Ego Death (album)

Ego Death
Studio album by The Internet
Released June 26, 2015 (2015-06-26)
Recorded 2013–2015
Studio
  • 1500 or Nothin
  • Banana Beat Studio
  • Chateau Marie
  • Trap 3.0, Los Angeles, CA
Genre R&B
Length 56:24
Label
Producer
The Internet chronology
Feel Good
(2013)		 Ego Death
(2015)		 Hive Mind
(2018)
Singles from Ego Death
  1. "Special Affair"
    Released: June 2, 2015
  2. "Girl"
    Released: June 23, 2015

Ego Death is the third studio album by American R&B band The Internet. It was released on June 26, 2015, by Columbia Records and Odd Future Records.[1] The album was supported by the singles; "Special Affair" and "Girl". It was nominated at the 58th Grammy Awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album.[2]

Singles

The album's lead single, "Special Affair", was released on June 2, 2015.[3] The album's second single, "Girl", was released on June 23, 2015. The song features a guest appearance from Haitian-Canadian DJ and record producer Kaytranada.[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.1/10[5]
Metacritic81/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Consequence of SoundB[8]
Exclaim!8/10[9]
The Guardian[10]
HipHopDX4/5[11]
Pitchfork7.4/10[12]
PopMatters8/10[13]
RapReviews.com8/10[14]
Rolling Stone[15]
ViceA–[16]

Ego Death received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on 11 reviews.[6] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "The majority of Ego Death is tighter. Bennett has refined her songwriting without reducing the candid approach that colors her past compositions. Additionally, the tangents are fewer and more substantive."[7] Pat Levy of Consequence of Sound said, "In addition to their more fully formed sound, one of the more exciting things about The Internet is the music's point of view."[8] Michael J. Warren of Exclaim! said, "Ego Death frees the Internet from Odd Future connotations and R&B norms; it's their best work yet."[9] Tshepo Mokoena of The Guardian said, "There's wit and honestly behind her observations of courting and heartbreak, making her pinhole focus on love more about nuance than navel-gazing. It's just as well the band stayed together."[10] Ronald Grant of HipHopDX said, "Ego Death is an album both suited specifically for the social media age of music listeners but simultaneously rich and permeated with the traditions of the soul and R&B music of the past."[11]

Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said, "There's convincing thump at work here, but not so much as to overwhelm the lustrous keyboards, the nuzzling bass, the way several of the songs unfurl like blooming roses."[17] Sean Fennell of PopMatters said, "Ego Death and The Internet require a little bit of patience, but if you are willing to give it a full go, it will reward you with one of the most interesting albums in recent memory."[13] Patrick Taylor of RapReviews.com said, "Ego Death is the perfect summer record. Breezy, smooth, lazy, and meant for warm nights."[14] Craig Jenkins of Pitchfork said, "The Internet's songs have always felt like scenes of salaciousness happening just out of earshot. Ego Death finally pulls us into the maelstrom."[12] Suzy Exposito of Rolling Stone said, "The best tracks fade away into gravity-defying instrumental outros that make Syd's heartache feel sublimely serene."[15]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Get Away"
2:28
2."Gabby" (featuring Janelle Monáe)
  • Lacy
  • Martin
3:32
3."Under Control"
  • Bennett
  • Green
The Internet4:04
4."Go with It" (featuring Vic Mensa)
  • Bennett
  • Martin
  • Christopher Allan Smith
  • Cisco Adler
4:27
5."Just Sayin" / "I Tried"
    • "Just Sayin'": Lacy
    • Smith
    • "I Tried": Bambaata
    • Smith
6:54
6."For the World" (featuring James Fauntleroy)
  • Martin
  • Jameel Bruner
  • Patrick Paige II
  • Smith
3:23
7."Girl" (featuring Kaytranada)
  • Bennett
  • Green
6:56
8."Special Affair"
  • Bennett
  • Parks
  • Lacy
  • Martin
2:58
9."Somthing's Missing"
  • Bennett
  • Green
  • Martin
  • Martin
  • Lacy
6:21
10."Partners in Crime Part Three"BennettBrian Kennedy3:22
11."Penthouse Cloud"Bennett
  • The Highlights
  • Lacy
  • Martin
4:44
12."Palace" (featuring Tyler, the Creator) / "Curse" (featuring Steve Lacy)
  • "Palace": Okonma
  • "Curse": Lacy
7:20

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[19]

The Internet

  • Syd – lead vocals, production (tracks 3, 4), keys (track 4), synths (track 4), background vocals (track 10), recording (tracks 1-12), executive production, mixing
  • Matt Martians – production (tracks 1-4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14), drums (tracks 1, 2, 8, 9, 11), synths (tracks 3, 4, 6), background vocals (track 2), recording (track 9), executive production, design
  • Patrick Paige II – bass (tracks 3, 4, 6, 11, 13, 14), production (tracks 3, 6, 11), drums (track 11), guitar (track 11)
  • Christopher Allan Smith – drums (tracks 3-6), production (tracks 3-6), percussion (track 13), recording (track 13), mixing
  • Jameel Bruner – production (tracks 3, 6, 7), keys (tracks 3, 6, 13), additional synths (track 9), additional organ (track 9), background vocals (track 2)
  • Steve Lacy – production (tracks 1-3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12), bass (tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11), guitar (tracks 1-3, 5, 8, 11), featured artist (track 12), executive production

Additional personnel

  • Cisco Adler – production (track 4), guitar (track 4), recording (track 4)
  • Brandon Combs – drums (track 13)
  • Jimmy Douglass – mixing
  • James Fauntleroy – featured artist (track 6)
  • Durand Ferebee Jr. – background vocals (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12)
  • Christopher Goldsmith for The Highlights – production (track 11), drums (track 11)
  • Nick Green – background vocals (track 13), vocal production
  • Kaytranada – featured artist (track 7), production (track 7)
  • Brian Kennedy – production (track 10)
  • Dave Kutch – mastering
  • Janelle Monáe – featured artist (track 2), additional vocals (track 2)
  • Daniel "Bambaata" Marley – production (track 5), guitar (track 5)
  • Vic Mensa – featured artist (track 4)
  • Xavier McHugh – recording (tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12), percussion (track 13)
  • Nicky Davey – production (track 13)
  • Dave Rosser – guitar (track 13)
  • Tay Walker – background vocals (track 2)
  • Tyler, the Creator – featured artist (track 12), production (track 12)

Charts

Chart (2015–16) Peak
position
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[20] 8
US Billboard 200[21] 89
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[22] 9

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Worldwide June 26, 2015 Digital download [1]
June 29, 2015 CD [23]
October 30, 2015 Vinyl [18]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ego Death by The Internet on iTunes". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees". Billboard. December 7, 2015. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ Lyons, Patrick (June 2, 2015). "The Internet – Special Affair". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ Tian, Aaron (June 23, 2015). "The Internet "Girl" ft. KAYTRANADA". Mass Appeal. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Ego Death by The Internet reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Reviews for Ego Death by The Internet". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Andy Kellman. "Ego Death Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  8. 1 2 Pat Levy (July 6, 2015). "The Internet – Ego Death". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  9. 1 2 Michael J. Warren (June 30, 2015). "The Internet Ego Death". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Tshepo Mokoena (17 December 2015). "The Internet: Ego Death review – Odd Future offshoot muse on love and lust". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  11. 1 2 Ronald Grant (July 5, 2015). "The Internet – Ego Death". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 10, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Craig Jenkins (9 July 2015). "Ego Death Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  13. 1 2 Sean Fennell (July 8, 2015). "The Internet: Ego Death". PopMatters. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Patrick Taylor (August 11, 2015). "The Internet :: Ego Death :: Columbia Records". RapReviews.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  15. 1 2 Suzy Exposito (September 10, 2015). "The Internet Ego Death Album Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  16. ↑ Robert Christgau (25 March 2016). "Stoned Soul Quick Picks: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Vice. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  17. ↑ Jon Caramanica (June 29, 2015). "Review: Syd tha Kyd, Betwixt and Between on 'Ego Death'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  18. 1 2 "The Internet – Ego Death – Amazon.com Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  19. ↑ Ego Death (Media notes). The Internet. Columbia Records. 2015.
  20. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 8, 2016. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  21. ↑ "The Internet Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  22. ↑ "The Internet Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  23. ↑ Ashley Monaé (June 29, 2015). "Listen To The Internet's 'Ego Death' Album". Vibe. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
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