| Elephant in the Room | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 29, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2020–2021 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:17 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Mick Jenkins chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Elephant in the Room | ||||
| ||||
Elephant in the Room is the third studio album by American rapper Mick Jenkins, released on October 29, 2021, via Free Nation and Cinematic Music Group. [1]
Jenkins created a website as part of the album rollout. The website is password protected, with the password being Carefree. [2] On the website, he explained the concept of the album saying:
This album is an attempt to address various unspoken personal and/or general truths. And how they have affected me and can affect those around me. From my estranged relationship with my father to friendships that don't feel the same anymore to the even more basic idea of acknowledging that I need help. We become accustomed to allowing none progressive qualities and truths to occupy so much space in our lives simply by ignoring them, or ignoring them despite them being right in our faces! I intend to face several of those dormant issues/topics head-ons in the hopes that others can, at the very least, identify with the spaces I've grown from.
The album's production came from multiple contributors such as Eli Brown, Kiran Kai, LeRoyce, lophiile, Monte Booker, Rascal, Renzell, Saba, Tae Beast, Tee-WaTT and Thelonious Martin. The album features guest appearances from Ben Hixon, Ayinde Cartman, and greenSLLIME.
Jenkins explained the inspiration behind the song "Scottie Pippen", saying "Scottie Pippen never got the recognition he deserved when playing next to Michael Jordan. He is often relegated to just a sidekick, but he was just as important in those championship games as Mike. Sometimes no matter how hard we try we'll just be number two to some. And no matter how great the work is, it goes under appreciated." The song "Reflections" is about Jenkins' dealings with his father in the past 20 years. "Speed Racer" was created after a conversation with Saba about how they had drifted away from how close they used to be as friends. "Is, This Cigarettes" was based on an "idea that comes from an entire adulthood of perspectives and ideologies about the way that the world works, especially within the bounds of the internet." [3]
On October 8, 2021, Jenkins announced that his third album Elephant in the Room would be released on October 29. [4] The first single, "Truffles", was released on June 23, 2021. [5] This was followed by "Contacts", released on October 8 with the announcement of the official album release date and track list reveal. [6] The album's final single "Scottie Pippen" was released on October 22. [7]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100 [8] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| HipHopDX | 3.4/5 [9] |
| Pitchfork | 7.2/10 [10] |
Elephant in the Room was met with widespread acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 6 reviews. [8] Dean Van Nguyen of Pitchfork scored the album a 7.2 out of 10 saying the rapper "ditches the epic scope and thematic cohesion of those projects for something shorter and more scattered. By and large, he sticks to what has worked in the past: soft beats, jerky raps, intimate writing, and big-picture examination." [10] Spin gave the album a positive review saying the album "lands somewhere between concept piece and exhibition, balancing an array of new and familiar styles. While navigating the emotional distance in his relationships, Jenkins explores and refines the technique that first launched him from the fertile ground of his hometown Chicago. Seven years after his breakthrough, he remains one of the best writers in the game—but rather than a big fish in a small pond, he’s only showing room for growth." [11] Ben Brutocao of HipHopDX scored the album a 3.4 out of 5 saying "Jenkins showcases his artistic maturity by allowing himself to wander through subversively dense philosophical quandaries packaged neatly as coffee house jazz-hop." [9]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Valley of the Shadow of Death" |
| 3:01 |
| 2. | "Things You Could Die for If Doing While Black" (featuring Ben Hixon) | Renzell | 3:02 |
| 3. | "Stiff Arm" (featuring Ayinde Cartman) |
| 3:29 |
| 4. | "Contacts" |
| 2:56 |
| 5. | "Scottie Pippen" | Kiran Kai | 3:53 |
| 6. | "Gucci Tried to Tell Me" | lophiile | 3:09 |
| 7. | "D.U.I." (featuring greenSLLIME) | Tee-WaTT | 2:59 |
| 8. | "Speed Racer" | Saba | 2:02 |
| 9. | "Truffles" |
| 3:14 |
| 10. | "Is, This Cigarettes" |
| 3:31 |
| 11. | "Reflection" | Renzell | 3:43 |
| 12. | "Rug Burn" (featuring serpentwithfeet) | Tee-WaTT | 3:14 |
| Total length: | 38:17 | ||
"I Won't Tell" is a song by American rapper Fat Joe. It was released as the first single of his eight album The Elephant in the Room (2008), and features R&B singer J. Holiday. It was released on November 8, 2007 on Fat Joe's MySpace page. It was released through iTunes on December 4, 2007. It is a hip hop and contemorary R&B song.
Jayson Mick Jenkins is an American rapper based in Chicago and signed to Cinematic Music Group. His mixtape, The Waters, was released in 2014, followed by the Waves EP in 2015.
The Waters is the fourth mixtape by American rapper Mick Jenkins. It was released on August 12, 2014, by Cinematic Music Group.
EarthGang is an American hip hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia, composed of Olu and WowGr8. They are co-founders of the musical collective Spillage Village, with JID, Hollywood JB, JordxnBryant, 6lack, Mereba, and Benji.
Fatimah Nyeema Warner, known professionally as Noname, is an American rapper, poet, and record producer. Since 2019, she has run the Noname Book Club, which focuses on radical texts by authors of color. She is also one third of the musical supergroup Ghetto Sage with the rappers Smino and Saba.
Remember My Name is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil Durk. It was released on June 2, 2015, by Only the Family and Def Jam Recordings. The album's production was handled by C-Sick, DJ L, FKi, London on da Track, Metro Boomin, Vinylz, Young Chop and more, with fellow Def Jam label-mates Jeremih and Logic were the featured artists. The album garnered a positive reception but critics were mixed on the gangsta rap content and Auto-Tune delivery of them. Remember My Name debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and only released one single: "Like Me". The album features guest appearances from Jeremih and Logic. The deluxe edition adds appearances from Hypno Carlito and King Popo.
The Healing Component is the debut studio album by American rapper Mick Jenkins. It was released on September 23, 2016, by Cinematic Music Group.
Tahj Malik Chandler, better known by his stage name Saba, is an American rapper and record producer. He grew up in the Austin neighborhood of the West Side of Chicago. He is a co-founder of the musical collective Pivot Gang with his brother Jerrel Chandler, their late cousin Walter Long Jr, their high school friend Logan Yutters, Jevunte Wheeler (squeakPivot), and Jimmy. He is also one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Smino and Noname.
Christopher Smith Jr., better known by his stage name Smino, is an American rapper. Smino is the founder of the musical collective Zero Fatigue with Bari, Monte Booker, Jay2, and Ravyn Lenae. He is one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Saba and Noname. Smino is signed to Downtown Records and Interscope.
Destin Choice Route, better known by his stage name JID, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is a part of the musical collective Spillage Village, founded by EarthGang in 2010. He signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records in 2017. He is also a member of the hip hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with Smino, Buddy, and Guapdad 4000. His fluent rapping style and usage of wordplay has been highly acclaimed by several music critics.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2018.
Cameron Osteen, better known by his stage name Cam O'bi, is an American record producer, singer-songwriter and audio engineer. He has produced for Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Mick Jenkins, Noname, J. Cole, Bas, Saba, and Isaiah Rashad. His upcoming debut album is titled Grown Ass Kid.
Care for Me is the second studio album by American rapper Saba. It was released on April 5, 2018, by Saba Pivot, LLC., and has received critical acclaim from music critics and audiences alike. The album was produced entirely by daedaePIVOT, Daoud and Saba. The album also includes guest appearances from Chance the Rapper, Kaina and theMIND.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2019.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2020.
The Circus is an extended play by American rapper Mick Jenkins. It was released on January 10, 2020 via Free Nation/Cinematic Music Group. Composed of seven tracks, production was handled by eleven record producers, including Black Milk and Hit-Boy. It features a guest appearance from Atlanta-based hip hop duo EarthGang.
Alfredo is a collaborative studio album by American rapper Freddie Gibbs and American hip hop producer The Alchemist. It was released on May 29, 2020, through Gibbs' own record label ESGN Records, as well as ALC Records and Empire Distribution.
Ahmanti Booker, professionally known as Monte Booker is an American producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is part of the musical collective Zero Fatigue, and has worked with artists such as Smino, Ravyn Lenae, Noname, Saba, Mick Jenkins, Sango, Ari Lennox and JID, among others.
Few Good Things is the third studio album by American rapper Saba. It was released on February 4, 2022, via Pivot Gang, LLC. The album includes guest appearances from Black Thought, G Herbo, Krayzie Bone, 6lack, Smino, Mereba, Fousheé and Eryn Allen Kane, as well as Pivot Gang. The album was met with critical acclaim upon release for its production and introspective lyrics.
The Patience is the fourth studio album by American rapper Mick Jenkins, released on August 18, 2023, released through RBC Records and BMG. The album features guest appearances from Freddie Gibbs, Benny the Butcher, JID, and Vic Mensa.