The Preface (album)

Last updated
The Preface
00-elzhi-the preface-2008-coverart.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 12, 2008 (2008-08-12)
Recorded2008
Genre Hip hop
Length61:51
Label Fat Beats
Producer
ELZhi chronology
The Preface
(2008)
Elmatic
(2011)

The Preface is the debut album of rapper eLZhi, released 12 August 2008 on Fat Beats Records. It features many other Detroit's MCs including Royce Da 5'9", Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, Fatt Father, Danny Brown and Phat Kat among others. The album has been critically acclaimed and considered by many professional reviewers as one of the best hip hop albums of 2008.

Contents

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
RapReviews9.5/10 [2]
SputnikMusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
ArtOfRhymeStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4] [5]
OkayPlayer87% [6]
Pitchfork7.7/10 [7]
cokemachineglow74% [8]

Production

The whole album was produced by Black Milk except for tracks "Save Ya" (produced by T3), "The Science" (produced by DJ Dez), and interludes produced by Leaf K. Mayfield, Petey Pistol and Denmark Vessey. [9]

A great amount of work was put on the songs' drum lines. Black Milk used various hard kicks and snares, which is a common aspect of his production style. The song which displays this fact the best is probably "Guessing Game". However, some tracks are noticeable for their deep and soulful samples such as "Save Ya" or "Transitional Joint".

Eugene "Hexmurda" Howell served as executive producer of the album.

Songs and content

The Preface is known for containing songs which are related to various subjects and themes like dreams, colors or infatuation.

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Intro (The Preface)" Black Milk 1:02
2."The Leak" (feat. Ayah)Black Milk3:32
3."Guessing Game"Black Milk5:38
4."Motown 25" (feat. Royce Da 5'9")Black Milk3:57
5."Brag Swag"Black Milk2:41
6."Colors"Black Milk3:16
7."Fire" (remix) (feat. Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Danny Brown, Fat Ray and Fatt Father)Black Milk4:05
8."D.E.M.O.N.S."Black Milk4:12
9."Save Ya" (feat. T3) T3 4:00
10."Yeah" (feat. Phat Kat)Black Milk4:14
11."Transitional Joint"Black Milk4:57
12."Talking in My Sleep"Black Milk4:19
13."The Science" (feat. Fes Roc)DJ Dez3:03
14."Hands Up"Black Milk4:13
15."What I Write"Black Milk3:40
16."Growing Up" (feat. A.B.)Black Milk5:02
Total length:61:51
Notes

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References

  1. HipHopDX review
  2. RapReviews review
  3. SputnikMusic review
  4. ArtOfRhyme review
  5. ArtOfRhyme review (Recovered)
  6. OkayPlayer review
  7. Pitchfork review
  8. cokemachineglow review
  9. "Elzhi - The Preface". Discogs. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 2017-02-28.