in an interview with Belgian radio station Studio Brussel that they have been working on a track with Belgian singer Selah Sue. He added that it might appear on their next album. Selah Sue herself confirmed this during an interview with Studio Brussels on May 4, 2015.[7] In May 2015, Major Lazer revealed their fourth album would be called Music Is the Weapon.[8]
A number of Major Lazer's singles released since the album's announcement have been reported to be on the album by journalists.[9] "Cold Water" was released on July 22, 2016, featuring Justin Bieber and frequent Major Lazer collaborator MØ.[10] The song received widespread airplay and made it a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart. Following the success of the song, leaked collaborations with singers Sia, Lorde and Bonnie McKee were announced, as well as teasing collaborations with former Fifth Harmony girl band member Camila Cabello and alternative R&B singer PartyNextDoor. In August 2016, the band's member Diplo teased on social media that he was working with Benny Blanco on a collab with American singer Ariana Grande, who was featured in the two short clips as well. The band also confirmed that they were collaborating with artists The Weeknd and Travis Scott.[11]
On September 30, 2016, "Believer", was released as a collaboration with Showtek. In December 2016, it was announced that a song from the album, "Run Up" featuring Nicki Minaj and PartyNextDoor, would be released as a single. Several days later, on December 6, 2016, the promotional single "My Number" was released, in collaboration with the newly formed band Bad Royale. It features uncredited vocals from Toots & The Maytals. On June 1, 2017, "Know No Better" featuring Travis Scott, Camila Cabello and Quavo, was released as the fourth single from the album.[12] Also in June 2017, Diplo stated in an interview with Billboard: "I shifted my goal to just make singles, because no one really buys our albums".[13] Despite this, outlets such as NME continued to report through 2017 that the album was scheduled for a 2018 release.[14] Reports surfaced in January 2018 that the album would be released the following March,[15][16] but the album failed to materialize in 2018. In June 2018, the songs released until then were reportedly to be on the album, according to Forbes, but had not received official confirmation.[9] In an interview with Complex in September 2018, Diplo said that he thought the album would be released in 2019 and that it would be the last Major Lazer album.[3]
Due to the album's delay, the song "Can't Take It from Me", featuring Skip Marley, was released as the album's new lead single on May 10, 2019.[17] The album's second single, "Que Calor", featuring J Balvin and El Alfa, was released on September 11, 2019.[18] On March 18, 2020, Diplo announced that the album is complete.[19] "Lay Your Head on Me", featuring Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons, was released as the album's fifth single on March 26, 2020.[20][1] On the same day, Diplo revealed on BBC Radio 1 with Annie Mac that the album would be released in June 2020, and that it would feature appearances such as Sia and Nicki Minaj.[21]
In a 2019 interview with Complex, Diplo revealed that the album was no longer titled Music Is the Weapon and would instead be titled Lazerism.[22] However, in September 2020, Major Lazer tweeted that the album would once again be called Music Is the Weapon with a release date set for October 23, 2020.[2] The tweet had an accompanying album artwork. The official track listing for the album was revealed on October 15, 2020.[23] "QueLoQue" featuring Paloma Mami was released as the album's seventh single on October 16, 2020.[24]
Reception
editThe album's release was highly anticipated by a number of music and media outlets. Rolling Stone and WhatCulture listed it on its most anticipated albums of 2017 list.[25][26] Complex named the album their 38th most-anticipated album of 2018.[27] Idolator and Forbes also named it one of their most anticipated albums of 2018.[28][29]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hell and High Water" (featuring Alessia Cara) | 2:25 | ||
| 2. | "Sun Comes Up" (featuring Busy Signal and Joeboy) |
|
| 2:39 |
| 3. | "Bam Bam" (featuring French Montana and Beam) |
|
| 2:33 |
| 4. | "Tiny" (featuring Beam and Shenseea) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 5. | "Oh My Gawd" (with Mr Eazi featuring Nicki Minaj and K4mo) |
|
| 3:00 |
| 6. | "Trigger" (with Khalid) |
|
| 2:51 |
| 7. | "Lay Your Head on Me" (featuring Marcus Mumford) |
|
| 3:19 |
| 8. | "Can't Take It from Me" (featuring Skip Marley) |
|
| 2:55 |
| 9. | "Rave de Favela" (with MC Lan and Anitta featuring Beam) |
|
| 2:34 |
| 10. | "QueLoQue" (featuring Paloma Mami) |
|
| 2:45 |
| 11. | "Jadi Buti" (with Nucleya featuring Rashmeet Kaur) |
|
| 2:43 |
| 12. | "Que Calor" (featuring J Balvin and El Alfa) |
|
| 2:49 |
| Total length: | 33:55 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Titans" (featuring Sia and Labrinth) | Diplo | 3:19 | |
| 2. | "Diplomatico" (featuring Guaynaa) |
| Diplo | 2:24 |
| 3. | "Que Calor" (featuring J Balvin and El Alfa) |
|
| 2:49 |
| 4. | "C'est cuit" (featuring Aya Nakamura and Swae Lee) |
|
| 2:36 |
| 5. | "Hell and High Water" (featuring Alessia Cara) |
|
| 2:25 |
| 6. | "Pra te Machucar" (with Ludmilla featuring ÀTTØØXXÁ and Suku Ward) |
| 2:37 | |
| 7. | "QueLoQue" (featuring Paloma Mami) |
|
| 2:45 |
| 8. | "Sun Comes Up" (featuring Busy Signal and Joeboy) |
|
| 2:39 |
| 9. | "Bam Bam" (featuring French Montana and Beam) |
|
| 2:33 |
| 10. | "Tiny" (featuring Beam and Shenseea) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 11. | "Oh My Gawd" (with Mr Eazi featuring Nicki Minaj and K4mo) |
|
| 3:00 |
| 12. | "Hands Up" (featuring Moonchild Sanelly and Morena Leraba) |
|
| 3:14 |
| 13. | "Trigger" (with Khalid) |
|
| 2:51 |
| 14. | "Lay Your Head on Me" (featuring Marcus Mumford) |
|
| 3:19 |
| 15. | "Can't Take It from Me" (featuring Skip Marley) |
|
| 2:55 |
| 16. | "Rave de Favela" (with MC Lan and Anitta featuring Beam) |
|
| 2:34 |
| 17. | "Jadi Buti" (with Nucleya featuring Rashmeet Kaur) |
|
| 2:43 |
Personnel
editMajor Lazer
- Diplo – composer, producer, executive producer (1–12)
- Walshy Fire – producer (1–12)
- Ape Drums – producer (1–12)
Charts
edit| Chart (2020–2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| French Albums (SNEP)[31] | 60 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[32] | 98 |
| US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[33] | 5 |
References
edit- ^ a b Stickler, Jon (March 27, 2020), "Major Lazer Release New Song Lay Your Head On Me Featuring Marcus Mumford", Stereoboard, retrieved March 28, 2020
- ^ a b c "MAJOR LAZER on Twitter: "MUSIC IS THE WEAPON. OCTOBER 23 #ML4"". Twitter. September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
- ^ a b Arkin, Khalan (September 26, 2018). "Diplo Says the Next Major Lazer Album Might Be Their Last". Complex.
- ^ Ochoa, John (September 23, 2019). "Billboard Dance Fall 2019 Music Guide: 15 Must-hear releases from Major Lazer, Gryffin, Dillon Francis & more". Billboard.
With the lineup change came an album title change, from Music Is the Weapon to Lazerism.
- ^ DeVille, Chris (June 3, 2019), "Jillionaire Quits Major Lazer, Replaced By Ape Drums", Stereogum, retrieved July 30, 2019
- ^ DeFaria, Cameron (March 27, 2021). "Diplo, Sia and Labrinth reunite as LSD—stream 'Titans'". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "MAJOR LAZER NEEMT NUMMER OP MET SELAH SUE". Studio Brussel. April 27, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
- ^ "Major Lazer Name New Album 'Music Is the Weapon'". Exclaim!. May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ^ a b McIntyre, Hugh. "Major Lazer Has Been Talking About A New Album For 2 Years... So Where Is It?". Forbes. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Grant, Sarah (July 22, 2016). "Diplo on 'Spontaneous' Song With Justin Bieber 'Cold Water'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "Electro music group Major Lazer makes a splash with new single, Cold Water". New Straits Times. September 30, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ "Listen to Major Lazer's New Single "Know No Better," f/ Travis Scott, Quavo, and Camila Cabello". Complex. June 1, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
- ^ Ringen, Jonathan (June 22, 2017). "How Major Lazer Bet on Diversity (and Data) to Make Global Hits: 'The Audience Controls Music Now'". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ "Major Lazer surprise fans with new track 'Go Dung' - NME". NME. December 27, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Bein, Kat (January 9, 2018). "Major Lazer's 'Music Is the Weapon' Release Date & Tracklist Remain Unconfirmed". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ McNeilage, Ross (January 9, 2018). "A New Ariana Grande and Major Lazer Collab Is Reportedly Happening". MTV News. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ Mao, Jessica (May 10, 2019), "Major Lazer share their first single 'Can't Take It From Me' from final upcoming studio album", Dancing Astronaut, retrieved May 15, 2019
- ^ @MAJORLAZER (September 4, 2019). "SUMMER ISNT OVER YET QUE CALOR. WED SEPT 11. @JBALVIN @ELALFA18 🥵" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ Levin, Harry (March 18, 2020). "Diplo says the new Major Lazer album is finished". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ^ @MAJORLAZER (March 24, 2020). "THURSDAY" (Tweet). Retrieved March 25, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ @NickiOnChart (March 26, 2020). ".@Diplo from @MAJORLAZER talked on BBC RADIO 1 with @AnnieMac about the trio's upcoming final studio album" (Tweet). Retrieved May 7, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Lutz, Quinn (June 21, 2019). "Ape Drums ushers in a new era for Major Lazer". Dance Music Northwest. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ a b @MAJORLAZER (October 15, 2020). "OCTOBER 23 MUSIC IS THE WEAPON" (Tweet). Retrieved October 15, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Paloma Mami y Major Lazer anuncian colaboración" [Paloma Mami and Major Lazer announce collaboration]. Radio Antara. October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Christopher R. Weingarten; Jon Freeman; Brittany Spanos; Suzy Exposito; Joseph Hudak; Mosi Reeves; Kory Grow; Keith Harris; Richard Gehr (January 9, 2017). "63 Most Anticipated Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "10 Most Anticipated Albums Still To Come In 2017". What Culture. June 27, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "The Most Anticipated Albums of 2018Major Lazer, 'Music Is The Weapon'". Complex. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "From Selena Gomez To Beyonce: The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2018". www.idolator.com. January 25, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "The Most Anticipated Dance/Electronic Albums Of 2018". Forbes. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ "Music Is the Weapon, (Reloaded) / Major Lazer — TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Major Lazer – Music Is the Weapon". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Major Lazer – Music Is the Weapon". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Major Lazer Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.