Flockaveli
Encyclopedia
Flockaveli is the debut studio album
by American
rapper Waka Flocka Flame
, released on October 5, 2010, by 1017 Brick Squad Records, Warner Bros. Records
and Asylum Records
. The name of the album comes from the Italian political theorist Machiavelli, inspired by Tupac Shakur
, whose final stage name and pseudonym before his death was Makaveli.
". Lil Capp is uncredited for his verse on "O Let's Do It" on the single but credited on the album. "O Let's Do It" peaked at number sixty-two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
chart. The official remix was released and features rappers Diddy
, Rick Ross
and Gucci Mane
, the song was produced by L-Don Beatz. The second single released was "Hard in da Paint
", produced by Lex Luger. A music video was released in July. The official remix features American R&B singer Ciara
and Gucci Mane
. Hard in da Paint has peaked at number twenty-nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart. The third single "No Hands
", which features Roscoe Dash
and Wale
, produced by Drumma Boy
was released as the third single on August 17, 2010. It peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his highest charting single. "Grove St. Party
", which features Kebo Gotti, was released as the fourth single on February 15, 2011 It has charted number seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100, number twelve on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, and number ten on the U.S. Billboard Rap chart.'
There are also music videos for the songs "Snake In the Grass" featuring Cartier Kitten, "Bustin' at Em", "For My Dawgs", and "Live By the Gun" featuring RA Diggs and Uncle Murda
. On October 18, 2010, Waka Flocka Flame performed "Smoke, Drank" live on high-definition
TV at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood.
, with first-week sales of 37,000 copies in the United States. As of August 15, 2011, it has sold 285,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan
.
Flockaveli received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic
, which assigns a normalized
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
score of 75, based on 9 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Jaimie Hodgson of NME
commented that the album's songs "showcase a masterclass in reductionism; juggernauts of hulking, bruising, brick-to-skull intensity". BBC Online's Louis Pattison praised Waka Flocka Flame's "cold charisma", writing that "it’s channelled successfully here, a presence that permeates Flockaveli utterly". Despite viewing its guest verses as flaws, Ben Detrick of Spin
complimented its "unforgiving crush of unveiled threats over ricocheting drums and choleric synths" and called Waka "more agitator than rapper—imagine DJ Kool
as an unhinged goon with a fetish for brawling and gunfire". Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice
called producer Lex Luger "a force whose tinnitus-inducing tracks demand replay" and wrote in conclusion "Ultimately, the inflammatory Waka is an avatar for a new rap economy: few words delivered with force, with an eye to the stage and the check that arrives with it". Pitchfork Media
's David Drake gave the album an eight out of 10 rating and described it as "a furious torrent of gangsta rap
id". Drake praised Waka for giving the album its "frenetic intensity" and commented on his style's significance, stating:
Allmusic editor David Jeffries noted his style as "love-him-or-hate-him", but wrote that "Flockaveli has enough hooks and attitude to keep those bottles poppin' all night long". Rolling Stone
writer Jody Rosen
found his skills "negligible", but stated "Flockaveli is hypnotic, focusing attention on the details beneath the bombast". Patrick Taylor of RapReviews called Waka "a blunt instrument that beats you into submission", and stated "On an intellectual level, I don't like Flockaveli. The lyrics are simplistic and goonish. The music is effective but all sounds the same. If I was looking for an example of what hip-hop should be, it's not Waka Flocka Flame. On a gut level, though, Flockaveli works. It's morally questionable, but it hits hard". David Amidon of PopMatters
described it as "a producer classic littered with verses so whack they become endearing in their special way", adding that Luger "pulls that special kind of synergy unique to hip-hop out of [Waka] again and again". Amidon wrote of its cultural significance, "This is a very specific album intended for a specific audience: downtrodden, powerless, forever seeking payment, pussy and freedom from the powers that be but in the process of accepting they may never find that experience. This is strictly hood music [...] it’s been a very long time since a hip-hop release felt like it truly didn’t give a fuck about anything but its local community while pushing its genre forward as much as possible".
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper Waka Flocka Flame
Waka Flocka Flame
Juaquin Malphurs , better known by his stage name Waka Flocka Flame, is an American rapper signed to 1017 Brick Squad and Warner Bros. He is a Southern hip hop artist best known for his singles "O Let's Do It", "Hard in da Paint" & "No Hands", along with his debut album, Flockaveli...
, released on October 5, 2010, by 1017 Brick Squad Records, Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
and Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
. The name of the album comes from the Italian political theorist Machiavelli, inspired by Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, whose final stage name and pseudonym before his death was Makaveli.
Singles
The first single off the album was "O Let's Do ItO Let's Do It
CD singleRemix single-Remixes:The official remix features Diddy, Rick Ross, & Gucci Mane. Another remix features Trae, Ludacris, Lil' Wayne, Rick Ross & Twista...
". Lil Capp is uncredited for his verse on "O Let's Do It" on the single but credited on the album. "O Let's Do It" peaked at number sixty-two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. The official remix was released and features rappers Diddy
Sean Combs
Sean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Rick Ross
Rick Ross (rapper)
William Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. He derived his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
and Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
, the song was produced by L-Don Beatz. The second single released was "Hard in da Paint
Hard in da Paint
Hard in da Paint is the second single off American rapper Waka Flocka Flame's first studio album Flockaveli.- Background :Hard In The Paint, just like Let's Do It, was originally a mixtape track. The song was produced by up and coming producer Lex Luger.- Music video :The music video was shot and...
", produced by Lex Luger. A music video was released in July. The official remix features American R&B singer Ciara
Ciara
Ciara Princess Harris , known mononymously as Ciara, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and fashion model. Born in Austin, Texas, she traveled around the world during her childhood, only to land in Atlanta, Georgia where she met music producer, Jazze Pha...
and Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
. Hard in da Paint has peaked at number twenty-nine on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart. The third single "No Hands
No Hands
"No Hands" is a song performed by American rapper Waka Flocka Flame featuring Roscoe Dash and Wale from his debut album Flockaveli. The song features Roscoe Dash on the chorus and a verse from both Wale and Roscoe Dash. It was produced by Drumma Boy. It was leaked in May 2010 before it was...
", which features Roscoe Dash
Roscoe Dash
Jeffery Johnson Jr. , better known by his stage name Roscoe Dash, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia.- Major label success :...
and Wale
Wale (rapper)
Wale Victor Folarin , better known by his stage name Wale , is an American rapper from Washington, D.C. Wale was born to Nigerian parents. He rose to prominence in 2006, when his song "Dig Dug " became popular in his hometown. Wale became locally recognized and continued recording music for the...
, produced by Drumma Boy
Drumma Boy
Christopher James Gholson, better known by his stage name Drumma Boy, is a multi-platinum award winning record producer and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee.-Early life:...
was released as the third single on August 17, 2010. It peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his highest charting single. "Grove St. Party
Grove St. Party
"Grove St. Party" is the fourth single of American rapper Waka Flocka Flame, which was released February 15, 2011 under the record label 1017 Brick Squad Records. It features rapper Kebo Gotti and is the fourth single off his debut album Flockaveli which is already released. The song was produced...
", which features Kebo Gotti, was released as the fourth single on February 15, 2011 It has charted number seventy-four on the Billboard Hot 100, number twelve on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart, and number ten on the U.S. Billboard Rap chart.'
There are also music videos for the songs "Snake In the Grass" featuring Cartier Kitten, "Bustin' at Em", "For My Dawgs", and "Live By the Gun" featuring RA Diggs and Uncle Murda
Uncle Murda
Leonard Grant, better known by his stage name, Uncle Murda, is an American rapper from the Pink Houses section of East New York.- Musical career:...
. On October 18, 2010, Waka Flocka Flame performed "Smoke, Drank" live on high-definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
TV at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood.
Reception
The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, with first-week sales of 37,000 copies in the United States. As of August 15, 2011, it has sold 285,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
.
Flockaveli received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
score of 75, based on 9 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Jaimie Hodgson of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
commented that the album's songs "showcase a masterclass in reductionism; juggernauts of hulking, bruising, brick-to-skull intensity". BBC Online's Louis Pattison praised Waka Flocka Flame's "cold charisma", writing that "it’s channelled successfully here, a presence that permeates Flockaveli utterly". Despite viewing its guest verses as flaws, Ben Detrick of Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
complimented its "unforgiving crush of unveiled threats over ricocheting drums and choleric synths" and called Waka "more agitator than rapper—imagine DJ Kool
DJ Kool
John W. Bowman, Jr., better known by his stage name DJ Kool is a rapper who, in the late 1990s, produced several popular rap singles. Born in 1959 in Washington, D.C., his influence from his years of working the go-go and rap circuits became apparent in his music...
as an unhinged goon with a fetish for brawling and gunfire". Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
called producer Lex Luger "a force whose tinnitus-inducing tracks demand replay" and wrote in conclusion "Ultimately, the inflammatory Waka is an avatar for a new rap economy: few words delivered with force, with an eye to the stage and the check that arrives with it". Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
's David Drake gave the album an eight out of 10 rating and described it as "a furious torrent of gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
id". Drake praised Waka for giving the album its "frenetic intensity" and commented on his style's significance, stating:
Allmusic editor David Jeffries noted his style as "love-him-or-hate-him", but wrote that "Flockaveli has enough hooks and attitude to keep those bottles poppin' all night long". Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
writer Jody Rosen
Jody Rosen
Jody Rosen is an American journalist and author. He is the music critic for the online magazine Slate, and the author of White Christmas: The Story of an American Song....
found his skills "negligible", but stated "Flockaveli is hypnotic, focusing attention on the details beneath the bombast". Patrick Taylor of RapReviews called Waka "a blunt instrument that beats you into submission", and stated "On an intellectual level, I don't like Flockaveli. The lyrics are simplistic and goonish. The music is effective but all sounds the same. If I was looking for an example of what hip-hop should be, it's not Waka Flocka Flame. On a gut level, though, Flockaveli works. It's morally questionable, but it hits hard". David Amidon of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
described it as "a producer classic littered with verses so whack they become endearing in their special way", adding that Luger "pulls that special kind of synergy unique to hip-hop out of [Waka] again and again". Amidon wrote of its cultural significance, "This is a very specific album intended for a specific audience: downtrodden, powerless, forever seeking payment, pussy and freedom from the powers that be but in the process of accepting they may never find that experience. This is strictly hood music [...] it’s been a very long time since a hip-hop release felt like it truly didn’t give a fuck about anything but its local community while pushing its genre forward as much as possible".
Track listing
Personnel
Credits for Flockaveli adapted from Allmusic.- Debra Antney – A&R, executive producer
- Russell Dreyer – inside photo
- Drumma Boy – producer
- Cedric "Yayo" Herbert – producer
- Darryl "Big Dee" Johnson – A&R
- Liza Joseph – A&R
- L Don – producer
- Colin Leonard – mastering
- Lexus "Lex Luger" Lewis – producer
- Lil Jon – producer
- Joshua "Southside" Luellen – producer
- Juaquin Malphurs – executive producer
- Amir Motamedi – producer
- Nathaniel Caserta AKA Prince N. Purps – producer
- Mike Rev – cover design
- TaVon Sampson – art direction, design
- Sharod Simpson – cover photo
- Nigel Talley – A&R
- Carolyn Tracey – package production
- Waka Flocka Flame – A&R
- Finis "KY" White – engineer, mixing
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
6 |
| US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
2 |
| US Billboard Top Rap Albums Top Rap Albums Top Rap Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks Rap and hip-hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart began publication for the week of November 13, 2004.... |
2 |
External links
- Flockaveli at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Flockaveli at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...