According to Wikipedia, it states that, "Milky Way is the third studio album by American rapper Bas. It was released on August 24, 2018, by Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances from J. Cole, Ari Lennox, ASAP Ferg and Correy C, with production handled by a variety of producers including J. Cole, Ron Gilmore, Cedric Brown, Jay Kurzweil, Childish Major, Sango, Meez, among others".
Moreover on Wikipedia it says, "The album was supported by two official singles : Boca Raton with ASAP Ferg and Tribe with J. Cole and promotional single Pinball II featuring Correy C. The album debuted at number 35 on the US Billboard 200 selling 13,150 album-equivalent units in the first week".
The Track List:
1. Icarus feat. Ari Lennox
2. Front Desk
3. Tribe
4. Boca Raton feat. A$AP Ferg
5. Barack Obama Special
6. Purge
7. Fragrance feat. Correy C
8. Infiniti
9. Infiniti+2
10. Sanufa
11. Great Ones
12. PDA
13. Designer
14. Spaceships+Rockets feat. Lion Babe,Moe Moks & mOma+Guy
There are various ways in which the album is all about positivity. As stated by Wikipedia, "Bas addressed the release of Milky Way and the thought process behind it on Instagram saying:
'It's been two and a half years since 'Too High to Riot'. I've spent the better part searching for ground. We go looking for love in all the wrong places. We go on radio shows looking for love from the hosts and their audience. We put out albums, our truths, in hopes the public will love them and catapult us to great successes. We hope our labels will love how the singles perform. We conquer as many women as we can as if it'll make us love ourselves. Instead of finding one that who shows you the man you could be. We share only the good parts of our lives on social media. In hopes of making people fall in love with us. One like at a time. This album is about finding ground. About not poisoning your own well. About finding and tethering yourself to the love that truly fulfills you. Love of self. Love of others. Lovers. Family. Friends. Fans. You've all given me all the affirmation I'll ever need. That is the Milky Way. The only way to go".
From my point of view, the information above supports the view that the Milky Way album is all about positivity. As we can see, he thanks everyone who has shown him love throughout his journey and he is confident that he will succeed. The use of these words, "That is the Milky Way" is probably a metaphor that he will continue working hard in making his music.
Bas is rather celebratory in the album Milky Way. According to hotnewhiphop.com: Bas Milky Way Review by Richard Bryan, it states that , "The Milky Way in contrast, is significantly more upbeat than his previous work, finding Bas rather celebratory, as he welcomes the highest point in his career thus far".
From my point of view, Bas has come a long way as a rapper. From his two albums Last Winter and Too High to Riot, he has improved and matured as an artist. This is why he celebrates his success because he has become successful hence this supports the view that the Milky Way album is all about positivity.
Bas's attitude towards all the tracks is positive. According to Richard Bryan, he states that, "Bas approaches all the tracks with the attitude of someone at total ease with their environment".
From my point of view, the fact that he is at total ease with his environment means he is probably approaching everything with a positive mind that things will work out. This supports the view that the album is all about positivity.
The beats in the album also shows a sense of positivity. Richard Bryan has stated that, "The beat selection is eclectic, still, with lots of Afro-Caribbean influences which cement the beach time vibes".
From my point of view, the use of the word, "eclectic" means mixed which means there are many different beats in the album which makes it interesting. Moreover the use of the word, "beach" is associated with peace and relaxation hence no stress and worries. This supports the view that the album is all about positivity.
The majority of the project is about travelling to exotic places. Richard Bryan has stated that, "...the majority of the project is spent musing over travelling to exotic locales and his relationships with various interests".
From my point of view, I believe this point is debatable. Although travelling to exotic locales could mean something positive,his relationships with various interests could have been good or bad.
Milky Way is perfect vacation music. Richard Bryan states that, "Milky Way is pretty much perfect vacation music. Soundtracks to laugh, and drink, and periodically, dance to". This clearly supports the view that the album is all about positivity because words like "dance" and "laugh" is positive which is a good thing.
Milky Way is also about pure enjoyment. According to djbooth.net: Bas Milky Way 1 Listen Album Review" by Yoh Phillips, Aug 24, 2018, it states that, "Milky Way is a body of work built for pure enjoyment. Music for good time".
This clearly supports the view that the album is all about positivity because the album is about uplifting someone else's spirits. One of the songs which is about pure enjoyment is Spaceships+Rockets".
The song Tribe clearly shows that the album is all about positivity. As stated by Richard Bryan, "....he has the utmost reverence for the woman he's describing thanking God for bringing her to him"
This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Chorus: Bas & J. Cole]
"I think I made it, I think I made it, I think I made it
'Cause I'm always smiling, and you are the reason now
Girl, I can't explain it
It's all in the timing, I had to get low, I had to get low
I had to get back, I had to report
I had to get facts 'cause you are just that, you that
You share your truths with me
And I find them true, a muse, you in the booth with me"
From the lyrics above,there is an element of love shown by both artists, Bas and J. Cole. Love is associated with pure happiness, a feeling that no one wants to let go hence why the album is all about positivity.
The song Icarus seems to be about positivity. According to Richard Bryan, he states that, "He starts off the chorus of Icarus with a quote seemingly about a break up: 'Ever since I let go of you and I, I've been feeling too alive',.....". This probably means that the break up was a blessing because it has allowed him to succeed as a rapper.
Moreover, according to Genius, it states that, "The song's title references the Greek legend of Icarus, as Bas' success, liberation and current position parallels the blind sense of ambition that led to Icarus' early demise. Whilst Bas ruminated over his struggles with new found fame and success on Too High to Riot, he returns with an introspective, balanced outlook on his life and familial position,expressing a greater sense of confidence, wisdom and caution".
The fact that Bas has confidence and wisdom is another point to support the view that the album is all about positivity.
The song Front Desk however seems to be negative. According to Genius,it states that , "...Bas seems to point out at his exes or old friends, who have tried to re - unite the gates with him only in order to take advantage from his boosted status as a true artist". This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Chorus]
"Oh you heading out of town with your bestfriend
I ain't front desk bitch you ain't gotta check in, hey (yeah, yeah)
What do you call that?
I knew you'd come back (come back)
I knew you'd come back (back)
I knew you'd come back, back
What do you call that?
I knew you'd come back (come back)
I knew you'd come back (back)
I knew you'd come back"
The fact that they wanted to take advantage of him is negative because it highlights the disadvantages of having fame. There are fake people who will use you. This is why the song Front Desk does not support the view that the album is all about positivity.
The song Barack Obama Special does not support the view that the album is all about positivity. According to Genius, it states that, "The songs works on both a nod of approval for Obama and as a conditional statement on failed racial integration. He points out the distinctions between his homeland and his identity ". This is shown on the lyrics below:
[Intro]
"Juice
This one is dedicated to
My bitch ass neighbors, ha, ha, yeah
'Cause I'm livin' better now, better now
Bitch I'm livin' better now
Yeah
[Verse 1]
I had to move 'cause my neighbors so racist (Fuck niggas)....."
There are important points to consider. The words, "failed racial integration" shows the issues faced in America. There is lack of equality in terms of race. This is why Bas said, "I had to move 'cause my neighbors so racist....". This is similar to the song, Neighbors by J. Cole which is found on the album 4 Your Eyez Only. On this song, the neighbours thought J. Cole was selling dope of which that was not true. Failed racial integration is a problematic issue in America hence there is negativity. This is why the album does not seem to be all about positivity.
In conclusion, to a greater extent the album Milky Way is all about positivity. Although songs like Barack Obama Special is about failed racial integration and Front Desk is about fake people, the album is positive. Bas has clearly stated that the album is about finding and tethering yourself to the love that truly fulfills you which is a good thing.
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