Cilvia Demo

Cilvia Demo
EP by Isaiah Rashad
Released	January 28, 2014
Recorded	2013 TDE Red Room (Carson, California)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	49:29
Label	Top Dawg Entertainment
Isaiah Rashad chronology
Cilvia Demo (2014) TBA (2015)

Cilvia Demo is the debut extended play by American hip hop recording artist Isaiah Rashad, released on January 28, 2014, under Top Dawg Entertainment. The EP features guest appearances from Jean Deaux and Michael Da Vinci, as well as his Top Dawg label-mates SZA, Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock. The EP's production was handled by several record producers, namely Ross Vega, Mr. Carmack, Joseph L'Étranger, Black Metaphor, The Antydote, Farhot, Chris Calor, D. Sanders and Digi+Phonics producer Sounwave. Cilvia Demo received widespread acclaim from music critics, who widely praised Rashad's storytelling, introspective raps, style, and the experimental production style.

Background

SZA, Rashad's TDE labelmate, contributes several vocal performances to the album, and featured on tracks "Ronnie Drake" and "West Savannah".

On October 18, 2013, the remix to "Shot You Down" featuring Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock was released via SoundCloud.^[1] On November 7, 2013, Rashad told Revolt that he would be releasing his very first official project Cilvia during December 2013.^[2][3] In mid-January 2014, Rashad revealed that the mixtape Cilvia would now be a retail extended play (EP) and would not contain many featured artists.^[4] On January 17, CEO Top Dawg revealed the cover artwork for the EP and that Cilvia Demo would be released digitally on January 28, 2014. It revealed features from TDE's SZA and Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q on the remix of "Shot You Down".^[5][6] The day before the EP's release, Rashad released the music video for the Cilvia Demo song, "Soliloquy".^[7][8] Speaking of the development of Cilvia Demo Rashad said;

"At first it was going to be like eight tracks for a one-and-a-half-minutes, just verses. Then it was going to be some alternative, black-power shit. Then it was going to be some eclectic-alien shit. Then it was going to be some Southern-banging shit. Now it’s kind of all of it, except for the banging shit. It ain’t like with the intention of turning up to it, that’s not my shit. I just want you to vibe out to it. Have a good time and put you in a certain mood. It’s real peaceful, real calmful."^[9]

As promised, Cilvia Demo was released on January 28, 2014 via digital download retailers and was made available in CD format exclusively from Top Dawg Entertainment's website.^[10] From March 1 to June 1, 2014, Isaiah Rashad toured with Schoolboy Q for the entirety of his international tour supporting his third studio album Oxymoron.^[11]

Music and lyrics

Ciliva Demo, according to Rashad, sums up his emotional struggle, from his teenage to adolescent years.

Cilvia Demo is a concept album which details Rashad's emotional struggle from his late teenage years to the present day. The opening song "Hereditary" opens up on Rashad's abandonment by his father. On 'Webbie Flow", Rashad reminisces on on his adolescent teen years. "Cilvia Demo" serves as a nostalgic "ride-along" track. On the songs "R.I.P Kevin Miller" and "Ronnie Drake", Isaiah Rashad touches on the topics of police brutality. On the SZA collaboration "West Savannah", Rashad talks about a love that they have found over personal issues. Rashad also touches on the issue of suicide in the line "At least we fell in love with something greater than debating suicide". On "Soliloquy", Rashad is having an internal monologue, in which he talks about everything from Vince Vaughn and Walter White, to his father. On "Tranquility", Rashad states that we have to accept the world as it is, and that some things cannot change. On "Menthol" featuring Jean Deaux, Rashad raps about a love which revolves around drug and alcohol abuse. "Modest" is a braggadocio track where Rashad speaks on himself and his "coming up" in the music industry. On "Heavenly Father", Rashad reflects on his depression, suicide attempts, and religion. In the song "Banana", Rashad once again reminisces on his adolescence, working hard for his son, and abandonment by his father. The song "Brad Jordan" is an ode to the lifestyle and mannerisms of the southern-rap legend Scarface.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	82/100[12]
Review scores
Source	Rating
BET	[13]
Consequence of Sound	B[14]
DJBooth	[15]
Exclaim!	8/10[16]
HipHopDX	[17]
Pitchfork Media	8.2/10 [18]
XXL	(XL)[19]
Spin	8/10[20]

The EP debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart and sold 8,500 copies its first week.^[21] In its second week, the EP completely fell off the Billboard 200.^[22] The EP has sold around 26,000 copies as of March 2015.

Cilvia Demo received widespread acclaim from music critics. Critics praised the album's lyrics, unconventional southern production, cohesiveness, and Rashad's unique style and thoughtful lyrics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 82, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 13 reviews. Rob Markman of MTV gave the project a positive review saying, "By the time the 14-track project winds down, Isaiah Rashad slowly doles out his own coming-of-age story using introspective raps, melodies and, at times, good old southern bounce."^[23] Marcus Dowling of HipHopDX said, "Every story and hook on Isaiah Rashad's Cilvia Demo connects on a human level. What it lacks in depth is covered by excellent production and raw talent."^[17] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound gave the project a positive review saying, "At any rate, Rashad sounds like he belongs. He’s touched down on his own terms, and he’ll be sticking around for a while."^[14]

Accolades

Cilvia Demo appeared on multiple year end lists of the best hip-hop albums of that year. Rap Genius hailed it as the seventh best hip hop release that year, while Rolling Stone placed it at number twenty-one. Based on the buzz generated by the EP, Rashad was named to the 2014 XXL Freshman List.

Track listing

• All lyrics written by Isaiah Rashad.

Chart positions

References