Cilvia Demo

Cilvia Demo (also referred to as Cilvia) is the debut LP by American rapper Isaiah Rashad. It was released on January 28, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Jean Deaux and Michael Da Vinci, as well as his Top Dawg label-mates SZA, Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock. The albums production was handled by several record producers, namely Ross Vega, Mr. Carmack, Joseph L'Étranger, Black Metaphor, The Antydote, Farhot, Chris Calor, D. Sanders and a member of the Digi+Phonics Sounwave.

Cilvia Demo
Studio album by
Isaiah Rashad
ReleasedJanuary 28, 2014
Recorded2013–14
GenreHip hop
Length49:29
LabelTop Dawg Entertainment
Producer
  • Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith (exec.)
  • Ross Vega
  • Mr. Carmack
  • Joseph L'Étranger
  • Black Metaphor
  • The Antydote
  • Farhot
  • Chris Calor
  • D. Sanders
  • Sounwave
Isaiah Rashad chronology
Cilvia Demo
(2014)		 The Sun's Tirade
(2016)

Cilvia Demo received universal acclaim from music critics. The album also developed a cult following. It was included in several year-end top album lists by critics and publications. The album debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200, selling 8,500 copies its first week.[1]

Music

Cilvia Demo is a loose concept album that, according to Rashad, sums up his emotional struggle, from his teenage to adolescent years. The project is characterized by its personal themes, such as substance abuse, fatherhood, coming of age, and police brutality. Its music incorporates stylistic and production elements of southern, experimental, and progressive hip hop. The production consists of smooth, old school influenced, downbeat southern hip hop, with elements of experimental soul and trip hop. The project features hazy and atmospheric soundscapes of low, mid, to high-tempo beats with chopped and screwed background vocals; its abrasive main vocal set against smooth, slow burning southern-styled production.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Consequence of SoundB[4]
Exclaim!8/10[5]
HipHopDX4.0/5[6]
Now4/5[7]
Pitchfork8.2/10[8]
PopMatters8/10[9]
Spin8/10[10]
XXL4/5[11]

Cilvia Demo was met with universal acclaim from music critics upon its release. Praise was directed at the album's unconventional and experimental production, cohesiveness, and Rashad's unique style and thoughtful lyrics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 82, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 13 reviews.[2] Rob Markman of MTV gave the project a positive review saying, "By the time the 14-track project winds down, Isaiah Rashad slowly doles out his own coming-of-age story using introspective raps, melodies and, at times, good old southern bounce."[12] Marcus Dowling of HipHopDX said, "Every story and hook on Isaiah Rashad's Cilvia Demo connects on a human level. What it lacks in depth is covered by excellent production and raw talent."[6] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound gave the project a positive review saying, "At any rate, Rashad sounds like he belongs. He’s touched down on his own terms, and he’ll be sticking around for a while."[4] Sheldon Pearce of XXL gave the project an overwhelmingly positive review, directing praise at the album's production, lyrical content, and replay value.[11]

Accolades

Cilvia Demo appeared on multiple year end lists of the best hip-hop albums of that year. Genius hailed it as the seventh best hip hop release that year, while Rolling Stone placed it at number twenty-one on it year-end hip hop albums list.[13][14] SPIN included the album on its list of the 40 best hip hop releases of 2014.[15] Based on the buzz generated by Rashad's signing in 2013 and the EP, XXL revealed Rashad was included in their 2014 annual freshman class.[16][17]

On June 29, 2016, Pitchfork Media published a list of "The 50 Best Rap Mixtapes of the Millennium". Cilvia Demo was included on the list, placed at the 35th position, despite officially being billed as an EP.[18]

Commercial performance

The EP debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200, selling 8,500 copies its first week.[19]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Hereditary" Ross Vega1:28
2."Webbie Flow (U Like)" Mr. Carmack3:09
3."Cilvia Demo" Joseph L'Étranger3:16
4."R.I.P. Kevin Miller" Black Metaphor3:53
5."Ronnie Drake" (featuring SZA)
The Antydote3:31
6."West Savannah" (featuring SZA)
The Antydote2:48
7."Soliloquy" Farhot1:55
8."Tranquility" Farhot4:20
9."Menthol" (featuring Jean Deaux)
Sounwave2:58
10."Modest" Chris Calor3:42
11."Heavenly Father" D. Sanders4:21
12."Banana" The Antydote3:32
13."Brad Jordan" (featuring Michael Da Vinci)
Danny Dee4:12
14."Shot You Down (Remix)" (featuring Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock)
Chris Calor, The Antydote7:08
Total length:49:29

Charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[20] 30
US Billboard 200[21] 40
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[22] 8
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[23] 9

References
  1. Tardio, Andres (2014-01-27). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 2/2/2014 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  2. "Reviews for Cilvia: Demo [EP] by Isaiah Rashad". Metacritic. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  3. Jeffries, David. "Cilvia Demo – Isaiah Rashad". AllMusic. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  4. Madden, Michael (February 24, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  5. Cowie, Del F. (January 28, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad: Cilvia Demo EP". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  6. Dowling, Marcus K. (January 30, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on February 8, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  7. MacKenzie, Holly (February 6, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad". Now. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  8. Patrin, Nate (February 13, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad: Cilvia Demo". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  9. Smithson, Logan (March 4, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad: Cilvia Demo". PopMatters. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  10. Soderberg, Brandon (February 6, 2014). "Tennessee Rapper Isaiah Rashad Proves Himself Worthy of Black Hippy on 'Cilvia Demo'". Spin. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  11. Pearce, Sheldon (February 4, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad Delivers Classic Southern Stylings On 'Cilvia Demo'". XXL. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  12. "Isaiah Rashad Confronts Demons And Daddy Issues On TDE Debut Cilvia Demo". MTV. 2014-01-28. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  13. "Rap Genius - Top 20 Rap Albums of 2014". Rap Genius. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  14. "40 Best Rap Albums of 2014". Rolling Stone Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  15. "SPIN - 40 Best Hip Hop Releases of 2014". Spin Magazine. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  16. Sia, Nicole (May 5, 2014). "XXL Freshmen 2014 Cover Revealed". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  17. Diep, Eric (May 9, 2014). "Isaiah Rashad". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  18. "The 50 Best Rap Mixtapes of the Millennium". Pitchfork.com. Condé Nast. June 29, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  19. Tardio, Andres (2014-01-27). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 2/2/2014 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  20. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  21. "Isaiah Rashad Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  22. "Isaiah Rashad Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  23. "Isaiah Rashad Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
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