There are various ways in which the EP's set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland. I will explain the EP's one by one.
Rags
According to Wikipedia, it states that, "Rags is the third EP by American hip-hop duo EarthGang, released August 31, 2017 by Spillage Village and distributed by Empire Distribution. Released after the announcement of their signing to Dreamville, it is the first instalment in a trilogy of EPs, leading up to their debut album Mirrorland.
Dreamville also states that, "EarthGang takes us on a journey in search of humanity's pure potential and endless possibilities during some of our most trying times. Narrated by DC Young Fly and featuring production from Hollywood JB and Childish Major, the project is the groups Dreamville debut".
Genius also states that, "The EP is narrated by DC Young Fly, playing a Lyft driver travelling around Atlanta, Georgia". Moreover it says, "The EP is the beginning of a trilogy of EPs which connect to create a storyline. Rags represents the beginning;the struggle and hardship, the losses, and the perseverance it took for the duo to see the fruits of their labor".
From my point of view, there are important points to consider. Rags is the first instalment in a trilogy of EPs which leads up to their debut album Mirrorland. This is why the EPs set the tone of their album Mirrorland.
Moreover , when Dreamville said EarthGang are taking us on a journey probably means that EarthGang were sharing their journey to their listeners so that they can understand the struggles they faced to succeed as artists. The journey could also mean their road to Mirrorland hence the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
The Track List:
1. Meditate feat. J.I.D
2. Nowhere Fast feat. Childish Major
3. Red Light
4. Legendari
5. House feat. Mick Jenkins
Since Rags takes us on a journey about EarthGang's struggles and their road to Mirrorland, there are some songs which are important. One of them is Meditate. According to Genius, it states that, "The song explores the difficulty to have peace in the western world as a black man while also commenting on appropriation". This is shown on the lyrics below :
[Chorus: Johnny Venus]
"Looking for peace in America
Looking for peace when I stare at you
Looking for peace in America
Looking for peace when I stare at you
I be looking for peace in America
Looking for peace when I stare at you, ooh
Looking for peace when I stare at you"
From the lyrics above, this shows there's racial issues in America. Dreamville artists, Bas and J. Cole had mentioned about the racial issues through the songs Barack Obama Special by Bas and Neighbours by J. Cole.
The song Meditate explores the issues faced in America and the struggles EarthGang faced. This sets the tone of their debut album Mirrorland because they are open about their past lives.
The song Red Light talks about the lives of EARTHGANG. According to Genius,it states that, "EARTHGANG rap about how life has moved so fast as their careers explode with opportunities and their image to the public eye grow exponentially". This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Chorus: Johnny Venus]
"Red light, green light
Headlights, speed by
Made by, design
Child of the city
Oh, they knocking with me
Oh, they rocking with me
Know they fucking with me
Know they fucking with me
[Verse 2: Doctur Dot]
Predilection, not prediction
Manifested, bitch you guessed it....."
From my point of view, the fact that their careers exploded with opportunities is an important point to consider. It shows their elevation in the rap game hence why the trilogy of EPs led to their debut album Mirrorland. Mirrorland also shows their elevation in the rap game.
There is an article which mentioned something interesting about the EP Rags. According to creativeloafing.com: RECORD REVIEW : EarthGang's Rags by Montana Samuels | Wednesday September 6, 2017, it states that, "....EarthGang speaks with an unrelenting seriousness, leaving the humor to rapper DC Young Fly's between song banter".
This is interesting in the sense that they are serious throughout the EP. This means they are taking their music seriously.
Moreover, DC Young Fly's banter helps to lighten up the mood in the EP. A mixture of seriousness and humor is also found on their album Mirrorland which is why Rags set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
EarthGang has provided evidence that the first of three EPs Rags set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland. According to hotnewhiphop.com : Stream EarthGang's Rags EP by Kevin Goddard | Sep 01, 2017, it states that, "In a new interview with P&P on Thursday, EarthGang revealed that Rags is just the first of three EPs to come before dropping off their highly anticipated album.
'It's a part of the three-part EP series. Rags, Robots and Royalty. All these things are the train stops to Mirrorland, which is our album coming out whenever the fuck we put it out', they said. 'It represents being from the bottom. Shout out to everybody who came from the bottom and came from the lowest. At the bottom, there's nothing but pure potential. Zero is pure potential' ".
From the evidence given by Kevin Goddard, it is clear that the trilogy of EPs : Rags, Robots and Royalty set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland . Since the EPs represents being from the bottom, it means that, Mirrorland shows EarthGang's elevation in terms of rap music.
Robots
According to Wikipedia, "Robots is the fourth EP by American hip-hop duo EarthGang, released October 20, 2017 by Spillage Village and distributed by Empire Distribution. Released as a sequel to their third EP Rags, it is the second instalment in a trilogy of EPs, leading up to their debut album Mirrorland. The EP features production from Swish, Groove, Anonxmous, Insightful, and Johnny Venus. It features a guest appearance from SiR".
Moreover, as stated by Dreamville, ".....EP continues their constant artistic progression".
This proves that the trilogy of EPs is a journey to their debut album Mirrorland.
The Track List:
1. Lyfted Intro
2. Artificial
3. Robots
4. Underwater feat. SiR
5. So Many Feelings
6. Flickted
There are various ways in which the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
According to hotnewhiphop.com : EarthGang Look To The Future on Robots EP by Mitch Findlay |Oct 20, 2017, it states that, "The project may be a modest six tracks, but Doctur Dot has assured fans that each chapter makes up part of a 'deconstructed album' ".
From my point of view, the words, "deconstructed album" is making reference to their debut album Mirrorland which proves that the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
Moreover Mitch Findlay stated that, "The idea of a concept album is clearly one that appeals to both Venus and Dot, and the latter broke down his appreciation for the lost art of musical narratives :
'What I'm interested to see is how many people play 'em all back to back and play the story through and see...Those kind of conversations are my favorite. Those are the people that pick out the details and interpret shit their own way. It's my favorite part of doing this shit 'cause I don't never tell someone they're wrong. I think that's dope. I ain't think about it that way. That's my favorite part' ".
From my point of view, there are important points to consider. The fact that the EPs are stories is probably making reference to the past lives they have faced. Therefore, the EPs are used as a way of showing listeners how they have risen to success despite the challenges they faced. The album Mirrorland could be interpreted to show their elevation in the rap game and them embracing who they are as rappers.
There are various songs in the EP, Robots which shows the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland. One of them is Artificial. According to Genius, it states that, "Follows the theme on the EP which represents what the world is going to in terms of Robots and Artificial things futuristic". This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Verse 1: Johnny Venus]
"....Tell me what you want from me
Ooh you know I'm psychic, I don't like it when you try to hide the hoax
'Cause we ain't got shit in common
We ain't got shit in common, tell me why the fuck you 'round me"
[Chorus: Doctur Dot]
"I don't want no artificial
I don't flaunt no artificial
I don't need no artificial
I don't, flaunt no
(Artificial ends)"
From my point of view, artificial could be making reference to fake people. Therefore, the song is talking about fake people who only want to be associated with EarthGang because of their success. However EarthGang does not tolerate them hence this proves that they are all about authenticity. This sets the tone of their debut album Mirrorland because songs like UP was talking about not letting money change who you are.
The song Underwater is a lost man's anthem. According to Genius, it states that, "On Underwater, Atlanta rap duo EARTHGANG enlists the help of rising artist SiR for an introspective collaboration. The track plays like a lost man's anthem,as the rappers display a sense of uncertainty and attempt to discover who they really are".
From my point of view, the song Underwater is about EarthGang's discovery of who they really are. Since the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland, it means that Mirrorland shows EarthGang's certainty of who they really are.
Royalty
The Track List:
1. Cocktail
2. Skit 1
3. Build
4. Nothing but the Best feat. Ari Lennox
5. Skit 2
6. Off the Lot feat. Mereba
7. LOLSMH
8. Skit 3
According to Wikipedia, it states that, "Royalty is the fifth EP by American hip hop duo EarthGang, and the third of the trilogy with Rags and Robots. It was released on February 16, 2018 by Spillage Village and distributed by Empire Distribution. The EP includes production by Childish Major, and guest appearances from Dreamville's singer Ari Lennox and Spillage Village's Mereba".
Moreover Genius states that, "When asked how Royalty compares to their previous EPs Rags and Robots here's what Johnny Venus told Consequence of Sound.
'The forthcoming EP is really a culmination of the two. This is us going up to the launching pad before we head off into this other world that we intend to take you into. It's like being on the plane before you take off - the anticipation,the anxiety and restlessness, whatever you feel. It's like let's get there, let's do this. This project really is us sitting in that space ready to free yourself from whatever is going on around you. This EP is the launching pad that is going to allow us to take that next step. We're right at the edge, and all of those feelings are wrapped into one project. It's like, the world is yours after that - after you take that next step and hit that next goal' ".
From my point of view, Royalty seems to be the most important out of the trilogy of EPs. It marks the beginning of EarthGang taking the next step in their career which is their debut album Mirrorland. Moreover the trilogy of EPs seems to be a warm up where they wanted their first time listeners to know about their music. Therefore, Mirrorland shows not only their elevation but also the hard work they put in the album. This is why the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
EarthGang had promised fans the release of three EPs before their album Mirrorland. According to djbooth.net: EarthGang Continue Their Strange, Wondrous Journey on Royalty EP (Review) by Yoh Phillips, Feb 23, 2018, it states that, "EarthGang promised their fans three EPs before their long-awaited sophomore album Mirrorland. This clearly proves that the trilogy of EPs sets the tone of their debut album Mirrorland .
The trilogy of EPs are unique. Yoh Phillips said, "While Rags and Robots demonstrate EarthGang's distinct uniqueness, it's Royalty, the third and final EP in this strange yet wondrous journey, that conveys their idiosyncratic thinking isn't just out of the box but out of this world". This supports my article about Mirrorland is unique in nature. Royalty seems to highlight what was to be expected on the album Mirrorland which is not only uniqueness but also a wondrous journey.
EarthGang's vocal chords are unique instruments. Yoh Phillips states that, "The fun of Dot and Venus lies in their peculiar but enthralling voices. They are unafraid of using their vocal chords as unique instruments. Often you'll hear the pair making quirky noises, harmonizing in the background, or stretching their voices to hit a daring note".
This supports my article about Mirrorland is unique in nature. EarthGang also used their vocal chords as unique instruments on the album Mirrorland. This supports the view that the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
There is a contrast to the title of the EP Royalty. Yoh Phillips states that, "The project may be called Royalty but the content isn't centred around prosperity or wealth. Instead, the duo focus on past poverty and unforgotten struggle". Therefore, they are not materialistic which is shown on one of the songs on the album Mirrorland. On the song UP they said , "don't let money make you".
Yoh Phillips gives another interesting point about the trilogy of EPs. He states that, "On the previous EPs, narrator DC Young Fly drove around Atlanta picking up random passengers, fulfilling Uber driver obligations. In a way, he was giving listeners a tour of the city with EarthGang supplying the soundtrack. But on Royalty, Doc and Venus are the passengers. The openness presented could be to exemplify that, as listeners, we are riding alongside them for the first time".
From my point of view , I believe that this is the starting point for listeners to understand their journey. EarthGang wants listeners to understand the struggles they faced to become successful rappers. Mirrorland shows their uniqueness and elevation in their careers. They are glad they took this journey with their listeners. This is why the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
Royalty was just a warm up of their debut album Mirrorland. According to hiphopdx.com: Review: EarthGang's Royalty EP Is Short But Satisfying by Justin Ivey | Mar 7, 2018, it states that, "...this project is just an appetizer for the main course - their upcoming Mirrorland album...". This proves that the trilogy of EPs set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland.
There are some songs which set the tone of their debut album Mirrorland. One of them is Build. According to Genius, it states that, "In Build , EarthGang reminisces over their past and talk about how the evolution of the sovial world has changed (or tried to change) their perspective on their hood, their past and themselves ". This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Chorus: Doctur Dot]
"Just yesterday, I had everything
Everything was nothing, but I ain't complain
Just yesterday, we was everybody
We was all in the trenches, no one ever doubted
Just yesterday, had to remind myself
The internet's a crazy place and so much of that shit is fake
I'm a nineties baby, so I'll probably look you in the face
And tell you I don't give a fuck 'bout whatever you tryna say"
From my point of view, I believe they stayed true to who they are despite the changes in the social world. This is why on Mirrorland they still use the same vocal chords and songwriting which are unique.
The song Nothing but the Best brings a sense of enjoyment. Moreover, the song was produced by Childish Major. This probably sets the tone for Mirrorland because Childish Major also produced the song Top Down.
The song Off the Lot focuses on past struggles. Yoh Phillips states that, "If there's any celebration to be had, it's that they have overcome trials and tribulations,that brighter days are ahead.
'We were in dem church buildings they were robbing us silly/ Come home the only thing they left us was the ceilings ' . Venus raps on Off the Lot, reminiscing on a painful memory from his adolescence".
From my point of view, the fact that they survived trials and tribulations sets the tone of their debut album Mirrorland. As stated by Yoh Phillips, there are brighter days ahead. Therefore this means that Mirrorland is not only unique but there's also happiness.
The Trilogy of EPs not only sets the tone of their debut album Mirrorland, but also their membership of Dreamville Records. The EPs were just a warm up to let their listeners learn more about them before they released the album Mirrorland. Both the trilogy of EPs (Rags, Robots and Royalty) and Mirrorland are unique in nature.
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