Firewire (Lateef the Truthspeaker album)

Last updated
Firewire
Fireweire.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 8, 2011 (2011-11-08)
Studio Oakland, California
Genre Hip hop
Length47:18
Label Quannum Projects
Producer Chief Xcel, Dan the Automator, DJ Shadow, Headnodic
Lateef the Truthspeaker chronology
Truth at Sea
(2011)
Firewire
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Agit Readermixed [1]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Music favorable [3]
Okayplayer 80/100 [4]
Spin 6/10 [5]

Firewire is the debut solo studio album by American hip hop artist Lateef the Truthspeaker. It was released via Quannum Projects on November 8, 2011. [6] Recorded over the course of four months in Oakland, California, [7] it includes contributions from DJ Shadow, Lyrics Born, Del the Funky Homosapien, and Dan the Automator. [8]

Contents

Critical reception

D.L. Chandler of Okayplayer gave the album an 80 out of 100, calling it "an eclectic mix of tracks that showcase Lateef's formidable ability but underwhelms briefly at points." [4] He added, "Firewire may not ignite the senses of every rap fan, but there are enough twists in turns even in its rote moments that keep the listeners engaged over the duration of the album." [4] Mosi Reeves of Spin gave the album a 6 out of 10, saying, "Firewire is chaotically sequenced, like the Bay Area rapper scoured his hard drive for usable material without checking whether the songs actually blended together logically." [5] Tom Birts of The Music said, "Firewire showcases the energy and versatility of an emcee and singer who rattles through hip hop, soul and electro-pop without pause or cause to doubt himself." [3]

Track listing

No.TitleProducerLength
1."Let's Get Up"Chief Xcel2:59
2."Firewire Interlude" 1:06
3."Oakland" (featuring Del the Funky Homosapien & The Grouch) 4:19
4."Only Thought" 3:46
5."We the People"Chief Xcel2:43
6."Heckuvit"Headnodic3:40
7."Hardship Enterprise" (featuring Lyrics Born) 3:59
8."So Sexy" 3:27
9."Testimony" 3:45
10."Left Alone" Dan the Automator 3:33
11."Say What You Want" DJ Shadow 4:06
12."Sara" 3:57
13."Inside You" 5:58

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References

  1. Slaybaugh, Matt (November 22, 2011). "Album Reviews". The Agit Reader. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  2. Jeffries, David. "Firewire - Lateef the Truthspeaker". AllMusic . Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Birts, Tom (April 12, 2012). "Lateef The Truthspeaker - Firewire". The Music . Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Chandler, D.L. (December 15, 2011). "Lateef The Truthspeaker". Okayplayer . Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  5. 1 2 Reeves, Mosi (November 8, 2011). "Lateef the Truthspeaker, 'Firewire' (Quannum Projects)". Spin . Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  6. Staples, Derek (August 15, 2011). "Lateef the Truthspeaker announces debut solo LP: Firewire". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  7. Gillespie, Blake (October 14, 2011). "Lateef's Oakland truthspeak". Impose . Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  8. Watercutter, Angela (August 11, 2011). "Exclusive MP3: Lateef the Truthspeaker's Dreamy 'Testimony'". Wired . Retrieved April 17, 2018.