Diaspora Problems

{{Short description|2022 studio album by Soul Glo}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Diaspora Problems

| type = studio

| artist = Soul Glo

| cover = Diaspora Problems - Soul Glo.jpg

| alt =

| released = March 25, 2022

| recorded = December 2020 – August 2021

| studio =

| genre = * Hardcore punk

| length = 39:14

| label = Epitaph

| producer = {{hlist|GG Guerra|Evan Bernard|Will Yip}}

| prev_title = DisNigga, Vol. 2

| prev_year = 2021

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Soul Glo studio album

| type = studio

| prev_title = The Nigga in Me Is Me

| prev_year = 2019

| title = Diaspora Problems

| year = 2022

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

{{Singles

| name = Diaspora Problems

| type = studio

| single1 = {{nowrap|Jump! (Or Get Jumped by the Future!)}}

| single1date = 2022

| single2 = Driponomics

| single2date = 2022

}}

}}

Diaspora Problems is the fourth studio album by American hardcore punk band Soul Glo. The album was released on March 25, 2022, through Epitaph Records, their first release with the label.

Two singles were released ahead of the album: "Jump! (Or Get Jumped by the Future!)" and "Driponomics".

Critical reception

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 8.0/10{{cite web |title=Diaspora Problems by Soul Glo reviews |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13232/Soul-Glo-Diaspora-Problems-.aspx |website=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=August 23, 2022}}

| MC = 86/100

| rev1 = Allmusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic | class= album | id= diaspora-problems-mw0003652807 | title= Review of Diaspora Problems | first= Mark | last= Deming | access-date= August 24, 2022}}

| rev2 = Beats Per Minute

| rev2score = 85/100{{cite web |last1=Hakimian |first1=Rob |title=Album Review: Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-soul-glo-diaspora-problems/ |website=Beats Per Minute |access-date=August 23, 2022 |date=March 25, 2022}}

| rev3 = Consequence

| rev3score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Hadusek |first1=Jon |title=Soul Glo Turn In a Landmark Hardcore Album with the Political and Personal Diaspora Problems |url=https://consequence.net/2022/03/soul-glo-diaspora-problems-album-review/ |website=Consequence |access-date=August 22, 2022 |date=March 25, 2022}}

| rev4 = Exclaim!

| rev4score = 9/10{{cite web |last1=Tremblay |first1=Mark |title=Soul Glo Reshape the Borders of Hardcore on 'Diaspora Problems' |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/soul_glo_diaspora_problems_album_review |website=Exclaim! |access-date=August 24, 2022 |date=March 28, 2022}}

| rev5 = Glide

| rev5score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Donohue |first1=Shawn |title=Soul Glo Blur Genres & Overwhelm Senses on 'Diaspora Problems' |url=https://glidemagazine.com/272375/soul-glo-blurs-genres-overwhelms-senses-on-diaspora-problems-album-review/ |website=Glide |access-date=August 22, 2022 |date=March 24, 2022}}

| rev6 = Kerrang!

| rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last1=Beebee |first1=Steve |title=Album review: Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems |url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-soul-glo-hardcore-punk-hip-hop-epitaph-diaspora-problems |website=Kerrang! |access-date=August 23, 2022 |date=March 31, 2022}}

| rev7 = Paste

| rev7score = 8.8/10{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Pat |title=On Diaspora Problems, Soul Glo Emerge as Hardcore's Promised Future |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/soul-glo/diaspora-problems-album-review/ |website=Paste |access-date=August 20, 2022 |date=March 29, 2022}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 8.5/10{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Ian |title=Soul Glo: Diaspora Problems Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/soul-glo-diaspora-problems/ |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Conde Nast |access-date=August 23, 2022 |date=March 30, 2022}}

| rev9 = Sputnikmusic

| rev9score = 4.2/5{{cite web |author1=Staff article |title=Review: SOUL GLO - Diaspora Problems |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/84653/SOUL-GLO-Diaspora-Problems/ |website=Sputnikmusic |access-date=August 20, 2022 |date=April 5, 2022}}

}}

Diaspora Problems received critical acclaim upon its release. On review aggregator website Metacritic, Diaspora Problems has an average rating of 86 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim".{{Citation |title=Diaspora Problems by Soul Glo |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/diaspora-problems/soul-glo |publisher=Metacritic |language=en |access-date=2022-11-29}} On AnyDecentMusic?, the album has an average of 8.0 out of 10 rating based on eight critic reviews.

=Year-end lists=

class="sortable wikitable"

!Publication

!Accolade

!Rank

! class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

NPR

| Best Albums of 2022

| 49

| {{cite web |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2022 |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/12/12/1134898067/50-best-albums-2022-page-1 |website=NPR |access-date=2022-12-12 |date=2022-12-12}}

Vulture

| Best Albums of 2022

| 5

| {{cite web |title=The Best Albums of 2022 |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-albums-2022.html |website=Vulture |access-date=2022-12-12 |date=2022-12-12}}

Pitchfork

| Best Albums of 2022

| 36

| {{cite web |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2022 |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-albums-2022/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=2022-12-08 |date=2022-12-06}}

The Wire

| Best Albums of 2022

| 12

| {{cite web |title=The Wire's Releases of the Year 2022 |url=https://www.albumoftheyear.org/list/1963-the-wires-releases-of-the-year-2022/ |date=2023-01-14}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline =

| all_writing = Pierce Jordan, GG Guerra, TJ Stevenson, and Ruben Polo{{cite web |title=Diaspora Problems {{!}} SOUL GLO |url=https://soulglophl.bandcamp.com/album/diaspora-problems |website=soulglophl.bandcamp.com |access-date=August 23, 2022}}

| title1 = Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmyass?)

| length1 = 3:47

| title2 = Coming Correct Is Cheaper

| length2 = 3:05

| title3 = Thumbsucker

| length3 = 2:02

| title4 = Fucked Up If True

| length4 = 3:12

| title5 = Jump!! (Or Get Jumped!!!)((by the future))

| length5 = 3:27

| title6 = Driponomics

| length6 = 2:50

| note6 = featuring Mother Maryrose

| title7 = (Five Years And) My Family

| length7 = 2:51

| title8 = The Thangs I Carry

| length8 = 3:17

| note8 = featuring BEARCAT

| title9 = We Wants Revenge

| length9 = 2:24

| title10 = John J

| length10 = 4:31

| note10 = featuring Kathryn Edwards and Zula Wildheart

| title11 = GODBLESSYALLREALGOOD

| length11 = 3:01

| title12 = Spiritual Level of Gang Shit

| length12 = 4:54

| note12 = featuring McKinley Dixon, Lojii

| total_length = 39:14

}}

Personnel

The following individuals were credited for their roles in the recording, composition, or mastering of the album.

;Soul Glo

  • GG Guerra — Bass, vocals, programming
  • Pierce Jordan — Vocals
  • Ruben Polo — Guitar
  • T. J. Stevenson — Drums

;Additional musicians

  • Bearcat — Vocals (on "The Things I Carry")
  • Hakim Diran — Saxophone (on "Thumbsucker" and "Spiritual Level of Gang Shit")
  • McKinley Dixon — Vocals (on "Spiritual Level of Gang Shit")
  • Dave Heck — Trombone (on "Thumbsucker" and "Spiritual Level of Gang Shit")
  • Kathryn Edwards — Vocals (on "John J")
  • Lojii — Vocals (on "Spiritual Level of Gang Shit")
  • Mother Maryrose — Vocals (on "Driponomics")
  • Noah Roth — Trumpet (on "Thumbsucker" and "Spiritual Level of Gang Shit")
  • Zula Wildheart — Vocals (on "John J")

;Recording and Mastering

  • Evan Bernard — Assistant production, engineering
  • GG Guerra — Production, engineering
  • Noah Roth — Assistant engineering
  • Will Yip — Mixing, mastering

References

{{reflist|30em}}