Hell's Winter
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Hell's Winter
| type = studio
| artist = Cage
| cover = Cage Hell's Winter.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2005|09|20}}{{cite web|url=http://cagewm.bandcamp.com/album/hells-winter-lp|title=Hell's Winter LP {{!}} Cage|work=Bandcamp|access-date=August 16, 2018}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = *Emo rap{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Jayson |title=Depart From Me |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13309-depart-from-me/ |access-date=September 7, 2023 |work=Pitchfork |date=June 30, 2009 |quote=Cage follows 2005's Hell's Winter, a harrowing emo-rap record, with an extended wallow in self-pity and self-loathing.}}
| length = {{Duration|m=55|s=08}}
| label = Definitive Jux
| producer = {{flatlist|
}}
| prev_title = Waterworld
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = Depart from Me
| next_year = 2009
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Hell's Winter
| type = studio
| single1 = Hell's Winter
| single1date = 2005
| single2 = Scenester / Left It to Us
| single2date = 2005
}}
}}
Hell's Winter is the second solo studio album by American rapper Cage. It was released by Definitive Jux on September 20, 2005. It peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, as well as number 36 on the Independent Albums chart.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllHipHop
| rev1score = 3.5/5{{cite web|url=http://allhiphop.com/2005/08/01/hells-winter/|title=Hell's Winter|work=AllHipHop|author=Paine|date=August 1, 2005|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/hells-winter-mw0000723547|title=Hell's Winter - Cage|work=AllMusic|first=David|last=Jeffries|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| rev3 = Alternative Press
| rev3score = 3/5{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/reviews/review_archive_108/|title=Cage|work=Alternative Press|first=Dan|last=LeRoy|date=December 9, 2005|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| rev4 = The A.V. Club
| rev4score = favorable{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/cage-hells-winter-1798201073|title=Cage: Hell's Winter|work=The A.V. Club|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|date=September 28, 2005|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| rev5 = Exclaim!
| rev5score = favorable{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/cage-hells_winter|title=Cage: Hell's Winter|work=Exclaim!|first=Thomas|last=Quinlan|date=October 1, 2005|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| rev6 = HipHopDX
| rev6score = 4.5/5{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.565/title.cage-hells-winter|title=Cage - Hell's Winter|work=HipHopDX|author=J-23|date=September 19, 2005|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 8.3/10{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1820-hells-winter/|title=Cage: Hell's Winter|work=Pitchfork|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=October 12, 2005|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| rev8 = Prefix
| rev9 = RapReviews.com
| rev10 = Stylus Magazine
| rev10score = B−{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/cage/hells-winter.htm|title=Cage - Hell's Winter|work=Stylus Magazine|first=Ross|last=McGowan|date=September 21, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617110619/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/cage/hells-winter.htm|archive-date=June 17, 2008|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
}}
Tom Breihan of Pitchfork gave the album an 8.3 out of 10, calling it "a harrowing ride on which Cage describes his childhood in fractured blips of vivid images instead of broad, sweeping statements." Ross McGowan of Stylus Magazine gave the album a grade of B−, saying, "Hell's Winter has its moments, but while the production is noteworthy, the actual songs within are rather hit or miss."
Exclaim! named it the 9th best hip hop album of 2005.{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/hip-hop-year_in_review_2005|title=Hip-Hop: Year in Review 2005|work=Exclaim!|date=January 1, 2006|access-date=August 15, 2018}} In 2010, Rhapsody included it on the "10 Best Albums by White Rappers" list.{{cite web|url=http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html|title=The 10 Best Albums By White Rappers|work=Rhapsody|date=June 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731015749/http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html|archive-date=July 31, 2010|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Good Morning
| extra1 = El-P
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = Too Heavy for Cherubs
| extra2 = Blockhead, El-P
| length2 = 3:36
| title3 = Grand Ol' Party Crash
| note3 = featuring Jello Biafra
| extra3 = DJ Shadow
| length3 = 5:01
| title4 = The Death of Chris Palko
| note4 = featuring Camu Tao
| extra4 = Central Services
| length4 = 3:23
| title5 = Stripes
| extra5 = Blockhead, El-P
| length5 = 4:48
| title6 = Shoot Frank
| note6 = featuring Daryl Palumbo
| extra6 = RJD2
| length6 = 4:22
| title7 = Scenester
| extra7 = Blockhead
| length7 = 3:50
| title8 = Perfect World
| extra8 = Central Services
| length8 = 3:40
| title9 = Subtle Art of the Breakup Song
| extra9 = El-P
| length9 = 3:07
| title10 = Peeranoia
| extra10 = Pawl
| length10 = 3:39
| title11 = Left It to Us
| note11 = featuring El-P, Aesop Rock, Tame One, and Yak Ballz
| extra11 = Camu Tao
| length11 = 3:30
| title12 = Public Property
| extra12 = Camu Tao
| length12 = 3:52
| title13 = Lord Have Mercy
| extra13 = El-P
| length13 = 3:24
| title14 = Hell's Winter
| extra14 = El-P
| length14 = 5:09
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
{{Div col}}
- Cage – vocals
- El-P – vocals (11), production (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14)
- Matt Sweeney – guitar (1)
- James McNew – bass guitar (1, 5)
- Blockhead – production (2, 5, 7)
- Jello Biafra – vocals (3)
- DJ Shadow – production (3)
- Camu Tao – vocals (4), production (4, 8, 11, 12)
- Daryl Palumbo – vocals (6)
- RJD2 – production (6)
- Pawl – production (10)
- Aesop Rock – vocals (11)
- Tame One – vocals (11)
- Yak Ballz – vocals (11)
- Nasa – recording
- Joey Raia – mixing
- Ken Heitmueller – mastering
- Kiku – artwork, design
- Nairobi Morgan – photography
{{Div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
!scope="col"| Chart !scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cage/chart-history/tln/|title=Cage: Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)|work=Billboard|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| 26 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/cage/chart-history/ind/|title=Cage: Chart History (Independent Albums)|work=Billboard|access-date=August 15, 2018}}
| 36 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|69238|Hell's Winter}}
- {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=94f1231d-e684-35b7-9a3b-883b0cae725c|name=Hell's Winter}}
{{Cage}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hells Winter}}
Category:Definitive Jux albums
Category:Albums produced by DJ Shadow
Category:Albums produced by El-P