Back to the Basics (EP)
{{Infobox album
| name = Back to the Basics
| type = EP
| artist = Twista
| cover = Twista, 'Back to the Basics', cover art, Nov 2013.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2013|12|10}}
| recorded = 2013
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{duration|m=23|s=11}}
| label = GMG
| producer = {{hlist|The Legendary Traxster|DJ Tight Mike|Lo-Key}}
| prev_title = The Perfect Storm
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Dark Horse
| next_year = 2014
}}
Back to the Basics is the second extended play (EP) by American hip hop recording artist Twista, released on December 10, 2013 under his record label, GMG Entertainment.{{cite web|title=UB First Look: Official Tracklisting to Twista's "Back To The Basics" EP |url=http://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2013/11/29/ub-first-look-official-tracklisting-to-twistas-back-to-the-basics-ep/|work=UrbanBridgez.com|accessdate=9 Dec 2013|date=29 Nov 2013}}{{cite web|last=Ju|first=Shirley|title=Twista 'Back To The Basics' Release Date, Cover Art & Tracklisting|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.26430/title.twista-back-to-the-basics-release-date-cover-art-tracklisting|work=HipHopDX.com|accessdate=9 Dec 2013|date=30 Nov 2013}}{{cite web|title=iTunes - Music - Back To the Basics by Twista|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-to-the-basics/id766974035|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224119/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-to-the-basics/id766974035|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2013|work=iTunes.com|accessdate=10 Dec 2013}} The project is the Chicago emcee's second EP of his career – the first one is 2 for 10 (2005) – and follows his eighth studio album, The Perfect Storm (2010). It served as a lead up to his ninth album, Dark Horse (2014).{{cite web|title=Twista - Back to the Basics EP - Stream|url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/albums/review/twista-back-to-the-basics-ep|work=DJBooth.net|accessdate=9 Dec 2013}} The seven-track EP features production from The Legendary Traxster, DJ Tight Mike and Lo-Key, and two guest appearances, from Dra Day and DJ Victoriouz.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Trevor|title=Twista Reveals 'Back To The Basics' EP Artwork [Update Tracklist Revealed]|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/twista-reveals-back-to-the-basics-artwork-and-release-date-news.8306.html|work=HotNewHipHop.com|accessdate=9 Dec 2013|date=29 Nov 2013}}{{cite web|last=Augustin|first=Camille|title=Twista Unveils 'Back To The Basics' Artwork And Tracklist|url=http://www.vibe.com/vibe.com/twista-unveils-‘back-to-the-basics’-tracklist-and-artwork|work=Vibe.com|date=29 Nov 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219042724/http://www.vibe.com/vibe.com/twista-unveils-%E2%80%98back-to-the-basics%E2%80%99-tracklist-and-artwork|archivedate=19 February 2014|url-status=dead|accessdate=6 March 2016}} The EP was preceded by two music videos – "Intro/Freestyle," and "Beast."{{cite web|last=Lobenfeld|first=Claire|title=Twista Unveils Ominous "Intro" to His Back To Basics EP|url=http://www.complexmag.ca/music/2013/12/twista-intro-freestyle-video|work=Complex.com|accessdate=9 Dec 2013|date=2 Dec 2013}}{{cite web|last=Ortiz|first=Edwin|title=Twista Goes Into "Beast" Mode in New Music Video|url=http://www.complexmag.ca/music/2013/12/twista-beast-video|work=Complex.com|accessdate=9 Dec 2013|date=6 Dec 2013}}
Background
In an interview with The Real Hip-Hop in December 2013, Twista explained that the title his EP "pertains" to him "more than the industry".{{cite web|last=Shabazz|first=Sherron|title=Twista: Back to the Basics|url=http://therealhip-hop.com/?p=294|work=TheRealHip-Hop.com|accessdate=29 Dec 2013|date=13 Dec 2013}} "Sometimes I'll lose sense of self trying to try so many things. I'm so creative that I'll try different things that's out the box and when I feel like I'm going too far out the box I bring it back in. Right at that time when I was bringing it back in I said I wanted to title my new EP Back to the Basics [because] that's what [I'm going to] get to as far as the Twista sound and doing what I do that I know people like."
The Chicago emcee selected a few songs that he felt was "a good warm-up for people to get reacquainted with Twista" before releasing his upcoming full-length album, titled The Dark Horse, in 2014.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = XXL
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}} (L){{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2013/12/twista-back-to-the-basics-ep-review/ |title=Twista Ventures Into Familiar Territory On 'Back To The Basics' EP - XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date= |accessdate=2013-12-19}}
}}
Upon its release, Back to the Basics received generally mixed reviews from music critics. M.T. Richards of XXL gave the album an L, saying "There’s a certainly a shortage of radio fodder on Back to the Basics: the hooks are modest, the beats conservative. Technique is Twista’s weapon of choice and foremost priority. We listen to the Rust Belt legend for stuttery but graceful thickets of rhyme, verses that wind like a labyrinth and smoke like black powder."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 23:11
| title1 = Intro/Freestyle
| note1 =
| writer1 = {{flat list|
- C. Mitchell
- S. Lindley}}
| extra1 = The Legendary Traxster
| length1 = 2:47
| title2 = Ferocious
| note2 =
| writer2 = {{flat list|
- C. Mitchell
- S. Lindley}}
| extra2 = The Legendary Traxster
| length2 = 3:12
| title3 = Just Like That
| note3 = featuring Dra Day
| writer3 = {{flat list|
- C. Mitchell
- M. Moore}}
| extra3 = DJ Tight Mike
| length3 = 3:19
| title4 = Beast
| note4 =
| writer4 = {{flat list|
- C. Mitchell
- M. Moore}}
| extra4 = DJ Tight Mike
| length4 = 3:32
| title5 = Put It Down
| note5 =
| writer5 = {{flat list|
- C. Mitchell
- D. Parker
- S. Lindley}}
| extra5 = The Legendary Traxster
| length5 = 3:17
| title6 = Swagga Like a Dopeboy
| note6 =
| writer6 = {{flat list|
- C. Mitchell
- M. Moore}}
| extra6 = DJ Tight Mike
| length6 = 3:14
| title7 = Want My Love
| note7 = featuring DJ Victoriouz
| writer7 = {{flat list|
- C. Martin
- C. Mitchell
- D. Woods}}
| extra7 = Lo-Key
| length7 = 3:50
}}
;Notes
- Track 4 "Beast" & Track 7 "Want My love" were also released on Twista's 9th album The Dark Horse in 2014.
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (2013)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|49|artist=Twista}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Twista}}