Blog Project 2
INTRODUCE:
I chose this particular recording because Tory Lanez is one of my favorite artists. His newest album PETERSON stands out because it has recorded all from prison. The album isn't really in the news but just Tory Lanez information in general is in the news.
PETERSON is Tory Lanez newest album that was released on March 7th. It has 20 songs adding up to 1 hour and 27 minutes of music. Tory Lanez is a rapper/hip-hop/R&B singer who is currently in jail for 10 years in LA for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot and carrying an unregistered fire arm. Some of his previous albums are "Alone at Prom", "Playboy", and "Chixtape 5". Tory Lanez's currently has 12 albums. In terms of sales Tory Lanez doesn't really sell super well but for him it's not about the money it's about his passion for making music. The album is recorded entirely from his prison cell. Tory Lanez is from Canada. The album begins with a montage od all the press coverage he received after he was convicted of his crime. The album continues with songs about how he has been feeling since he has been in prison like "Free Me", "Lawyer Fees" and others. The artist Davo joins Lanez on the song "$ailor Moon". Lanez tried to reach out to Iggy Azalea in his song "9$IDE x Amethyst" but she has him blocked. In the song he raps "It be nights I want to talk to Iggy, but she block me". The album PETERSON follows up Lanez's previous work Lost Cause.
ANALYZE:
PETERSON is similar to Lanez's other album Alone at Prom. When he released this new album he stated it would have the same feel as Alone at Prom which has a jazz kind of feel to it that is almost vintage. PETERSON is also a sequel of Daystar another album released by Lanez so it has a similar feel to that in that it is a personal album that talks about him and his life and his feelings and emotions rather than surroundings things that some of this other albums talk about. This album is different from other works in the genre in how it was produced because most albums are made in the recording studio with producers and other team members there to help the artist create there songs and the album and the feel of everything. But this album was made in prison so Lanez had limited help from his team in creating this album. I think it is similar to other works in this genre in it calling out artist I feel like a lot of songs nowadays have names of other people or artists or celebrities and there whole song is about that and this album does the same thing with th Iggy Azalea song.
INTERPRETATION:
I think this piece of art is important to understand what life in prison is like. Because obviously his songs speak on that. And it is important to see what goes on in prison and the process of it like the legal things and the publicity that comes around with when a celebrity goes to prison. It matters in getting another perspective on such a private system I believe in our American culture. I don't really think it reflects a trend in our culture but I see a trend in how it related to me. A lot of my favorite artists tend to go to prison or have crimes placed against them. For example Chris Brown one of my other favorite artists just made bail for $6.7 million after he was in jail in London for beating up a producer in a nightclub in 2023. Brown was said to have hit the producer with a bottle and kick him in the side. So there isn't a trend in our culture of rappers getting violence claims against them I just think for me and the artists I like it is a trend for me because ASAP Rocky also almost to jail recently too and I enjoy him as an artist as well. I think the target audience for Lanez's album PETERSON is obviously Lanez's regular listeners but he is also trying to reach people who enjoy rap and R&B. But maybe a new target audience that he is trying to reach is people who have been to prison because he can relate to them and then maybe to lawyers or people in the legal system so they can understand what is going wrong in prison and possibly help to fix the problems in the system. Yes the album includes offensive messages in criticizing the legal system and certain individuals involved in his case in his song "Verdict Day x Lawyer Fees Interlude". But they aren't promoting harmful stereotypes the song is more about Tory's personal emotions towards the issue. This album could be very explosive and offensive but Lanez avoids that mostly by being introspective in his album verses inflammatory. He doesn't glorify violence or reinforce negative stereotypes. Instead the album offers a personal story that reflects his current circumstances and mindset.
EVALUATION:
The strengths of the album are the emotional rawness and authenticity of Lanez on the album. Another strength is the blend of different genres of music on the album for example Lanez blended elements of hip-hop, R&B and trap into the album; he switched between singing to rapid-fire rapping. For example the song "F.E.A.R." moves from hard-hitting drums while Lanez is vocally singing to aggressive tones. This all shows his vocal and stylistic range that is on the album. Some of the weaknesses of the album are the lack of accountability that Lanez shows in the album. He could have taken accountability for his actions but instead portrays himself as a victim since I personally think he is in some ways. For example in the song "Letter to the World" he calls out "snakes" who I would guess so be people are crossed him or did Lanez dirty and then "fake friends" but he rarely acknowledges the harm to Megan Thee Stallion that he caused. I thin that this album is good it's not his best album I would say but given the circumstances that the album was made around I think it sounds good. Because when I heard Lanez was making an album from prison I didn't think that it was possible or that it would sound good but the album sounds mostly like it is made in the studio and sounds clear. I didn't think ti would sound as clear as it did. I think it didn't hit the usual standards for me and my type of music that I like and the stuff I like from Lanez it just wasn't the style of music that I like from him. This album was more like hard hitting difficult topics with a more depressing tone. Where I more like his upbeat songs like songs from Chixtape 5 and Alone at Prom that have more happy tones too it. I think it is a memorable album because of the circumstances around it. Some professional critics are that the music hits, that it is amazing that he can make this caliber on music from prison and that Lanez is talented but he just makes bad decisions. Some other comments include that the album was hard to find because he is very popular and the algorithm doesn't push his album. I agree with the comments that the music is good and how it is very impressive that he made an album this good from the position that he is in. I also agree that he is a very talented artist and he makes bad decisions and I wish that he didn't so he could be more popular and release more music and go on tour. I can't really speak on the algorithm piece I would need to look on other peoples phones and test other peoples algorithms.
ENGAGE:
Lanez's uses social media a lot to promote his music and also to speak on his position. He posts things about his new album on his Instagram like announcing it and announcing merch for it. He also posts updates about his status in his legal process for example when he refiles he posts about it. Or recently he was stabbed in prison so his team has been posting a lot on Instagram information people of his status and asking for help to get Lanez out of prison. Lanez's Instagram currently has 11.4 million followers and most posts have over 100 K likes. People in his Instagram comments are supporting Tory and his music and wishing him luck. Yes I would go out and purchase albums or songs or vinyls from Lanez. I have looked up Lanez's website and YouTube in the past. What is provided extra on his website is just about his production company and then Lanez also sells his merch on there as well. What is on his YouTube is music videos for some of his songs. My mom listened to some Tory Lanez when I was a kid so that is how I originally started listening and was introduced and got into Tory Lanez.
SUMMARY:
Some of my findings that I didn't know before where the specific people that Lanez called out in his songs like Iggy. I also didn't know that he had that many followers on Instagram I didn't think he was that popular. My conclusions are that I think Lanez made a great album out of the circumstances that he is in and talked about topics that are really important and did it in such a good way that was introspective instead of being aggressive and mad about the situation that he is in.
Sources:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2jku7tDXc6XoB6MO2hFuqg
https://www.reddit.com/r/hiphopheads/comments/1j5fu2e/fresh_album_tory_lanez_peterson/
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