Absolute Value (album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Absolute Value
| type = studio
| artist = Akrobatik
| cover = Akrobatik - Absolute Value.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2008|2|19}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=52|s=07}}
| label = Fat Beats Records
| producer = {{hlist|Illmind|Da Beatminerz|J Dilla|Hezekiah|9th Wonder|J-Zone|DJ Therapy|Tzarizm|DJ Fakts One|Baba Israel|Yako}}
| prev_title = Balance
| prev_year = 2003
| next_title = Built to Last
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Absolute Value
| type = studio
| single1 = A to the K / Beast Mode
| single1date = 2006
| single2 = Put Ya Stamp on It
| single2date = 2008
}}
}}
Absolute Value is the second studio album by Boston rapper Akrobatik.{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/HipHop/akrobatic-absolute_value|title=Akrobatic - Absolute Value|work=Exclaim!|first=Kevin|last=Jones|date=May 2008|access-date=}} It was released on February 19, 2008 by Fat Beats Records. The album features guest appearances by hip hop artists Talib Kweli, Chuck D, and B-Real, as well as production by 9th Wonder, Illmind, J Dilla, and Da Beatminerz. Despite receiving rave reviews, the album sold about 600 units in its opening week.{{cite web|last=Ewing |first=Aliya |url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.6459/title.hip-hop-album-sales-week-ending-22408 |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 2/24/08 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |work=HipHopDX |date=February 27, 2008 |access-date=2011-09-07}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = About.com
| rev2 = ArtofRhyme.com
| rev3 = AllMusic
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/absolute-value-mw0000500327|title=Absolute Value - Akrobatik|work=AllMusic|first=Marisa|last=Brown|access-date=July 19, 2014}}
| rev4 = DJBooth.net
| rev5 = HipHopDX
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.915/title.akrobatik-absolute-value|title=Akrobatik - Absolute Value|work=HipHopDX|author=J-23|date=February 20, 2008|access-date=}}
| rev6 = HipHopLinguistics.com
| rev7 = The Phoenix
| rev7score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite web|url=http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/56959-akrobatik-absolute-value/|title=Akrobatik - Absolute Value - Fat Beats|work=The Phoenix|first=Andrew|last=Graham|date=February 26, 2008}}
| rev8 = PopMatters
| rev8Score = {{Rating|7|10}}{{cite web|last=Martin|first=Andrew|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/akrobatik-absolute-value/|title=Akrobatik: Absolute Value|work=PopMatters|date=March 2, 2008|access-date=2011-09-07}}
| rev9 = RapReviews.com
| rev10 = XLR8R
| rev10score = 7.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.xlr8r.com/reviews/2008/03/absolute-value/|title=Akrobatik - Absolute Value|work=XLR8R|first=Max|last=Herman|date=March 18, 2008|access-date=}}
}}
Marisa Brown of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, commenting that it "mixes his socially conscious messages and his battle-honed cadence, healthy ego, and energetic production (courtesy here of Illmind, Dilla, J-Zone, and 9th Wonder, among others) into a palatable but intelligent creation that entertains as much as it educates." She added, "Absolute Value has a few requisite tracks -- the melancholy 'Rain,' the sweet 'Back Home to You' -- but it also has a lot of sharp, thoughtful, fun material that knows how to keep the audience moving, both in body and mind." J-23 of HipHopDX gave the album a 4.0 out of 5, saying, "you won't find anything on this album that will have you reaching for the skip button."
Andrew Martin of PopMatters gave the album 7 stars out of 10, calling it "a strong representation of Ak's versatility as an emcee." Max Herman of XLR8R gave the album a 7.5 out of 10, writing, "the MC leaves the greatest impression when he balances his hard-hitting approach with focused subject matter as he does on the Little Brother-assisted 'Be Prepared,' a soulful examination of the rap game."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = A to the K
| note1 = featuring B-Real
| extra1 = Illmind
| length1 = 2:52
| title2 = Soul Glo
| extra2 = Da Beatminerz
| length2 = 2:38
| title3 = Put Ya Stamp on It
| note3 = featuring Talib Kweli
| extra3 = J Dilla
| length3 = 3:22
| title4 = Step It Up
| extra4 = Hezekiah
| length4 = 3:02
| title5 = Rain
| note5 = featuring Brenna Gethers
| extra5 = Illmind
| length5 = 3:11
| title6 = Be Prepared
| note6 = featuring Little Brother
| extra6 = 9th Wonder
| length6 = 3:40
| title7 = Absolute Value
| extra7 = J-Zone
| length7 = 2:43
| title8 = Black Hell Breaks Loose
| note8 = featuring Willie Evans Jr. and DJ Therapy
| extra8 = DJ Therapy
| length8 = 3:36
| title9 = Kindred
| note9 = featuring Chuck D and Brenna Gethers
| extra9 = Illmind
| length9 = 4:00
| title10 = Front Steps Pt. II (Tough Love)
| extra10 = Tzarizm
| length10 = 3:34
| title11 = Beast Mode
| note11 = featuring Mr. Lif
| extra11 = DJ Fakts One
| length11 = 3:09
| title12 = If We Can't Build
| note12 = featuring Bumpy Knuckles
| extra12 = Illmind
| length12 = 3:00
| title13 = Ak B. Nimble
| extra13 = {{hlist|Baba Israel|Yako}}
| length13 = 2:55
| title14 = Back Home to You
| extra14 = DJ Therapy
| length14 = 6:35
| total_length = 52:07
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
{{Div col}}
- Akrobatik – vocals
- B-Real – vocals (1)
- Illmind – production (1, 5, 9, 12)
- Da Beatminerz – production (2)
- DJ Evil Dee – turntables (2)
- Talib Kweli – vocals (3)
- J Dilla – production (3)
- DJ Jayceeoh – turntables (3, 4, 6, 10, 14)
- Hezekiah – production (4)
- Brenna Gethers – vocals (5, 9)
- Little Brother – vocals (6)
- 9th Wonder – production (6)
- J-Zone – production (7)
- Willie Evans Jr. – vocals (8)
- DJ Therapy – vocals (8), production (8, 14), turntables (13)
- Chuck D – vocals (9)
- Tzarizm – production (10)
- Mr. Lif – vocals (11)
- DJ Fakts One – production (11)
- Bumpy Knuckles – vocals (12)
- Baba Israel – production (13)
- Yako – production (13)
- Buttaskotch – engineering
- Lucy Fernandes – engineering
- Ray Fernandes – engineering
- Sir Bob Nash – engineering
- Mark Donahue – mastering
- Alphabet Arm Design – art direction
- Billy Nunez – illustration
- A. Garcia – photography
{{Div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|41505|Absolute Value}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Absolute Value (album)}}
Category:Fat Beats Records albums
Category:Albums produced by 9th Wonder
Category:Albums produced by Da Beatminerz
Category:Albums produced by Illmind