Handmade Coffee

From Clumsy Media

Handmade Coffee is the fourth studio and third major label release by Korean project group Coffee Musicians, released on March 18, 2015 by Clumsy Media. The album has been in preparation eight months after the group's third studio album release, The Coffee Beans Exclusive (2012). Recording sessions took place at various locations in South Korea, Japan and the United States and began in April 2014. The album was produced jointly by the group's members, along with ex-member and leader Choi Koo Gun.

The album incorporates orchestral and traditional Korean music influences, indie underground genre samples, and jazz melodies in its sound. Its lyrics, which were solely written by Ophelia, exhibit themes of modern lifestyle, fame, materialism, burdens of success with reference and metaphor within a cafe setting. It also explores other topics such as Mr. Kid's reflection on creative freedom and Gentleladies's recently struggles with musical endeavours entrapped within the group's consecutive context of coffee and cafe. Music writers interpreted the subject matter to concern the group's recent struggle and a collective collage of each members' individual issues.

Consecutively in-line with the group's usual pattern, the album did not produce any individual single releases nor did the group promote the album. Despite the inactivity, the album made its début at number one on all major Korean music charts, selling 120,000 copies its first week. It received generally positive reviews from music critics, who commended its production and the members' respective performances, although some criticized its subject matter due to its the suggested in-cohesiveness. It was also one of the top-ranked albums in year-end lists by critics and publications and earned the group several year end award nominations.

Background

Jay-Z and Kanye West first worked together on the song "This Can't Be Life", from Jay-Z's 2000 album The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, produced by West,[1] then on Jay-Z's 2001 album The Blueprint, which showcased West's distinctive style of hip hop production at the time.[2] West's early production work on Jay-Z's music helped raise his profile in the music industry.[1] While originally only viewed as a producer, West eventually was seen as both a viable rapper and producer thanks to the success of his debut album The College Dropout and its singles.[3] West continued to be one of Jay-Z's main producers on subsequent albums such as The Black Album and Kingdom Come.[4][2] Jay-Z appeared on Kanye's first two albums as well, and the two frequently collaborated.[2][3] Further collaborative work by the two included singles such as "Swagga Like Us" from rapper T.I.'s Paper Trail, "Run This Town" from Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3, and "Monster" from West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.[2][5][6]

During the promotional stages of West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, a remix of the song "Power" surfaced featuring Jay-Z.[7] Following this, West announced on Twitter his intention to drop a five-track EP with Jay-Z, titled Watch the Throne.[7] Also according to the rapper, the track "Monster" was intended for the EP, though that failed to surface.[7] It was later revealed by West that the project had been expanded into a full-length album in an October 2010 interview for MTV.[8] He said in the interview that they planned to record in the south of France.[8]

Tracklisting

1. "커피로 만든" (Made with Coffee) — 01:22
2. "모닝 커피" (Morning Coffee) — 03:07
3. "밤 커피" (Night Coffee) — 04:12
4. "콩과 먼지" (Beans and Dust) — 02:39
5. "알코올 카페" (Alcohol Cafe) — 03:51

6. "Tyranny" — 00:45
7. "Panacea" — 03:20
8. "Cyntoia" (feat. Zico of Block B) — 04:00
9. "Lissome" (feat. Ophelia) — 02:45
10. "BRB" (Outro Track) — 01:26