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Cancer 4 Cure

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Cancer 4 Cure
Studio album by
El-P
ReleasedMay 22, 2012 (2012-05-22)
Recorded2008-2012[1]
GenreHip hop
Length49:05
LabelFat Possum Records
ProducerEl-P, Nick Diamonds, Little Shalimar, Wilder Zoby
El-P chronology
I'll Sleep When You're Dead
(2007) 		Cancer 4 Cure
(2012) 		Run the Jewels
(2013)
Singles from Cancer 4 Cure
  1. "The Full Retard"
    Released: April 24, 2012

Cancer 4 Cure is the third solo studio album by American hip hop artist El-P. It was released through Fat Possum Records on May 22, 2012. It peaked at number 71 on the Billboard 200 chart.[2]

Background

El-P has stated that "I think that I’m trying to create an idea or illustrate a thought pattern, just because there’s darkness that I see and think about, it doesn’t mean I’ve given into it. I think the record is ultimately about not giving into it. For the most part I’m struggling with that darkness throughout the record. When I say it’s about wanting to live, I just say that because that’s how I feel. When you get hit with death, sometimes as horrible as it is, one of the things that can come out of it is a reaffirmation of how much you don’t want to go, and I think that’s what happened with me."[3]

The album is dedicated to Camu Tao.[4] In an interview with Rolling Stone, El-P said, "Camu was a huge inspiration on this record, mostly because he had a huge effect on my life and who I am."[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
The A.V. ClubA[7]
Chicago Tribune[8]
The Guardian[9]
Los Angeles Times[10]
Mojo[11]
Pitchfork8.5/10[4]
Q[12]
Rolling Stone[13]
Spin7/10[14]

At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received a score of 84, based on 39 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[5]

David Jeffries of AllMusic stated, "Cancer4Cure is about hip-hop like Glengarry Glen Ross was about sales, but these great works transcend their industries, offering solace and inspiration to anyone who would prefer a satisfied mind over a Cadillac Eldorado, or in current terms, an Escalade."[6] In contrast, Dan Weiss of The Boston Phoenix stated that the album "is definitely not El-P's Age of Apocalypse; in fact it's the only El-P production that sounds like it's been made on planet Earth, following hip-hop rules that someone else already defined."[15]

Stereogum placed it at number 15 on the "Top 50 Albums of 2012" list.[16] Spin included it on the "40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012" list.[17]

Track listing

Track listing was confirmed by Fat Possum Records.[18]

No.TitleLength
1."Request Denied"4:32
2."The Full Retard"3:39
3."Works Every Time"3:35
4."Drones Over Bklyn"5:49
5."Oh Hail No" (featuring Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire and Danny Brown)3:41
6."Tougher Colder Killer" (featuring Killer Mike and Despot)3:39
7."True Story"3:14
8."The Jig Is Up"3:18
9."Sign Here"2:51
10."For My Upstairs Neighbor (Mums the Word)"3:15
11."Stay Down" (featuring Nick Diamonds)3:10
12."$4 Vic/Nothing but You+Me (FTL)"8:23

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

  • El-P – vocals, composition, production, design
  • Little Shalimar – guitar (1, 2, 10, 12), production (4, 8, 11), vocoder (6), guitar effect (7), synthesizer (12)
  • Wilder Zoby – synthesizer (1), keyboards (3, 5, 7, 12), production (10)
  • Isaiah "Ikey" Owens – organ (1, 6), keyboards (5, 7, 9)
  • James McNew – bass guitar (1, 6, 10)
  • Camu Tao – vocals (2), composition (2)
  • Paul Banks – vocals (3)
  • Jaleel Bunton – guitar (3)
  • Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire – vocals (5), composition (5)
  • Danny Brown – vocals (5), composition (5)
  • Dave "Smoota" Smith – horns (5)
  • Killer Mike – vocals (6), composition (6)
  • Despot – vocals (6), composition (6)
  • Matt Sweeney – guitar (6, 12)
  • Himanshu Suri – vocals (7)
  • Nick Diamonds – vocals (11), composition (11), production (11)
  • Biondo – vocals (12)
  • Torbitt Schwartz – recording
  • Joey Raia – mixing
  • Glenn Schick – mastering
  • Ron Croudy – design
  • Timothy Saccenti – photography

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[2] 71
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19] 15
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[20] 7

References

  1. ^ a b Cubarrubia, R.J. (May 21, 2012). "Q&A: El-P on His New Album and Staying Relevant in Hip-Hop". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "El-P: Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  3. ^ Alexander Fruchter. "Interview El-P: Back In The Flow". Ruby Hornet. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Weiss, Jeff (May 21, 2012). "El-P: Cancer for Cure". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Cancer4Cure by El-P". Metacritic. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  6. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Cancer4Cure – El-P". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  7. ^ Harvey, Eric (May 22, 2012). "El-P: Cancer For Cure". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  8. ^ Kot, Greg (May 20, 2012). "Album review: El-P, 'Cancer 4 Cure'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  9. ^ MacInnes, Paul (May 24, 2012). "El-P: Cancer for Cure – review". The Guardian. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  10. ^ Martens, Todd (May 21, 2012). "Album review: El-P's 'Cancer 4 Cure'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  11. ^ "El-P: Cancer 4 Cure". Mojo (224): 92. July 2012.
  12. ^ "El-P: Cancer 4 Cure". Q (312): 98. July 2012.
  13. ^ Hermes, Will (May 22, 2012). "Cancer4Cure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  14. ^ Reeves, Mosi (May 16, 2012). "El-P, 'Cancer for Cure' (Fat Possum)". Spin. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  15. ^ Weiss, Dan (May 15, 2012). "El-P - Cancer For Cure". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  16. ^ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2012". Stereogum. December 5, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  17. ^ "SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012 (page 16 of 41)". Spin. December 11, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  18. ^ "El-P "Cancer For Cure" Album Art / Tracklist". Fat Possum Records. April 6, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  19. ^ "El-P: Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  20. ^ "El-P: Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
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