Cilvia Demo

Cilvia Demo
EP by Isaiah Rashad
Released	January 28, 2014
Recorded	2013–14
Genre	Alternative hip hop, Southern hip hop, Neo Soul
Length	49:29
Label	Top Dawg Entertainment
Producer	Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith (exec.) Ross Vega Mr. Carmack Joseph L'Étranger Black Metaphor The Antydote Farhot Chris Calor D. Sanders Sounwave
Isaiah Rashad chronology
Cilvia Demo (2014) The Sun's Tirade (2016)

Cilvia Demo (also referred to as Cilvia) is the debut extended play by American hip hop recording artist Isaiah Rashad. It was released on January 28, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment. The EP features guest appearances from Jean Deaux and Michael Da Vinci, as well as his Top Dawg label-mates SZA, Schoolboy Q and Jay Rock. The EP's production was handled by several record producers, namely Ross Vega, Mr. Carmack, Joseph L'Étranger, Black Metaphor, The Antydote, Farhot, Chris Calor, D. Sanders and a member of the Digi+Phonics Sounwave.

Cilvia Demo received universal acclaim from music critics. It was included in several year-end top album lists by critics and publications. The EP debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200, selling 8,500 copies its first week.^[1]

Composition

Ciliva Demo is a loose concept album that, according to Rashad, sums up his emotional struggle, from his teenage to adolescent years. The project features personal themes, such as substance abuse, fatherhood, growing up, and police brutality. The EP's music incorporates stylistic and production elements of southern, experimental, and progressive hip hop. Its production features smooth, old school influenced, downbeat southern hip hop production, with elements of experimental soul and trip hop. The project features hazy and atmospheric soundscapes, low, mid, to high-tempo beats, and chopped and screwed background vocals, and abrasive main vocal set against smooth, slow burning southern-styled production.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
BET	[2]
Consequence of Sound	[3]
Pitchfork Media	8.2/10 [4]
HipHopDX	[5]
Spin	8/10[6]
XXL	(XL)[7]

Cilvia Demo was met with universal acclaim from music critics upon its release. Praise was directed at the album's lyrics, unconventional and experimental production, cohesiveness, and Rashad's unique style and thoughtful lyrics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 82, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 13 reviews.^[8] Rob Markman of MTV gave the project a positive review saying, "By the time the 14-track project winds down, Isaiah Rashad slowly doles out his own coming-of-age story using introspective raps, melodies and, at times, good old southern bounce."^[9] Marcus Dowling of HipHopDX said, "Every story and hook on Isaiah Rashad's Cilvia Demo connects on a human level. What it lacks in depth is covered by excellent production and raw talent."^[5] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound gave the project a positive review saying, "At any rate, Rashad sounds like he belongs. He’s touched down on his own terms, and he’ll be sticking around for a while."^[3] Sheldon Pearce of XXL gave the project an overwhelmingly positive review, directing praise at the album's production, lyrical content, and replay value.^[10]

Accolades

Cilvia Demo appeared on multiple year end lists of the best hip-hop albums of that year. Rap Genius hailed it as the seventh best hip hop release that year, while Rolling Stone placed it at number twenty-one on it year-end hip hop albums list.^{[11] [12]} SPIN included the album on its list of the 40 best hip hop releases of 2014.^[13] Based on the buzz generated by the EP, XXL revealed Rashad was included in their annual freshman class, alongside fellow up-and-comers Chance the Rapper, Ty Dolla $ign, Rich Homie Quan, Vic Mensa, August Alsina, Troy Ave, Kevin Gates, Lil Bibby, Jon Connor, Lil Durk and Jarren Benton.^[14][15] On June 29, 2016, Pitchfork Media published a list of "The 50 Best Rap Mixtapes of the Millennium". Cilvia Demo was included on the list, placed at the 35th position.^[16]

Commercial performance

The EP debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200, selling 8,500 copies its first week.^[17] In its second week, the EP completely fell off the Billboard 200.^[18] As of May 2016, the EP sold around 28,000 copies domestically.

Track listing

Charts

References