Ways of Knowing
| Ways of Knowing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 23, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 37:12 | |||
| Label | Def Jam | |||
| Producer | Budgie | |||
| Navy Blue chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Ways of Knowing | ||||
| ||||
Ways of Knowing is a studio album by American rapper Sage Elsesser under the pseudonym Navy Blue. It was released on Def Jam Recordings on March 23, 2023.[1] "Chosen" was released as a single from the album.[2][3] A music video for the songs "The Medium" and "Pillars" was directed by Devlin Claro.[4]
Background
[edit]The album is a collaborative project between rapper Sage Elsesser, who was born in Los Angeles and based in Brooklyn, and producer Budgie, who was born in London and based in Los Angeles.[5] They started making the album in 2019.[6] It took four years to finish the album.[5] The album was recorded at Budgie's home in Los Angeles.[5]
Elsesser stated that the album's title refers to the "ways of knowing that I don't know."[5] He explained, "What I think I know might not be it, and to remain teachable and malleable in the process, there's always going to be a new experience that informs the way I think about everything."[5]
The album's cover art is a photograph of a young Elsesser sitting on his grandfather's lap.[7]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Beats Per Minute | 85%[7] |
| HipHopDX | 4.3/5[8] |
| Pitchfork | 7.9/10[9] |
Yousef Srour of HipHopDX described the album as "a meditation on mindfulness and reconnecting with one's self through the transience of life's ups and downs, maneuvering through grief and depression, love and the labors of vulnerability."[8] Fred Thomas of AllMusic stated, "The lyrics are introspective and metered, returning to themes of family and knowledge passed between generations on almost every track."[1] He added, "Where Navy Blue's sound was once blurry, these 13 songs are clear and ambitious while all consistently of a piece."[1] Matthew Ismael Ruiz of Pitchfork commented that "Budgie's production across Ways of Knowing is elegant and focused, its textures subtle, with flourishes that occupy the periphery, lest they distract from the message."[9]
Accolades
[edit]| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrooklynVegan | 25 Best Rap Albums of 2023 | 24
|
|
| Clash | Albums of the Year 2023 | 39
|
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Medium" | 2:15 |
| 2. | "Chosen" | 2:14 |
| 3. | "The One" | 2:28 |
| 4. | "To Fall in Love" (featuring Budgie) | 2:56 |
| 5. | "Life's Terms" (featuring Zeroh) | 3:42 |
| 6. | "Phases" | 1:15 |
| 7. | "Kill Switch" (featuring J. Rocc) | 3:21 |
| 8. | "Window to the Soul" (featuring Kelly Moonstone) | 4:03 |
| 9. | "Freehold" | 2:53 |
| 10. | "Embers" (featuring Liv.e and Venna) | 2:11 |
| 11. | "Pillars" | 3:19 |
| 12. | "Look in My Eyes" | 3:03 |
| 13. | "Shadow's Shield" | 3:32 |
| Total length: | 37:12 | |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Thomas, Fred. "Ways of Knowing - Navy Blue". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ Hussey, Allison (March 10, 2023). "Navy Blue Shares New Song "Chosen": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (March 10, 2023). "Navy Blue – "Chosen"". Stereogum. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (March 24, 2023). "Navy Blue Shares New Video for "The Medium" and "Pillars": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Gee, Andre (March 24, 2023). "Navy Blue breaks down his reflective new album 'Ways of Knowing'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ Callender, Brandon (April 27, 2023). "The Rap Report: How Ladbroke Grove brought Budgie and Navy Blue together". The Fader. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Sentz, Tim (March 29, 2023). "Album Review: Navy Blue – Ways of Knowing". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Srour, Yousef (April 6, 2023). "Navy Blue Finds Peace On His Major Label Debut, 'Ways of Knowing'". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (March 28, 2023). "Navy Blue: Ways of Knowing". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "25 Best Rap Albums of 2023". BrooklynVegan. December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ "Albums Of The Year 2023". Clash. December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Ways of Knowing at Discogs (list of releases)