No. 5 Collaborations Project

Last updated
No. 5 Collaborations Project
Ed Sheeran - No. 5 Collaborations Project.png
EP by
Released9 January 2011
Recorded2010–2011
Genre
Length35:21
Label Self-released
Producer
Ed Sheeran chronology
Spotify Session
(2011)
No. 5 Collaborations Project
(2011)
One Take
(2011)

No. 5 Collaborations Project is a compilation extended play (EP) by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was the final of five EPs he recorded with the hope of being signed by a record label, hence the title.

Contents

Musically the album combined sensitive production, with serious subject matters and "haunting" themes. Sheeran wanted each song to act as a musical and tried to avoid lyrics about women. The EP compiles tracks of collaborations with grime artists such as Devlin, Wiley, P Money, Ghetts and JME. Henry Yanney of Soul Culture gave the EP a positive review and it peaked at number 46 on the UK Albums Chart.

Development

"I'm always being introduced to new people that are really good. Being a songwriter myself, I love the way they put lyrics together. If you listen to Ghetts' flow, it's not necessarily like four-bar, four-bar, four-bar. He'll do a two and a half bar rhyme and then stop, and go into something else. And me as a songwriter, that sort of fascinated me, like how can you get away with that? That really interested me. I've started writing songs a bit more like that, lyrically."

Sheeran discussing the "Grime" genre as an influence on his artistry. [1]

The No. 5 Collaborations Project was conceived to be a record with every song acting as a musical without "songs about girls". [1] One track speaks of being in a car crash. This was a track which he wanted to be "a spiritual thing about being taken home". Another track lyrically tells the story of saying goodbye to someone. [1] When he collaborated with artist and rapper Ghetts he wanted to bring-out "the old Ghetts" with a "grimy-beat" and with rapper JME he wanted to bring "humour to the project". [1] The title derived from a time when there was no "hype" surrounding Sheeran and he decided to create a buzz by producing five EPs: an indie-style EP, a singer-songwriter EP, a folk-style EP, a live EP and a collaborations EP, the latter fifth EP leading to the title No. 5 Collaborations Project. [1] These five EPs (You Need Me, Loose Change, Songs I Wrote with Amy, and Live at the Bedford, respectively) would later be collected and released in a full album, simply titled “5.”

Music and reception

Sheeran performing at Academy 1 in Manchester. Ed Sheeran at Academy 1.jpg
Sheeran performing at Academy 1 in Manchester.

The EP is composed of "haunting" and "sensitive production" which "meshes the protagonist’s acoustic compositions with sombre, intense beats". [2] The first track, "Lately," features rapper Devlin and, lyrically, discusses insomnia and stress deriving from their work as musicians. The next track, "You," features rapper Wiley and speaks lyrically of family. The next track, actually titled "Family" and featuring P Money, creates a "tense atmosphere" and recalls a near fatal car crash which P Money was involved in. [2] The dark mood is furthered with track "Little Lady", a re-recording of Sheeran's single "The A Team", which features three rap verses from Mikill Pane. [2]

Henry Yanney of Soul Culture gave the EP four out of five marks, calling Sheeran an "excellent storyteller" and finding "The folk-meets-indie-meets-poetry format seemingly encourages/forces the guests on board to produce more reflective, thoughtful lyricism than per usual". [2] Yanney discussed Sheeran's mainstream success with the EP noting, "For an artist on the precipice of mainstream recognition, No. 5 Collaborations Project is arguably the most anti-commercial project to emerge from someone at that level", concluding his review by stating "The EP which solidifies his 'One To Watch' tag, Ed Sheeran, on pure talent alone, remains one of this year's most promising talents". [2] In the United Kingdom the album spent one week on the UK Albums Chart placing at number 46. [3]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Lately" (featuring Devlin)4:32
2."You" (featuring Wiley)3:26
3."Family" (featuring P Money)4:15
4."Radio" (featuring JME)3:41
5."Little Lady" (featuring Mikill Pane)5:31
6."Drown Me Out" (featuring Ghetts)4:24
7."Nightmares" (featuring Random Impulse, Sway and Wretch 32)4:05
8."Goodbye to You" (featuring Dot Rotten)5:27

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
UK Albums Chart [3] 46

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [4] Silver60,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
United Kingdom7 January 2011Self-released

Related Research Articles

Paris Joel Moore-Williams, better known by his stage name P Money, is a British grime MC, rapper and songwriter from New Cross, South East London, who is also active in the drum and bass scene. He is best known for his live performances as well as for songs such as "Slang Like This", "Anthemic" and "Round the Clock". N.E was the founding member of Lewisham-based grime crew OGz and P Money released one album with the group entitled OGz Season Vol. 1. He also appeared on the sixth edition of highly popular grime DVD Lord of the Mics in a grime clash (battle).

Derek Andrew Safo, better known by his stage name Sway or Sway DaSafo, is a British rapper of Ghanaian descent. He is also a producer, having established Dcypha Productions, signed to Island/Universal. Safo's 2008 track "Black Stars" gave appreciation to popular Ghanaians across the diaspora. Sway's first big track, "On My Own" was released under the name Sway DaSafo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kano (British musician)</span> British rapper

Kane Brett Robinson, better known as Kano, is a British rapper, songwriter and actor from East Ham, London. A significant contributor to grime music, he is widely considered one of the pioneers of the grime culture, alongside artists such as Wiley and Dizzee Rascal. His fifth album, Made in the Manor was shortlisted for the 2016 Mercury Prize and won Best Album at the 2016 MOBO Awards. On screen, he is best known for playing the role of Sully in Top Boy.

Samuel Justin Jude Clarke, better known by his stage name Ghetts, is a British grime MC, rapper and songwriter. His music has been played on national radio stations such as BBC Radio 1, Kiss 100, BBC Asian Network, and BBC Radio 1Xtra. Currently, Ghetts is signed to independent record label Disrupt, and released his debut studio album, Rebel with a Cause, on 9 March 2014. Known for his hard hitting lyrics and intricate rhyme schemes, he is associated and has toured internationally with such acts as Kano and was a member of NASTY Crew.

The discography of Tinchy Stryder, a recording artist whose real name is Kwasi Danquah, consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, one collaboration album, five extended plays, four mixtapes, 17 singles, five singles as a featured artist, and ten collaborations. Danquah has sold over 22.2 million digital singles worldwide. Danquah performed under the stage name Stryder from 1997 to 2006, and has performed under the stage name Tinchy Stryder since 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jme</span> British grime MC (born 1985)

Jamie Adenuga, known professionally as Jme, is a British grime MC, songwriter, record producer and DJ who was born in Hackney, and raised in Tottenham. He is the co-founder of the crew and label Boy Better Know. He also serves as a sole owner and director of an associated company, Boy Better Know Limited, which he incorporated in 2008. He was previously part of the grime collective Meridian Crew and later Roll Deep alongside his older brother, Skepta.

<i>Keep Up</i> (EP) 2016 extended play by KSI

Keep Up is the debut extended play (EP) by British YouTube personality and rapper KSI. It was released on 8 January 2016 through Island Records. The EP features guest appearances from Jme, Tiggs da Author, Lunar C, Nick Brewer, Randolph, Youngs Teflon, Sway and Scrufizzer. The EP charted at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Bud, Sweat and Beers</i> 2010 studio album by Devlin

Bud, Sweat and Beers is the debut studio album released by English rapper Devlin, via Island Records and the Universal Music Group. The album was released on 29 October 2010 via digital download, and 1 November 2010, physically. The album was produced by Labrinth, Kraze, Lewi White, Futurecut and Naughty Boy. Featured guests on the album include Awa Manneh, Hikaru Utada, Labrinth, Emeli Sandé, Yasmin, Dogzilla and Ghetts. The album received high praise in critical reviews, and was awarded Hottest Album of the Week by Zane Lowe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pow 2011</span> 2011 single by Lethal Bizzle featuring Jme, Wiley, Chipmunk, Face, P Money, Ghetts and Kano

"Pow 2011" is a song by grime MC Lethal Bizzle, featuring fellow grime artists Jme, Wiley, Chipmunk, Face, P Money, Ghetts and Kano – who are usually credited as 'Grime All Stars'. The song is a sequel of Lethal Bizzle's hit single "Pow! (Forward)" which was released in 2004. "Pow 2011" was released as a single on 6 February 2011 for digital download and was produced by Teddy, also known as Silencer. It was the first single from Bizzle's compilation album, Best of Bizzle. Soccer AM used the song for the background music to a part of the show called "Frimponged".

Jake Gosling is an English music producer, songwriter, remixer, manager, and publisher best known for his work with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, The Libertines, James Bay, Shawn Mendes, All Time Low, One Direction, Major Lazer, Christina Perri, Shania Twain, 5 Seconds of Summer, Paloma Faith, and Wiley.

<i>+</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Ed Sheeran

+ ("Plus") is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 9 September 2011 by Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. The album is considered Sheeran's commercial breakthrough. He previously released five EPs independently. Jake Gosling and Sheeran produced the majority of the album, with additional production by American hip hop producer No I.D.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeph Ellis</span> Musical artist

Joseph Ellis-Stephenson, better known by his stage name Dot Rotten or Zeph Ellis, is a British grime MC, rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Lambeth, South London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shakka (singer)</span> Musical artist

Shakka Philip, known simply as Shakka, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Pitched Up, Columbia Records and Sony Music.

<i>Songs I Wrote with Amy</i> 2010 EP by Ed Sheeran

Songs I Wrote with Amy is an extended play, independently released by Ed Sheeran on 18 April 2010. All of the songs were written collaboratively by Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge. The EP is a folk album of what journalist David Nolan described as "polite, discreet adult offerings aimed at a grown-up audience," with "world-weary songs of mornings after, indecision and regret."

Sticky Studios is an independent music recording studio located in Windlesham, Surrey. The studio is owned by music producer, songwriter, remixer, manager and publisher Jake Gosling. Sticky Studios is most notable for its work with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, One Direction, Christina Perri, Paloma Faith and Wiley.

<i>Godfather</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Wiley

Godfather is the eleventh studio album by English grime MC Wiley. It was released on 13 January 2017 through CTA Records, a record label venture between Wiley and Logan Sama and is distributed by Warner Music Group. It succeeds the album Snakes & Ladders (2014), originally announced as Wiley's final album.

<i>Loose Change</i> (EP) 2010 EP by Ed Sheeran

Loose Change is an independently-released EP by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. The EP was recorded at Surrey's Sticky Studios, and produced by Jake Gosling. Initially released in 2010 before Sheeran had received worldwide critical acclaim, the EP has been re-released three times: in 2011; in 2015 as part of Sheeran's release of a collection of five of his previously released EPs ; and finally in 2016 on colored 12" vinyl. The title "Loose Change" is derived from the second verse of the album's leading track; The A Team.

<i>No.6 Collaborations Project</i> 2019 studio album by Ed Sheeran

No.6 Collaborations Project is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 12 July 2019 through Asylum and Atlantic Records. The album compiles tracks which include collaborations from Khalid, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, PnB Rock, Stormzy, Yebba, Justin Bieber, Travis Scott, Eminem, 50 Cent, Young Thug, J Hus, Ella Mai, Paulo Londra, Dave, H.E.R., Meek Mill, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Skrillex, Chris Stapleton, and Bruno Mars. It is a sequel to Sheeran's 2011 compilation extended play, No. 5 Collaborations Project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me Back to London</span> 2019 single by Ed Sheeran featuring Stormzy

"Take Me Back to London" is a song by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran featuring British rapper Stormzy. It was released through Asylum and Atlantic Records as the final single from the former's compilation album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Patterson, Joseph (2011-01-13). "Ed Sheeran: The Interview!". MTV . Viacom. Archived from the original on 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Yanney, Henry (2011-01-15). "Ed Sheeran – No. 5 Collaborations Project EP Review". Soul Culture. Archived from the original on 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  3. 1 2 "The Official Charts Company - Ed Sheeran – No. 5 Collaborations Project". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  4. "British album certifications – Ed Sheeran – No 5 Collaborations Project". British Phonographic Industry.
  5. "No.5 Collaborations Project by Ed Sheeran iTunes". iTunes Store (Apple Inc.). Archived from the original on 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  6. "No.5 Collaborations Project - 12" White Vinyl". store.edsheeran.com. Archived from the original on 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-06.