Coconut Oil (EP)
{{Short description|2016 EP by Lizzo}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Coconut Oil
| type = EP
| artist = Lizzo
| cover = Lizzo - Coconut Oil.png
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2016|10|7}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = R&B
| length = 19:28
| label = {{hlist|Atlantic|Nice Life}}
| producer = {{hlist|Ricky Reed (also exec.)|Christian Rich|Dubbel Dutch|Jesse Shatkin}}
| prev_title = Big Grrrl Small World
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Cuz I Love You
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Coconut Oil
| type = EP
| single1 = Good as Hell
| single1date = March 8, 2016
| single2 = Phone
| single2date = September 19, 2016
| single3 = Scuse Me
| single3date = January 25, 2017
}}
}}
Coconut Oil is the debut solo EP by American rapper and singer Lizzo. It was released on October 7, 2016, by Nice Life Recording Company and Atlantic Records, Lizzo's first major-label release. Lizzo co-wrote each song on the album, while enlisting Ricky Reed, Christian Rich, Dubbel Dutch, and Jesse Shatkin for the album's production. The result was a departure from Lizzo's previous hip-hop releases. Lyrically, the extended play explores themes of body positivity, self-love, and the journey to those ideals. Coconut Oil received positive reviews from music critics.
Commercially, Coconut Oil initially peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, making it Lizzo's first release to chart. However, two years after it was first released, the popularity of the single "Good as Hell" renewed interest in the EP and it subsequently reached a new peak of number 31 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums
To promote the extended play, Lizzo embarked on the Good as Hell Tour in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.blacdetroit.com/BLAC-Detroit/May-2017/Lizzo-wants-to-make-Detroit-feel-Good-As-Hell/|title=Lizzo wants to make Detroit feel 'Good As Hell'|website=www.blacdetroit.com|date=June 2017 |access-date=2019-01-20}} "Good as Hell" was released as the EP's first single, as part of the soundtrack for the 2016 film Barbershop: The Next Cut, and became a sleeper hit, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2019. "Phone" was released shortly after the announcement of the extended play as the second single. "Scuse Me" was released as the third and final single in 2017, and was accompanied with a music video. Lizzo's song "Worship" was featured in the first episode of Step Up: High Water.
Background
Coconut Oil is Lizzo's first release with a major record label, and was originally intended as a full-length release.{{cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/10/07/lizzo-out-with-new-album|title=Lizzo out with new album on new label|date=October 7, 2016|publisher=MPR|accessdate=October 8, 2016}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lizzo-talks-self-care-themed-major-label-debut-new-mtv-show-109811/|title=Lizzo Talks 'Self Care'–Themed Major-Label Debut, New MTV Show|author=Spanos, Brittany |date=October 7, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|accessdate=October 8, 2016}} The EP serves as the follow-up to the singer's second studio album, Big Grrrl Small World (2015).{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/09/lizzo-announces-coconut-oil-ep-shares-new-track-phone-listen/|title=Lizzo announces Coconut Oil EP, shares new track "Phone" — listen|author=Brennan, Collin|date=September 17, 2016|publisher=Consequence of Sound|accessdate=October 8, 2016}} Lizzo described the reason for the name Coconut Oil, stating:
{{Blockquote|text=There's self-exploration. There's self-love. Then there's self-realization," she notes of her past music. "'Coconut Oil' is the ultimate ode to self-care and to my process. I'm not there yet, but I'm creating my music so I can get there.|sign=Lizzo|source=Rolling Stone}}
Composition
The EP discusses themes of body positivity, self-love, and the trials one faces to achieve those ideals.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22511-coconut-oil/|title=Lizzo: Coconut Oil|last=Okoth-Obbo|first=Vanessa|date=October 15, 2016|website=Pitchfork|access-date=December 1, 2016}} The opening track, "Worship", contains mambo-inspired horns and a showtune-like chorus, creating two very different syncopated dance rhythms. “Phone” has been described as "pure MPC and bassline magic" that lyrically discusses the loss of one's phone and friends at a club. Lizzo freestyled each lyric to the song.{{Cite web|url=https://nylon.com/articles/lizzo-coconut-oil-ep|title=Let Lizzo Rub Your Soul Down With Her 'Coconut Oil' EP|date=2016-10-31|website=Nylon|access-date=2019-01-16}} “Scuse Me” contains "twinkly" opening keys before breaking into long bass drops and frantic drum sequences. The song lyrically talks about self-love, and has been compared to "Oops, Oh My" by Tweet.
"Deep" is a club-ready dance tune with soukous-inflected guitar riffs. "Good as Hell" is a "brassy" self-empowerment anthem, where the protagonist is giving more than they get in a relationship. The closing titular track is a sparse R&B song that sees the singer crooning “I thought I needed to run and find somebody to love, but all I needed was some coconut oil” against a backdrop of organs. Lyrically, it discusses the singer's journey to confidence, and was dedicated to the black women who have connected with her music. The singer plays the flute in the song, a guitar solo from producer Ricky Reed, and features excerpts of the singer's family church telling stories.
Singles
"Good as Hell" was released as the lead single from the EP on May 11, 2016, as part of the soundtrack for the 2016 film Barbershop: The Next Cut.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/28/671236822/lizzo-good-as-hell-american-anthem|title=In Praise Of 'Good As Hell,' The Song That Believes In You Even When You Don't|publisher=NPR|access-date=2019-01-16}} It premiered as an exclusive on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2016/03/lizzo-good-as-hell-new-song-beats-1-zane-lowe-barbershop-3/|title=Lizzo Drops New Ricky Reed-Produced Banger, 'Good As Hell'|date=2016-03-07|website=Spin|access-date=2019-01-16}}
"Phone" was released as the second single from the EP on September 19, 2016.{{cite journal|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/09/lizzo-announces-label-debut-coconut-oil-releases-n.html|title=Lizzo Announces Major-Label Debut EP Coconut Oil, Releases New Single "Phone"|last=Guilbault|first=Kristy|date=September 16, 2016|accessdate=October 7, 2016|journal=Paste}}{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/68332-lizzo-announces-new-ep-shares-phone-listen/|title=Lizzo Announces New EP, Shares "Phone": Listen|author=Pearce, Sheldon|date=September 17, 2016|work=Pitchfork|accessdate=October 8, 2016}}
=Other songs=
The music video for "Scuse Me" was released on January 25, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/festival/2017-essence-festival/lizzos-scuse-me-video/|title=Lizzo Releases "Scuse Me" Music Video|website=Essence|access-date=2019-01-16}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Pitchfork
}}
Vanessa Okoth-Obbo, writing for Pitchfork, rated the EP 6.1 out of 10, writing that "Coconut Oil works best when considered as a statement of intent – an inventory of all the things she’s good at, and a testing ground for how best to blend them in the future." Syra Aburto, writing for Nylon, wrote that the "like the product it's named after, [Lizzo's] latest project, Coconut Oil, is essential for healthy living."
Rolling Stone placed it at number 14 on its list of the "20 Best Pop Albums of 2016".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/20-best-pop-albums-of-2016-w455459/lizzo-coconut-oil-w455637|title=20 Best Pop Albums of 2016: 14. Lizzo, 'Coconut Oil'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 19, 2016|access-date=September 1, 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 19:28
| title1 = Worship
| writer1 = {{hlist|Melissa "Lizzo" Jefferson|Eric Frederic|Joseph Spargur|Jose Fernandez}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Ricky Reed}}
| length1 = 2:57
| title2 = Phone
| writer2 = {{hlist|Jefferson|Evan Kidd Bogart|Jesse Shatkin}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Reed|Shatkin}}
| length2 = 2:49
| title3 = Scuse Me
| writer3 = {{hlist|Jefferson|Frederic|Marc Glasser|Blaise Railey}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Reed|Dubbel Dutch}}
| length3 = 3:24
| title4 = Deep
| writer4 = {{hlist|Jefferson|Jean Baptiste Kouame|Kehinde Hassan|Taiwo Hassan}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Christian Rich|Reed}}
| length4 = 3:14
| title5 = Good as Hell
| writer5 = {{hlist|Jefferson|Frederic}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Reed}}
| length5 = 2:39
| title6 = Coconut Oil
| writer6 = {{hlist|Jefferson|Frederic|Aaron Jennings}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Reed}}
| length6 = 4:25
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= Coconut Oil |year= 2016 |type= booklet |publisher= Nice Life, Atlantic}}
{{div col}}
- Jason Andrews – engineer (track 4)
- Elder Orlandus Dunning – additional vocals (6)
- Dubbel Dutch – co-producer (track 3)
- Chris Galland – mix engineer (track 3), mixing assistant (5)
- Chris Gehringer – mastering (all tracks)
- Lil Aaron – additional vocals (track 6)
- Lizzo – vocals (all tracks), flute (6)
- Manny Marroquin – mixing (tracks 3, 5)
- Ricky Reed – producer (all tracks), instruments and programming (1, 3, 5, 6), mixing (1), keyboards (2), additional guitar (4), executive producer
- Christian Rich – producers, instruments, and programming (track 4)
- Ike Schultz – mixing (tracks 2, 4, 6), mixing assistant (5)
- Jesse Shatkin – producer, programming, drums, bass, keyboards, and engineer (track 2)
- Ethan Shumaker – engineer (tracks 1, 3–6)
{{div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|50|artist=Lizzo|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 10, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|31|artist=Lizzo|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 4, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|30|artist=Lizzo|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 10, 2019}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardTastemaker|6|artist=Lizzo|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 14, 2022}} |
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2019}}
| 97 |
|---|
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Coconut Oil}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|artist=Lizzo|title=Coconut Oil|award=Gold|relyear=2016|certyear=2020|source=radioscope|access-date=February 25, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002984054|title=Lizzo – Coconut Oil EP |accessdate=October 7, 2016}}
{{Lizzo}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Ricky Reed
Category:Albums produced by Christian Rich