| Demidevil | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | January 15, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 25:24 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
| |||
| Ashnikko chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Demidevil | ||||
Demidevil (stylized in all caps) is the debut mixtape by American singer-songwriter and rapper Ashnikko. It was released on January 15, 2021, through Parlophone and Warner Records. The mixtape was supported by four singles: "Cry" featuring Grimes, "Daisy", "Deal with It" featuring Kelis, and "Slumber Party" featuring Princess Nokia.
Following the release of her 2019 EP, Hi It's Me, Ashnikko would return with the single "Tantrum" on March 6, 2020. Originally intended as the lead single for the mixtape, the song would later be demoted to a stand-alone single. [1] The "DemiDevil" character was first portrayed in the "Tantrum" music video alongside Ashnikko herself and another character titled "Little Blue". [2] The latter would later be revealed as a song title on the mixtape. Album track "Clitoris! The Musical" was first featured in the video "ASH WEDNESDAY 2020". Ashnikko first teased the mixtape in a series of videos in which she is gradually turning into her "demidevil" alter ego. The last of the three videos revealed the cover art, tracklist and release date for the mixtape. Ashnikko coincidingly, officially announced the mixtape on August 28, 2020, via her social media platforms. [3] [4]
Demidevil was met with several delays before its release. An initial date for October 9, 2020 was announced in August earlier that year. The mixtape then suffered its first delay in September due to "shipping delays" and other unknown reasons. The mixtape was then intended for a November 13 release. [5] A second delay was announced in October 2020, with the mixtape having a scheduled release for February 19, 2021. [6] In early 2021, Warner Music Group's merchandise team accidentally shipped out orders including physical copies of the mixtape earlier than its February 19th release. Following this error, Ashnikko would reveal a new date for the mixtape, January 15, 2021. [7]
A deluxe edition CD, adding two bonus tracks ('Tantrum' and 'Daisy 2.0'), along with a sixteen-page booklet, is due for release on September 6, 2024. [8]
Demidevil is a pop [9] and pop-trap [10] album that takes influence from R&B, [11] [9] hip hop, [11] pop punk, [12] electropop, [13] nu metal, [14] [12] and hyperpop. [15]
The lead single from Demidevil, "Cry", was released on June 17, 2020, and features Canadian musician Grimes. An animated music video was premiered alongside the track's release. This video would later be nominated at the UK Music Video Awards in the category of "Best Pop Video - UK". [16]
The opening track, "Daisy" was released as the mixtape's second single on July 9, 2020. A music video in collaboration with Beats Electronics and TikTok was released on August 7, 2020. [17] [18] Commercially, "Daisy" peaked at #24 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her first charting and first top 40 hit in the United Kingdom. [19] The song also peaked at #3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, becoming her second entry on the chart after "Stupid".
After being teased a day before its release, [20] "Deal with It" featuring American singer Kelis was released as the mixtape's third single on January 12, 2021. It premiered on BBC Radio 1 and its music video was released along with the song's widespread release. With less than 3 days of tracking, the single charted at #84 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming her second ever charting track in the United Kingdom. [19]
"Slumber Party" featuring American rapper Princess Nokia was released as the fourth single on April 23, 2021, after achieving viral success on TikTok. The song would be performed on the Late Night with Seth Meyers show on April 30, 2021. [21] A music video was released on May 13, 2021. [22]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 6.7/10 [23] |
| Metacritic | 74/100 [24] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [10] |
| Clash | 8/10 [25] |
| DIY | [9] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10 [11] |
| NME | [12] |
| The Observer | [13] |
| Pitchfork | 6.9/10 [14] |
| PopMatters | 6/10 [26] |
Demidevil received positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, a website that aggregates reviews of music albums, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 74, based on 9 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [24] El Hunt of NME wrote that Ashnikko's "first real body of work builds on the early hype, and draws from a far wider pot of musical influences than before: Nu-metal, pop-punk, The Neptunes-esque production tricks and campy musical theatre", and concluded that the record "shows that [she is] far more than a two-trend wonder – with a tank full of intriguing bangers that evade living under 'Daisy's formidable shadow." [12]
Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Fred Thomas stated that "The project's ten tracks nicely mix Ashnikko's enormous personality and brazen confidence with infectious pop-trap production and hints of early-2000s nostalgia that range from subtle to overt." [10]
Billboard included the album on their list of the best albums of the first half of 2021. [27]
Demidevil debuted at number 107 on the US Billboard 200. [28] It also debuted at number one on the US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard). In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 19 on the UK Albums (OCC). [29] Overall, the album debuted in seven countries including Canada.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Daisy" |
| Slinger | 2:26 |
| 2. | "Toxic" |
| Slinger | 2:42 |
| 3. | "Deal with It" (featuring Kelis) |
|
| 3:11 |
| 4. | "Slumber Party" (featuring Princess Nokia) |
| CallMeTheKidd | 2:58 |
| 5. | "Drunk with My Friends" |
| Scheller | 2:08 |
| 6. | "Little Boy" |
| Scheller | 2:52 |
| 7. | "Cry" (featuring Grimes) |
| Ebenezer | 2:06 |
| 8. | "L8r Boi" |
|
| 2:23 |
| 9. | "Good While It Lasted" |
|
| 3:02 |
| 10. | "Clitoris! The Musical" |
| Scheller | 1:36 |
| Total length: | 25:24 | |||
Notes
Musicians
Technical
| Chart (2021-2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [32] | 46 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) [33] | 89 |
| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) [34] | 36 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA) [35] | 69 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA) [36] | 22 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [37] | 9 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [38] | 19 |
| US Billboard 200 [39] | 107 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [40] | 1 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [41] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [42] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Kelis Rogers is an American singer-songwriter and chef. She attended New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she played saxophone and was selected for the Girls Choir of Harlem. Upon graduation, Rogers landed a role as a backing vocalist for the hip hop group Gravediggaz. She then began working with music producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo—collectively known as the Neptunes—who led her to sign with Virgin Records in 1998.
"Caught Out There" is the debut single by American singer Kelis, released on October 5, 1999, from her debut studio album, Kaleidoscope (1999). Written and produced by the Neptunes, the song peaked at number 54 on the US Billboard Hot 100 but fared better outside the United States, reaching the top ten in Canada, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes said in an interview that the instrumental track was originally meant for rapper Busta Rhymes, who rejected it.
Destiny Nicole Frasqueri, known professionally as Princess Nokia, is an American rapper and songwriter. She released her debut studio album, Metallic Butterfly, in 2014, followed by the 2015 mixtape Honeysuckle. As Princess Nokia, she rose to prominence for her 2017 studio album 1992 Deluxe. She released another mixtape, titled A Girl Cried Red, in 2018, followed by the release of two studio albums, Everything Sucks and Everything Is Beautiful, in 2020.
Hot Pink is the second studio album by American rapper Doja Cat. It was released on November 7, 2019, by Kemosabe Records and RCA Records. A departure from the sound of her debut album Amala (2018), Hot Pink is a pop, hip hop, and R&B record containing elements of funk and soul. The album features production from Doja herself, Yeti Beats, Tyson Trax, and others, with guest appearances from Smino, Gucci Mane, and Tyga.
"Stupid" is a song by American rapper Ashnikko featuring American rapper Baby Tate from the former's third EP, Hi It's Me, released under Digital Picnic/Parlophone Records on July 12, 2019. Produced by Oscar Scheller, "Stupid" became popular on the video-sharing app TikTok, where celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson have danced to the song. It has been described as industrial and pop-rap. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised the song for its production, songwriting and vocal performances.
Ashton Nicole Casey, known professionally as Ashnikko, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Her 2019 single "Stupid" featuring Yung Baby Tate gained viral popularity on the video-sharing platform TikTok and was certified platinum in the United States and Canada. Ashnikko's debut mixtape, Demidevil, was released in January 2021, and spawned the singles "Daisy" and "Slumber Party". Her studio album, Weedkiller, came in 2023.
American singer and rapper Ashnikko has released one studio album, one mixtape, four extended plays (EPs) and 15 singles. Her debut mixtape, Demidevil, was released in 2021.
"Yummy" is a song by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released through Def Jam Recordings, as the lead single from his fifth studio album, Changes, on January 3, 2020. The song is Bieber's first solo single to be released in almost four years, following "Company", a song from his fourth studio album, Purpose (2015), but the song was released as a single in 2016. Bieber joined the video-sharing social networking service TikTok on the day of the song's release.
Meet the Woo 2 is the second mixtape by American rapper Pop Smoke. Released by Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records on February 7, 2020, it is the second installment in the Meet the Woo mixtape series, following Meet the Woo (2019). The deluxe edition of the mixtape, released on February 12, 2020, features three new tracks, including a remix of "Dior" featuring American rapper Gunna. On February 19, 2020, less than two weeks after the release of the standard edition of Meet the Woo 2, Pop Smoke was shot and killed at age 20 during a home invasion. Guest appearances on the mixtape include Quavo, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Fivio Foreign, Lil Tjay, Nav, Gunna, and PnB Rock.
Addison Rae Easterling is an American social media personality, singer, actress, and dancer. Rae rose to fame on TikTok and amassed over 88 million followers, making her the fifth most-followed individual on the platform. She later transitioned into different ventures like music and acting by starring in major film studio productions, collaborating with significant music producers, and having her own makeup brand.
Cole Chase Hudson, known professionally as Huddy, is an American singer, actor, and social media personality, known for co-founding the TikTok collective the Hype House, and popularizing the e-boy fashion style and subculture. A 2020 article in Billboard Magazine rated him as one of the top 10 music influencers on TikTok that year, with over 30 million followers, and one of the most influential people on the platform.
"What You Know Bout Love" is a song by American rapper and singer Pop Smoke from his posthumous debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (2020) as well as the EP Mood Swings (2020). The song was written by Pop Smoke, alongside producer IAmTash, with additional writing credits going to Elgin Lumpkin (Ginuwine) and Troy Oliver for the interpolation and sampling of Ginuwine's "Differences". The song was released as the fifth single from the album on October 9, 2020, by Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records. An R&B track, it lyrically showcases Pop Smoke singing about his passion for his lover. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, with a number of them praising the lyrics and the rapper's range.
"Daisy" is a song by American singer-songwriter and rapper Ashnikko. It was released through Parlophone and Warner Music Group on July 9, 2020, as the second single from Ashnikko's debut mixtape Demidevil. The song was written by Ashnikko and Slinger and produced by Slinger. It is a pop-trap and alt-pop song with elements of EDM, and lyrically revolves around the character Daisy, whom Ashnikko created as a vigilante who kills rapists and leaves daisies behind as a calling card.
"Cry" is a song by American singer and rapper Ashnikko featuring vocals from Canadian singer-songwriter Grimes. It was released on June 17, 2020 through Parlophone Records as the lead single from Ashnikko's debut mixtape, Demidevil. It was produced by Ebenezer and written by Ashnikko, Grimes, Ebenezer, and Faangs. A nu metal, rap rock, and hyperpop track, its lyrics are dedicated to Ashnikko's ex-best friend who had sex with her ex-boyfriend.
"Body" is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who wrote the song during the COVID-19 quarantine and was inspired by her own figure during the creative process, with additional concentration on sizes of waist and breasts. It was released on November 20, 2020, by 1501 Certified Entertainment and 300 Entertainment as the third single from her debut studio album Good News (2020). It coincided with the release of the album and was supported by a music video featuring cameo appearances from Taraji P. Henson, Blac Chyna, and Jordyn Woods, among others.
"Jealous" is a song by Filipino musician Eyedress, released on 6 December 2019 as a single from his album Let's Skip to the Wedding (2020). It first charted at number twenty four on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs and number twenty three on the Billboard Hot Alternative Songs charts on the week of 20 February 2021, climbing to number fifteen on both charts the following week, and remaining in the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart for 20 weeks. It received multi-platinum certification from the RIAA for selling 3,000,000 equivalent units in the United States. The single was also certified gold in Australia and Poland and platinum in Canada.
"Just for Me" is a song by English singer PinkPantheress. Written alongside producer Mura Masa, it was released on 13 August 2021 through Parlophone and Elektra as the fourth single from her debut mixtape To Hell with It. Prior to being released, a snippet of the song posted to TikTok by PinkPantheress went viral on the platform. The bedroom pop, 2-step garage, and alternative pop song is a spiritual successor to PinkPantheress's song "Pain", and is written about her unhealthy obsession with a crush.
To Hell with It is the debut mixtape by English singer PinkPantheress, released through Parlophone and Elektra Records on 15 October 2021. The mixtape, which runs for slightly over 18 minutes, features production from PinkPantheress herself, as well as from Oscar Scheller, Izco, Natalia Fletcher, Jkarri, Mura Masa, Zach Nahome, Kairos Laferme, Adam F, and Dill Aitchison. PinkPantheress began posting snippets of her songs to TikTok in early 2021, including "Pain" and "Break It Off", both of which went viral on the platform. She subsequently signed to Parlophone and Elektra Records, through which she released three of the mixtape's singles–"Passion", "Just for Me", and "I Must Apologise".
Who Cares? is the fourth studio album by the English musician Rex Orange County, released on 11 March 2022, through RCA Records. The album was written and produced by Rex Orange County and the Dutch musician Benny Sings, with an appearance from the American rapper Tyler, the Creator.
Weedkiller is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and rapper Ashnikko. It was released on August 25, 2023, through Parlophone and Warner Records.