Nobody (album)

Nobody
Studio album by Chief Keef
Released December 16, 2014
Recorded 2013–2014
Genre Drill (music genre)
Length 36:20
Label Glo Gang, 12hunna, 101 Distribution
Producer 12Million
Chief Keef chronology

Back From the Dead 2
(2014)		 Nobody
(2014)		 Sorry 4 the Weight
(2015)
Singles from Nobody
  1. "Nobody"
    Released: December 15, 2014

Nobody is the second overall album, and first exclusively digital album, by American hip hop artist Chief Keef, independently released on December 16, 2014 through Keef's Glo Gang label. Keef collaborated with 12 Million and Velle Beats to handle the album's production. The album is primarily a solo effort, but includes two guest features from Tadoe and Kanye West. The album's production and lyrics are representative of the drill music genre.

Background

In February 2014, Chief Keef originally teased Kanye's inclusion on Keef's then-scheduled album, Bang 3, stating, "Kanye will definitely be on Bang 3."[1] In August 2014, Keef teased Kanye's vocals from the track, "Nobody".[2]

Release and promotion

On November 22, 2014, when Keef announced the release of an album titled, Nobody (also noted as Nobody: The Album), slated for a December 2, 2014 release, it became apparent that the "Nobody" track had developed into its own project, rather than as a portion of Bang 3.[3][4] The album experienced a slight delay, but was released on December 16 through iTunes digital download.[5][6] Meaghan Garvey of Pitchfork Media wrote that the album was, "released suddenly and without much fanfare."[7]

Singles

The album's title track, "Nobody", was made available to stream from audiomack.com on December 15, 2014.[8][9] Although not officially released onto iTunes as a single, various sources have referred to the track as a "single."[9][10]

Cover art

On September 2, 2014, Keef released the cover art for the song, "Nobody", featuring the heads of Keef and Kanye West side by side, seemingly fading into the black background.[11] Keef is shown holding a bundle of dollar bills up to his ear.[11]

Music and lyrics

Fellow Chicagoan, Kanye West contributed backing vocals on the track, "Nobody"

The music on the album was noted to be, "experimental, and equally devoid of any conventional hits."[7] On the album, Keef touches on the concept of his fame, and how it has impacted his life in both positive and negative aspects.[12] The album included "emotional cornerstones," as well as subtle jokes made by Keef at his own expense.[7] Keef also raps about his romantic insecurities that have been compiling in his work since 2012, the, "unflinching ubermasculinity that characterizes drill and its proponents, and beyond that, the temperament expected of black men from a young age."[7]

Specifically, on the track "Nobody", various sources reached a consensus that Keef's slurs and croons over Kanye West's vocals contributed to one of his more emotionally driven songs. Chris Coplan of Consequence of Sound writes that Keef's auto-tuned vocals are, "part slur and part croon", and that Kanye West's, "succinct-yet-soulful backing harmonies sound doubly hazy over rumbling drum beats and the intermittent flutter of keys."[9] The Source writes that the song is, "one of the more emotionally driven cuts we’ve heard from the Chicago rapper in recent history."[10] Garvey writes that the track is, "about Keef at his rawest and most honest," referring to the line, "They thought I was a joke," as being burbled, "with a melancholy that suggests he reads the comments."[7] Zach Frydenlund of Complex, writes that the song is, "decked out in auto-tune from start to finish, as Keef handles the majority of the record with his unique crooning throughout."[13] However, Brennan Carley of Spin, commented, "as West croons in his trademark 808s warble in the background, the drill rapper slurs through bragging lyrics."[14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Pitchfork Media [7]

In comparison to Keef's mixtape, Back From the Dead 2, Meaghan Garvey of Pitchfork Media, stated that Nobody was, "sharper, clearer, and more purposeful."[7] Garvey adds her opinions on the tracks, commenting, "a handful feel more like sketches than completed works. But its high points have a clarity unmatched within Keef’s last two years of work; at times, he’s straight up vulnerable. He may not be coming back to earth any time soon, but he’s looking his audience in the eyes."[7] Garvey gave the album an overall score of 7 out of 10, stating, "Nobody is, at its best, strikingly lucid. Maybe his recent passion for visual art has rekindled an interest in direct expression. Maybe he’s just growing up."[7]

Track listing

  1. Aint Just Me
  2. Oh Lawd (feat. Tadoe)
  3. Already
  4. Fast N Furious
  5. Fishin
  6. Funny
  7. Gooey
  8. Hard
  9. Nobody (feat. Kanye West) Prod. 12 Million and Velle Beats
  10. Pit Stop
  11. Twelve Bars
  12. Yeah
Samples

References

  1. ↑ Battan, Carrie (February 7, 2014). "Kanye West Working With Chief Keef Again". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  2. ↑ Minsker, Evan (August 17, 2014). "Chief Keef Teases Collaborative Track With Kanye West, "Nobody"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Chief Keef’s “Nobody” Collaboration with Kanye West Finally has a Release Date". The Source. November 22, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  4. ↑ Lyons, Patrick (November 22, 2014). "Chief Keef Announces "Nobody: The Album" Featuring Kanye West & Tadoe". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  5. ↑ Schiewe, Jessie (December 16, 2014). "Chief Keef Reveals Cover Art, Tracklist, And Release Date For "Nobody" [Update: Album Stream]". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Nobody". iTunes. December 16, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Garvey, Meaghan (January 12, 2015). "Nobody". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Nobody". Audiomack. December 15, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Coplan, Chris (December 15, 2014). "Chief Keef and Kanye West team up for “Nobody” — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Listen To Chief Keef’s New Single, “Nobody,” Featuring Kanye West". The Source. December 15, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ramirez, Erika (September 2, 2014). "Chief Keef Reveals Artwork for Kanye West Collabo 'Nobody'". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ramirez, Erika (December 22, 2014). "Chief Keef & Kanye West Team Up on 'Nobody': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ Frydenlund, Zach (December 15, 2014). "Listen to Chief Keef's "Nobody" f/ Kanye West". Complex. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  14. ↑ Carley, Brennan (December 15, 2014). "Chief Keef and Kanye West Warble Their Way Through 'Nobody'". Spin. Retrieved March 23, 2015.