Kamikaze (album)

Kamikaze
Studio album by Twista
Released	January 27, 2004 (US) November 2, 2004 (Re-Release)
Recorded	2002-2004
Genre	Hip hop, R&B, Midwest rap
Length	65:55
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Kanye West Jazze Pha The Legendary Traxster R. Kelly Toxic Red Spyda D-Roy & Mr. B Mike Caren
Twista chronology
Mobstability (1998) '''Kamikaze''' (2004) The Day After (2005)

Kamikaze is the fourth studio album by Chicago rapper Twista which reached the top of the US Billboard 200 album charts in early 2004 based on the success of the lead single "Slow Jamz". It was released on January 27, 2004 & sold 312,000 units first week. The album has received generally positive reviews from critics.^[1] It is Twista's first Platinum album and most successful to date.

Making of the album

On his website, Twista stated that he made Kamikaze to show that he was still true to the ideals that he had when he started out. "I represent for the MCs that have skills, not just make music for the hell of it. I take the time to concentrate. Otherwise, I could have 10 albums out there, easy. I could sit down all day and write something. But I write when I get in a zone more than writing because I’ve got to do this. I represent the artists that keep it true to what really is, to be able to make rappers want to write."

"I want to show the streets that I’m back and that I’m true to the game. Musically, I want to show that I’m still out here doing my thing. After all the people that were out when I was out years ago fell off, I’m still out here competing with the shorties. I also want to gain platinum success. It’s something that I haven’t done."

The song "Sunshine" contains the backing track from Lovely Day by Bill Withers.

The song "Overnight Celebrity" contains a sample of the Lenny Williams 1978 song "Cause I Love You".

Chart success

The first single "Slow Jamz" featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and world R&B charts in early 2004. Kamikaze built on the success of "Slow Jamz" to reach the top of the Billboard 200 album charts on release in January 2004 and to go platinum by March 2004. The second single "Overnight Celebrity" had also reached top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and world R&B chart in March 2004. The single "So Sexy", with R. Kelly, reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	66/100 [1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
Blender	[1]
Robert Christgau	[3]
HipHopDX	[4]
Pitchfork Media	(6.4/10) [5]
PopMatters	[1][6]
RapReviews	(8.5/10) [7]
Rolling Stone	[8]
USA Today	[9]
Vibe	[1]

The album so far has a score of 66 out of 100 based on "generally positive reviews".^[1] The A.V. Club gave it a favorable review and stated that the album "feels eclectic without stooping to demographics-pandering, though its contradictory elements create a few jarring moments."^[10] E! Online gave it a B and said, "Twista still manages to steal the limelight on hot booty-busters like 'Slow Jamz' and 'Pimp On.'"^[1] Yahoo! Music UK gave it seven stars out of ten and called it "overlong, like almost every rap album today, and it's not the sort of place to come expecting erudition or insight. But for one singular rapper unwilling and unafraid to stick to his guns, it's a deeply satisfying record."^[11] Other reviews are pretty average or mixed: Q gave it three stars out of five and said, "Twista's overshadowed by [Kanye] West, but with jacked-up soul tunes such as 'Overnight Celebrity', the result, who cares?"^[1] The Village Voice, however, gave it a mixed review and said that the album "Suggests nothing so much as Adrenaline Rush part two."^[12]

Track listing

Bonus Tracks

These songs were included on the re-released version of Kamikaze.

17. "So Sexy: Chapter II (Like This)" (featuring R. Kelly)

18. "Freek-a-Leek (Remix)" (featuring Petey Pablo & Jermaine Dupri)

Chart positions

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Critic Reviews for Kamikaze". Metacritic. 2004-01-27. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
2. ↑ Jeffries, David. "Kamikzae - Twista". Allmusic. All Media Guide. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
3. ↑ "CG: twista". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
4. ↑ Koslow, Jessica (2004-02-28). "Twista - Kamikaze | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
5. ↑ Fennessey, Sean (2004-02-09). "Twista: Kamikaze". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
6. ↑ Cibula, Matt (2004-02-13). "Twista: Kamikaze". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-05-30. 
7. ↑ Juon, Steve "Flash" (2004-02-03). "Feature for February 3, 2004 - Twista's "Kamikaze"". RapReviews. Retrieved 2011-06-15. 
8. ↑ Hoard, Christian (2004-01-30). "Kamikaze : Twista : Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2013-05-30. 
9. ↑ Jones, Steve (2004-02-05). "Twista resonates, Connick impersonates (Twista, Kamikaze)". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-05-30. 
10. ↑ Rabin, Nathan (2004-02-03). "Twista: Kamikaze". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2013-05-30. 
11. ↑ Batey, Angus (2004-04-05). "Twista - 'Kamikaze'". Yahoo! Music UK. Archived from the original on 2004-08-14. Retrieved 2013-05-30. 
12. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (2004-03-16). "Fast and Folliclous". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2013-05-30. 

External links

• VH1 Kamikaze album page
• Twista home page
• Artist Direct Kamikaze page
• Kamikaze at Metacritic