''Identity'' is the fifth studio album primarily written and conducted by American
hip hop music group
Far East Movement. It was released on October 21, 2016 through
Spinnin' Records and Transparent Agency. The album features artists from diverse backgrounds, especially those from
Korea and America, as a nod to Far East Movement's
Koreatown origins. The band itself describes the album as "a Far East Movement, in a sense, bridging artists from the east with artists from the west while fusing different genres we love."
Background
The album was created after Far East Movement's hiatus. The group members were discouraged after facing
racism from the public and the music industry. The band traveled to Asia and there began plotting out an album that "could bridge the gap between Asia and America".
As reflected in the title, the album was intended to explore the artists' joint Asian and American identities, as well as collaborate with artists from both backgrounds.
Production
The album features the likes of
Yoon Mi-rae, Autolaser,
Marshmello,
Chanyeol
Park Chan-yeol (; born November 27, 1992), better known mononymously as Chanyeol, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, actor and model. He is a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy group Exo, its sub-group Exo-K and sub-u ...
,
Tinashe,
Candice Pillay
Candice Pillay (born June 10, 1981) is a South African singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. She is best known for writing songs for artists including Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Calvin Harris, Christina Aguilera, Dr. Dre, Eminem, ScHoolboy Q, Why ...
, No Riddim,
Elijah Blake
Sean Fenton (born June 4, 1992), better known by the stage name Elijah Blake, is a Dominican-American singer, songwriter and record producer. He wrote songs for Keyshia Cole, Rick Ross, Rihanna, and co-wrote Usher's number-one R&B hit, " Climax ...
,
Tiffany
Tiffany may refer to:
People
* Tiffany (given name), list of people with this name
* Tiffany (surname), list of people with this surname
Known mononymously as "Tiffany":
* Tiffany Darwish, (born 1971), an American singer, songwriter, actress kn ...
, King Chain,
Jay Park,
MNEK,
Hyolyn, Gill Chang,
Soulja Boy
DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990), known professionally as Soulja Boy (formerly Soulja Boy Tell 'Em), is an American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence, after his self published debut single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" peake ...
,
Loco,
Big K.R.I.T.
Justin Lewis Scott (born August 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T. (a backronym for King Remembered in Time), is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he started his musical career in 2005. Af ...
, MIKNNA,
Macy Gray and
Urban Zakapa.
As Far East Movement wanted to collaborate with artists on both sides of the Pacific, they flew back and forth between the US and South Korea.
Kevin Nishimura described collaborating with artists as a "slow and challenging process that involved building and nurturing relationships with artists."
The album was the first album released by Far East Movement's own company, Transparent Agency.
Critical reception
Crystal Leww of
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
commented, "''Identity'' is a distinctly Asian-American album, and it speaks to the very specific experience of a group of people who are often seen as foreigners in their own home. But there’s no sense of loss here – Far East Movement have made a cohesive, exciting celebration of that hybrid life."
Neil Z. Young of
AllMusic rated the album four stars out of five, describing it as a "mature and transformative effort that succeeds in honoring their roots by bridging the gap between their Asian and American cultures."
Track listing
Charts
References
{{Authority control
2016 albums
Far East Movement albums
Albums produced by MNEK
Spinnin' Records albums