85 to Africa
85 to Africa | ||||
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Studio album by Jidenna | ||||
Released | August 23, 2019 (2019-08-23) | |||
Genre |
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Length | 41:08 | |||
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Producer |
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Jidenna chronology | ||||
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Singles from 85 to Africa | ||||
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85 to Africa is the second studio album by Nigerian-American recording artist Jidenna. It was released on August 23, 2019 through Wondaland and Epic Records.[6][7] It follows the release of both his debut effort The Chief and the EP Boomerang (both released in 2017). The album features guest appearances from GoldLink, St. Beauty, Mr Eazi, Mereba and Seun Kuti. Reviews for the record were positive, often praising the production and lyrical content. 85 to Africa charted at number 112 on the Billboard 200. The accompanying singles "Tribe", "Sufi Woman", "Zodi", and "Sou Sou" were released.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
HipHopDX | 3.7/5[10] |
Pitchfork | 6.7/10[11] |
The Root | (favorable)[12] |
85 to Africa garnered positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic writer Andy Kellman wrote that: "Continuing where the Boomerang EP left off, even tighter lyrical, sonic, and collaborative connections are made with his father's home continent. The rapping and singing dandy is still chiefin' — coasting on charisma and wit more than skill, preening and gloating through much of the LP in his inimitable way, humble enough to accept one of the humorous nicknames bestowed on him."[8] Brody Kenny of HipHopDX praised Jidenna's "charismatic performances" throughout the album and its world-spanning production but was critical of his lyrics being "shoddy" and "egregious" at points and not bringing more focus to himself, concluding that: "[T]here's no sense of shyness in Jidenna when he performs, his vocals ringing out proudly and loudly at the top of the mix. But he might be holding himself — and his music — back by not presenting himself as boldly as he could. He can use his voice for rapping and singing, but he's still getting the hang of using it to truly deliver a message."[10]
Pitchfork contributor Rawiya Kameir was also critical of Jidenna's "hardy, awkward rapping" not quite living up to his ambitious ideas but gave praise to DJ Dahi and Nana Kwabena's "cinematic and expansive" production, the "universally understood" cultural references and the record's second half for best embodying its "metaphorical highway to Africa" concept, concluding that: "It feels necessary to celebrate the visibility of these songs, propelled into the mainstream without the rubric of any A-list affiliation. It would be unwise to extrapolate too much from such anomalies, but it's hard not to feel that Jidenna's right about something."[11] Dean Van Nguyen of The Guardian found criticism in the album's production being "clean to the point of sterility" and Jidenna himself being a "competent rhyme-spitter" that "lacks distinction", but gave praise to "Worth the Weight" and "The Other Half" for showcasing his "star quality", concluding that: "In these moments, Jidenna gives reason to believe he can outlast the gimmicks."[9]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Worth the Weight" (featuring Seun Kuti) |
| 4:22 | |
2. | "85 to Africa" |
|
| 2:23 |
3. | "Babouche" (featuring GoldLink) |
| 2:46 | |
4. | "Tribe" |
|
| 3:33 |
5. | "Sou Sou" |
|
| 3:48 |
6. | "Zodi" (featuring Mr Eazi) |
| 3:20 | |
7. | "Sufi Woman" |
| Nana Kwabena | 3:28 |
8. | "Vaporiza" |
|
| 2:59 |
9. | "Pretty & Afraid" |
|
| 4:06 |
10. | "Jungle Fever" |
|
| 3:30 |
11. | "The Other Half" (featuring St. Beauty and Mereba) |
| 6:53 | |
Total length: | 41:08 |
Notes
Charts
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200[14] | 112 |
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[15] | 47 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
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Various | August 23, 2019 | Epic | [16] | |
March 6, 2020 | Vinyl | [17] |
References
- ^ "85 to Africa: A Sweet chemistry". August 24, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ "Tribe − Single by Jidenna". Apple iTunes. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ "Sufi Woman − Single by Jidenna". Apple iTunes. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ "Zodi (feat. Mr Eazi) − Single by Jidenna". Apple iTunes. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ "Sou Sou — Single by Jidenna". Apple iTunes. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (July 26, 2019). "Jidenna Announces New Album". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ Corrine, Amber (August 1, 2019). "Jidenna Announces 85 To Africa And Tour". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "85 to Africa - Jidenna". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ a b Nguyen, Dean Van (August 23, 2019). "Jidenna: 85 to Africa – Classic Man takes it back to the source". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ a b Kenny, Brody (September 6, 2019). "Review: Jidenna's Nomadic Career Is Reflected Well In "85 To Africa"". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ a b Kameir, Rawiya (August 28, 2019). "Jidenna: 85 to Africa". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ "Jidenna's 85 to Africa Is a Musical Road Trip Worth Taking". Very Smart Brothas. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ "85 to Africa by Jidenna". Retrieved December 15, 2019 – via music.apple.com.
- ^ "Jidenna Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ "Jidenna Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ "85 to Africa [Explicit] by Jidenna". Amazon Music. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ "85 to Africa Translucent Orange Vinyl LP + Digital Download | Shop the Jidenna Official Store". www.jidennashop.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- v
- t
- e
- The Chief
- 85 to Africa
- "Classic Man"
- "Yoga"
- "Long Live the Chief"
- Wondaland Presents: The Eephus