Inhale C-4 $$$$$

Last updated
Inhale C-4 $$$$$
BebetunesInhaleC4.jpg
Mixtape by
BEBETUNE$
ReleasedDecember 14, 2011
Genre
Length50:39
Producer James Ferraro
BEBETUNE$ chronology
Far Side Virtual
(2011)		Inhale C-4 $$$$$
(2011)		 Sushi
(2012)

Inhale C-4 $$$$$ is a mixtape by American electronic musician James Ferraro under the alias BEBETUNE$, released for free on December 14, 2011. Parodying the tropes of contemporary American hip hop music and its culture, it marks the first time in Ferraro's career that he approached such a style. Reviews of the mixtape were mostly positive, and it appeared in the top 20 of Tiny Mix Tapes ' list of the best releases of 2012.

Contents

Composition and concept

Inhale C-4 $$$$$ marks the first time Ferraro approached a hip hop style, [1] which critic Jonathan Dean suggested was an acknowledgement of Ferraro's mixed race. [1] Categorized by writer Rory Gibb as southern hip hop and by Impose magazine as crunk, [2] [3] the mixtape parodies several tropes of modern American hip hop music; production-wise, there is trap music percussion, preset trance music-style synthesizer patches, auto-tune and a BEBETUNE$ production tag. [4] [5] Gibb compared its hi-hat rhythms to that of the footwork and trap works of Vex'd member Kuedo. [2] There are some songs that lack audio mixing or mastering, which satirizes the little amount of quality control in making and releasing mixtapes. [4] The track "Li$$tening with my Eyezzz" features mumbled rapping from a character stage-named "Yung Cea$er" about being at a club, and the soft vocals on "Nero Cea$er/Anti Christ" spoof the self-loathing lines present in the works of Drake and The Weeknd. [4] Despite the mixtape's direction, Gibb, writing for The Quietus , still noted it to have the same "glossy sounds, dense networks of samples and a convincingly web-age sheen" as Far Side Virtual (2011). [2]

Dean wrote that there were many ways Ferraro made Inhale C-4 $$$$$ more than just a spoof of modern hip hop; the song titles, which feature references to Macau and Saharan cell phone ringtones, give the mixtape a "global" aesthetic that represents "the dense, teeming atmospheres of ultramodern, geographically hybrid urban spaces." [1] Dean also analyzed that Ferraro suggests that there will be music movements of other genres that will contain the "low" standards of hip hop. Examples include "STREET DREAM$$", a chopped and screwed version of Gang Gang Dance's "Glass Jar", and "Sahara Jr.", a "recapitulation" of the trance style of the band's 2011 album Eye Contact . [1] Despite the mixtape having a sound accessible to mainstream listeners, Dean noted that it had an overall "giddy horror" feel that suggests a future apocalypse caused by the overload of online data that consists of "signs, omens, and synchronicities that point to nothing other than themselves"; the track "NERO CEA$SAR/ANTI CHRIST" consists of "reptilian societies and GTA suicides", and "P.O.W.E.R." and "M A D N E $ $" are about people "tweeting the Armageddon using Siri voice commands, Hipstamatic photos, and T-Pain apps." [1] This leads to "a digital unease aggravated by multiple references to unhinged technological proliferation." [1]

The cover art for Inhale C-4 $$$$$ features images from a 2008 publicity stunt for a DVD release of the 1988 film Child's Play , which involved six Chucky dolls "invading" the intersection of Times Square. [6] Dean wrote it was an homage to the cover of DJ Paul's 1993 mixtape Volume 12, Part 2, in that Inhale C-4 $$$$$ has the same dark tone. [6]

Release and promotion

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Fact 3.5/5 [4]
Pitchfork 3.8/10 [5]
Tiny Mix Tapes Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Critic Jonathan Dean labeled the marketing of Inhale C-4 $$$$$ as "a new period of manic productiveness for Ferraro", where the musician used every internet service possible, such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, to promote the mixtape and the project; he noted the promotion's use of "hashtags and seemingly random cultural references that lay bare the surreal process of making-viral." [1] Ferraro released the mixtape for free download via Mediafire, and made it available for streaming on December 14, 2011. [7]

Inhale C-4 $$$$$ garnered mostly positive reviews from critics. [1] Gibb described Ferraro's movement towards an R&B sound as a "pretty fascinating new development from an artist always in flux." [2] Chris Campbell, writing for Fact magazine, called it "often pretty entertaining," writing that "Bebetunes clearly isn't here to be taken too seriously, but he's got a lot more replay value than some of his subject matter." [4] Inhale C-4 $$$$$ landed at number 14 on a year-end list by Tiny Mix Tapes of the best releases of 2012, where Unicornmang wrote that it "was secretly about locating a kernel of belief at the core of all things cultural, messy, and anxious." [8] In a negative review, Pitchfork 's Brandon Soderberg criticized Inhale C-4 $$$$$ for its "mutant strain of mainstream rap and R&B" and Ferraro for trying to recreate hip hop mixtape production, saying "the tracks here feel endless, like uninspired, snarky parodies of rap instrumentals, roving along for too long, filled with too many recycled ideas and yet, not one worth considering." [5]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."R E P T I L E Online"3:34
2."Macau Celebrities"5:13
3."Machine"1:52
4."Madne$$"4:42
5."#Grindlyfe"5:20
6."$treet Dreams"1:53
7."H20"2:54
8."LI$$tening With My Eyezzz" (featuring Yung Cea$er)3:36
9."Pepsi B@by"4:13
10."Sahara Jr."4:59
11."Siri Pop"1:15
12."P . O . W . E . R ."2:27
13."#City Light$"3:16
14."N E R O Cea$er / Anti - Chri$t"5:25
Total length:50:39

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label
WorldwideDecember 14, 2011 [3]
Self-released

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Drama</span> American DJ and record executive

Tyree Cinque Simmons, professionally known as DJ Drama, is an American DJ, record executive and music promoter. He is the co-founder of Generation Now, an Atlantic Records imprint with artists including Lil Uzi Vert, Jack Harlow, and Skeme on its roster. He initially gained recognition as the official DJ for Atlanta rapper T.I. and as a prominent mixtape DJ with his series, Gangsta Grillz. Numerous artists have appeared on DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz tapes, including Lil Wayne, Fabolous, Ludacris, Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and many others. He was a co-founder of the Atlanta-based DJ and artist collective known as the Aphilliates. Drama has released 5 studio albums, curating tracks with some of the industry's most lucrative talent, the most recent of which being Quality Street Music 2 in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie Gibbs</span> American rapper from Indiana

Fredrick Jamel Tipton, better known by his stage name Freddie Gibbs, is an American rapper. After initially being signed to Interscope Records in 2006, Gibbs recorded his debut studio album under the label. However, he was eventually dropped and the album was cancelled. Gibbs later signed with Young Jeezy's CTE World and released a number of mixtapes through the label, including 2012's highly acclaimed Baby Face Killa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oddisee</span> Rapper and producer

Amir Mohamed el Khalifa, better known by his stage name Oddisee, is an American rapper and record producer from Washington, D.C. He is one third of rap trio Diamond District. He was also part of the Low Budget Crew. He is based in Brooklyn, New York.

<i>Instrumentals</i> (mixtape) 2011 mixtape by Clams Casino

Instrumentals is the debut mixtape of American record producer Clams Casino. It was self-released as a free digital download on March 7, 2011. It features instrumentals of tracks that he produced for various rappers, including some bonus songs. In July 2011, Instrumentals was reissued by Type Records as a physical release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Ferraro</span> Musical artist

James Ferraro is an American experimental musician, producer, composer and contemporary artist. He has been credited as a pioneer of the 21st century genres hypnagogic pop and vaporwave, with his work exploring themes related to hyperreality and consumer culture. His music has drawn on diverse styles such as 1980s electronic music, easy listening, drone, lo-fi, sound collage, and R&B.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Scooter</span> American rapper (born 1986)

Kenneth Edward Bailey, better known by his stage name Young Scooter, is an American rapper who is affiliated with Freebandz and 1017 Brick Squad Records and CEO of his own label Black Migo Gang. Scooter grew to prominence in 2012 after releasing a number of successful mixtapes and collaborating with notable rappers such as Gucci Mane, Future, Waka Flocka Flame and Chief Keef. His mixtape Street Lottery received positive reviews and was certified gold on popular mixtape site DatPiff. It was placed at number 24 on SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2013.

<i>Far Side Virtual</i> 2011 studio album by James Ferraro

Far Side Virtual is a studio album by American electronic musician James Ferraro, released on October 25, 2011 by Hippos in Tanks. Conceived as a series of ringtones, the album marked Ferraro's transition from his previous lo-fi recording approach to a sharply produced, electronic aesthetic that deliberately evokes sources such as elevator music, corporate mood music, easy listening, and early computer sound design. The album has been interpreted as engaging with themes such as hyperreality, disposable consumer culture, 1990s retrofuturism, advertising, and musical kitsch.

<i>Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss</i> 2012 mixtape by Mykki Blanco

Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss is a mixtape by American recording artist Mykki Blanco, released on November 9, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Connor</span> American rapper from Michigan

Jon Kevin Freeman Jr., better known by his stage name Jon Connor, is an American rapper and record producer. Connor has released various mixtapes and an album effort during his career including the Jay-Z inspired The Blue Album, and the Eminem inspired The People's Rapper LP. His debut studio album, Unconscious State was released in 2013. Shortly thereafter, he was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment from 2013 to 2019, where he did not release an album. In 2015, he garnered notoriety for being featured on Dr. Dre's album Compton (2015) as well as The Game's album The Documentary 2.5 (2015).

Armand Hammer is an American hip hop duo from New York City. It consists of Billy Woods and Elucid.

<i>Digital Lows</i> 2011 mixtape by Cities Aviv

Digital Lows is the debut mixtape by American rapper, Cities Aviv. It was released on May 2, 2011, through Fat Sandwich Records. Produced by various artists including Muted Drone, RPLD GHOSTS and Danny Dee, the mixtape earned attention and critical acclaim from various music publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DonChristian</span> American rapper

DonChristian Jones, also known as DonChristian is a New York-based rapper, producer and visual artist. His work spans musical and visual performances, rap, installations and public murals blending both genres of painting and hip-hop and referencing classical and contemporary styles. Jones is a co-founder of Public Assistants, a Resistance Community Space focused on mutual aid, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Roy Nnawuchi, better known by his pseudonym Dean Blunt, is a British singer-songwriter, musician and contemporary artist. He is best known for his current solo work as well as his previous work as part of avant-garde duo Hype Williams, and more recently, the hip hop group Babyfather. Blunt was also the founder of London rock band Graffiti Island. He has been described as "a prolific, category-rejecting artist" and "an art-pop provocateur."

<i>Im Up</i> (Young Thug mixtape) 2016 mixtape by Young Thug

I'm Up is the second commercial mixtape by American rapper Young Thug. It was released on February 5, 2016, by 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The mixtape features guest appearances from Trouble, Ralo, Lil Durk, Lil Duke, Solo Lucci, Young Butta, Quavo, Offset, Dora, and Dolly, with the latter two being Young Thug's sisters.

Memphis rap, also known as Memphis hip hop or Memphis horrorcore, is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid-late 1980s.

<i>Sushi</i> (album) 2012 studio album by James Ferraro

Sushi is a studio album by the American electronic musician James Ferraro, released on November 7, 2012, by the independent record label Hippos in Tanks. The electronica dance-pop record has a much more mainstream sound than Ferraro's past albums, continuing some of the trap, R&B and hip-hop underpinnings that were a part of Ferraro's two mixtapes Inhale C-4 $$$$$ (2012) and Silica Gel (2012), released under his Bebetune$ and Bodyguard monikers, respectively. Sushi garnered mixed to positive reviews upon its release, a common criticism being its lack of depth or indication of a main concept.

<i>Cold</i> (mixtape) 2013 mixtape by James Ferraro

Cold is a mixtape by American electronic musician James Ferraro, recorded in New York City and released in March 2013 on the Hippos in Tanks label. The press release stated that Cold is about "human drama" that is a part of a nihilistic period, as well as "the repetition and consumption of hedonism that cannot represent or replace one night of love." Described by one journalist as a pastiche of contemporary R&B and hip-hop, Cold contains elements of two-step, dubstep, techno and lounge music styles. Reviews of the mixtape were very favorable in general, common praises including its production and the use of Ferraro's own vocals.

<i>Suki Girlz</i> 2014 mixtape by user703918785

Suki Girlz is a mixtape by producer James Ferraro, self-released under the moniker user703918785 on SoundCloud on July 2, 2014. The concept of the trap mixtape is symbolized through both its sound and its marketing; all of the tracks are low-quality and borrow tropes common in music self-released on sites like SoundCloud, and it was released with the name user703918785, which spoofs the spambots of these services, thus making it symbolically disposable. It garnered favorable opinions from music journalists, landing at number one on a list of the best mixtapes of 2014 by Pretty Much Amazing.

<i>Playboi Carti</i> (mixtape) 2017 mixtape by Playboi Carti

Playboi Carti is the debut mixtape by American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released on April 14, 2017, by AWGE Label and Interscope Records. The mixtape features production from Pi'erre Bourne, Southside and others, and guest appearances from American rappers Lil Uzi Vert, ASAP Rocky, and Dutch singer Leven Kali. The physical version of the mixtape was released on October 6, 2017, and a vinyl edition was released on November 17, 2017.

<i>Dark Lane Demo Tapes</i> 2020 mixtape by Drake

Dark Lane Demo Tapes is a mixtape by Canadian rapper and singer Drake. The mixtape is a compilation of songs that were released on SoundCloud or leaked on the internet, as well as new songs, and is considered a "warm-up" to Drake's sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy (2021). It was released on May 1, 2020, by OVO Sound and Republic Records. Production was handled by Drake's longtime collaborator 40, among others. Featured guest appearances include Future, Young Thug, Chris Brown, Playboi Carti, Giveon, Fivio Foreign, and Sosa Geek.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dean, Jonathan. "BEBETUNE$ – inhale C-4 $$$$$". Tiny Mix Tapes . Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gibb, Rory (December 14, 2011). "LISTEN: James Ferraro New Mixtape". The Quietus . Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  3. 1 2 Spool, Ari (December 20, 2011). "Bebetunes, "INHALE C – 4 $$$$$ MIXTAPE”. Impose. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Campbell, Chris (December 15, 2011). "Bebetune$: Inhale C-4 $$$$$". Fact . The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 Soderberg, Brandon (January 13, 2012). "Bebetune$: Inhale C-4 $$$$$". Pitchfork . Conde Nast. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Favorite 30 Albums of 2012 (So Far)". Tiny Mix Tapes. July 3, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Bebetunes (James Ferraro) – Inhale C-4 $$$$$$$$$ mixtape". Dummy. December 14, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ "2012: Favorite 50 Albums of 2012". Tiny Mix Tapes. December 17, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.