Identity (Far East Movement album)

Last updated
Identity
Identity (Far East Movement album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 21, 2016
Recorded2015–2016
Genre
Length39:00
Label
Producer
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
  • Marshmello
  • MNEK
  • Gill Chang
  • King Chain
  • Cory Enemy
  • MIKNNA
  • Thomas Helsloot
  • Cimo Frankel
  • Rik Annema
Far East Movement chronology
KTown Riot EP
(2014)
Identity
(2016)
Singles from Identity
  1. "Freal Luv"
    Released: October 14, 2016
  2. "Don't Speak"
    Released: December 8, 2016

Identity is the fifth studio album primarily written and conducted by American hip hop music group Far East Movement. It was released on October 21, 2016 through Spinnin' Records and Transparent Agency. The album features artists from diverse backgrounds, especially those from Korea and America, as a nod to Far East Movement's Koreatown origins. [1] The band itself describes the album as "a Far East Movement, in a sense, bridging artists from the east with artists from the west while fusing different genres we love."

Contents

Background

The album was created after Far East Movement's hiatus. The group members were discouraged after facing racism from the public and the music industry. The band traveled to Asia and there began plotting out an album that "could bridge the gap between Asia and America". [2] As reflected in the title, the album was intended to explore the artists' joint Asian and American identities, as well as collaborate with artists from both backgrounds.

Production

The album features the likes of Yoon Mi-rae, Autolaser, Marshmello, Chanyeol, Tinashe, Candice Pillay, No Riddim, Elijah Blake, Tiffany, King Chain, Jay Park, MNEK, Hyolyn, Gill Chang, Soulja Boy, Loco, Big K.R.I.T., MIKNNA, Macy Gray and Urban Zakapa. [3]

As Far East Movement wanted to collaborate with artists on both sides of the Pacific, they flew back and forth between the US and South Korea. Kevin Nishimura described collaborating with artists as a "slow and challenging process that involved building and nurturing relationships with artists." [2]

The album was the first album released by Far East Movement's own company, Transparent Agency. [4]

Critical reception

Crystal Leww of MTV commented, "Identity is a distinctly Asian-American album, and it speaks to the very specific experience of a group of people who are often seen as foreigners in their own home. But there’s no sense of loss here – Far East Movement have made a cohesive, exciting celebration of that hybrid life." [5] Neil Z. Young of AllMusic rated the album four stars out of five, describing it as a "mature and transformative effort that succeeds in honoring their roots by bridging the gap between their Asian and American cultures." [6]

Track listing

Identity track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fighter" (featuring Yoon Mi-rae & Autolaser)
4:14
2."Freal Luv" (with Marshmello featuring Tinashe & Chanyeol)3:10
3."F-VR" (featuring Candice Pillay & No Riddim)
  • No Riddim
2:51
4."Church" (featuring Elijah Blake)
  • Nishimura
  • Coquia
  • Roh
  • Tonning
  • Cimo Frankel
  • Rik Annema
  • Thomas Helsloot
  • Marshmello
  • Far East Movement
  • Helsloot
  • Frankel
  • Annema
  • Autolaser
4:05
5."Don't Speak" (featuring Tiffany & King Chain)
  • Nishimura
  • Coquia
  • Roh
  • Tsao-Chiang Chen
  • Tonning
  • Tiffany Hwang
  • Abigail Browning
  • Kahmarl Gordon
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
  • King Chain
3:25
6."SXWME" (featuring Jay Park & MNEK)
  • MNEK
3:34
7."Umbrella" (featuring Hyolyn & Gill Chang)
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
  • Chang
4:06
8."Double Dip" (featuring Soulja Boy & Loco)
  • Far East Movement
  • Cory Emeny
2:54
9."FBG$" (featuring Big K.R.I.T. & Miknna)
Miknna3:18
10."Forever Survivor" (featuring Macy Gray)
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
4:00
11."Fortress" (featuring Urban Zakapa)
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
3:52
Total length:39:00

Charts

Chart performance for Identity
Chart (2016)Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon) [7] 51
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums ( Billboard ) [8] 7

Related Research Articles

Korean hip-hop, also known as K-hip-hop or K-rap, is a subgenre of the South Korean popular music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhou Mi (singer)</span> Chinese singer

Zhou Mi is a Chinese singer, entertainer and author active in South Korea and China signed under SM and co-managed with Baymon for his China activities. He debuted in 2008 as an exclusive member of the Super Junior's china sub-group Super Junior-M and later participated in SM Entertainment's project group SM the Ballad. Aside from group activities, he also participates in various television variety shows, radio shows, and dramas. He release his first solo EP titled Rewind in 2014. In 2016, SM established own management for his activities in China, Zhoumi Studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far East Movement</span> American hip hop and electronic music group

Far East Movement is an American hip hop and electronic music group based in Los Angeles, composed of Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif, Jon Street, Ray Ro, DJ Virman, and Jerm Beats. They signed with Martin Kierszenbaum's Cherrytree Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release their 2010 single, "Like a G6" which peaked the Billboard Hot 100, making them the first Asian American group to reach number one on the chart. Their follow up single, "Rocketeer", peaked at number seven and led their third album and major label debut, Free Wired (2010). It performed moderately on the Billboard 200, while their fourth album, Dirty Bass (2012) saw a steep commercial decline, although its lead single, "Live My Life" reached number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinashe</span> American singer (born 1993)

Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe, known mononymously as Tinashe, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Tinashe moved to Pasadena, California as a child, where she pursued work in entertainment. Her notable roles include a motion-capture performance in the animated film The Polar Express (2004), Robin Wheeler in the Cartoon Network television series Out of Jimmy's Head (2007–2008), and a recurring role in the CBS series Two and a Half Men (2008–2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiffany Young</span> American singer (born 1989)

Stephanie Young Hwang, known professionally as Tiffany or Tiffany Young, is an American singer-songwriter of Korean descent. Born and raised in California, she was discovered by South Korean entertainment agency SM Entertainment at the age of fifteen and subsequently moved to South Korea. After two years of training, Young debuted as a member of girl group Girls' Generation in August 2007, which went on to become one of the best-selling artists in South Korea and one of South Korea's most popular girl groups worldwide.

Desi hip hop is a term for music and culture which combines the influences of hip hop and the Indian subcontinent; the term desi referring to the South Asian diaspora. The term has also come to be used as an alternative for rap music and even pop music which involves rappers of South Asian origins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exo</span> South Korean boy band

Exo is a South Korean boy band based in Seoul formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in 2012. The group consists of nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai and Sehun. They are noted for releasing music and performing extensively in Korean, Mandarin and Japanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chanyeol</span> South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, producer, actor and model

Park Chan-yeol, better known mononymously as Chanyeol, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, actor and model. He is a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy group Exo, its sub-group Exo-K and sub-unit Exo-SC. Apart from his group's activities, Chanyeol has also starred in various television dramas and movies such as So I Married an Anti-fan (2016), and Secret Queen Makers (2018).

<i>Aquarius</i> (Tinashe album) 2014 studio album by Tinashe

Aquarius is the debut studio album by American singer Tinashe, released on October 3, 2014, by RCA Records. In 2011, after the disbandment of the girl group The Stunners, Tinashe announced that she would begin pursuing a solo career. The following year she released her debut mixtape In Case We Die. After raising her profile with the mixtape, Tinashe met with RCA Records where she subsequently signed a recording contract. Following her signing a record deal, Tinashe immediately began working on the album. During the recording process for the debut album, she released two other mixtapes, Reverie (2012) and Black Water (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drop That Kitty</span> 2015 single by Ty Dolla Sign featuring Charli XCX and Tinashe

"Drop That Kitty" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign featuring British singer Charli XCX and fellow American singer Tinashe. The track was produced by Stargate and Cashmere Cat. The song was written by Ty Dolla Sign and Charlotte Atichison. It was released as digital download in the United States on February 17, 2015, originally intended as the first single from Free TC but was later scrapped. Sign raps the track's main verses, while XCX sings its chorus hook and Tinashe its bridge and pre-chorus hook. The lyrical content in the song serve as a four-step dance instructional and contain several sexual euphemisms and innuendos. It discusses a scenario of meeting someone attractive in a club and communicating basest desires to them, while extolling the virtues of physical flexibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshmello</span> American music producer and DJ (born 1992)

Christopher Comstock, known professionally as Marshmello, is an American electronic music producer and DJ. His songs "Silence", "Wolves", "Friends", "Happier", and "Alone" have received multi-platinum certification in several countries including the US, and charted within the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. His musical style includes groove-oriented, synth and bass-heavy electronic dance music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshmello discography</span>

The American music producer and DJ Marshmello has released five studio albums, four extended plays, forty-five singles, nine other charted songs, sixteen remixes, forty-three music videos and seven production-credited songs. Marshmello's debut studio album Joytime was released through his Joytime Collective record label on January 8, 2016. Despite failing to debut on the Billboard 200, the album peaked on three Billboard charts: Dance/Electronic Albums, Top Heatseekers and Independent Albums, at number five, fourteen and forty-one, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay with Me (Chanyeol and Punch song)</span> 2016 single by Chanyeol and Punch

"Stay with Me" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Punch and South Korean rapper Chanyeol, a member of K-pop group Exo, serving as part of the original soundtrack of the 2016 hit television drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. The song was written by Lee Seung-joo and composed by the musical duo Rocoberry. The single was released on December 3 and was part 1 in a series composed of high-charting singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me So Bad</span> 2018 single by Tinashe featuring Ty Dolla Sign and French Montana

"Me So Bad" is a song recorded by American singer Tinashe, featuring fellow American singer Ty Dolla Sign and American rapper French Montana. It was written by the three said artists, Hitmaka, and A1 Bentley. It was released commercially for digital download via RCA Records on March 30, 2018, as the third and final single from Tinashe's third studio album, Joyride (2018), along with the album's pre-order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faded Love (Tinashe song)</span> 2018 single by Tinashe featuring Future

"Faded Love" is a song recorded by American singer Tinashe featuring guest vocals from American rapper Future. It was written by Tinashe, Future, Sasha Sloan, Noonie Bao, as well as Tor Erik Hermansen from the song's production team Stargate. It was released commercially for digital download via RCA Records on February 12, 2018, as the second single from Tinashe's third studio album, Joyride (2018).

<i>Joyride</i> (Tinashe album) 2018 studio album by Tinashe

Joyride is the third studio album by American singer Tinashe. It was released through RCA Records on April 13, 2018. The album features guest appearances from Offset, Ty Dolla Sign, French Montana, Little Dragon, and Future. The album also features production by Stargate, Dre Moon, Hit-Boy, T-Minus, and others.

Daniel James "Danny" Howland, better known by his alias Svdden Death, is a Los Angeles DJ and producer from San Jose, California. He is known for his song "Sell Out", a collaboration with American multi-platinum artist Marshmello that peaked on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs at the No. 36 position in early 2019. Howland makes high-energy music that falls into the genre of dubstep and riddim. Howland tours regularly in North America, and can be found on festival lineups all throughout festival season.

Riddim is a subgenre of dubstep known for its heavy use of repetitive and minimalist sub-bass and triplet percussion arrangements. It shares the same name as the Jamaican genre that influenced both it and dubstep, which originally derived from dub, reggae, and dancehall. Originating in the United Kingdom, specifically Croydon, in the early 2010s as a resurgence of the style used by early dubstep works, riddim started to gain mainstream presence in the electronic music scene around 2015.

<i>An Ode</i> 2019 studio album by Seventeen

An Ode is the third studio album by South Korean boy band Seventeen. It was released on September 16, 2019, through Pledis Entertainment. The album spawned two singles, "Hit" was released as the album's lead single on August 5, 2019, followed by the title track, "Fear", on the release date of the album.

<i>Songs for You</i> 2019 studio album by Tinashe

Songs for You is the fourth studio album by American singer Tinashe, released independently through her own label Tinashe Music Inc. on November 21, 2019. It is the first project since her departure from RCA Records in February 2019. The project features collaborations with Ms Banks, 6LACK, and G-Eazy. The album has received positive reviews, with publications praising her creativity, production and songwriting, as well as for releasing music independently.

References

  1. "Far East Movement's Globally Focused 'Identity' Album Kicks Off With 'Freal Luv' Video ft. Tinashe, Marshmello & EXO's Chanyeol: Exclusive". Billboard . Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  2. 1 2 "Four Years After Last Album, Far East Movement Finds Their True 'Identity'". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  3. "Identity by Far East Movement".
  4. "FAR EAST MOVEMENT |". transparentagency.com. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  5. Leww, Crystal (7 November 2016). "Far East Movement Make EDM-Pop Bangers About Asian-American Identity". MTV . Retrieved 26 August 2017.[ dead link ]
  6. Yeung, Neil Z. "Identity – Far East Movement: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  7. "2016년 43주차 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  8. "How Far East Movement took success into their own hands". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2018-01-10.