Jump to content

A Written Testimony

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by ABarnett (talk | contribs) at 05:41, 13 March 2020. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

A Written Testimony
Studio album by
Jay Electronica
ReleasedMarch 13, 2020[1]
Recorded
  • November 2010[a]
  • December 26, 2019 – February 6, 2020
Length39:34
LabelRoc Nation
Producer
Jay Electronica chronology
Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge)
(2007) 		A Written Testimony
(2020)
Singles from A Written Testimony
  1. "Shiny Suit Theory"
    Released: November 15, 2010

A Written Testimony (Arabic: شهادة مكتوبة) is the debut studio album by American rapper Jay Electronica. The album was primarily recorded in 40 days, from December 2019 to February 2020, and was released on March 13, 2020. The album follows the release of his debut mixtape, Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) (2007). The album features guest appearances by Travis Scott and The-Dream and features multiple guest appearances by Jay-Z.

Background and recording

Jay Electronica first announced a follow-up to Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge) in 2007, but didn't complete A Written Testimony until early 2020.

Jay Electronica's debut project Act I: Eternal Sunshine (The Pledge), released in July 2007, was meant to be the first part of a trilogy, with the other planned installments being entitled Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn) and Act III: The Last Will & Testament of Timothy Elpadaro Thedford (The Prestige).[2] In September 2007, Jay Electronica indicated that he planned to create Act II and Act III.[3] Following the official release of his hit single "Exhibit C", Jay Electronica announced on Shade 45 that Act II would be released on Christmas Day 2009; producer Just Blaze confirmed that the album would miss this date.[4]

In February 2010, Jay Electronica stated that he was planning on doing collaborative projects with rappers Mos Def, Lupe Fiasco, and Nas.[5] In August 2010, Jay Electronica stated that Act II would be released on his birthday September 19, 2010.[4] In November 2010, Jay Electronica signed to Roc Nation and released his first collaborative song with Jay-Z, entitled "Shiny Suit Theory".[4][5]

Jay Electronica announced that Act II was completed in 2011 and later shared a track list in 2012.[2] The track list included guest appearances from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Charlotte Gainsbourg, The-Dream, and Sean Combs, among others.[6] The album was never released.[2] In 2013, Jay Electronica intended to include the song "Control" on his album after Big Sean removed it from Hall of Fame.[7] However, Big Sean instead released the song as a promotional single after Kendrick Lamar recorded his controversial verse for the song.[7] In 2014, Jay Electronica again announced that his album would be releasing that year.[5] In 2017, Jay Electronica denounced the traditional roll-out of studio albums, stating "[a]n album is something that was created by corporations as a product to make money."[5]

In March 2019, Jay Electronica teased on Instagram that he may work with Jay-Z on his album.[8] In April 2019, Zachary Schwartz of DJ Booth speculated that the collaborative album was Act III.[9] On February 6, 2020, Jay Electronica announced that he completed his debut album A Written Testimony.[10] Jay Electronica recorded the album in "40 days and 40 nights", beginning on December 26, 2019.[10] Jay Electronica set an initial release date of March 18, 2020, 40 days after recording was completed.[10] In February 2020, radio host Angela Yee, who formerly managed Jay Electronica, confirmed on The Breakfast Club that she had listened to the album and that "Jay-Z is on much of the album."[11]

Release and promotion

Listening parties for the album were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic (poster pictured).

On February 6, 2020, Jay Electronica announced A Written Testimony with a March 18, 2020 release date.[10] In anticipation of the album's release, record producer Young Guru posted a picture of himself in the studio with Jay Electronica, Jay-Z and Lawrence "Law" Parker on March 10, 2020.[12] That same day, streaming service Tidal announced three listening parties for the album.[12] Tidal planned to host the listening parties on March 12 in Los Angeles, New York City, and Jay Electronica's hometown of New Orleans.[12][13] On March 11, 2020, Yee confirmed on The Breakfast Club that the album would be released on March 13, 2020 after the listening parties.[1] On March 12, 2020, Apple Music revealed the track listing for A Written Testimony through Twitter. The track listing, written in the Arabic language, included ten tracks with guest appearances from Travis Scott and The-Dream.[14][15][16] After the track list was revealed, the listening parties were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Tidal revealed the album's cover art.[15]

In November 2010, Jay Electronica released his first collaborative song with Jay-Z entitled "Shiny Suit Theory" after signing to Roc Nation.[5] In July 2012, a track list for Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn) was revealed that included a song titled "Dinner at Tiffanys (The Shiny Suit Theory)" featuring Gainsbourg, Jay-Z and The-Dream.[6] In September 2018, the original version of the song was rereleased exclusively to Tidal.[17] The song was included on the track list for A Written Testimony revealed in March 2020, with only The-Dream listed as a featured artist.[15]

Track listing

Track listing translated from Arabic to English by HipHop-N-More.[15]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."الحدث القاهر (The Overwhelming Event)"
  • Jay Electronica
2:17
2."شبح سولجا سليم (Ghost of Soulja Slim)"
  • Chris Payton
  • Craig Lawson
  • Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah
  • James Tapp
  • John Williams
  • Khirye Tyler
  • Larrance Dopson
  • Louis Farrakhan
  • Shawn Carter
  • Jay Electronica
4:26
3."التعمية (The Blinding)" (featuring Travis Scott)
  • Abraham Orellana
  • Chauncey Hollis
  • Elparado F. Electronica Allah
  • Jacques Webster
  • Jahron Brathwaite
  • Kaseem Dean
  • Shawn Carter
2:49
4."الحكاية الأبدية (The Neverending Story)"
  • Daniel Alan Maman
  • Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah
  • Felix Nebbia
  • Mirtha Defilpo
  • Shawn Carter
  • Terius Nash
4:21
5."الجندي الكوني (Shiny Suit Theory)"
  • Barbara Mason
  • Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah
  • Shawn Carter
  • Terius Nash
4:04
6."الجندي الكوني (Universal Soldier)" (featuring The-Dream)
  • Allen Toussaint
  • Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah
  • Jacques Webster
  • James Blake Litherland
  • Jennifer Vashti Bunyan
  • Shawn Carter
  • Jay Electronica
4:19
7."تدفق مكثف (Flux Capacitor)"
  • Badriia Bourelly
  • Dion Wilson
  • D'Artanian Stovall
  • Elparado F. Electronica Allah
  • Elton Newman
  • James Fauntleroy
  • Jerry Butler II
  • Kenneth Gamble
  • Lawrence Parker
  • Leon Huff
  • Shawn Carter
  • robyn fenty
  • Jay Electronica
3:27
8."ثمار الروح (Fruits of the Spirit)"
  • Dion Wilson
  • Elparado F. Electronica Allah
  • Rodney G. Massey
1:35
9."دولاب حزقيال (Ezekiel's Wheel)" (featuring The-Dream)
  • Brian Eno
  • Elparado F. Electronica Allah
  • James Fauntleroy
  • Robert Fripp
  • Shawn Carter
  • Jay Electronica
6:48
10."الحمد لله (A.P.I.D.T.A.)"
  • Elparado F. Electronica Allah
  • Laura Manders
  • Mark Speer
  • Shawn Carter
  • Khruangbin
5:28
Total length:39:34

Notes

  • All tracks except "The Overwhelming Event" and "Fruits of the Spirit" feature uncredited vocals by Jay-Z

Personnel

Personnel adapted from Jay Electronica's Instagram, though specific contributions have not been revealed yet.[18]

Notes

  1. ^ "Shiny Suit Theory" only

References

  1. ^ a b The Breakfast Club (March 11, 2020). "6ix9ine's Prison Release Date Has Been Set Early For Being A 'Model Prisoner'". YouTube. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Ryan Bassil (October 23, 2013). "The Prestige, The Five Percenters, and Why Jay Electronica Hasn't Released His Debut Album". Vice UK. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Andres Reyes (September 27, 2007). "Jay Electronica Interview". Weapons of Mass Distraction. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Brad Callas (February 25, 2020). "The Long Road to Jay Electronica's Debut Album". Complex. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e Robert Blair (February 15, 2020). "A Written Testimony: The Road To Jay Electronica's Debut Album". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Evan Minsker (July 28, 2012). "Jay Electronica Shares Album Tracklist". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Evan Minsker (September 1, 2013). "Jay Electronica Wanted "Control" for His Album". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2020. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; April 11, 2019 suggested (help)
  8. ^ Michael Saponara (March 21, 2019). "Jay Electronica Hints at Possible Collaboration With Jay-Z". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  9. ^ Zachary Schwartz (April 12, 2019). "We Found Jay Electronica's 'Act II'—It's Been Hiding in Plain Sight". DJBooth. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d Evan Minsker (February 7, 2020). "Jay Electronica Says His New Album Is Out in 40 Days". Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Yohance Kyles (February 13, 2020). "Angela Yee Confirms Jay-Z Appears On Much Of Jay Electronica's Album & Gives Details About The Release". AllHipHop. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Joshua Espinoza (March 10, 2020). "Tidal Announces Listening Events for Jay Electronica's Debut Album 'A Written Testimony' (UPDATE)". Complex. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  13. ^ Carl Lamarre (March 11, 2020). "Jay Electronica Album Listening Sessions Are Finally Happening in These Cities". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Tara C. Mahadevan (March 12, 2020). "Jay Electronica Shares Tracklist for Upcoming Debut Album 'A Written Testimony'". Complex. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c d "Jay Electronica Reveals 'A Written Testimony' Track List". HipHop-N-More. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Here's Everything We Know About Jay Electronica's New Album 'A Written Testimony'". Genius. March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  17. ^ "Jay Electronica Officially Releases 'Shiny Suit Theory' Feat. Jay-Z & The-Dream". HipHop-N-More. September 17, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  18. ^ Jay Electronica (March 12, 2020). "J A Y E L E C T R O N I C A® on Instagram: "🕋 🛸 #AWrittenTestimony💞"". Instagram. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A_Written_Testimony&oldid=945320420"