''MTV1987'' is the debut

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by American recording artist

Kevin Abstract Clifford Ian Simpson (born July 16, 1996), known by his stage name Kevin Abstract, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter, known for his role as a founding member of Brockhampton. He released his debut album, '' MTV1987'', in 2014 to crit ...

, released on July 15, 2014. As of November 2018, it has been removed from most major download and streaming services.

Background

began writing and recording his debut album ''MTV1987'' near the end of 2013, soon after the release of his first self-titled EP. It was recorded in just under 6 months of constant studio sessions with his in-house

record producer A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure.Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...

, Romil. ''MTV1987'' is a conceptual album that fuses elements of past and present pop culture with the setting of the predominantly digital age we currently live in today. The album itself describes Kevin's life. The overall sound of the album was inspired by artists such as:

Kid Cudi Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), also known by his stage name Kid Cudi ( ), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudi would move to New Yo ...

Frank Ocean Christopher Francis "Frank" Ocean (born Christopher Edwin Breaux; October 28, 1987), is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. His works are noted by music critics for featuring avant-garde styles and introspective, elliptical lyrics. Ocean ...

Justin Timberlake Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 88 million records. Timberlake is the recipient of numerous awards and ac ...

Crystal Castles Crystal Castles was a Canadian electronic music group formed in 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, formed by songwriter-producer Ethan Kath and singer-songwriter Alice Glass, who later left and was replaced by Edith Frances. Crystal Castles were known ...

and

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...

Reception

Upon release, ''MTV1987'' was met with critical acclaim and was praised for its experimental nature as well as the overall catchy pop tone it manages to consistently maintain. The album was posted on popular music sites such as

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

Complex Complex commonly refers to: * Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe ** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...

Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning * Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis * Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...

, 2DopeBoyz, and Pigeons & Planes. The album ranked at #38 on Spin's "Top 40 Hip-hop Albums of 2014" list as well as #31 on Pigeons & Planes' list of "Top 50 Best Albums of 2014"

Track listing

Notes * signifies an additional writer / producer. * "Dad" features additional vocals by Ian's Dad. * "Save" features additional vocals by Lontalius. * "27" features additional vocals by Jack Larsen. * "Drugs" and "Tame Cab" feature additional vocals by Russell Boring. * "Mom" features additional vocals by Ian's Mom. * "Snakes" features additional vocals by Frank X. * "Drug Dealer" features additional vocals by Drug Dealer. Sample credits * "Dad" and "Mom" contain samples of "Sandy", performed by

Whirr Whirr is a shoegaze band from the San Francisco Bay Area. The group formed in 2010, originally as Whirl, but had to legally change its name after a woman performing acoustic covers of Black Sabbath songs trademarked the name and threatened a laws ...

. * "Save" contains a sample of "The Krockadile", performed by

King Krule Archy Ivan Marshall (born 24 August 1994), also known by his stage name King Krule, among other names, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, rapper and record producer. He began recording music in 2010 under the moniker Zoo Kid. The fol ...

. * "Hell" contains a sample of "Untrust Us", performed by

. * "Tame Cab" contains a sample of "

When the Levee Breaks "When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. "When the Levee Breaks ...

", performed by

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...

. * "Camp Green Lake" contains a sample of "Keep Digging", performed by Kermoadi.

Personnel

* Russell Boring – mixing, mastering, additional vocals (tracks 5, 7), additional production (track 7, 10) * Matt Champion – featured artist (track 9), writer (track 9) * Drug Dealer – additional vocals (track 12) * Frames Janco – production (track 11), guitar (track 7) * Frank X – additional vocals (track 9) * Neil Hemnani – additional production (track 10) * HK Covers – creative direction, graphic design * Ian's Dad – additional vocals (track 1) * Ian's Mom – additional vocals (track 6) * Kiko Merley – additional production (track 3) * Jack Larsen – additional vocals (track 4), additional writing (track 4) * Lontalius – additional vocals (track 2) * Robert Ontenient – additional production (track 3) * Shaamir – additional writing (track 7) * Rex – co-production (track 7) * Romil Hemnani – executive production, creative direction, production (tracks 1-12) * Ian "Kevin Abstract" Simpson – executive production, creative direction, lead artist, writer (tracks 1-12) * Quiet Luke – guitar (track 3) * Ameer Vann – additional writing (track 7) * Sage Williams – featured artist (track 10) * William Wood – additional writing (track 8)

References

{{Authority control 2014 debut albums Concept albums Kevin Abstract albums