Relax (album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{For|other albums with the same title|Relax (disambiguation)#Albums}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Relax
| type = studio
| artist = Das Racist
| cover = Dr_relax.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2011|09|13}}
| recorded =
| studio = See-Thru Studios, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
| genre = Hip-hop
| length = {{Duration|m=50|s=12}}
| label = Greedhead Music
| producer = {{hlist|Kool A.D.|Heems|Patrick Wimberly|Anand Wilder|Blood Diamonds|El-P|Diplo|Dash Speaks|J-La|Rostam Batmanglij|Francis Farewell Starlite}}
| prev_title = Sit Down, Man
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Relax
| type = studio
| single1 = Michael Jackson
| single1date = August 2, 2011
}}
}}
Relax is the only studio album by American hip hop trio Das Racist.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/das-racists-victor-kool-a-d-vazquez-on-why-the-rap-trio-split-193236/|title=Das Racist's Victor 'Kool A.D.' Vazquez on Why the Rap Trio Split|work=Rolling Stone|first=Patrick|last=Flanary|date=December 3, 2012|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} It was released by Greedhead Music on September 13, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/das_racist_reveal_new_relax_lp|title=Das Racist Reveal New 'Relax' LP|work=Exclaim!|first=Josiah|last=Hughes|date=July 8, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} It peaked at number 111 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Production
The album is produced by Diplo, El-P, Rostam Batmanglij, and Anand Wilder, among others. It includes guest appearances from El-P, Danny Brown, and Despot.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/43124-das-racist-announce-new-album/|title=Das Racist Announce New Album|work=Pitchfork|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=July 8, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
Release
On August 2, 2011, Das Racist released "Michael Jackson", the lead single from the album.{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/das_racist-michael_jackson|title=Das Racist "Michael Jackson"|work=Exclaim!|first=Josiah|last=Hughes|date=August 2, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} The music video for the song was premiered on September 9, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2299058/das-racist-michael-jackson-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165209/http://www.mtv.com/news/2299058/das-racist-michael-jackson-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 9, 2018|title=Video Premiere: Das Racist, 'Michael Jackson'|work=MTV|first=Jason|last=Newman|date=September 9, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} Directed by Weird Days, the video references Michael Jackson's "Black or White" video,{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/09/das-racist-drop-clever-michael-jackson-clip/|title=Das Racist Drop Clever "Michael Jackson" Clip|work=Spin|first=Marc|last=Hogan|date=September 9, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} featuring the morphing faces of El-P, Despot, Lakutis, Hari Kondabolu, Mike Finito, Anand Wilder, Rostam Batmanglij, and Ben Schecter, among others.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/805982/das-racist-michael-jackson-video/video/|title=Das Racist – "Michael Jackson" Video|work=Stereogum|first=Corban|last=Goble|date=September 9, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
The album was released by Greedhead Music on September 13, 2011.
The band played Late Night with Conan O'Brien on September 28, 2011.
Music videos were also created for "Brand New Dance"{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/901621/das-racist-brand-new-dance-video/video/|title=Das Racist – "Brand New Dance" Video|work=Stereogum|first=Corban|last=Goble|date=December 9, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} and "Girl".{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2012/10/video-das-racist-girl/|title=Video: Das Racist – "Girl"|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Chris|last=Coplan|date=October 30, 2012|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 78/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/relax/das-racist|title=Reviews for Relax by Das Racist|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/relax-mw0002186703|title=Relax – Das Racist|work=AllMusic|first=K. Ross|last=Hoffman|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
| rev2 = The A.V. Club
| rev2Score = B+{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/das-racist-relax-1798169555|title=Das Racist: Relax|work=The A.V. Club|first=Tuyet|last=Nguyen|date=September 13, 2011|access-date=December 8, 2018}}
| rev3 = Chicago Tribune
| rev3Score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2011-09-14-chi-das-racist-album-review-relax-reviewed-20110913-story.html|title=Album review: Das Racist, 'Relax'|work=Chicago Tribune|first=Greg|last=Kot|author-link=Greg Kot|date=September 14, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
| rev4 = Consequence of Sound
| rev4Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2011/09/album-review-das-racist-relax/|title=Album Review: Das Racist – Relax|work=Consequence of Sound|first=Paul|last=De Revere|date=September 28, 2011|accessdate=April 10, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001194720/https://consequence.net/2011/09/album-review-das-racist-relax/|archivedate=October 1, 2011}}
| rev5 = Los Angeles Times
| rev5Score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite web|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/09/album-review-das-racists-relax.html|title=Album Review: Das Racist's "Relax"|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Matt|last=Diehl|date=September 13, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
| rev6 = MSN Music (Expert Witness)
| rev6Score = A{{cite web|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=f8d1d32f-20c0-4201-b718-5378d0960903|title=Das Racist/Ice Cube|work=MSN Music|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=September 20, 2011|accessdate=October 17, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125185317/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=f8d1d32f-20c0-4201-b718-5378d0960903|archivedate=November 25, 2011}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7Score = 6.3/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15822-relax/|title=Das Racist: Relax|work=Pitchfork|first=Ian|last=Cohen|date=September 16, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
| rev8 = Rolling Stone
| rev8score= {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/relax-251786/|title=Relax|work=Rolling Stone|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|author-link=Rob Sheffield|date=September 13, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
| rev9 = Slant Magazine
| rev9Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/das-racist-relax|title=Das Racist: Relax|work=Slant Magazine|first=Jesse|last=Cataldo|date=September 15, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018}}
| rev10 = Spin
| rev10Score = 8/10{{cite web|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/das-racist-relax-greedhead-music|title=Das Racist, 'Relax' (Greedhead Music)|work=Spin|first=Rob|last=Harvilla|date=September 13, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022120955/http://www.spin.com/reviews/das-racist-relax-greedhead-music|archivedate=October 22, 2012}}
}}
At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78, based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Tuyet Nguyen of The A.V. Club gave the album a "B+" grade, praising Das Racist's "acutely modern sense of humor." Jesse Cataldo of Slant Magazine gave the album 4 stars out of 5, saying, "Relax finds Das Racist operating as both consumers and creators of pop culture, spawning an endless pomo cycle of criticism and observation." Paul de Revere of Consequence of Sound called it "Das Racist's definitive album to date."
=Accolades=
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Relax
| note1 =
| writer1 =
| extra1 = {{hlist|Kool A.D.|Heems|Patrick Wimberly}}
| length1 = 4:29
| title2 = Michael Jackson
| note2 =
| writer2 =
| extra2 = {{hlist|Kool A.D.|Heems|Wimberly}}
| length2 = 4:16
| title3 = Brand New Dance
| note3 =
| writer3 =
| extra3 = Wimberly
| length3 = 3:01
| title4 = Middle of the Cake
| note4 = featuring Anand Wilder
| writer4 =
| extra4 = Anand Wilder
| length4 = 3:43
| title5 = Girl
| note5 =
| writer5 =
| extra5 = Blood Diamonds
| length5 = 3:23
| title6 = Shut Up, Man
| note6 = featuring El-P
| writer6 =
| extra6 = El-P
| length6 = 4:32
| title7 = Happy Rappy
| note7 =
| writer7 =
| extra7 = Diplo
| length7 = 2:21
| title8 = Booty in the Air
| note8 =
| writer8 =
| extra8 = Wimberly
| length8 = 3:47
| title9 = Power
| note9 = featuring Danny Brown and Despot
| writer9 =
| extra9 = Dash Speaks
| length9 = 4:46
| title10 = Punjabi Song
| note10 = featuring Bikram Singh
| writer10 =
| extra10 = J-La
| length10 = 3:31
| title11 = Selena
| note11 =
| writer11 =
| extra11 = Wimberly
| length11 = 2:16
| title12 = Rainbow in the Dark
| note12 =
| writer12 =
| extra12 = J-La
| length12 = 3:51
| title13 = The Trick
| note13 =
| writer13 =
| extra13 = Rostam Batmanglij
| length13 = 3:01
| title14 = Celebration
| note14 =
| writer14 =
| extra14 = Francis Farewell Starlite
| length14 = 2:40
}}
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes.
{{Div col}}
- Kool A.D. – production (1, 2), artwork
- Heems – production (1, 2), executive production
- Patrick Wimberly – production (1, 2, 3, 8, 11), executive production, recording, mixing
- Travis Rosenberg – pedal steel guitar (2, 8)
- Anand Wilder – vocals (4), production (4)
- Blood Diamonds – production (5)
- El-P – vocals (6), production (6)
- Diplo – production (7)
- Lakutis – handclap (8)
- Danny Brown – vocals (9)
- Despot – vocals (9)
- Dash Speaks – production (9)
- Bikram Singh – vocals (10)
- J-La – production (10, 12)
- Rostam Batmanglij – production (13)
- Francis Farewell Starlite – production (14)
- Josh Ascalon – engineering (8, 11)
- Daniel Lynas – engineering (9)
- Chris Gehringer – mastering
- Katy Porter – photography
{{Div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2011)
!scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{Album chart|Billboard200|111|artist=Das Racist|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 8, 2018|refname=billboard200}} |
| {{Album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|1|artist=Das Racist|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} |
| {{Album chart|BillboardIndependent|26|artist=Das Racist|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} |
| {{Album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|15|artist=Das Racist|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} |
| {{Album chart|BillboardRap|12|artist=Das Racist|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 8, 2018}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|385750|Relax}}
- {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=a7a3ea2e-05fc-4279-962e-cd4259b6912d|name=Relax}}
{{Das Racist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Diplo
Category:Albums produced by El-P
Category:Albums produced by Patrick Wimberly