| A Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 13, 2012 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 45:13 | |||
| Label | Black Canyon | |||
| Producer |
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| Sole chronology | ||||
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A Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing is a solo studio album by American hip hop artist Sole. It was released on November 13, 2012. [1] [2] The title derives from a letter written by Karl Marx. [3] A music video was created for "Assad Is Dead". [4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Alarm | favorable [5] |
| AllMusic |    [6] |
David Jeffries of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, saying, "Sole's 2012 effort is more connectable than his early work and worth a listen if alternative observations hold more attraction than easy answers." [6] Chris Martins of Spin called it "his most accessible work since 2003's Selling Live Water ." [7] Scott Morrow of Alarm said: "Songs for the revolution have seldom been so danceable, fun, and — dare we say it — pretty." [5]
Alarm included it on the "50 Favorite Albums of 2012" list, [8] while Westword listed it as one of the best local albums of 2012. [9]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Non Workers of the World" (featuring William Ryan Fritch) | Man Mantis | 2:40 |
| 2. | "Young Sole" | Factor Chandelier | 3:31 |
| 3. | "Denver Nights" | Leif Kolt | 4:08 |
| 4. | "Assad Is Dead" (written by Pedestrian) | Skyrider | 3:15 |
| 5. | "Never Work" | Ecid | 3:22 |
| 6. | "Last Earth" (featuring William Ryan Fritch) | Man Mantis | 2:44 |
| 7. | "The Untouchables" (featuring Green Carpeted Stairs) | Man Mantis | 5:20 |
| 8. | "The Void Which Binds" (featuring Real Magic) | Real Magic | 4:28 |
| 9. | "Letter to a Young Rapper" | Ryan Hemsworth | 3:03 |
| 10. | "Animal" | Spencer | 3:30 |
| 11. | "The Inferno" | Busdriver | 3:19 |
| 12. | "Definition of Slave" (featuring Open Mike Eagle) | Alias | 3:36 |
| 13. | "Ruthless" | Ausker | 2:12 |
| Total length: | 45:13 | ||
100 Miles and Runnin' is the only EP from the American gangsta rap group N.W.A. Released on August 14, 1990, this EP of five tracks reflects an evolution of N.W.A's sound and centers on the single "100 Miles and Runnin'". Two tracks, "100 Miles" and "Real Niggaz", incidentally incited N.W.A's feud with Ice Cube, who had left to start a solo rap career. The porno rap track "Just Don't Bite It" also drew notice. Pushing lyrical boundaries in its day, the EP went gold in November 1990 and platinum in September 1992.
The Shins is an American indie rock band formed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1996. The band is the project of singer-songwriter James Mercer, who has served as the band's sole constant member throughout numerous line-up changes. The band's current line-up consists of Mercer, alongside Yuuki Matthews, Mark Watrous, Patti King (keyboards), and Jon Sortland (drums). They are based in Portland, Oregon.
Angel Milk is the second album from French electronic group Télépopmusik, released on June 21, 2005. The album was met with mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised the record's production and Angela McCluskey's guest vocals. The album spawned two singles, "Into Everything" and "Don't Look Back".
Jeffrey James Logan, better known by his stage name Jel, is an American hip hop producer and rapper. He is co-founder of the record label Anticon. He has been a member of Presage, Themselves, Subtle, and 13 & God.
Sleigh Bells are an American musical duo based in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2008 and consisting of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek E. Miller. They became known for their overdriven style of noise pop, which incorporates elements from various genres including pop, hip hop, metal, and punk.
A Shoreline Dream is an American indie rock band from the Barnum neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Their sound has been described as being “a moody blend of psych ... and post-rock," as sounding "like a band out of time," and possessing a sound quality unique enough that it "outruns" the shoegaze moniker which bands of this kind are often labeled. The band currently consists of the two original members, vocalist/guitarist/producer Ryan Policky and guitarist Erik Jeffries, who record in their own Barnum-based Shoreline Studios.
Parallel Uni-Verses is a collaborative studio album by Del the Funky Homosapien and Tame One. It was released by Gold Dust Media in 2009. The album was entirely produced by Parallel Thought. A music video was created for "Flashback".
Hello Cruel World is the third studio album by Sole and the Skyrider Band. It was released on Fake Four Inc. on July 19, 2011. Music videos were created for the following songs: "Napoleon", "D.I.Y.", "Hello Cruel World", "Bad Captain Swag", and "Immortality".
Michael W. Eagle II, better known by his stage name Open Mike Eagle, is an American hip hop artist and comedian. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, he is now based in Los Angeles, California, where he is a member of the hip hop collective Project Blowed. He has also been a member of Thirsty Fish, Swim Team, and Cavanaugh.
James Brandon Best, better known by his stage name Pedestrian, is a rapper and writer from Los Angeles. He is a co-founder of Anticon. He is also known as a preacher under the moniker Evangelist J.B. Best.
Graham Murawsky, better known by his stage name Factor Chandelier, is a Canadian underground hip hop producer from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a founder of Off Beat Production and Side Road Records.
Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color is the fifth studio album by American rapper Brother Ali. It was released via Rhymesayers Entertainment on September 18, 2012. Entirely produced by Jake One, it includes a guest appearance from Dr. Cornel West. It reached number 44 on the Billboard 200 chart. It sold 10,000 copies in its first week of release.
10 Haters is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Flash Bang Grenada. It was released on Hellfyre Club on August 23, 2011.
Matt Chang, also known by his stage name Bay Blue, is an underground hip hop producer based in Oakland, California. He has collaborated with Sole, Pedestrian and Sixtoo under the alias Matth.
First of a Living Breed is the fourth studio album by American rapper Homeboy Sandman. It was released by Stones Throw Records on September 18, 2012. It peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
No Wising Up No Settling Down is a solo studio album by American hip hop artist Sole. It was released on May 1, 2013. It includes contributions from Gold Panda, The Hood Internet, Dosh, Ceschi, Man Mantis, Skyrider, Cars & Trains, and Loden. Music videos were created for "I Think I'm Emma Goldman" and "Extremophile".
Last Words is a 2012 EP by Canadian record producer Ryan Hemsworth. It was released on Wedidit. It features remixes from Shlohmo, Supreme Cuts, Baauer, Sam Tiba, and Canblaster. Music videos were created for "Charly Wingate" and "Colour & Movement".
Crown of Thorns is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Rakaa, a member of the Dilated Peoples crew. It was released on Decon in 2010. The cover art was painted by Doze Green. The album peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Death Drive is the first collaborative studio album by Sole & DJ Pain 1. It was released on June 9, 2014. It features guest appearances from Decomposure, Pedestrian, and Sean Bonnette. Sole described it as "a political rap album executed in a way that eschews the rapper persona of savior/prophet and speaks from the riot line."
Late Pass is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Jel. It was released on Anticon on August 20, 2013. Music videos were created for "Look Up", "Breathe", and "Steady".
