Too High to Riot
{{short description|2016 studio album by Bas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Too High to Riot
| type = Studio
| artist = Bas
| cover = TooHighToRiot.jpeg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = March 4, 2016
| recorded = 2014–2015; New York City, Los Angeles, London
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 36:56
| label = {{hlist|Dreamville|Interscope}}
| producer = {{hlist|J. Cole {{small|(exec.)}}|Ibrahim Hamad {{small|(exec.)}}|Ron Gilmore {{small|(exec.)}}|Ogee Handz + DikC
|Cedric Brown|Cam O’bi|Soundwave|Subdaio|The Hics|K-Quick|Jay Kurzweil}}
| prev_title = Last Winter
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = Milky Way
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Too High to Riot
| type = Studio
| single1 = Night Job
| single1date = December 4, 2015
| single2 = Housewives
| single2date = December 11, 2015
| single3 = Methylone
| single3date = February 5, 2016
}}
}}
Too High to Riot is the second studio album by Sudanese rapper Bas. It was released on March 4, 2016, by Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. The album sold 8,065 copies in its first week, debuting at number 49 on the Billboard 200 chart.{{cite web|url=https://itun.es/ca/xghyab |title=Too High to Riot by Bas on iTunes |website=Itun.es |date= 16 January 2016|accessdate=2016-02-05}}{{cite web|url=http://ca.complex.com/music/2016/02/bas-new-song-methylone |title=Bas New Song "Methylone" | Complex CA |website=Ca.complex.com |date= |accessdate=2016-02-05}}
Background
The album includes the guest appearances from his labelmates J. Cole and Cozz, along with The Hics. The sonic foundation of the album is produced by Ron Gilmore, Ogee Handz + DikC, Cedric Brown, Cam O’bi, Sounwave, Subdaio, The Hics, and K-Quick.{{cite web|last=Glynn |first=Patrick |url=http://2dopeboyz.com/2016/02/04/bas-too-high-to-riot-methylone-single/ |title=Bas Announces 'Too High To Riot' LP, Drops New Single "Methylone" |website=2dopeboyz.com |date= |accessdate=2016-02-05}}
Promotion
On April 15, 2016, Bas announced Too High To Riot Tour with Cozz, EarthGang, The Hics and Ron Gilmore. The tour started June 3, 2016 in Miami, Florida and ended July 17, 2016 in New York City. The tour was 26 dates.{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Angus|title=Bas Announces "Too High To Riot" Tour With Cozz, EarthGang & More|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/bas-announces-too-high-to-riot-tour-with-cozz-earthgang-and-more-news.21115.html?|website=hotnewhiphop|accessdate=July 25, 2016|date=April 15, 2016}} On January 30, 2017 Bas released Too High to Riot documentary on Tidal.{{cite web|last1=Schwartz|first1=Danny|title=Watch Bas' "Too High To Riot" Documentary On TIDAL|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/watch-bas-too-high-to-riot-documentary-on-tidal-news.28174.html|website=HotNewHipHop|accessdate=February 13, 2017|date=January 30, 2017}} The documentary was available exclusively to Tidal subscribers for the first few days, it was uploaded to YouTube on February 4, 2017.{{cite web|author1=Dreamville Records|title=Too High To Riot (Documentary)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P93txyXVbm0|website=YouTube|accessdate=February 13, 2017|date=February 4, 2017}} The documentary follows Bas on his Too High to Riot tour.
Singles
On December 4, 2015, Bas released the first single from this album, titled "Night Job" featuring J. Cole.{{cite web|last1=Goddard|first1=Kevin|title=Bas - Night Job Feat. J. Cole [New Song]|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/bas-night-job-feat-j-cole-new-song.1967541.html|website=hotnewhiphop|accessdate=March 9, 2016|date=December 4, 2016}} The music video for "Night Job was released on March 3, 2016.{{cite web|last1=Blum|first1=Sam|title=Bas and J. Cole Get Gritty in New Video for 'Night Job': Watch|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2016/03/bas-and-j-cole-get-gritty-in-new-night-job-video-watch|website=Fuse|accessdate=9 March 2016|date=March 9, 2016}} On December 11, 2015, which is a week later, he released the second single, titled "Housewives". This track, also was included on the Dreamville's compilation album, titled Revenge of the Dreamers II.{{cite web|last1=Hernandez|first1=Victoria|title=J. Cole x Dreamville "Revenge Of The Dreamers II" Cover Art, Tracklist & Album Stream|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.36551/title.j-cole-x-dreamville-revenge-of-the-dreamers-ii-release-date-cover-art|website=HipHopDX|accessdate=21 July 2016|date=December 10, 2015}} On July 15, 2016, Bas released "Housewives (Remix)" featuring rapper Ab-Soul.{{cite web|last1=Lilah|first1=Rose|title=Bas - Housewives (Remix) Feat. Ab-Soul [New Song]|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/bas-housewives-remix-feat-ab-soul-new-song.1970624.html|website=hotnewhiphop|accessdate=24 July 2016|date=July 15, 2016}} On February 5, 2016, the album's third single was released for the song, titled "Methylone". On the same day, Bas announced the release date, track list, and cover art of the album.{{cite web|last1=Ivey|first1=Justin|title=Bas Drops "Methylone"|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2016/02/bas-methylone/|website=XXL|accessdate=25 July 2016|date=February 5, 2016}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = HipHopDX
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Glaysher|first=Scott|title=Bas Too High To Riot Review|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2656/title.bas-too-high-to-riot|work=HipHopDX|date=9 March 2016 |accessdate=March 15, 2016}}
|rev2 = Exclaim!
|rev2score = 7/10{{cite web | url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/bas-too_high_to_riot | title=Bas - Too High To Riot | publisher=Exclaim! | date=March 4, 2016 | accessdate=March 23, 2016 | author=Alexis, Themistoklis}}
| rev3 = XXL
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}(XL){{cite web | url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2016/03/bas-too-high-to-riot-album-review/ | title=Bas Brings Emotion and Depth to 'Too High to Riot' | publisher=XXL | date=March 14, 2016 | accessdate=March 14, 2016 | author=Robertson, Darryl}}
}}
Upon its release, Too High to Riot received acclaim from critics. Scott Glaysher of HipHopDX rated the album a 3.9 out 5 saying, "Too High to Riot is hands-down Bas’ best work to date. It’s a smooth yet potent project with few stumbles minus the rhyme variation. It mixes all of his strengths into one cohesive package and demands to be played again and again. With only four real concrete years in the game, this latest installment to his catalog is the foundation he needs to potentially become Michael Jordan himself; or at least Steph Curry."{{cite web|last=Glaysher|first=Scott|title=Bas Too High To Riot Review|url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2656/title.bas-too-high-to-riot|work=HipHopDX|date=9 March 2016 |accessdate=March 15, 2016}} Writing for Exclaim!, Themistoklis Alexis praised the rapper for "a maturity that never preaches — something that many of his peers generally don't reach until a handful of albums in." In a positive review for The Arkansas Traveler, Brittany Williams said, "Whether Bas is too high to riot because of indulging in cannabis or because of his new found status in hip-hop is hard to determine, but the rapper’s writing skills, melodic rhyme scheme and overall relatability are hard to ignore."{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Brittany|title=Review: Bas's "Too High to Riot"|url=http://uatrav.com/the_companion/article_702fedc2-e484-11e5-8a42-ebb4b5612cf8.html?mode=jqm|website=The Arkansas Traveler|date=7 March 2016 |accessdate=February 1, 2017}}
Track listing
Credits adapted from ASCAP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/writer/710947449/HAMAD%20ABBAS|title=ACE Repertory|website=www.ascap.com|access-date=2019-05-27}}{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Too High to Riot
| writer1 = {{hlist|Abbas Hamad|Cameron Osteen|Ron Gilmore}}
| note1 =
| extra1 = {{hlist|Cam O'Bi|Gilmore{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1 = 2:42
| title2 = Methylone
| writer2 = {{hlist|Hamad|Gilmore|Kaleb Rollins}}
| extra2 = Gilmore
| length2 = 2:42
| title3 = Dopamine
| writer3 = {{hlist|Hamad|Cody Osagie|Brown|Cole|Gilmore|Piero Piccioni}}
| note3 = featuring Cozz
| extra3 = {{hlist|Gilmore|Cedric Brown{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = 3:36
| title4 = Housewives
| writer4 = {{hlist|A.Hamad|Gilmore|David Medina|Ibrahim Hamad|Alex Tapia}}
| note4 =
| extra4 = {{hlist|Sounwave|Gilmore{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length4 = 3:30
| title5 = Miles and Miles
| writer5 = {{hlist|Hamad|Gilmore}}
| note5 =
| extra5 = Gilmore
| length5 = 1:39
| title6 = Live For
| writer6 = {{hlist|Hamad|Sedik Boudif|Gilmore|Ali Gabir Oussama|Alex Isley}}
| note6 =
| extra6 = {{hlist|Ogee Handz|DikC}}
| length6 = 2:42
| title7 = Clouds Never Get Old
| writer7 = {{hlist|Hamad|Boudif|Gilmore|Jay Kurzweil|Rollins|Oussama|Melissa Elliott|Timothy Mosley}}
| note7 =
| extra7 = {{hlist|Ogee Handz|DikC|Jay Kurzweil{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length7 = 3:08
| title8 = Matches
| writer8 = {{hlist|Hamad|Gilmore|Rollins|Roxane Dayette|Sam Evans}}
| note8 = featuring The Hics
| extra8 = Gilmore
| length8 = 3:44
| title9 = Night Job
| writer9 = {{hlist|Hamad|Jermaine Cole|Brown|Samuel Dutertre||Henry Laufer|Gilmore|Rollins}}
| note9 = featuring J. Cole
| extra9 = {{hlist|Cedric Brown|KQuick|Gilmore{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length9 = 3:14
| title10 = Ricochet
| writer10 = {{hlist|Hamad|Gilmore|Geordan Reid-Campbell|Dayette|Evans|Jacob Welsh}}
| note10 = featuring The Hics
| extra10 = {{hlist|The Hics|Gilmore|Kurzweil{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length10 = 3:16
| title11 = Penthouse
| writer11 = {{hlist|Hamad|Gilmore|Derick Okolie|Rollins|Tiffany Calver|Michael Parvizi|Paul Sledge|Preston Walker}}
| note11 =
| extra11 = Gilmore
| length11 = 4:01
| title12 = Black Owned Business
| writer12 = {{hlist|Hamad|Gilmore|Rollins|Otis Jackson, Jr.|Bhanu Rangra|Daniel Thompson}}
| note12 =
| extra12 = Subdaio
| length12 = 2:42
| total_length = 36:56
| all_writing =
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}}
Notes
- {{ref|a|[a]}} indicates an additional producer.
- "Clouds Never Get Old" features background vocals from Ella Mai.{{cite web |title=Bas - Too High to Riot: Credits |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/too-high-to-riot-mw0002913324/credits |website=AllMusic}}
Sample Credits
- "Dopamine" contains a sample of "Camille 2000 (Titles)" composed by Piero Piccioni, taken from the soundtrack to the film Camille 2000.
- "Live For" contains a sample of "Don't Do" written and performed by Alex Isley.
- "Clouds Never Get Old" contains a sample of "Never Comin' Back" written by Melissa Elliott and Timothy Mosley and performed by Aaliyah.
- "Night Job" contains a sample of "No More" written and performed by Jeremih and Schlomo{{cite web | url=https://www.whosampled.com/sample/394666/Bas-J.-Cole-Night-Job-Jeremih-Shlohmo-No-More/ | title=Bas feat. J. Cole's 'Night Job' - Discover the Sample Source | website=WhoSampled }}
- "Penthouse" contains a sample of "Can't See Lovely (Lately)" written by Michael Parvizi, Paul Sledge and Preston Walker and performed by Penthouse Penthouse and PromNite.
- "Black Owned Business" contains a sample of "Experience" written by Otis Jackson, Jr., Bhanu Rangra and Daniel Thompson and performed by Daedelus.
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" | Chart (2015)
! scope="col" | Peak |
|---|
| scope="row" | US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200| title= Billboard 200 Chart|magazine=Billboard |accessdate=March 15, 2016}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 49 |
| scope="row" | US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url= http://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-albums| title= Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard |date= |accessdate=March 15, 2016}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 7 |
| scope="row" | US Rap Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/rap-albums| title= Billboard Rap Albums Chart|magazine=Billboard |date= |accessdate=March 15, 2016}}
| style="text-align:center;" | 6 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bas (rapper)}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by J. Cole
Category:Interscope Records albums