Identity (Far East Movement album)

Identity is the fifth studio album primarily written and conducted by American hip hop music group Far East Movement. It was released on October 21, 2016 through Spinnin' Records and Transparent Agency. The album features artists from diverse backgrounds, especially those from Korea and America, as a nod to Far East Movement's Koreatown origins.[1] The band itself describes the album as "a Far East Movement, in a sense, bridging artists from the east with artists from the west while fusing different genres we love."

Identity
Studio album by
Far East Movement
ReleasedOctober 21, 2016
Recorded2015–16
Genre
Length39:00
Label
eOne Music
Producer
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
  • Marshmello
  • MNEK
  • Gill Chang
  • King Chain
  • Cory Enemy
  • MIKNNA
  • Thomas Helsloot
  • Cimo Frankel
  • Rik Annema
Far East Movement chronology
KTown Riot EP
(2014)		 Identity
(2016)
Singles from Identity
  1. "Freal Luv"
    Released: October 14, 2016
  2. "Don't Speak"
    Released: December 8, 2016

Background

The album was created after Far East Movement's hiatus. The group members were discouraged after facing racism from the public and the music industry. The band traveled to Asia and there began plotting out an album that "could bridge the gap between Asia and America".[2] As reflected in the title, the album was intended to explore the artists' joint Asian and American identities, as well as collaborate with artists from both backgrounds.

Production

The album features the likes of Yoon Mi-rae, Autolaser, Marshmello, Chanyeol, Tinashe, Candice Pillay, No Riddim, Elijah Blake, Tiffany, King Chain, Jay Park, MNEK, Hyolyn, Gill Chang, Soulja Boy, Loco, Big K.R.I.T., MIKNNA, Macy Gray and Urban Zakapa.[3]

As Far East Movement wanted to collaborate with artists on both sides of the Pacific, they flew back and forth between the US and South Korea. Kevin Nishimura described collaborating with artists as a "slow and challenging process that involved building and nurturing relationships with artists."[2]

The album was the first album released by Far East Movement's own company, Transparent Agency.[4]

Critical reception

Crystal Leww of MTV commented, "Identity is a distinctly Asian-American album, and it speaks to the very specific experience of a group of people who are often seen as foreigners in their own home. But there’s no sense of loss here – Far East Movement have made a cohesive, exciting celebration of that hybrid life."[5] Neil Z. Young of AllMusic rated the album four stars out of five, describing it as a "mature and transformative effort that succeeds in honoring their roots by bridging the gap between their Asian and American cultures."[6]

Charts
Chart Peak Position
Billboard Dance/Electronic Chart[7] 7
iTunes' US Dance Album Chart 1
Gaon Chart 51

Track listing
Identity[3]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fighter" (featuring Yoon Mi-rae and Autolaser)
4:14
2."Freal Luv" (with Marshmello featuring Chanyeol and Tinashe)
3:10
3."F-VR" (featuring Candice Pillay and No Riddim)
  • No Riddim
2:51
4."Church" (featuring Elijah Blake)
  • Nishimura
  • Coquia
  • Roh
  • Tonning
  • Cimo Frankel
  • Rik Annema
  • Thomas Helsloot
  • Marshmello
  • Far East Movement
  • Helsloot
  • Frankel
  • Annema
  • Autolaser
4:05
5."Don't Speak" (featuring Tiffany and King Chain)
  • Nishimura
  • Coquia
  • Roh
  • Tsao-Chiang Chen
  • Tonning
  • Tiffany Hwang
  • Abigail Browning
  • Kahmarl Gordon
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
  • King Chain
3:25
6."SXWME" (featuring Jay Park and MNEK)
  • MNEK
3:34
7."Umbrella" (featuring Hyolyn and Gill Chang)
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
  • Chang
4:06
8."Double Dip" (featuring Soulja Boy and Loco)
  • Far East Movement
  • Cory Emeny
2:54
9."FBG$" (featuring Big K.R.I.T. and MIKNNA)
  • MIKNNA
3:18
10."Forever Survivor" (featuring Macy Gray)
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
4:00
11."Fortress" (featuring Urban Zakapa)
  • Far East Movement
  • Autolaser
3:52
Total length:39:00
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gollark: I do know about the various design flaws, but also we can compensate with technology.
gollark: I guess better eyes would be slightly useful.
gollark: Intelligence is very polygenic.
gollark: Maybe faster healing somehow, but good luck finding genes for that.

References
  1. "Far East Movement's Globally Focused 'Identity' Album Kicks Off With 'Freal Luv' Video ft. Tinashe, Marshmello & EXO's Chanyeol: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  2. "Four Years After Last Album, Far East Movement Finds Their True 'Identity'". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  3. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/identity/id1164210394
  4. "FAR EAST MOVEMENT |". transparentagency.com. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
  5. Leww, Crystal (7 November 2016). "Far East Movement Make EDM-Pop Bangers About Asian-American Identity". MTV. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  6. Yeung, Neil Z. "Identity – Far East Movement: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  7. "How Far East Movement took success into their own hands". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2018-01-10.
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