Kamikaze is the fourth studio album by American rapper Twista. It was released on January 27, 2004, by Atlantic Records. The album reached the top of the US Billboard 200 chart in early 2004, after the success of its lead single, "Slow Jamz". It sold 312,000 units in its first week of sales, and received generally positive reviews from critics. It is Twista's most successful album, being certified Platinum by the RIAA.
Background
On his website, Twista stated that he made Kamikaze to show that he was still true to the ideals that he had when he started out. "I represent for the MCs that have skills, not just make music for the hell of it. I take the time to concentrate. Otherwise, I could have 10 albums out there, easy. I could sit down all day and write something. But I write when I get in a zone more than writing because I’ve got to do this. I represent the artists that keep it true to what really is, to be able to make rappers want to write." "I want to show the streets that I'm back and that I'm true to the game. Musically, I want to show that I'm still out here doing my thing. After all the people that were out when I was out years ago fell off, I’m still out here competing with the shorties. I also want to gain platinum success. It's something that I haven't done." The song "Sunshine" contains the backing track from Lovely Day by Bill Withers. The song "Overnight Celebrity" contains a sample of the Lenny Williams' 1978 song "Cause I Love You".
Critical reception
The album so far has a score of 66 out of 100 based on "generally positive reviews". The A.V. Club gave it a favorable review and stated that the album "feels eclectic without stooping to demographics-pandering, though its contradictory elements create a few jarring moments." E! Online gave it a B and said, "Twista still manages to steal the limelight on hot booty-busters like 'Slow Jamz' and 'Pimp On.'" Yahoo! Music UK gave it seven stars out of ten and called it "overlong, like almost every rap album today, and it's not the sort of place to come expecting erudition or insight. But for one singular rapper unwilling and unafraid to stick to his guns, it's a deeply satisfying record." Other reviews are pretty average or mixed: Q gave it three stars out of five and said, "Twista's overshadowed by West, but with jacked-up soul tunes such as 'Overnight Celebrity', the result, who cares?" The Village Voice, however, gave it a mixed review and said that the album "Suggests nothing so much as Adrenaline Rush part two."
Commercial performance
The first single "Slow Jamz" featured Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. It topped the BillboardHot 100 and world R&B charts in early 2004,. Kamikaze built on the success of "Slow Jamz" to reach the top of the Billboard 200 album charts on release in January 2004 and to go Platinum by March 2004. The second single "Overnight Celebrity" had also reached top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and world R&B chart in March 2004. The single "So Sexy" with R. Kelly reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming a success.
Track listing
Bonus tracks
These songs were included on the re-released version of Kamikaze.
""
"Freek-a-Leek "
"Y'all Know Who", produced by Toxic, was an international bonus track, while "Get Dat Doe", produced by Don Vito, was a bonus track in the UK Notes
"Overnight Celebrity" contains excerpts from the composition "'Cause I Love You" written by Michael Bennett and Lenny Williams and performed by Williams.
"Sunshine" contains elements from "Lovely Day" written by Bill Withers and Skip Scarborough and performed by Withers
