Cilvia Demo

Cilvia Demo is a loose concept album that, according to Rashad, sums up his emotional struggle, from his teenage to adolescent years. The project is characterized by its personal themes, such as substance abuse, fatherhood, coming of age, and police brutality. Its music incorporates stylistic and production elements of southern, experimental, and progressive hip hop. The production consists of smooth, old school influenced, downbeat southern hip hop, with elements of experimental soul and trip hop. The project features hazy and atmospheric soundscapes of low, mid, to high-tempo beats with chopped and screwed background vocals; its abrasive main vocal set against smooth, slow burning southern-styled production.

{{Music ratings

|MC = 82/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/cilvia-demo-ep/isaiah-rashad|title=Reviews for Cilvia: Demo [EP] by Isaiah Rashad|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=July 15, 2017}}

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/cilvia-demo-mw0002619979|title=Cilvia Demo – Isaiah Rashad|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=July 15, 2017}}

|rev2 = Consequence of Sound

|rev2score = B{{cite web|last=Madden|first=Michael|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/02/album-review-isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo/|title=Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo|work=Consequence of Sound|date=February 24, 2014|accessdate=February 26, 2014}}

|rev3 = Exclaim!

|rev3Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Cowie|first=Del F.|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/isaiah_rashad-cilvia_demo_ep|title=Isaiah Rashad: Cilvia Demo EP|work=Exclaim!|date=January 28, 2014|accessdate=May 9, 2019}}

|rev4 = HipHopDX

|rev4Score = 4.0/5{{cite web|last=Dowling|first=Marcus K.|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2218/title.isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo|title=Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo|work=HipHopDX|date=January 30, 2014|accessdate=December 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208074813/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.2218/title.isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo|archive-date=February 8, 2014|url-status=live}}

|rev5 = Now

|rev5Score = 4/5{{cite web|last=MacKenzie|first=Holly|url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/isaiah-rashad/|title=Isaiah Rashad|work=Now|date=February 6, 2014|accessdate=May 9, 2019}}

|rev6 = Pitchfork

|rev6Score = 8.2/10{{cite web|last=Patrin|first=Nate|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/19014-isaiah-rashad-cilvia/|title=Isaiah Rashad: Cilvia Demo|work=Pitchfork|date=February 13, 2014|accessdate=July 15, 2017}}

|rev7 = PopMatters

|rev7Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Smithson|first=Logan|url=https://www.popmatters.com/179565-isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-2495682693.html|title=Isaiah Rashad: Cilvia Demo|work=PopMatters|date=March 4, 2014|accessdate=May 9, 2019}}

|rev8 = Spin

|rev8Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Soderberg|first=Brandon|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/02/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo/|title=Tennessee Rapper Isaiah Rashad Proves Himself Worthy of Black Hippy on 'Cilvia Demo'|work=Spin|date=February 6, 2014|accessdate=May 9, 2019}}

|rev9 = XXL

|rev9Score = 4/5{{cite web|last=Pearce|first=Sheldon|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2014/02/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-ep-review|title=Isaiah Rashad Delivers Classic Southern Stylings On 'Cilvia Demo'|work=XXL|date=February 4, 2014|accessdate=February 8, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209141457/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2014/02/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-ep-review/|archivedate=February 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}

}}

Cilvia Demo was met with universal acclaim from music critics upon its release. Praise was directed at the album's unconventional and experimental production, cohesiveness, and Rashad's unique style and thoughtful lyrics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 82, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 13 reviews. Rob Markman of MTV gave the project a positive review saying, "By the time the 14-track project winds down, Isaiah Rashad slowly doles out his own coming-of-age story using introspective raps, melodies and, at times, good old southern bounce."{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1721326/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-album.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130044526/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1721326/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-album.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2014 |title=Isaiah Rashad Confronts Demons And Daddy Issues On TDE Debut Cilvia Demo |publisher=MTV |date=2014-01-28 |accessdate=2014-02-08}} Marcus Dowling of HipHopDX said, "Every story and hook on Isaiah Rashad's Cilvia Demo connects on a human level. What it lacks in depth is covered by excellent production and raw talent." Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound gave the project a positive review saying, "At any rate, Rashad sounds like he belongs. He's touched down on his own terms, and he'll be sticking around for a while." Sheldon Pearce of XXL gave the project an overwhelmingly positive review, directing praise at the album's production, lyrical content, and replay value.

Cilvia Demo appeared on multiple year end lists of the best hip-hop albums of that year. Genius hailed it as the seventh best hip hop release that year, while Rolling Stone placed it at number twenty-one on it year-end hip hop albums list.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Rap-genius-top-20-rap-albums-of-2014-lyrics|title=Rap Genius - Top 20 Rap Albums of 2014|work=Rap Genius |accessdate=2014-02-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/40-best-rap-albums-of-2014-20141223/isaiah-rashad-cilvia-demo-20141222|title=40 Best Rap Albums of 2014|work=Rolling Stone Magazine|date=23 December 2014 |accessdate=July 15, 2017}} SPIN included the album on its list of the 40 best hip hop releases of 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/2014/12/40-best-hip-hop-albums-2014/isaiah-rashad-clivia-demo_0/|title=SPIN - 40 Best Hip Hop Releases of 2014|work=Spin Magazine|accessdate=July 15, 2017}} Based on the buzz generated by Rashad's signing in 2013 and the EP, XXL revealed Rashad was included in their 2014 annual freshman class.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/05/xxl-freshmen-2014-cover-revealed|title=XXL Freshmen 2014 Cover Revealed|last=Sia|first=Nicole|work=XXL|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=May 5, 2014|accessdate=May 13, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-freshmen-2014/2014/05/isaiah-rashard/|title=Isaiah Rashad|last=Diep|first=Eric|work=XXL|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=May 9, 2014|accessdate=May 13, 2014}}

On June 29, 2016, Pitchfork Media published a list of "The 50 Best Rap Mixtapes of the Millennium". Cilvia Demo was included on the list, placed at the 35th position, despite officially being billed as an EP.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9908-the-50-best-rap-mixtapes-of-the-millennium/|title=The 50 Best Rap Mixtapes of the Millennium|work=Pitchfork.com|publisher=Condé Nast|date=June 29, 2016|accessdate=July 15, 2017}}

The EP debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200, selling 8,500 copies its first week.{{cite web |last=Tardio |first=Andres |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.27372/title.hip-hop-album-sales-week-ending-2-2-2014 |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 2/2/2014 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2014-01-27 |accessdate=2014-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222021817/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.27372/title.hip-hop-album-sales-week-ending-2-2-2014 |archive-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead }}

• All tracks written by Isaiah McClain, unless otherwise denoted.

{{track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Hereditary

| writer1 =

| note1 =

| extra1 = Ross Vega

| length1 = 1:28

| title2 = Webbie Flow (U Like)

| writer2 =

| note2 =

| extra2 = Mr. Carmack

| length2 = 3:09

| title3 = Cilvia Demo

| writer3 =

| extra3 = Joseph L'Étranger

| length3 = 3:16

| title4 = R.I.P. Kevin Miller

| writer4 =

| note4 =

| extra4 = Black Metaphor

| length4 = 3:53

| title5 = Ronnie Drake

| writer5 = {{hlist|McClain|Solána Rowe}}

| note5 = featuring SZA

| extra5 = The Antydote

| length5 = 3:31

| title6 = West Savannah

| writer6 = {{hlist|McClain|Rowe}}

| note6 = featuring SZA

| extra6 = The Antydote

| length6 = 2:48

| title7 = Soliloquy

| writer7 =

| note7 =

| extra7 = Farhot

| length7 = 1:55

| title8 = Tranquility

| writer8 =

| note8 =

| extra8 = Farhot

| length8 = 4:20

| title9 = Menthol

| note9 = featuring Jean Deaux

| writer9 = {{hlist|McClain|Deaux}}

| extra9 = Sounwave

| length9 = 2:58

| title10 = Modest

| writer10 =

| note10 =

| extra10 = Chris Calor

| length10 = 3:42

| title11 = Heavenly Father

| writer11 =

| note11 =

| extra11 = D. Sanders

| length11 = 4:21

| title12 = Banana

| writer12 =

| extra12 = The Antydote

| length12 = 3:32

| title13 = Brad Jordan

| note13 = featuring Michael Da Vinci

| writer13 = {{hlist|McClain|Da Vinci}}

| extra13 = Danny Dee

| length13 = 4:12

| title14 = Shot You Down (Remix)

| note14 = featuring Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock

| writer14 = {{hlist|McClain|Quincy Hanley|Johnny McKinzie}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Chris Calor|The Antydote}}

| length14 = 7:08

| total_length = 49:29

}}

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Category:2014 debut EPs

Category:Isaiah Rashad albums

Category:Top Dawg Entertainment albums

Category:Albums produced by Sounwave