Reservation (mixtape)

Reservation is the third mixtape by American rapper and singer Angel Haze. It was released on July 17, 2012,[1] by labels Biz 3, Noizy Cricket and True Panther.[2] Reservation received critical acclaim from critics, receiving an 88/100 score from aggregate review site Metacritic,[3] while the BBC named it one of the best mixtapes of 2012.[4]

Reservation
Mixtape by
Angel Haze
ReleasedJuly 17, 2012
Recorded2011–2012
Studio
  • Stadium Red
  • Covert Studios
GenreHip-hop
Length46:31
Label
  • Biz 3
  • Noizy Cricket
  • True Panther
Producer
Angel Haze chronology
Voice
(2012)		 Reservation
(2012)		 New York
(2012)
Singles from Reservation
  1. "New York"
    Released: October 26, 2012

Reservation was preceded by two promotional singles, "Werkin' Girls" and "Hot Like Fire". The mixtape spawned the single "New York", which became a top sixty UK hit, peaking at number fifty-eight on the UK Singles Chart,[5] and number twelve on the UK R&B Chart.[6]

Background

In October 2012, five tracks from Reservation, including the single "New York" and "Werkin' Girls" were featured on Haze's first commercial release, an EP titled New York.[7]

Singles

The sole single from Reservation was titled "New York", and was initially released on June 28, 2012.[2] The single was commercially released on October 26, 2012, three months after the initial release of the mixtape, to promote Haze's newer, commercially released EP, New York.[8] The single received positive reviews, being cited as Pitchfork Media's 'Best New Track' for the week of June 28, 2012.[9] Commercially, "New York" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number fifty-eight in the week commencing October 14, 2012.[5] The single also debuted at number twelve on the UK R&B Chart in the same week.[6] A video for the single released and was directed by Adrienne Nicole, however it is currently a private video on Haze's YouTube channel, and therefore unavailable to audiences.[10]

Promotional singles

On July 11, 2012, "Werkin' Girls" was released as the mixtapes first promotional single.[11] Pitchfork Media named the song its 'Best New Track' for the week of October 12, 2012. Writer Jayson Greene commented that "You can hear that quietly seething confidence radiate through "Werkin' Girls," along with her sparking-live-wire charisma and glowering, old-school cipher bars".[12] A music video for "Werkin' Girls" was released on October 10, 2012, and was directed by Alex Lee and Kyle Wightman.[13]

On July 13, 2012, the song "Hot Like Fire" was released as the second promotional single from the mixtape, four days before the mixtapes release. Stereogum writer Tom Breihan called the track a "crushed-out conscious-rap joint"[14]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic88/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
The A.V. ClubA–[15]
Consequence of SoundA–[16]
The Guardian[17]
NME8/10[18]
NOW[19]
Pitchfork Media8/10[20]

Reservation received universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, it received an average score of 88, based on six reviews.[3] Genevieve Koski for The A.V. Club gave the mixtape an A– rating, commenting on its variety, "Haze shows off her considerable range on the mixtape’s 14 tracks, as comfortable laying herself bare on songs like “This Is Me” and the gut-wrenching “Castle On A Cloud” as she is beating her chest and spitting fire on standout tracks “Werkin’ Girls” and “New York,” which employs a handclap-laden Gil Scott Heron sample to tremendous effect.".[15] Consequence of Sound writer Katherine Flynn also gave Reservation an A– rating, comparing Haze to rapper Nicki Minaj, "Haze is certainly a challenger to the precedent that the de facto queen of rap Nicki Minaj has set in the past few years. Where Minaj is fantastical and over-the-top, Haze is understated and raw.".[16]

In a four out of five star review, Alex Macpherson for The Guardian commented on Haze's progression from her previous mixtapes, "Her craft – lyrics, hooks and storytelling – has been tightened up without losing any of her intense intimacy.", and concluded that "The concept of realness underpins hip-hop; the fearless, whipsmart talent of Angel Haze brings you face-to-face with the resonant reality of it.".[17]

Accolades

The BBC named Reservation as one of the six best mixtapes of 2012, with writer Mike Diver citing the project as a contributing factor for Haze being featured in the annual Sound of 2013 poll, which showcases new musical artists with exceptional potential.[4] On mixtape distribution site DatPiff, the official release of Reservation has been downloaded over 48,000 times, earning it a bronze certification.[21] Two tracks from Reservation were featured on year–end lists. "New York" placed at twenty–nine on NME's 50 Best Tracks of 2012 list,[22] while "Werkin' Girls" placed at number seventy–five on Pitchfork Media's 100 Best Tracks of 2012, respectively.[23]

Year Organization List Work Placing Ref.
2012 BBC Six best mixtapes of 2012 Reservation No order [4]
NME 50 Best Tracks of 2012 "New York" 29 [22]
Pitchfork Media 100 Best Tracks of 2012 "Werkin' Girls" 75 [23]

Track listing

Adapted from the mixtape's back cover.[24]

Reservation — Standard version[25]
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."This is Me"Raee'n Roes Wilson
  • Hira Sky
  • The 83rd
4:37
2."Wicked Moon" (featuring Nicole Wray)
The 83rd4:47
3."CHI (Need to Know)"WilsonWill Idap4:13
4."Supreme"WilsonThe RIP3:01
5."New York"WilsonThe 83rd3:29
6."Hot Like Fire"WilsonODHI Beats3:34
7."Werkin' Girls"WilsonTK. Kayembe3:05
8."Gypsy Letters"WilsonParis Jones3:45
9."Jungle Fever" (Remix) (featuring Kool A.D.)
J. LA4:17
10."Smiles and Hearts"Wilson 3:20
11."Castle on a Cloud"Wilson 3:20
12."Sufferings First"Wilson 5:03
Total length:46:31
Reservation — DatPiff version[21]
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
10."Realest"WilsonTrell Fields3:08
11."Castle on a Cloud"WilsonNorth Kid3:20
12."Balance"Sara Tavares 5:01
13."Drop It"Wilson 3:19
14."Smiles and Hearts"Wilson 6:20

Note: Haze does not contribute to track twelve ("Balance") on the DatPiff version of the mixtape. It is simply an insert of Sara Tavares's track.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the mixtape's back cover.[24]

Performance
Producing
  • Hira Sky – producer
  • The 83rd – producer
  • Will Idap – producer
  • The RIP – producer
  • ODHI Beats – producer
  • TK. Kayembe – producer
  • Paris Jones – producer
  • Trell Fields – producer
  • North Kid – producer
Technical
  • Roman Vail – mastering
  • Corey Hangover – mixing
  • Will McNair – mixing
Miscellaneous
  • Biz 3– publicity
  • Anorak – publicity

Release history
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Worldwide July 17, 2012 Digital download
  • Biz 3
  • Noizy Cricket
  • True Panther
 [1]

References
  1. Goble, Corban (July 19, 2012). "Download Angel Haze Reservation Mixtape". Stereogum. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  2. Goble, Corban (June 28, 2012). "Angel Haze – "New York"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  3. "Reviews for Reservation [Mixtape] by Angel Haze – Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  4. Diver, Mike (December 12, 2012). "BBC Blogs – Music Blog – Six of the Best: Mixtapes of 2012". BBC. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  5. "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 14 October – 20 October 2012". Official Charts Company. October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  6. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40: 14 October 2012 – 20 October 2012". Official Charts Company. October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  7. "iTunes – Music – New York – EP by Angel Haze". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  8. "iTunes – Music – New York (Radio Edit) – Single by Angel Haze". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  9. Pelly, Jenn (June 28, 2012). "Angel Haze "New York"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  10. Breihan, Tom (August 3, 2012). "The 5 Best Videos Of The Week". Stereogum. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  11. Goble, Corban (July 11, 2012). "Angel Haze – "Werkin' Girls"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  12. Greene, Jayson (October 12, 2012). "Angel Haze "Werkin' Girls"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  13. Martins, Chris (October 11, 2012). "Angel Haze Channels Freddy Krueger In 'Werkin' Girls' Video". Spin. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  14. Breihan, Tom (July 13, 2012). "Angel Haze – "Hot Like Fire"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  15. Koski, Genevieve (November 27, 2012). "Review: Angel Haze: Reservation". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  16. Flynn, Katherine (July 18, 2012). "Angel Haze – Reservation EP". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  17. Macpherson, Alex. "Angel Haze: Reservation – review". The Guardian. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  18. Howard, Tom (July 21, 2012). "Angel Haze – 'Reservation EP'". NME. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  19. Misrtry, Anupa (July 26, 2012). "Angel Haze – Reservation". NOW. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  20. Sargent, Jordan. "Angel Haze Reservation EP". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  21. "Angel Haze – Reservation". DatPiff. July 18, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  22. Lewis, Luke (November 20, 2012). "50 Best Tracks of 2012". NME. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  23. St. Asaph, Katherine (December 17, 2012). "Staff Lists: 100 Best Tracks of 2012". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  24. Reservation (back cover). Angel Haze. United States: Biz 3, Noizy Cricket, True Panther. 2012.CS1 maint: others (link)
  25. "Angel Haze – Reservation – Track listing". AllMusic. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
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