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Beware of the Monkey

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Beware of the Monkey
Mixtapeby
Mike
ReleasedDecember 21, 2022
GenreHip hop[1]
Length33:32
LanguageEnglish
Label10k
Producerdj blackpower
Mikechronology
Disco!
(2021) 		Beware of the Monkey
(2022) 		Faith Is a Rock
(2023)
SinglesfromBeware of the Monkey
  1. "nuthin i can do is wrng"
    Released: October 13, 2022
  2. "What Do I Do?"
    Released: November 3, 2022
  3. "Stop Worry!"
    Released: November 29, 2022

Beware of the Monkeyis the fifth mixtape by American rapperMike,released on December 21, 2022 through 10k.

Background and release[edit]

The album followed a trend of many of Mike's albums, releasing on asolstice.[2][1][3]The album is named after ahoroscopeMike 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 forPitchfork,Dylan Green praised the single as a "glimpse of an already masterful talent polishing his craft."[9]James Rettig ofStereogumdescribed 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 andSlauson Malone 1in support of the album.[12][13]The Fader's Raphael Helfand described the single as a "characteristically woozy slow burn."[14]Gabriel Bras Nevares ofHotNewHipHopcalled the single "moody and ethereal."[11]On November 29, 2022, Mike released the album's third single, "Stop Worry!", featuring Jamaican singerSister Nancy,alongside a music video directed by Ryosuke Tanzawa.[15][16][17]Jada Ojii ofHotNewHipHopdescribed 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[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic86/100[26]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute80%[1]
HipHopDX4.2/5[24]
Pitchfork8.1/10[25]

According to the review aggregatorMetacritic,Beware of the Monkeyreceived "universal acclaim" based on aweighted averagescore of 86 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[26]

Writing forBeats 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 ofHipHopDXpraised the album's themes of dealing with death, grief, and depression.[24]Ryan Dillon ofGlide Magazinepraised 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 forSpin,Tomas Miriti Pacheco described Mike's lyricism as "layered" and "effortless" and that the album "delivers his boldest songs yet."[3]Jaelani Turner Williams ofOkayplayercalled 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 ofHotNewHipHopwrites that the album "further cements [Mike] as one of underground rap's best storytellers."[30]Writing forPitchfork,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[edit]

All tracks written byMichael Bonemaand produced under his aliasdj blackpower,except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(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" (featuringKlein)
2:41
8."Swoosh 23"2:35
9."Tapestry"1:37
10."Stop Worry!" (featuringSister Nancy)
2:29
11."WEARY LOVE"2:11
12."Concrète" (featuring King Carter)
  • Bonema
  • Cheikhuana Bamba Fall
3:53
13."Closing Credits"3:54

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdSentz, Tim (2022-12-22)."Album Review: MIKE – Beware of the Monkey".Beats Per Minute.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  2. ^abHelfand, Raphael (December 21, 2022)."MIKE drops new album Beware of the Monkey".The Fader.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  3. ^abMiriti Pacheco, Tomas (December 21, 2022)."MIKE Is Fearless on Beware of the Monkey".Spin.ISSN0886-3032.
  4. ^abCorcoran, Nina (2022-11-03)."MIKE Announces Tour, Drops Video for New Song" What Do I Do? "".Pitchfork.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  5. ^abOjii, Jada (2022-11-30)."MIKE Drops New Single" Stop Worry! "With Dancehall Icon Sister Nancy".HotNewHipHop.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  6. ^Curto, Justin (2022-12-21)."Mike Is Searching for Something 'More Than Just Sad or Happy'".Vulture.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  7. ^Arcand, Rob (2022-10-13)."MIKE Announces New Album Beware of the Monkey, Shares Video".Pitchfork.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  8. ^Sacher, Andrew (2022-10-13)."MIKE announces new album 'Beware of the Monkey,' shares new song".BrooklynVegan.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  9. ^Green, Dylan (October 13, 2022)."MIKE:" nuthin i can do is wrng "".Pitchfork.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  10. ^Rettig, James (2022-10-13)."MIKE Announces New Album, Shares" nuthin i can do is wrng ": Listen".Stereogum.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  11. ^abNevares, Gabriel Bras (2022-11-05)."MIKE Shares Woozy New Track," What Do I Do? "".HotNewHipHop.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  12. ^Slingerland, Calum (November 3, 2022)."MIKE to Play Canada on 2023 North American Tour".Exclaim!.ISSN1207-6600.
  13. ^Sacher, Andrew (2022-11-03)."MIKE shares" What Do I Do?, "announces 2023 tour".BrooklynVegan.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  14. ^Helfand, Raphael (November 3, 2022)."MIKE announces North American tour, shares" What Do I Do? "".The FADER.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  15. ^Arcand, Rob (2022-11-29)."MIKE Shares Video for New Song Featuring Sister Nancy".Pitchfork.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  16. ^Williams, Aaron (2022-11-29)."MIKE Soaks Up His Success In The 'Stop Worry!' Video With Sister Nancy".UPROXX.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  17. ^Darville, Jordan (November 29, 2022)."Song You Need: Save MIKE and Sister Nancy's" Stop Worry! "for your summer 2023 playlists".The FADER.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  18. ^"MIKE Teams Up With Sister Nancy On New Single" Stop Worry! ": Listen".Stereogum.2022-11-29.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  19. ^Sacher, Andrew (2022-12-21)."Stream MIKE's new album 'Beware of the Monkey' and watch a new video".BrooklynVegan.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  20. ^Turner Williams, Jaelani."MIKE Releases New Album 'Beware of the Monkey' - Okayplayer".Okayplayer.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  21. ^Arcand, Rob (2022-12-21)."Watch MIKE's New" No Curse Lifted (Rivers of Love) "Video".Pitchfork.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  22. ^Gonda, Christopher (2023-01-26)."Watch MIKE's Christopher Currence-Directed" Weary Love "Music Video".V13.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  23. ^"MIKE is back to share a new music video for" Ipari Park, "featuring Klein".RapIndustry.com.2023-09-07.Retrieved2023-11-24.
  24. ^abMalone, Anthony (2023-01-05)."MIKE 'Beware Of The Monkey' Begins His Healing Process".HipHopDX.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  25. ^abKearse, Stephen."MIKE: Beware of the Monkey".Pitchfork.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  26. ^abBeware Of The Monkey by MIKE,Metacritic,retrieved2023-11-21
  27. ^Dillon, Ryan (2022-12-20)."MIKE Serves Up Ambitious Song Craftmanship On 'Beware of the Monkey' (ALBUM REVIEW)".Glide Magazine.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  28. ^Turner Williams, Jaelani (2023-12-23)."5 New Hip-Hop Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of December 23) - Okayplayer".Okayplayer.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  29. ^Deville, Chris (2022-12-21)."Stream MIKE's New Album 'Beware Of The Monkey'".Stereogum.Retrieved2023-11-21.
  30. ^Fontes, Isaac (2022-12-22)."New York's MIKE Drops New Album," Beware Of The Monkey "".HotNewHipHop.Retrieved2023-11-21.

External links[edit]

Further reading[edit]

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