Beware of the Monkey
Beware of the Monkey | ||||
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Mixtape by Mike | ||||
Released | December 21, 2022 | |||
Genre | Hip hop[1] | |||
Length | 33:32 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | 10k | |||
Producer | dj blackpower | |||
Mike chronology | ||||
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Singles from Beware of the Monkey | ||||
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Beware of the Monkey is the fifth mixtape by American rapper Mike, released on December 21, 2022, through 10k.
Background and release
The album followed a trend of many of Mike's albums, releasing on a solstice.[2][1][3] The album is named after a horoscope Mike saw in a Chinese restaurant.[4][5][6]
On October 13, 2022, Mike announced the album and released its first single, "nuthin i can do is wrng", alongside a music video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa.[7][8] In his review for Pitchfork, Dylan Green praised the single as a "glimpse of an already masterful talent polishing his craft."[9] James Rettig of Stereogum described the single as "hypnotic."[10] On November 3, 2022, Mike released the album's second single, "What Do I Do?", alongside a music video directed by Xin Wang.[11][4] He also announced the Ipari Park Tour with 454 and Slauson Malone 1 in support of the album.[12][13] The Fader's Raphael Helfand described the single as a "characteristically woozy slow burn."[14] Gabriel Bras Nevares of HotNewHipHop called the single "moody and ethereal."[11] On November 29, 2022, Mike released the album's third single, "Stop Worry!", featuring Jamaican singer Sister Nancy, alongside a music video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa.[15][16][17] Jada Ojii of HotNewHipHop described Sister Nancy's feature as "melodic and hypnotizing."[5] Stereogum's Tom Breihan described Mike's verse as a "sleepy stream-of-consciousness."[18]
The album released on December 21, 2022, alongside a music video for "No Curse Lifted (rivers of love)" directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa.[19][20][2][21] On January 26, 2023, Mike released a music video directed by Christopher Currence for "Weary Love".[22] On March 10, 2023, Mike released a music video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa for "As 4 Me". On September 7, 2023, Mike released a music video for "Ipari Park" directed by Cynthia Igbokwe and Danny Gubber.[23]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 86/100[26] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Beats Per Minute | 80%[1] |
HipHopDX | 4.2/5[24] |
Pitchfork | 8.1/10[25] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Beware of the Monkey received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[26]
Writing for Beats Per Minute, Tim Sentz praised Mike's writing on the album, stating that "he raps about pain and perseverance like he's lived a hundred lifetimes already."[1] Anthony Malone of HipHopDX praised the album's themes of dealing with death, grief, and depression.[24] Ryan Dillon of Glide Magazine praised Mike's instrumental production on the album, writing: "the instrumentals presented on this album are put together gives them the feeling of history being stitched together through muddy drum loops and dancing sample chops."[27] In his review for Spin, Tomas Miriti Pacheco described Mike's lyricism as "layered" and "effortless" and that the album "delivers his boldest songs yet."[3] Jaelani Turner Williams of Okayplayer called the album Mike's "most meditative album yet."[28] Stereogum's Chris Deville described the album's production as Mike's most engaging to date.[29] Isaac Fontes of HotNewHipHop writes that the album "further cements [Mike] as one of underground rap's best storytellers."[30] Writing for Pitchfork, Stephen Kearse described the album as "self-assured and polyvalent, a current of shifting emotional states that MIKE's exquisite word and production choices shape into rich affirmations."[25]
Track listing
All tracks written by Michael Bonema and produced under his alias dj blackpower, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "nuthin i can do is wrng" | 1:58 | |
2. | "As 4 Me" | 1:43 | |
3. | "Eczema" | 1:52 | |
4. | "Light (if u can't see)" (featuring Jadasea) |
| 3:37 |
5. | "No Curse Lifted (rivers of love)" | 1:49 | |
6. | "What Do I Do?" | 3:06 | |
7. | "Ipari Park" (featuring Klein) |
| 2:41 |
8. | "Swoosh 23" | 2:35 | |
9. | "Tapestry" | 1:37 | |
10. | "Stop Worry!" (featuring Sister Nancy) |
| 2:29 |
11. | "WEARY LOVE" | 2:11 | |
12. | "Concrète" (featuring King Carter) |
| 3:53 |
13. | "Closing Credits" | 3:54 |
References
- ^ a b c d Sentz, Tim (2022-12-22). "Album Review: MIKE – Beware of the Monkey". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ a b Helfand, Raphael (December 21, 2022). "MIKE drops new album Beware of the Monkey". The Fader. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ a b Miriti Pacheco, Tomas (December 21, 2022). "MIKE Is Fearless on Beware of the Monkey". Spin. ISSN 0886-3032.
- ^ a b Corcoran, Nina (2022-11-03). "MIKE Announces Tour, Drops Video for New Song "What Do I Do?"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ a b Ojii, Jada (2022-11-30). "MIKE Drops New Single "Stop Worry!" With Dancehall Icon Sister Nancy". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ Curto, Justin (2022-12-21). "Mike Is Searching for Something 'More Than Just Sad or Happy'". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ Arcand, Rob (2022-10-13). "MIKE Announces New Album Beware of the Monkey, Shares Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (2022-10-13). "MIKE announces new album 'Beware of the Monkey,' shares new song". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Green, Dylan (October 13, 2022). "MIKE: "nuthin i can do is wrng"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ Rettig, James (2022-10-13). "MIKE Announces New Album, Shares "nuthin i can do is wrng": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ a b Nevares, Gabriel Bras (2022-11-05). "MIKE Shares Woozy New Track, "What Do I Do?"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Slingerland, Calum (November 3, 2022). "MIKE to Play Canada on 2023 North American Tour". Exclaim!. ISSN 1207-6600.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (2022-11-03). "MIKE shares "What Do I Do?," announces 2023 tour". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Helfand, Raphael (November 3, 2022). "MIKE announces North American tour, shares "What Do I Do?"". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Arcand, Rob (2022-11-29). "MIKE Shares Video for New Song Featuring Sister Nancy". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Williams, Aaron (2022-11-29). "MIKE Soaks Up His Success In The 'Stop Worry!' Video With Sister Nancy". UPROXX. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ Darville, Jordan (November 29, 2022). "Song You Need: Save MIKE and Sister Nancy's "Stop Worry!" for your summer 2023 playlists". The FADER. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "MIKE Teams Up With Sister Nancy On New Single "Stop Worry!": Listen". Stereogum. 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (2022-12-21). "Stream MIKE's new album 'Beware of the Monkey' and watch a new video". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Turner Williams, Jaelani. "MIKE Releases New Album 'Beware of the Monkey' - Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Arcand, Rob (2022-12-21). "Watch MIKE's New "No Curse Lifted (Rivers of Love)" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Gonda, Christopher (2023-01-26). "Watch MIKE's Christopher Currence-Directed "Weary Love" Music Video". V13. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ "MIKE is back to share a new music video for "Ipari Park," featuring Klein". RapIndustry.com. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ a b Malone, Anthony (2023-01-05). "MIKE 'Beware Of The Monkey' Begins His Healing Process". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ a b Kearse, Stephen. "MIKE: Beware of the Monkey". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ a b Beware Of The Monkey by MIKE, Metacritic, retrieved 2023-11-21
- ^ Dillon, Ryan (2022-12-20). "MIKE Serves Up Ambitious Song Craftmanship On 'Beware of the Monkey' (ALBUM REVIEW)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Turner Williams, Jaelani (2023-12-23). "5 New Hip-Hop Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of December 23) - Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Deville, Chris (2022-12-21). "Stream MIKE's New Album 'Beware Of The Monkey'". Stereogum. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Fontes, Isaac (2022-12-22). "New York's MIKE Drops New Album, "Beware Of The Monkey"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
External links
- Beware of the Monkey at Bandcamp
Further reading
- "Life Only Gets More Confusing - MIKE Interviewed" (Clash, 2022)
- "MIKE is moving with intention now" (The Fader, 2023).
- "MIKE Is Taking His Time and Living in the Moment" (Interview, 2023).
- "Mike Is Searching for Something 'More Than Just Sad or Happy'" (Vulture, 2022).