El Duende! (album)

''El Duende!'' is the third studio album by American rapper Radamiz. It was released on October 25, 2023, by Big Enough Home. The album features guest appearances and production from ICECOLDBISHOP, Sadhugold, Verde Madera, Morning Effect, JUNIE., Graymatter of Mutant Academy, Crooklin, Dimadidthis, DJ Cutbird, Kenny Rivero, and Rafael Moure-Eraso, the latter serving as the album's narrator and the father of the album's mixing and mastering engineer, Rafael Moure.

Concept

The concept behind the project,"El Duende!" comes from the adjective "Duende," as it was brought to Radamiz's attention after his panel at Harvard University by Rafael Moure-Eraso, the narrator of the project and the father of this album's mixing/mastering engineer. Defined by Federico Lorca, represents the essence that makes great art exceptional, touched by the divine. Radamiz, inspired by the concept, sought to shed light on the idea and the intricate work behind it. "Duende" is a concept that thrives in the shadows, emerging due to the artist's hidden toils, making it a vital but enigmatic element of artistic creation. "Duende" is the dark matter that makes great art incredible, that makes incredible art touched by God. It absolves itself from form and is solely attainable when mortality and sacrifice have properly been addressed and executed, respectively.

Release and promotion

On September 27, 2023, Radamiz released his first single "The Monk's Ferrari", which he explained as "This is the first song Verde Madera and I are releasing together after building a 10-year friendship. The title comes from a book that was at our AirBnB in Topanga called The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Verde had just made those two beats the morning I showed up and when I heard them, we decided to merge them before I added my vocals. I knew we had something special immediately. Verde was also the graphic designer for my last 3-song EP 3 Days Outside Your Body, so it really all is serendipitous." The song later received a co-sign from Eminem on his "The Art of Bars" playlist in partnership with Audiomack.

On September 30, 2023, Radamiz announced his short film "Not The Angel, Not The Muse" that touches on the concept of the project, live performances of songs from the project, and interviews from people connected to the project. With the screening event held at Slow Jamz Gallery on October 4, in Los Angeles, California. Later being released on his YouTube channel on October 12.

On October 18, 2023, the album's second and final single, "Ffiirree" featuring ICECOLDBISHOP, produced by Sadhugold. Days after the release of "Ffiirree", Radamiz was a part of Los Angeles Fashion Week, opening the show for Gypsy Sport's 10-year anniversary, walking the runway and performing "The Monk's Ferrari". He's quoted saying "it felt like an honor to represent the ten years of something, it's so hard to get one season done, it's so hard to get two shirts done, and it looks bloody behind the scenes and it's not always great. So just to be the first person to walk out in commemoration of somebody lasting ten years, it was a responsibility that I enjoyed having."

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal and iTunes' metadata.

Notes
* signifies an additional producer
* "Angel & Muse" features additional vocals by Rafael Moure-Eraso and Gabrielle Borrajo
* "The Monk's Ferrari" features guitar by Morning Effect and additional vocals by Frsh Waters, Gabrielle Borrajo, and Rafael Moure-Eraso
* "7 Enemies" features additional vocals by Gabrielle Borrajo and Rafael Moure-Eraso
* "warriorr" features guitar by Dimadidthis and additional vocals by Frsh Waters
* "Ffiirree" features guitar by Dimadidthis
* "Ffrreeee (Tuesday)" features guitar by Dimadidthis and additional vocals by Kamal Wilson & Rafael Moure-Eraso

Personnel

* Alec Dibell – creative producer
* Brandon "Brigante" Marquez – management
* Crooklin – producer
* Dimadidthis - guitar; producer
* DJ Cutbird – producer
* Frsh Waters – additional vocals
* Gabrielle Borrajo – textile design; additional vocals
* ICECOLDBISHOP – featured artist
* JUNIE. - producer ; featured artist
* Kamal Wilson - additional vocals
* Kenny Rivero – producer
* Leandro Lara – photographer
* Morning Effect – guitar; producer
* Muhozi Nintunze - art direction; graphic design
* Nicholas "NickyChulo" Fulcher - management; graphic design
* Radamiz – vocals
* Rafael Moure - mixing engineer; mastering engineer
* Rafael Moure-Eraso – featured artist; additional vocals
* Sadhugold – producer ; featured artist
* Verde Madera – producer
* WASEEL – recording at Basewood Studios in Los Angeles, California

References

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2023 albums
2020s concept albums
Hip-hop albums by American artists
Hip-hop albums by Dominican Republic artists