Unexpected Arrival

Unexpected Arrival
Studio album by Diggy Simmons
Released March 20, 2012
Recorded 2010–11
Various recording locations
Genre Hip hop, R&B
Length 43:34
Label Atlantic
Producer Diggy Simmons (exec.), D'Mile (also exec.), Da Internz, Osinachi Nwaneri, Pop & Oak, Soundz, The Rockstars
Diggy Simmons chronology
Unexpected Arrival
(2012)		 Out of This World
(TBA)
Singles from Unexpected Arrival
  1. "Copy, Paste"
    Released: May 29, 2011
  2. "Do It Like You"
    Released: October 24, 2011
  3. "88"
    Released: February 24, 2012
  4. "Two Up"
    Released: April 24, 2012
  5. "4 Letter Word"
    Released: May 8, 2012

Unexpected Arrival is the debut studio album by American rapper Diggy Simmons. It was released on March 20, 2012, by Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place from 2010 to 2011, at various locations, while the production on the album was handled by Da Internz, Osinachi Nwaneri, Pop & Oak, and Soundz, among others.

Unexpected Arrival was supported by five singles; including three official ("Copy, Paste", "Do It Like You" and "4 Letter Word") and two promotional singles ("88" and "Two Up").

Upon the release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number 13 on the US Billboard 200. On June 22, 2013, the album has sold 89,750 copies in the United States.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
HipHopDX[3]
XXL[4]

Upon its release, Unexpected Arrival received generally positive reviews from music critics. Christian Mordi of XXL praised the album's production and Diggy's lyrical skills for coming off more like a seasoned veteran saying, "Unlike many young artists, Diggy stays away from a lot of catchy, jingle-esque hooks and songs about trends on this project. Clearly the young MC wants to be taken seriously by casual and hardcore fans alike."[4] AllMusic editor David Jeffries also praised the album for its production and Diggy's accessibility as a rapper concluding that, "Kid-tested and parent-approved, this well-done debut makes hating on Diggy as ridiculous as it sounds."[2] Edwin Ortiz of HipHopDX was mixed about Diggy's talent as an emcee, singling out his age and limited view on the world for the subpar content. He concluded that, "To Diggy's credit, Unexpected Arrival plays to his adolescent strengths without hindering his opportunity to build upon his brand as an adult."[3]

Brandon Soderberg of Spin gave credit to some of the tracks, singling out "Unforgivable Blackness" for being "a sophisticated song that actually tries to confront [Diggy] Simmons’ lack of street cred," but found the rest of the album hollow and generic and followed a formula to market an underdog rapper, saying that, "Unexpected Arrival feels like the end of the rap album. The musical narrative is executed so effectively, hitting all the requisite marks, but it doesn’t matter in the least."[5]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "The Arrival (Intro)"  Diggy Simmons, Michael Jackson, Dernst Emile IID'Mile 1:15
2. "Hello World"  Simmons, Brandon Green, John "D.O.E." Maultsby, M. Jackson, Nathan "Happy" PérezHappy Pérez 3:11
3. "I Need to Know"  Simmons, Emile II, Clarence Coffee, Jr., Alexander Izquierdo, Maultsby, Matthew SamuelsD'Mile 3:34
4. "88" (featuring Jadakiss)Simmons, Keith James, Jason Phillips, Shawn Carter, Lonnie Liston Smith, Nasir Jones, Peter Phillips, David Willis, Ernest Clark, Marcos PalaciosDa Internz 3:05
5. "Two Up"  Simmons, Emile II, Coffee, Jr., Izquierdo, MaultsbyD'Mile 3:30
6. "Unforgivable Blackness"  Simmons, Coffee, Jr., Maultsby, Osinachi NwaneriNwaneri 4:15
7. "Special Occasion" (featuring Tank)Simmons, Carlos Battey, Steven Battey, Emile II, Perry Jones, Maultsby, Durell BabbsD'Mile 3:52
8. "Glow in the Dark"  Simmons, C. Battey, S. Battey, Emile II, MaultsbyD'Mile 5:59
9. "4 Letter Word"  Aubrey Graham, Kenneth Coby, Brian "The Rockstars" Cohen, Jacob Lutrell, Chase Lett, Chris "The Rockstars" Llewellyn, MaultsbySoundz 3:39
10. "Do It Like You" (featuring Jeremih)Simmons, Jeremih Felton, Maultsby, McGee, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Dexter Wansel, Warren "Oak" FelderPop & Oak 3:53
11. "Tom Edison"  Simmons, Emile II, Izquierdo, MaultsbyD'Mile 3:32
12. "The Reign"  Simmons, Cynthia Biggs, Sam Hook, Maultsby, A. Wansel, D. Wansel, FelderPop & Oak 3:59
Total length:
 43:34
Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for Unexpected Arrival adapted from AllMusic.[8]

  • John Armstrong – engineer
  • Paul Bailey – engineer
  • Shawn Barron – A&R
  • Carlos Centel Battey – composer
  • Steven Andre Battey – composer
  • Cynthia Biggs – composer
  • Nick Bilardello – art direction, design
  • The Jackie Boyz – vocals
  • Tanisha Broadwater – production coordination
  • Mike Caren – A&R
  • Shawn Carter – composer
  • Kenneth Coby – composer
  • Clarence Coffee, Jr. – composer, vocals
  • Brian Cohen – composer
  • Da Internz – producer
  • Dernst "D'Mile" Emile – additional production, composer, executive producer, producer
  • Laurie Dobbins – management
  • Lanre Gaba – A&R
  • Chris Galland – assistant
  • Jesus Garnica – assistant
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Dionne Harper – marketing
  • Patrick Hoelck – photography
  • Sam Hook – composer, vocals
  • Israel – engineer
  • Alexander Izquierdo – composer
  • Keith James – composer
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing
  • Brandon Jones – keyboards
  • Eben "Critical" Jones – engineer
  • Nasir Jones – composer
  • Perry Jones – composer
  • John "J-Banga" Kercy – mixing
  • Cara Lewis – booking
  • Chris Lighty – management
  • Chris Llewellyn – composer
  • Daniel Luttrell – vocals
  • Jacob Luttrell – composer
  • Bei Maejor – composer
  • Connie Makita – illustrations
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • John Maultsby – composer
  • Donnie Meadows – production coordination
  • Latoya Murray-Berry – stylist
  • Nathan Perez – composer
  • Osinachi Nwaneri – composer, producer
  • Happy Perez – Producer
  • Jayson Phillips – composer
  • Peter O. Phillips – composer
  • The Rockstars – guitar, keyboards, producer
  • Matthew Samuels – composer
  • Diggy Simmons – executive producer, composer
  • Skylar – engineer
  • Lonnie Liston Smith – composer
  • Soundz – producer
  • Dexter Wansel – composer
  • Pop Wansel – composer, instrumentation, producer
  • David A. Willis – Composer

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[9] 13
US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] 3
US Rap Albums (Billboard)[11] 2

References

  1. ↑ Jacobs, Allen (April 25, 2012). "Hip-Hop Album Sales the Week Ending 0422/2012". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Jeffries, David. "Unexpected Arrival – Diggy > Review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Ortiz, Edwin (March 30, 2012). "Diggy Simmons - Unexpected Arrival". HipHopDX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Mordi, Christian (March 20, 2012). "Diggy, Unexpected Arrival". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ Soderberg, Brandon (March 20, 2012). "Diggy Simmons' 'Unexpected Arrival': Could This Be the End of the Rap Album?". Spin. SpinMedia. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Unexpected Arrival (Deluxe Edition) by Diggy". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Unexpected Arrival [Best Buy Exclusive] – Diggy > Overview". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Unexpected Arrival – Diggy > Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Diggy Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Diggy Album & Song Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Diggy Album & Song Chart History: Rap Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
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