USee4Yourself
{{Short description|2021 album by IDK}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
|cover=USee4Yourself.jpg
| alt=A shot of a shirtless IDK wearing a do-rag and looking sideways on a yellow background
| caption=Cover for standard and Complete editions; deluxe edition features a blue background
| name = USee4Yourself
| type = studio
| artist = IDK
| released = July 9, 2021
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 43:51
| studio = *Dean's List House of Hits (Cypress, Texas)
| label = * Clue No Clue
| producer = {{hlist|Acyde|Almatic|ATL Jacob|Blue Rondo|Bobby Raps|CashMoneyAP|DJ Dahi|IDK|Illingsworth|Kurtis McKenzie|LDG Beats|the Neptunes|Rascal|Stonegroov|Teddy Roxpin|T-Minus}}
| prev_title = IDK & Friends 2
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = Simple.
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Singles
| name = USee4Yourself
| type = studio
| single1 = Shoot My Shot
| single1date = April 16, 2021
| single2 = Peloton
| single2date = June 11, 2021
| single3 = PradadaBang
| single3date = July 2, 2021
| single4 = Red
| single4date = July 9, 2021
}}
}}
USee4Yourself (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by American rapper IDK. It was released on July 9, 2021, through Clue No Clue and Warner Records.{{Cite web|title=IDK {{!}} Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/idk-mn0003100046/credits|access-date=2021-09-28|website=AllMusic}} It features guest appearances from Young Thug, Offset, Westside Gunn, the late MF Doom, Jay Electronica, Lucky Daye, Sir, T-Pain, the Neptunes, Swae Lee, Rico Nasty, Slick Rick, and Sevyn Streeter; Trippie Redd, Jvck James, Shy Glizzy, Lil Yachty, JID, Kenny Mason, and Royce da 5'9" additionally feature on its deluxe edition. IDK primarily handled production himself, alongside high-profile producers including ATL Jacob, DJ Dahi, CashMoneyAP, and T-Minus. It serves as a sequel to his debut album Is He Real? (2019), and follows IDK & Friends 2 (2020), his soundtrack for the documentary Basketball County: In the Water.
Background
IDK stated, "I needed to make this album to become a better person", and expressed during the process, "took away a sense of fear... of people finding out who I am".{{Cite news |title=On New Album, Rapper IDK Reconciles A Disparate Self: 'And Here We Are Today' |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/08/18/1028484320/on-new-album-rapper-idk-reconciles-a-disparate-self-and-here-we-are-today |access-date=2021-09-28}}{{Cite web|title=IDK's Vulnerability Is a Superpower|url=https://www.complex.com/music/idk-interview-usee4yourself|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Complex}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| title = Professional ratings
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |title=USee4Yourself – IDK |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/usee4yourself-mw0003557024 |website=AllMusic}}
| rev3 = Clash
| rev3score = 8/10{{cite web |title=IDK – USee4Yourself |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/idk-usee4yourself |website=Clash Magazine}}
| rev4 = Gigwise
| rev4score = {{Rating|7|10}}{{Cite news |last=Maplethorpe, Dale |date=July 9, 2021 |title=Album Review: IDK – USee4Yourself |work=Gigwise |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/3400790/album-review--idk---usee4yourself |access-date=October 1, 2021}}
| rev5 = HipHopDX
| rev6 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev7 = NME
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |title=IDK – USee4Yourself album review |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/idk-usee4yourself-review-2987721 |website=NME |date=7 July 2021}}
| noprose = yes
}}
USee4Yourself received "generally favorable" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 79, based on 5 reviews.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = USee4Yourself {{nobold|– Standard edition}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 43:51
| title1 = 3018091821
| writer1 = {{hlist|Jason Mills||Benjamin Cooper}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|IDK|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1 = 1:11
| title2 = Santa Monica Blvd
| writer2 = Mills
| extra2 = {{hlist|ATL Jacob|Bobby Raps|IDK{{ref|c|[c]}}|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length2 = 2:41
| title3 = Dogs Don't Lie
| writer3 = {{hlist|Mills|Brian Aronow|Jesse Brotter|Derek Gamlam|Jonathan Gilad|Kurtis McKenzie|Dacoury Natche|Caroline Ramani}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|McKenzie|DJ Dahi|IDK{{ref|c|[c]}}|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = 1:57
| title4 = Truth
| writer4 = Mills
| extra4 = {{hlist|IDK|Blue Rondo{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length4 = 0:33
| title5 = PradadaBang
| note5 = with Young Thug
| writer5 = {{hlist|Mills|Jeffery Williams}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|IDK|Blue Rondo|JaVale McGee{{ref|c|[c]}}|Almatic{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length5 = 2:25
| title6 = Shoot My Shot
| note6 = with Offset
| writer6 = {{hlist|Mills|Kiari Cephus}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|T-Minus|Luca Mauti{{ref|c|[c]}}|IDK{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length6 = 2:52
| title7 = Red
| note7 = with Westside Gunn, MF Doom, and Jay Electronica
| writer7 = {{hlist|Mills|Alvin Worthy|Daniel Dumile|Elpadaro Allah|Philippe Briche|Byron Thomas|Michel Ripoche|Bryan Williams}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|IDK|Illingsworth|Blue Rondo{{ref|c|[c]}}|Obi Nwadije{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length7 = 4:15
| title8 = Jelly
| writer8 = {{hlist|Mills|Cooper}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|IDK|Blue Rondo}}
| length8 = 0:43
| title9 = Puerto Rico
| note9 = with Lucky Daye
| writer9 = {{hlist|Mills|Eden Ahbez|David Brown|Cooper|LaShawn Daniels|Fred Jerkins III|Rodney Jerkins|Kelly Price}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|IDK|Rascal|Blue Rondo{{ref|c|[c]}}|Buddah Blessed{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length9 = 3:17
| title10 = Temporary Love
| note10 = with Sir
| writer10 = {{hlist|Mills|Sir Darryl Farris|Cooper}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|IDK|Blue Rondo{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length10 = 1:07
| title11 = 10 Feet
| note11 = with T-Pain
| writer11 = {{hlist|Mills|DeNesha Bowser}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|IDK|Acyde|Nwadije{{ref|c|[c]}}|Efosa Beloved{{ref|c|[c]}}|Travagant{{ref|c|[c]}}|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length11 = 2:58
| title12 = Keto
| note12 = with the Neptunes, Swae Lee, and Rico Nasty
| writer12 = {{hlist|Mills|Khalif Brown|Maria-Cecilia Kelly|City Rominiecki|Pharrell Williams|Chad Hugo}}
| extra12 = The Neptunes
| length12 = 2:21
| title13 = 1995
| writer13 = {{hlist|Mills|Rominiecki}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|IDK|Stonegroov|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}|Buddah Blessed{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length13 = 4:08
| title14 = Peloton
| writer14 = {{hlist|Mills|Khalil Abdul-Rahman|Thomas Bell|Kenny Gamble|Obi Nwadije|Alex Petit Sr.|Kiowa Roukema}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|IDK|CashMoneyAP|YoungKio{{ref|c|[c]}}|DJ Khalil{{ref|c|[c]}}|Nwadije{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length14 = 3:33
| title15 = Hey Auntie
| note15 = with Slick Rick
| writer15 = {{hlist|Mills|Gerald Lee|Richard Walters}}
| extra15 = {{hlist|IDK|LDG Beats|Teddy Roxpin|Blue Rondo{{ref|c|[c]}}|Eden Eliah Nagar{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length15 = 3:22
| title16 = Cry in Church
| note16 = with Sevyn Streeter
| writer16 = {{hlist|Mills|Amber Streeter|Cooper}}
| extra16 = {{hlist|IDK|Rascal|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length16 = 4:47
| title17 = Closure
| writer17 = Mills
| extra17 = IDK
| length17 = 1:34
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = USee4Yourself {{nobold|– Deluxe edition}}
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 70:50
| title18 = Dinner Date
| note18 = featuring Trippie Redd
| writer18 = {{hlist|Mills|Denzel Baptiste|David Biral|Michael White IV}}
| extra18 = {{hlist|Take a Daytrip|Westen Weiss|IDK{{ref|c|[c]}}|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length18 = 2:46
| title19 = Temporary Love
| note19 = featuring Sir; extended version
| writer19 = {{hlist|Mills|Farris}}
| extra19 = {{hlist|D Smoke|D.K. the Punisher|IDK{{ref|c|[c]}}|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length19 = 4:16
| title20 = Puerto Rico
| note20 = featuring Jvck James; version 2
| writer20 = {{hlist|Mills|James Anderson}}
| extra20 = {{hlist|IDK|Rascal|Blue Rondo{{ref|c|[c]}}|Buddah Blessed{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length20 = 3:18
| title21 = 2 Cents
| note21 = featuring Shy Glizzy; extended version
| writer21 = {{hlist|Mills|Marquis King}}
| extra21 = {{hlist|IDK|Rascal}}
| length21 = 2:24
| title22 = Just Like Martin
| writer22 = Mills
| extra22 = {{hlist|IDK|ChaseTheMoney}}
| length22 = 2:33
| title23 = King Alfred Plan
| note23 = featuring Lil Yachty
| writer23 = {{hlist|Mills|Gamlam|Gil Scott-Heron|Taji Jones|Miles McCollum}}
| extra23 = {{hlist|IDK|Tane Runo|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length23 = 2:37
| title24 = Cereal
| note24 = featuring JID and Kenny Mason
| writer24 = {{hlist|Mills|Jackson Card|Gamlam|Edwin Green Jr.|Gabriel Guerra|Destin Route|John Welch III}}
| extra24 = {{hlist|Christo|DJ Scheme|Jay Card|IDK{{ref|c|[c]}}|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length24 = 3:19
| title25 = Rain
| note25 = SWV cover
| writer25 = Brian Alexander Morgan
| extra25 = {{hlist|IDK|Nagar}}
| length25 = 3:46
| title26 = Dogs Don't Lie
| note26 = featuring Royce da 5′9″; extended version
| writer26 = {{hlist|Mills|Aronow|Brotter|Gamlam|Gilad|McKenzie|Ryan Montgomery|Natche|Ramani}}
| extra26 = {{hlist|DJ Dahi|McKenzie|IDK{{ref|c|[c]}}|Blue Rondo{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length26 = 2:57
}}
Notes
- {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} signifies a co-producer.
- {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer.
- The Complete Edition features instrumentals of all standard edition tracks.
- "3018091821" contains a sample of "Body Song", written by Benjamin Cooper and performed by Panares.
- "Dogs Don't Lie" contains a sample of "Cracking", written by Brian Aronow, Jesse Brotter, Jonathan Gilad, and Caroline Ramani, and performed by Crumb.
- "Red" contains a sample of "Hier Aujourd'hui Demain" written and performed by Michel Ripoche and Phillipe Briche; and interpolations of "Still Fly", written by Byron Thomas and Bryan Williams, and performed by Big Tymers.
- "Puerto Rico" contains a sample of "Nature Boy", written by Eden Ahbez, as performed by the Singers Unlimited, and an interpolation of "Can't Get Enough", written by LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins, and Kelly Price, and performed by Tamia.
- "10 Feet" contains a sample of "Monkey on the D$ck", written by Renetta Lowe and Byron Thomas, and performed by Magnolia Shorty.
- "Peloton" contains a sample of "Payback Is a Dog", written by Thomas Bell and Kenneth Gamble, and performed by the Stylistics.
- "Hey Auntie" contains a sample of "Love Theme" from the Black Shampoo soundtrack, written and performed by Gerald Lee.
- "Cry in Church" contains a sample of "The Prayer IV", written and performed by DMX.
Personnel
Musicians
- IDK – vocals (all tracks), programming (tracks 18, 25, 26)
- Aishah White – additional vocals (tracks 1, 17)
- Andrew Schulz – additional vocals (track 1)
- Javonté – additional vocals (track 1)
- Eden Eliah Nagar – drum programming (track 2)
- Mike Tyson – additional vocals (track 3)
- Acyde – additional vocals (track 8)
- DJ Honey – additional vocals (track 8)
- Jet Luna – additional vocals (track 8)
- Blue Rondo – additional vocals (track 10), programming (19, 25, 26)
- Jason Brown – additional vocals (track 10)
- Mother Marygold – additional vocals (track 11)
- City Rominiecki – additional vocals (tracks 12, 13)
- DMX – additional vocals (track 16)
Technical
{{div col}}
- Calin Enache – mixing (tracks 1–4, 6, 10, 11, 14–17), mastering (17), engineering (2, 3, 9, 11, 14, 15)
- Josh Gudwin – mixing (track 2)
- Mike Dean – mixing (tracks 4, 5, 7, 9, 11–13), mastering (all tracks)
- Eden Eliah Nagar – mixing (tracks 8), engineering (all tracks), mixing assistance (1–7, 9–17)
- Vic Wainstein – engineering (tracks 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15)
- Chaz Sexton – engineering (tracks 9–11, 15)
- Kouroush "MyBoyRoach" Poursalehi – engineering (track 9)
- Mike Larson – engineering (track 12)
- Kahlil Vellani – engineering (tracks 14)
- Kai Lasker – engineering (track 14)
- Bernard "Bezo" Chavez II – engineering for Sevyn Streeter (track 16)
{{div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Warner Records albums
Category:Albums produced by the Neptunes
Category:Albums produced by T-Minus (producer)
Category:Albums produced by ATL Jacob
Category:Albums produced by Bobby Raps
Category:Albums produced by DJ Dahi
Category:Albums produced by Kurtis McKenzie