The Pink Lavalamp (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pink Lavalamp
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 8, 2008
Studio Frederick Douglass Academy Music Lab (Harlem, New York)
GenreHip hop
Length70:18
LabelSelf-released
Charles Hamilton chronology
Sonic The Hamilton
(2008)
The Pink Lavalamp
(2008)
Hamilton, Charles
(2016)
10 Year Anniversary reissue cover

The Pink Lavalamp is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist Charles Hamilton, released December 8, 2008, by Hamilton himself, due to disagreements with his former label, Interscope Records. It was produced entirely by Hamilton.

Background[edit]

In August 2008, Charles Hamilton announced via interview that he had signed to Interscope Records.[1] After beginning a series of mixtapes known as the Hamiltonization Process, Hamilton released his debut single "Brooklyn Girls" on November 11, 2008, which proved to be a hit.[2] Hamilton was rumored to be recording his major-label debut was under pressure from the label to include "Brooklyn Girls" on the album. He later disagreed with this idea and chose to release his debut effort independently. The album did not include new material and was actually recorded during Hamilton's notorious bout of homelessness in the recording studio of the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem, New York, which Charles and other members of Demevolist Music Group dubbed "The Lab".[3]

Music and lyrics[edit]

The Pink Lavalamp is an introspective, loose concept album detailing Hamilton's thoughts and emotions leading up to an attempted suicide.[4] The production is rooted in soulful samples mixed with down-tempo grooves and draw influence from jazz, psychedelic funk, R&B, and rock.[5] Lyrically, the album concerns themes of depression, substance abuse, infidelity, and individuality. It was the final project in the Hamiltonization Process.[6]

Critical reception[edit]

Jordan Rogowski of Punknews.org wrote that "Hamilton has created swirling, dynamic atmospheres that suit his clever bars to perfection".[5]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Music (Intro)"4:44
2."Loser"4:46
3."She's So High"4:32
4."Voices"4:12
5."Boy Who Cried Wolf"4:39
6."Let Me Live" (featuring Bagdad)4:04
7."Brighter Days"4:42
8."The Cookout"4:33
9."Sat(t)elite"4:07
10."Live Life to the Fullest" (featuring Yung Nate)3:38
11."Come Back to You"5:08
12."Latte"4:41
13."Shinin'"4:24
14."I'll Be Around (Outro)"6:00
15."Writing in the Sky" (Bonus Track)6:01
Total length:70:18

Notes

Sample credits

  • "Music (Intro)" contains samples from "Today" by Graham Central Station and "Impeach The President" by The Honey Drippers.
  • "She's So High" contains a sample from "Breathe", as performed by Télépopmusik featuring Angela McCluskey.
  • "Voices" contains a sample of "It's A Shame", as performed by The Spinners.
  • "Let Me Live" contains a sample of "Love Hangover", as performed by Diana Ross.
  • "Brighter Days" contains a sample of "Friends & Strangers", as performed by Ronnie Laws.
  • "The Cookout" contains a sample of "Mothership Connection (Star Child)", as performed by Parliament.
  • "Live Life to the Fullest" contains a sample of "This Place Hotel (Heartbreak Hotel)", as performed by The Jacksons.
  • "Come Back to You" contains a sample of "Voyage to Atlantis", as performed by The Isley Brothers.
  • "Shinin'" contains a sample of "Golden Time of Day", as performed by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.
  • "I'll Be Around (Outro)" contains a sample of "I'll Be Around" by The Spinners.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Charles Hamilton (Signed To Interscope) Interview & Freestyle On Ed Lover Radio Show!". Worldstarhiphop.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Brooklyn Girls - Single by Charles Hamilton on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  3. ^ "The Pink Lavalamp by Charles Hamilton". Genius.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Bring It Back: Charles Hamilton - The Pink Lavalamp [2008] – Fashionably-Early". Fashionably-early.com. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Charles Hamilton - The Pink Lavalamp". Punknews.org. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Charles Hamilton (aka. The Pink Power Ranger) - Music". Neoseeker.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.