Ardipithecus (album)

Ardipithecus (stylized as ARDIPITHECUS) is the debut studio album by American singer Willow. It was released on December 11, 2015 through Roc Nation. Willow is credited as sole songwriter on 11 tracks, and sole producer on 10 of them. The album also features contributions from Willow's brother Trey Smith, under the moniker AcE, and frequent collaborator Jabs.[3][4][5] The track "F Q-C #8" was released as a single on May 7, 2015, with an accompanying music video.[6] A video to the track "Why Don't You Cry" was also released.[7]

Ardipithecus
Studio album by Willow
Released	December 11, 2015
Recorded	'14-'15
Genre	Alternative R&B experimental pop[1] neo soul[2]
Length	54:07
Label	Roc Nation
Producer	Willow Smith AcE JABS Mel "Chaos" Lewis James Chul Rim Anthony Bell James Darrell Robinson DWayne E. Moore Rayfield Holloman
Willow chronology
Ardipithecus (2015) The 1st (2017)
Singles from Ardipithecus
"F Q-C #7" Released: May 7, 2015 "Why Don't You Cry" Released: September 18, 2015 "Wait a Minute!" Released: 2016

The album takes its name from the genus of an extinct hominine of the same name.

Background

In an e-mail interview with Fader, Willow explained the name choice:

"Ardipithecus Ramidus is the scientific name of the first hominid bones found on earth. I wanted to name my musical compilation after it because, while I was making these songs I was in such a transitional state. Digging deep in the soil of my heart and finding bits and pieces of my ancient self that tell stories, which end up being the lyrics to the songs. Ardipithecus is my first album in my entire career and it makes me feel so blessed to be able to share my evolution with the LightEaters as I continue excavating my inner worlds…"[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	51/100[9]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Consequence of Sound	D+[1]
Now	[10]
Pitchfork	5.8/10[11]
Tiny Mix Tapes	[12]

The album received poor reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 51, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 5 reviews. Among these reviews, not one was positive.[9] Consequence of Sound critic Adam Kivel described the album as "impenetrable, even distancing." Kivel further wrote: "The album is a headscratcher, one that shows plenty of promise but also a personality abstruse to the point of mystification."[1] Criticizing the album's musical simplicity and lyrics, The New York Times' Ben Ratliff called the album as "essentially a Bandcamp record released by Roc Nation."[2]

Now critic Kevin Ritchie regarded that Ardipithecus' "undercooked production" as "a serious limitation." Ritchie further stated that the record "could've been distinctive but instead lacks depth or the transporting quality of her imaginative lyrics."[10] Frank Farisi of Tiny Mix Tapes thought: "So much of listening to Ardipithecus feels immeasurable by good or bad." and concluded that the album "fails as a pop record, because it's barely aware that it's a part of that conversation."[12]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.[13]

All tracks are written by Willow Smith, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Smith, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Organization & Classification"			5:14
2.	"Natives of the Windy Forest"			2:31
3.	"Drugz"			3:08
4.	"Cycles"			3:39
5.	"F Q-C #8"			4:20
6.	"Not So Different" (featuring Jabs)	Smith Jarah Bond		3:13
7.	"IDK"	Smith Mel "Chaos" Lewis		4:18
8.	"Randomsong"			4:15
9.	"Marceline"			2:16
10.	"Marceline Pt. 2"			3:01
11.	"Ur Town"			3:41
12.	"Star" (featuring Jabs)	Smith Bond Willard Carroll Smith III Omarr Rambert	Ace Rambert	3:36
13.	"Wait a Minute!"	Smith James Chul Rim	Jta	3:16
14.	"Waves of Nature"	Smith W. C. Smith	Ace	3:51
15.	"Why Don't You Cry"	Smith W. C. Smith Rambert	Ace	3:48
Total length:				54:07

Notes

• "Drugz" is stylized "dRuGz".
• "Randomsong" is stylized in all caps.
• "Ur Town" is stylized "UR Town".

Personnel

• Willow – vocals, production
• Jabs – vocals, production
• AcE – production
• Mel "Chaos" Lewis – production
• James Chul Rim – production, recording, mixing

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[14]	15

References

1. Kivel, Adam (December 17, 2015). "Willow – Ardipithecus". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
2. Ratliff, Ben (December 16, 2015). "Review: Willow Smith's 'Ardipithecus,' Teen-Speak on Astral Planes". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
3. Britton, Luke Morgan (December 11, 2015). "Willow Smith surprise-releases debut album 'Ardipithecus'". NME. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
4. Golding, Shenequa (December 13, 2015). "Willow Smith Released Her Surprise Debut Album 'Ardipithecus'". Vibe. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
5. Hernandez, Victoria (December 11, 2015). "Willow Smith "Ardipithecus" Album Stream, Cover Art & Tracklist". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
6. "F Q-C # 7 - Single by Willow". Itunes.apple.com. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
7. "world premiere: watch willow smith's new video 'why don't you cry'". i-d.vice.com/. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
8. Myers, Owen. "Willow Smith Releases Surprise Debut Album Ardipithecus". The Fader. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
9. "Ardipithecus - Willow Smith". Metacritic. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
10. Ritchie, Kevin (January 6, 2016). "Willow Smith". Now. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
11. Cook, Cameron (January 7, 2016). "Willow: Ardipithecus". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
12. Falisi, Frank. "Willow - Ardipithecus". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
13. "Willow - ARDIPITHECUS". Retrieved June 23, 2019.
14. "Billboard Heatseeker albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2016.

External links

• Willow Smith on Roc Nation