Unbothered
| Unbothered | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 22, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 - 2020 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 39:14 | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer |
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| Lil Skies chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Unbothered | ||||
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Unbothered is the second studio album by American rapper Lil Skies. It was released through Atlantic Records on January 22, 2021. The album features guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa and Lil Durk. The deluxe version adds guest appearances from Trippie Redd, Zhavia Ward, and Drakeo the Ruler, which was released on May 14, 2021. It follows his previous album, Shelby (2019).[1]
Background[]
In an interview with Complex, Lil Skies elaborated on the album, explaining:
I just hope people take away from my album—just from me in general—is to just chase your dreams, and don't let nobody tell you what to do. I'm learning that still myself. I got a lot of people around me in my life tellin' me what I should do, what I shouldn't do… Do what you love, man. Life is too short.[2]
The title of the album is a self-analysis of Skies, that nothing can distract him from doing what he is doing. The cover art depicts him in a room that is filled with items that are distracting, in which he sits down in a chair, thinking about his ideas. He chose Wiz Khalifa and Lil Durk to appear on the album as they are some of his most favorite artists. As with Shelby (2019), the project that was released before Unbothered, it only contains a few features for Skies to showcase his own talent.
Release and promotion[]
Lil Skies announced the album along with its title, cover art, and release date in an Instagram post on December 16, 2020.[3] The track listing was revealed three days before its release, on January 19, 2021.
Singles[]
On March 4, 2020, Lil Skies released the album's lead single, "Havin My Way", featuring fellow American rapper Lil Durk.[4] It was followed by the second single, "Riot", on May 14, 2020.[5] The third single, "On Sight", was released on November 6, 2020.[6] "Ok" was released as the fourth and final single on December 16, 2020.[7] "My Baby" which featured Zhavia Ward was later released as a fifth single for the album (lead and only single for the deluxe edition).
Critical reception[]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [8] |
| Clash | 7/10[9] |
| Vinyl Chapters | 3/5[10] |
Writing for Clash, Robin Murray felt that "every element on the album feels exact, placed with real precision"; he specifically praised the singles "Ok" and "Havin My Way", the latter of which features Lil Durk, going on to opine that the album is an "inward journey" and the two singles exemplify that, going on to compliment the songs "Trust Nobody", "Riot", and "Think Deep Don't Sink".[9] Other than that, the album has been rated by most music critics as in the middle, and they say that there is an improvement and shows his growth as the years in his career go by.
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fade Away" |
|
| 3:21 |
| 2. | "Take 5" |
|
| 2:52 |
| 3. | "Excite Me" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) | CashMoneyAP | 2:51 | |
| 4. | "Havin My Way" (featuring Lil Durk) |
| Slim Pharaoh | 3:31 |
| 5. | "Ok" |
| Buddah Bless | 2:35 |
| 6. | "Dead Broke" |
|
| 2:24 |
| 7. | "On Sight" |
|
| 2:41 |
| 8. | "Think Deep Don't Sink" |
|
| 4:07 |
| 9. | "Red Wine & Jodeci" |
|
| 2:27 |
| 10. | "Locked Up" |
|
| 3:05 |
| 11. | "Trust Nobody" |
|
| 3:34 |
| 12. | "Riot" |
|
| 2:46 |
| 13. | "Sky High" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 14. | "Mhmmm" | 2:21 | ||
| Total length: | 39:14 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Ice Water" (featuring Trippie Redd) |
| Based1 | 3:00 |
| 16. | "Bloody Emotions" |
|
| 2:41 |
| 17. | "My Baby" (featuring Zhavia Ward) |
|
| 2:12 |
| 18. | "How You Feel" |
|
| 3:04 |
| 19. | "Perfect Groove" |
| GHXST | 3:01 |
| 20. | "Posse" (featuring Drakeo the Ruler) |
|
| 2:49 |
| 21. | "Backup" |
|
| 2:37 |
Notes
- "Havin My Way" interpolates "Drip Too Hard", written by Dominique Jones, Sergio Kitchens, and Chandler Durham, performed by Lil Baby and Gunna
Personnel[]
Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]
Musicians[]
- Lil Skies – primary artist (all tracks)
- Wiz Khalifa – featured artist (track 3)
- Lil Durk – featured artist (track 4)
Technical[]
- Samantha Kossoff – assistant mixing (tracks 5, 8–11, 14)
- Chris Athens – mastering (tracks 2, 3, 6–11, 13, 14)
- Neek – mixing (tracks 1–6, 12, 13), mastering (tracks 1, 4, 12)
- Joe Fitz – mixing (tracks 5, 7–11, 14), mastering (track 5)
- Based 1 – programming (tracks 1, 2, 8)
- Jakik – programming (track 1)
- Hagan – programming (tracks 2, 6)
- CashMoneyAP – programming (tracks 3, 12)
- Slim Pharaoh – programming (tracks 4, 6, 7)
- Buddah Bless – programming (track 5)
- Sprite Lee – programming (track 6)
- Vendr – programming (track 7)
- Gibbo & Armada – programming (track 8)
- Pvlace – programming (track 9)
- Danny Wolf – programming (tracks 9, 13)
- Rello – programming (track 10)
- Steeze – programming (track 10)
- Noahsaki – programming (track 11)
- MVA Beats – programming (track 11)
- Neel & Alex – programming (track 12)
- Nils – programming (track 13)
- LMC – programming (track 13)
- T-Minus – programming (track 14)
- Cubeatz – programming (track 14)
Charts[]
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] | 48 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[13] | 60 |
| US Billboard 200[14] | 50 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] | 29 |
References[]
- ^ Mahadevan, Tara C. (January 22, 2021). "Listen to Lil Skies' Album 'Unbothered' f/ Lil Durk and Wiz Khalifa". Complex. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (January 20, 2021). "Lil Skies on New Album 'Unbothered' and Lil Wayne Supporting Trump". Complex. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Lil Skies on Instagram: "My new album "Unbothered" is out now for pre-sale!