Innocent Country
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Innocent Country
| type = studio
| artist = Quelle Chris and Chris Keys
| cover = 2Dirt4TV3_Innocent_Country.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2015|07|10}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=32|s=48}}
| label = Mello Music Group
| producer = Chris Keys
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Innocent Country 2
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Quelle Chris
| type = album
| prev_title = Ghost at the Finish Line
| prev_year = 2013
| title = Innocent Country
| year = 2015
| next_title = Lullabies for the Broken Brain
| next_year = 2016
}}
}}
Innocent Country is the first collaborative studio album by American rapper Quelle Chris and producer Chris Keys. It was released through Mello Music Group on July 10, 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/innocent-country/id998738647|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116042507/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/innocent-country/id998738647|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 16, 2015|title=Innocent Country by Quelle Chris on Apple Music|website=iTunes|language=en|access-date=2017-02-18}}
Background
San Francisco Bay Area producer Chris Keys and Detroit rapper/producer Quelle Chris started to develop the Innocent Country project after meeting through mutual collaborator Roc Marciano.{{Cite news|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.34615/title.quelle-chris-innocent-country-release-date-cover-art-tracklist-download-album-stream|title=Quelle Chris "Innocent Country" Release Date, Cover Art, Tracklist, Download & Album Stream|newspaper=HipHopDX|access-date=2017-02-18|language=en-US}} The twelve-track LP audio production was entirely handled by Chris Keys, and featured guest appearances by the likes of Denmark Vessey, Cavalier, Fresh Daily, The Fiends, and Big Sen.{{Cite web|url=https://quellechris360.bandcamp.com/album/innocent-country-2|title=Innocent Country, by Quelle Chris|website=Quelle Chris|access-date=2017-02-18}}
Innocent Country is the third record of Quelle's ongoing 2Dirt4TV series, followed by Niggas Is Men (released in 2013) and 2Dirt4TV (released in 2012). Its sequel, Innocent Country 2, was released in April 2020.
Singles and music videos
On June 25, 2015, Quelle released a music video for "Where the Wild Things Roam", co-directed with Eric Mercure.{{Citation|last=Mello Music Group|title=Quelle Chris – "Where The Wild Things Roam" {{!}} Official Video|date=June 25, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCzbFRM0F08|accessdate=2017-02-18}}
The project's lead single, "I Asked God", was released on June 10, 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://2dopeboyz.com/2015/06/10/quelle-chris-i-asked-god-chris-keys/|title=Quelle Chris – "I Asked God" (prod. Chris Keys)|last=Shake|website=2DOPEBOYZ|access-date=2017-02-18}}
Music video for "Nothing Moves" was directed by Da Dreak for Eyewerk Films and was released on September 16, 2015.{{Citation|last=Mello Music Group|title=Quelle Chris – Nothing Moves|date=September 16, 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKz9QOJe3Bs|accessdate=2017-02-18}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/innocent-country-mw0003346723|title=Innocent Country – Quelle Chris {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Simpson|first=Paul|date=July 10, 2015|website=AllMusic|language=en|access-date=April 29, 2020}}
| rev2 = Exclaim!
| rev2score = 7/10{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/quelle_chris-innocent_country|title=Quelle Chris Innocent Country|last=Mullin|first=Kyle|date=July 10, 2015|website=Exclaim!|language=en-ca|access-date=April 5, 2020}}
| rev3 = HipHopDX
| rev3score = 4/5{{Cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2504/title.quelle-chris-innocent-country|title=Quelle Chris – Innocent Country|last=Johnsen|first=Homer|date=August 3, 2015|website=HipHopDX|access-date=April 5, 2020}}
| rev4 = Pitchfork
| rev4score = 6.9/10{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20795-innocent-country/|title=Quelle Chris: Innocent Country|last=Moore|first=Marcus J.|date=July 14, 2015|website=Pitchfork|language=en|access-date=April 5, 2020}}
}}
Paul Simpson of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, describing it as "a playful set of reflections about life and all of its troubles and disappointments, and how to cope with it all." Marcus J. Moore of Pitchfork gave the album a 6.9 out of 10, stating, "The soundtrack moves between wistful and nonsensical moments, which leads to a strong alliance with Quelle who, across several projects, uses conversational flows of disconnected thoughts."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_lyrics =
| all_music = Chris Keys
| title1 = Freedom & Fear
| length1 = 2:32
| title2 = Where the Wild Things Roam
| length2 = 2:51
| title3 = We Want It Alive
| note3 = featuring Fresh Daily and Cavalier
| length3 = 3:36
| title4 = Well Running Deep
| length4 = 3:49
| title5 = Madness in the Oasis
| length5 = 2:44
| title6 = The Ones to Watch
| length6 = 2:22
| title7 = Nothing Moves
| length7 = 2:13
| title8 = Murphy's Law
| note8 = featuring Denmark Vessey
| length8 = 3:26
| title9 = Drugfest TooThousandToo
| note9 = featuring The Fiends
| length9 = 2:10
| title10 = The Plan
| note10 = featuring Denmark Vessey
| length10 = 3:03
| title11 = The Mirror
| note11 = featuring Big Sen
| length11 = 0:48
| title12 = I Asked God
| length12 = 3:14
| total_length = 32:48
}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Discogs release|15085693|Innocent Country}}
{{Quelle Chris}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2015 collaborative albums