W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)

W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) is the third studio album of American hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch released on March 22, 2011 under Duck Down Records. Producers include Lion's Share Music Group, Exile, Marco Polo, M-Phazes, Mike Loe, Fatin "10" Horton, Diamond D, Samiyam, and Fyre Dept.'s Adam Deitch and Eric Krasno, while vocal features are contributed by Idris Elba, Immortal Technique, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Showtyme, Styles P of The LOX, Phonte (formerly of Little Brother), Mela Machinko, Mr. Porter, Jean Grae, Royce da 5'9", Citizen Cope and Jill Scott.[1] Scratches are provided by DJ Boogie Blind of The X-Ecutioners.

W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
Studio album by
Pharoahe Monch
ReleasedMarch 22, 2011 (2011-03-22)
Recorded2008–2010
GenreHip hop
Length45:03
LabelW.A.R. Media/Duck Down Music
ProducerLion's Share Music Group, Exile, Marco Polo, M-Phazes, Mike Loe, Fatin "10" Horton, Diamond D, Samiyam, Adam Deitch & Eric Krasno,[1] Guy Routte (exec.) and Pharoahe Monch (exec.)[2]
Pharoahe Monch chronology
Desire
(2007)		 W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
(2011)		 PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
(2014)
Singles from W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
  1. "Shine[3]"
    Released: July 27, 2010
  2. "Clap (One Day)[4]"
    Released: January 18, 2011
  3. "Black Hand Side[5]"
    Released: March 3, 2011
  4. "Assassins[6]"
    Released: March 15, 2011

Background

The album's release date was announced during Pharoahe Monch's tour alongside supergroup Slaughterhouse,[7] during early 2010. Featured guests were confirmed in July 2010[8] along with the track listing of the album. The original release date was October 26, 2010. Since then, track listing and features have been slightly changed.[1][9]

Singles

Thus far, the album has four singles: the first one, "Shine", a collaboration with Mela Machinko was released on July 27, 2010.[10] The song was produced by Diamond D.

The second promotional single, "Clap (One Day)", was released on January 18, 2011.[4] Produced by M-Phazes, the song features Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind, who have collaborated with Pharoahe Monch on various occasions. A ten-minute extended music video was released on March 8, 2011,[11] depicting "a police raid gone dramatically wrong".[12] It was directed by Terence Nance, with a score by Lion's Share Music Group, and appearances from Gbenga Akinnagbe (known for his portrayal of Chris Partlow in HBO's award-winning drama series The Wire), Kim Howard and Josiah Small.

A third promotional single, "Black Hand Side", has been released on March 3, 2011.[5] It was produced by Mike Loe and features Phonte (formerly of Little Brother) and Styles P of The LOX. Pharoahe Monch and Styles P have collaborated before, on Styles P's 2002 Ayatollah produced single "My Life"

On March 15, 2011, the fourth promotional single, "Assassins", was released.[6] Australian producer M-Phazes crafted the beat, while featured guest verses were provided by Jean Grae and Royce da 5'9".

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 54 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 9,600 copies in the United States.[13] In its second week, it sold 4,600 copies and dropped to number 149 on the Billboard 200.[14]

Critical response
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[15]
Spin[16]
HipHopDX[17]
DJBooth[18]
RapReviews[19]
HipHopGame[20]
CMJ(80/100)[21]
Okayplayer(92/100)[22]
Clash (magazine)(7/10)[23]

We Are Renegades received a perfect 5 star rating from HipHopGame.com and an average score of 77 out of 100,on the review site Metacritic, based on 18 reviews, indicating "Generally favorable reviews" Nathan S. of DJBooth.net awarded the album four out of five stars, hailing it as "...nothing but quality."[24]

Track list

The track listing has been confirmed by iTunes US,[9] featurings and producers were confirmed via HipHopDX,[8] and writing credits per Allmusic.[25]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Warning" (featuring Idris Elba)Troy JamersonPharoahe Monch0:52
2."Calculated Amalgamation"Jamerson, Neil SinghLion's Share Music Group2:48
3."Evolve"Aleksander Manfredi, JamersonExile2:40
4."W.A.R." (featuring Immortal Technique and Vernon Reid)Jamerson, Marco BrunoMarco Polo4:25
5."Clap (One Day)" (featuring Showtyme and DJ Boogie Blind)Jamerson, Mark LandonM-Phazes3:30
6."Black Hand Side" (featuring Styles P and Phonte)David Styles, Jamerson, Michael WarrenMike Loe4:31
7."Let My People Go"Fatin Horton, JamersonFatin "10" Horton3:55
8."Shine" (featuring Mela Machinko)Jamerson, Joseph KirklandDiamond D4:08
9."Haile Selassie Karate" (featuring Mr. Porter)Larissa Conner, Jamerson, Sam BakerSamiyam2:23
10."The Hitman"Jamerson, LandonM-Phazes3:25
11."Assassins" (featuring Jean Grae and Royce da 5'9')Jamerson, Landon, Tsidi Ibrahim, Ryan MontgomeryM-Phazes4:32
12."The Grand Illusion (Circa 1973)" (featuring Citizen Cope)Ibrahim, Jamerson, Adam Deitch, Eric KrasnoFyre Dept.5:16
13."Still Standing" (featuring Jill Scott)Conner, Jamerson, LandonM-Phazes5:18
iTunes bonus video[9]
No.TitleWriter(s)Director(s)Length
1."Clap (One Day)" (Short Film)Kevin P. Nelson, Terence NanceTerence Nance10:15

Charts
Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[26] 55
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[27] 14

References
  1. "Pharoahe Monch Prepares for Upcoming Album Release". Thatsenuff.Com. 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  2. "Duck Down Music". Store.duckdown.com. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  3. "Shine (feat. Mela Machinko) – Single by Pharoahe Monch – Download Shine (feat. Mela Machinko) – Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  4. "Clap (One Day) [feat. Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind] – Single by Pharoahe Monch – Download Clap (One Day) [feat. Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind] – Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2011-01-18. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  5. "Pharoahe Monch "Black Hand Side" feat. Styles P & Phonte' by duckdown on SoundCloud – Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  6. "Assassins" feat. Jean Grae & Royce Da 5'9 by duckdown on SoundCloud – Create, record and share your sounds for free". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  7. Paine, Jake (2010-03-18). "Pharoahe Monch Signs To Duck Down Records, "W.A.R." Coming | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  8. Paine, Jake (2011-03-01). "Artwork & Updated Tracklisting Revealed For Pharoahe Monch's "W.A.R." | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  9. "W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) [Bonus Video Version] by Pharoahe Monch – Download W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) [Bonus Video Version] on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 1972-10-31. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  10. "Shine (feat. Mela Machinko) – Single by Pharoahe Monch – Download Shine (feat. Mela Machinko) – Single on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-07-27. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  11. "Pharoahe Monch "Clap (one day)" Extended Music Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  12. "duck down". duck down. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  13. Jacobs, Allen. Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 3/27/2011. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved on 2011-03-30.
  14. Jacobs, Allen. Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/3/2011. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved on 2011-04-06.
  15. Jeffries, David (2011-03-22). "Pharoahe Monch, 'W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)'". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  16. Reeves, Mosi (2011-03-22). "Pharoahe Monch, 'W.A.R.' (Duck Down)". SPIN.com. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  17. Kuperstein, Slava (2011-03-18). "Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) | Read Hip Hop Reviews, Rap Reviews & Hip Hop Album Reviews". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  18. Nathan S. "Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. – Hip Hop Album Review". Djbooth.net. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  19. "Feature for March 22nd, 2011 – Pharoahe Monch's "W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)"". Rapreviews.com. 2011-03-22. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  20. "Exclusive Hip Hop News, Audio, Lyrics, Videos, Honeys, Wear, Sneakers, Download Mixtapes". Hiphopgame.ihiphop.com. 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  21. "Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)". CMJ. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  22. "Pharoahe Monch « Okayplayer". Okayplayer.com. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  23. "Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) | Clash Music Latest Album Review". Clashmusic.com. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2011-04-30.
  24. Nathan S. "Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. – Hip Hop Album Review". Djbooth.net. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  25. "W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) – Pharoahe Monch". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  26. "Pharoahe Monch Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  27. "Pharoahe Monch Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
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