All Monsters Are Human

{{Infobox album

| name = All Monsters Are Human

| type = studio

| cover = All Monsters Are Human (Official Album Cover) by K. Michelle.jpg

| alt =

| artist = K. Michelle

| released = January 31, 2020

| recorded = 2018–2019

| studio =

| genre = R&B

| length = 49:07

| label = eOne

| producer = {{hlist|Ayo The Producer|Keyz|Jazze Pha|Lee Major|Lil' Ronnie|Drumma Boy|BongoByTheWay|Raymond komba|Phillip Cornish|Damon Thomas|Xeryus L. Gittens}}

| prev_title = Kimberly: The People I Used to Know

| prev_year = 2017

| next_title = I'm the Problem

| next_year = 2023

| misc = {{Singles

| name = All Monsters Are Human

| type = studio

| single1 = Supahood

| single1date = September 20, 2019

| single2 = The Rain

| single2date = October 25, 2019

}}

All Monsters Are Human (stylized in all caps) is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter K. Michelle, released on January 31, 2020. The album was originally scheduled for release on December 6, 2019, but was delayed.{{cite web|url=https://urbanbridgez.com/2019/11/08/k-michelle-to-release-all-monsters-are-human-next-month/|title=K. Michelle to Release 'All Monsters Are Human' – January 2020|publisher=UrbanBridgez.com|date=November 8, 2019|accessdate=November 9, 2019}} All Monsters Are Human was preceded by the release of two singles, "Supahood" and "The Rain".{{citation|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-10-25-k-michelle-samples-new-edition-on-new-song-the-rain/|title=MK. Michelle Samples New Edition on New Song "The Rain"|website=iHeartRadio|last=Fields|first=Taylor|date=October 25, 2019|accessdate=December 27, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2019/09/19/k-michelle-yung-miami-kash-doll-supa-hood/|title=K. Michelle Drops New Single 'Supa Hood' with Yung Miami & Kash Doll|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=September 19, 2019}} To promote the album, Michelle embarked on the O.S.D. Tour in 2019.{{Cite web|last=Grant|first=Shawn|title=K. Michelle Announces Dates For 'Over Some D*ck Tour'|url=https://thesource.com/2019/10/02/k-michelle-osd-tour/|magazine=The Source|date=October 2, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2019/10/k-michelle-announces-o-s-d-tour-dates/|title=K. Michelle Announces 'O.S.D. Tour' Dates|last=Samuels|first=Keithan|date=October 1, 2019|website=ratedrnb.com|access-date=December 8, 2019}}

Background and writing

On June 26, 2018, Michelle said via Twitter that her next album would be titled "All Monsters Are Human".{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Roman |title=K. Michelle Reveals She is Working on Two New Projects |url=https://thesource.com/2018/06/26/k-michelle-reveals-she-is-working-on-two-new-projects/ |work=The Source |date=June 26, 2018}}{{cite web |title=K. Michelle Announces New Mixtape & Album / Reveals Titles |url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2018/06/michelle-announces-new-mixtape-album-reveals-titles/ |publisher=ThatGrapeJuice.com |date=June 27, 2018}} On October, Michelle announced that she would instead be calling her next project FAB, an acronym for "Fuck All U Bitches".{{cite web |last= |first= |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2018/10/04/k-michelle-announces-new-album-fab/ |title=K. Michelle Announces New Album 'FAB'|work=Rap-Up |date=October 4, 2018 |accessdate=November 3, 2018}} On November 19, 2018, Michelle released the song "Save Me".{{cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/11/20/listen-now-k-michelle-debuts-new-single-save-me-on-the-love.html|title=Listen now: K. Michelle debuts new single, "Save Me," on the Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood reunion|last=Cuby|first=Michael|date=November 20, 2018|work=ABC News Radio|access-date=November 20, 2018}} It was later announced that she had signed a new record deal with Entertainment One Music.{{Cite web|url=https://thatgrapejuice.net/2018/11/michelle-signs-new-record-deal-releases-song-save/|title=K. Michelle Signs New Record Deal / Releases Song 'Save Me' - That Grape Juice|website=thatgrapejuice.net|accessdate=November 20, 2018}} In July 2019, Michelle then confirmed that her fifth album would be officially titled "All Monsters Are Human".{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz8tlMVFLVH/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bz8tlMVFLVH |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=We create our own monsters, then fear them for what they show us about our ourselves. I could say I hate you, but I'll just say you made a monster out of me. My 5th album "ALL MONSTERS ARE HUMAN" is complete. It's time to come out and play🌤👑 #AMAH @kimberlytheartist|via=Instagram|date=July 15, 2019|accessdate=July 16, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

During a radio interview with Morning Hustle, Michelle explained the meaning behind the title: "Everybody in here is a villain to somebody and in somebody's story, you're not an angel... So All Monsters Are Human, we all have been hurt and hurt so that's where the title comes from because we always say you are this and that but you're the same thing to someone else so if you see it in me it's in you for you to even notice it."{{Cite web|url=https://hot963.com/2630832/k-michelle-explains-the-meaning-behind-all-monsters-are-human/|title=K. Michelle Explains The Meaning Behind "All Monsters Are Human"|date=January 22, 2020|website=Hot 96.3fm|access-date=January 27, 2020}}

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-monsters-are-human-mw0003328365|title=All Monsters Are Human - K. Michelle|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=May 17, 2020}}

| rev2 = The Guardian

| rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}

| rev3 = Tom Hull – on the Web

| rev3Score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}){{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=December 28, 2020|url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2915-Music-Week.html|title=Music Week|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|accessdate=December 29, 2020}}

}}

Writing for The Guardian, Rachel Aroesti said the album "centres on the slick, soulful, 80s-style R&B that has provided the foundation for K Michelle's career". Aroesti described Michelle's vocals on the album as "rich and glassy" and said that they are "coated in the kind of vocoder effect that makes them glitch and ripple nauseatingly".{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/31/k-michelle-all-monsters-are-human-review-entertainment-one-r-and-b|title=K Michelle: All Monsters Are Human review – slick R&B with a sharp whiff of smut|website=The Guardian|last=Aroesti|first=Rachel|date=January 31, 2020}} Chris Malone of Forbes said that the album registers as an "otherwise solid offering" from the singer and later added: "While the new material is a much-welcome glimpse into the mind of the singer, it also struggles in distinguishing itself from her previous albums".{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/cmalone/2020/01/31/k-michelle-shows-that-all-monsters-are-human-on-new-album/|title=K. Michelle Shows That 'All Monsters Are Human' On Her New Album|last=Malone|first=Chris|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}} Brittany Burton of Respect wrote that All Monsters Are Human is "by far K. Michelle's biggest release to date" and also said that the most notable element of the album is the "effortless production" put into it.{{cite web|url=https://respect-mag.com/2020/01/k-michelle-releases-highly-anticipated-all-monsters-are-human-album/|title=K. Michelle Releases Highly Anticipated 'All Monsters Are Human' Album|last=Burton|first=Brittany|date=2020-01-31|website=RESPECT.|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-06}} Edward Bowser of Stereo In Soul gave the album a positive review and rated it 3 out of 5 stars, saying that "the strength of All Monsters are Human, and K. Michelle's music in general, is her willingness to be totally transparent." and later added that it is "far from perfect – things get much too uneven on the second half – but it's honest, emotional R&B."{{cite web|url=http://www.soulinstereo.com/2020/01/album-review-k-michelle-all-monsters-are-human.html|title=Album Review: K. Michelle, All Monsters Are Human|last=Bowser|first=Edward|date=2020-01-31|website=Soul In Stereo|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-06}} Antwaine Folk of Rated R&B said: "At 13 songs, K. Michelle took no interest in carrying the torch of new-wave R&B on her first independent release. Instead, she took a fresh and even nostalgic turn that finds her remaining very much her own artist." He later added: "It's easy to listen to All Monsters Are Human and love each record without skipping one. In fact, hitting the repeat button on a few cuts is likely to happen more than once. Each song is a moment, so they should be praised back-to-back for their separate glory."{{cite web|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2020/02/top-5-songs-from-k-michelle-all-monsters-are-human/|title=Top 5 Songs from K. Michelle's New Album 'All Monsters Are Human'|last=Folk|first=Antwaine|website=ratedrnb.com|access-date=2020-02-04}} Elle Breezy of Singersroom reviewed the album, writing: "On 'All Monsters Are Human', K. Michelle seems to be in her comfort zone, delivering songs that are near and dear to her current life."{{Cite web|url=https://singersroom.com/content/2020-02-04/k-michelle-all-monsters-are-human/|title=K. Michelle Releases New Album 'All Monsters Are Human' (Stream)|date=2020-02-04|website=Singersroom.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-06}}

Singles

The lead single from the album, titled "Supahood", featuring American rappers City Girls and Kash Doll, was released on September 20, 2019. It is a R&B song with trap and crunk influences, described by critics as a "fierce ladies night anthem" and as a "street anthem".{{cite web|url=https://kblx.com/entertainment-news/k-michelle-teases-forthcoming-collaboration-supahood-with-city-girls-yung-miami-and-kash-doll/|title=K. Michelle teases forthcoming collaboration, "Supahood," with City Girls' Yung Miami and Kash Doll|last=|first=|date=August 23, 2019|website=102.9 KBLX}}{{cite web|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2019/08/k-michelle-teases-all-female-collaboration-for-next-album/|title=K. Michelle Teases All-Female Collaboration for Next Album|last=Folk|first=Antwane|date=August 20, 2019|website=ratedrnb.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://youknowigotsoul.com/new-music-k-michelle-supahood-featuring-city-girls-kash-doll|title=New Music: K. Michelle - Supahood (featuring City Girls & Kash Doll) - YouKnowIGotSoul.com|date=September 24, 2019|website=YouKnowIGotSoul.com}} "The Rain", produced by Jazze Pha, was released as the second single on October 25, 2019. The song debuted at number 28 on the US Digital Song Sales chart.

Commercial performance

All Monsters Are Human was released on January 31, 2020. Following the album's release, it debuted at number 51 on the US Billboard 200{{cite web |title=Billboard 200 Chart (February 15, 2020) |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2020-02-15 |website=Billboard |accessdate=September 26, 2020}} with first week sales of 8,200 copies.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = All Monsters Are Human track listing

| total_length = 49:07

| title1 = Just Like Jay

| note1 =

| writer1 = {{hlist|Clinton Peacock|Jeremiah “Sickpen” Bethea|

Kimberly Pate|Philip Lynah|Rafael D. Ishman|Ronnie Jackson}}

| extra1 = Lil Ronnie

| length1 = 4:56

| title2 = That Game

| note2 =

| writer2 = {{hlist|Christopher “Drumma Boy” Gholson|Cory Moore|Melvin Riley Jr.|Phalon Alexander}}

| extra2 = Drumma Boy

| length2 = 3:50

| title3 = The Rain

| writer3 = {{hlist|Pate|Alexander|James Harris III|Rafael Ishman|Cory Moore|Terry Lewis}}

| extra3 = Jazze Pha

| length3 = 3:29

| title4 = All the Lovers

| writer4 = {{hlist|Aaron Sledge|Ayaamii Sledge|Brandon Hodge|Pate}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge|Aaron Sledge}}

| length4 = 3:33

| title5 = Something New

| note5 =

| writer5 = {{hlist|Peacock|Eric Crawford|Pate|Lynah|Ishman|Jackson}}

| extra5 = Lil Ronnie

| length5 = 3:53

| title6 = Ciara's Prayer

| writer6 = {{hlist|Sledge|Sledge|Hodge|Pate}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge|Aaron Sledge}}

| length6 = 4:18

| title7 = OMG

| writer7 = {{hlist|Gabrielle Nowee|Pate|RAYMOND "ray keys" Komba|Uforo “Bongo” Ebong}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|BongoByTheWay|Ray Keys ByTheWay}}

| length7 = 3:35

| title8 = Supahood

| note8 = featuring Kash Doll and City Girls

| writer8 = {{hlist|Pate|Arkeisha Knight|Caresha Brownlee}}

| extra8 = Lil Ronnie

| length8 = 3:32

| title9 = Love on Me

| writer9 = {{hlist|Sledge|Sledge|DeMario Bridges|Johnny Mollings|Pate|Leigh Elliott|Lenny Mollings|Sean Momberger}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Lee Major|Sean Momberger}}

| length9 = 3:24

| title10 = I Don't Like You

| note10 =

| writer10 = {{hlist|Sledge|Sledge|Pate|Philip Cornish|Rio Bridges}}

| extra10 = Phillip Cornish

| length10 = 2:56

| title11 = Table for One

| writer11 = {{hlist|Daniel Bryant|Crawford|Jeremiah “Sickpen” Bethea|Pate|Lynah|Ishman|Jackson}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Lil Ronnie|Daniel "Retro D" Bryant}}

| length11 = 4:06

| title12 = Can't Let (You Get Away)

| note12 =

| writer12 = {{hlist|Austin “Ayo” Owens|Crawford|James “Keyz” Foye III|Jeremiah Bertha|Jackson}}

| extra12 = Lil' Ronnie

| length12 = 3:57

| title13 = The Worst

| writer13 = {{hlist|Damon Thomas|Pate|Sha Sha Jones}}

| extra13 = Damon Thomas

| length13 = 3:58

}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+Chart performance for All Monsters Are Human
scope="col" \| Chart (2020) ! scope="col" \| Peak position
{{album chart\|Billboard200\|51\|artist=K. Michelle\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=July 1, 2020\|refname=BB200}}
{{album chart\|BillboardRandBHipHop\|29\|artist=K Michelle\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=December 8, 2020}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Chart performance for All Monsters Are Human

scope="col" | Chart (2020)

! scope="col" | Peak
position

{{album chart|Billboard200|51|artist=K. Michelle|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 1, 2020|refname=BB200}}

{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|29|artist=K Michelle|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 8, 2020}}