Searching Sylvan is a mixtape by Miami rapper Sylvan LaCue, known at the time as QuESt, that was released on September 2, 2014. The mixtape was released under the Visionary Music Group label that QuESt was temporarily a part of.
| Searching Sylvan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | September 2, 2014 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 72:57 | |||
| Label | Visionary Music Group | |||
| Producer | ||||
| QuESt chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Searching Sylvan | ||||
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Background
editQuESt states that Searching Sylvan was a tale of his life since May 10, 2012.[2] The mixtape is in a timeline of events, with The Source explaining how Searching Sylvan explains QuESt's relationship difficulties, family issues and all that he has endured.[3] Such events in Searching Sylvan include the murder of QuESt's friend over an iPhone in, the street culture in Miami based on the murderer and other events in QuESt's life.[2][4]
Composition
editThe album begins with a cold open, with the first track happening after the final track in the mixtape's timeline, representing QuESt going back to square one. QuESt uses flexible flows throughout the mixtape and his lyrics show his emotions in rhymes about daydreams and real-life issues, such as having a friend becoming paralyzed after being shot.[3]
Reception
editSearching Sylvan received unanimous critical acclaim upon its release, praising the compositions, and lyrics of the mixtape. The Huffington Post named QuESt on their 11 Artists You Need To Know For The Rest Of 2014 list, with The Huffington Post stating "QuESt is about to prove himself one of the most promising storytellers in hip-hop" and that Searching Sylvan was not "just one of the best mixtapes or hip-hop releases this year ... [it] is one of the best albums all year".[5] Near the end of 2014, The Huffington Post placed Searching Sylvan #6 on their list of The 15 Most Underrated Albums Of The Year.[6]
The Source says that Searching Sylvan has "incredible production, which is only matched and surpassed by QuESt’s versatile flows". Concerning the content of the mixtape, The Source states that the project is "as high-quality as you can manage" and has "a surprising level of replay value".[3]
Track list
editCredits adapted from Sylvan's SoundCloud.[7]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Welcome Home Sylvan" | The Marvels | 1:03 |
| 2. | "Maybe I Should" | Synematik | 4:27 |
| 3. | "Make It Out Alive" | The Marvels | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Automatic" |
| 5:59 |
| 5. | "Biscayne Blvd" | Logic | 4:48 |
| 6. | "The Ride" (featuring Melat) | Kyle Justice | 4:09 |
| 7. | "C.O.T. // Dreams Dreams Dreams" |
| 6:32 |
| 8. | "Erase Me" | OB | 5:45 |
| 9. | "Hunger" | 6ix | 4:40 |
| 10. | "TreaZon's Prone to Sin (Interlude)" (featuring TreaZon) | OB | 2:46 |
| 11. | "Lost Niggas" | 6ix | 3:04 |
| 12. | "No Love in The City" |
| 5:01 |
| 13. | "Struggle Rapper" |
| 5:53 |
| 14. | "In a Moment (Interlude)" (featuring Melat) | The Marvels | 1:28 |
| 15. | "Dying Words" (featuring Linzi Jai & Mickey Factz) | Denaun Porter | 6:40 |
| 16. | "Jon Bellion's One Way to San Diego (Outro)" (featuring Jon Bellion) | The Marvels | 2:19 |
| 17. | "May 10th, 2012" | 6ix | 4:01 |
| Total length: | 72:57 | ||
References
edit- ^ "QuESt - Searching Sylvan". DJBooth. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ a b Lilah, Rose. "Track Breakdown: Talking To QuESt & 6ix On "Lost Niggas"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ a b c Randel, Scott. "QuESt Anchors The Visionary Ship With His Debut VMG Mixtape 'Searching Sylvan'". The Source. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ "Feature Interview: QuESt Talks "Searching Sylvan" Success, Miami's Music Scene, and New Beginnings". Rehab Online Magazine. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Kristobak, Ryan (15 October 2014). "11 Artists You Need To Know For The Rest Of 2014". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ Van Luling, Todd; Kristobak, Ryan (18 December 2014). "The 15 Most Underrated Albums Of The Year". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Searching Sylvan Album". SoundCloud. Retrieved January 3, 2020.