Cadillactica

Background

On June 13, 2013, in an interview with Dead End Hip Hop, Big K.R.I.T. hinted towards the title of the album, stating that the title is featured in the opening seconds of the Intro from his debut album Live from the Underground (2012). He stated: "Every album, I told you what the name of the next album was going to be. The name of my next album, on Def Jam [Records], is in the first song on Live From The Underground. It's in the intro. Literally, in the first 30 seconds of ["LFU300MA"], I say what the name of the next project is." In August 2013, in an interview with HipHopDX, he spoke about what to expect from the album, saying: "I’m keeping it soulful, and I’m also really working with a lot of producers as well. So it’s exciting, that I finally get to sit back and be a rapper. I’m used to being in front of the boards. I’m so used to mixing and so used to producing a record that sometimes it takes away from the creativity, or it takes me longer to create. Now I’m getting the opportunity to be in the studio with some dope producers. You know, Terrace Martin, DJ Dahi, Chad Hugo and people like this. It’s just different, because they work differently. The production they do is different, and the sounds they use and what they all sought from me was the kind of music I make. So we just instantly vibe with what we come up with." In September 2013, he announced the title of the album Cadillactica.

In October 2013, in an interview with XXL, he spoke about how he came up with the album title, saying: "It’s just one of those things that I was thinking about, ’cause in my first [album] cover Live From The Underground, it’s a Cadillac that has crash landed on planet earth. Just the whole storyline of being able to take you in reverse of where the Cadillac comes from. It’s creating this planet called Cadillactica where the soul and the funk comes from and being able to transcend my music with that idea. Diving deeper into what else can I do, how far can I take this record. How I can change these instruments and manipulate my voice; and make my voice an instrument. All these things to me are extremely important to really draw you in, to creatively try to do something totally different with this album. And I think it starts with the base of Cadillactica, you know, the planet of all this. I’m working on it now, I’m brainstorming hardcore, I’m working with other producers as well. You know DJ Dahi, Jim Johnson, Rico Love, DJ Toomp, Terrace Martin; there’s a lot of other people, too, that I’m gonna get in the studio with. But those are the people for starters that I’ve been working with, that I’m really excited about the content I’ve been able to create." On September 23, 2014, he announced that the album would be released on November 11, 2014.

Development

In an October 2013, interview with XXL, he also spoke about the production featured on the album, saying: "I’ll produce a few tracks. For me it’s about creating the best music possible, so if it’s seven tracks on the album that I’ve produced, that means we collectively—as far as my camp and myself—felt those were the strongest out of the abundance of records that I’m going to actually record for this project. If I only produce three of them, then those three were the strongest and we went with them. For me it’s about really making the best music possible and not just for the sake of producing. Live From The Underground, I had the opportunity to produce the whole album, so that was a milestone in itself. I feel like it’s important that I get out of my comfort zone for the sake of growth and my creativity and work with other people. ‘Cause I’m being inspired musically by working with these guys. Even in the studio with Organized Noize, I’ve seen so much just by seeing how they interact. And how they make music and how they create."

In an April 2014, interview with Nah Right, he elaborated on his involvement with the production of the album, saying: "Well, you know. I’m still involved. The beautiful thing is that I’m able to work with the type of musicians that I’m still able to give them my ideas. It could be a title or just the understanding of what I physically heard for the song that they can create or already have something in that manner. And then, we sit down and brainstorm the best possible idea for the record, because it’s one of those things that if I know that I went and somebody sent me a beat, and I just went crazy on it, I’m going to do what I would naturally do with my own records. I’m trying to take myself clean out my comfort zone, and if I’m going to do a riding song or a song about cars, not do it necessarily in the same realm that most people know of me doing it. I’m going to try to take if further and even with production—with the instrumentals and the beats that people give me—I try not to tell people so much what I want on the track. But even then, I can influence the record to semi-sound like something I would have made by myself. And I want to stay far away from that man, and just get to be an artist and vibe. It’s a blessing to be able to work with so many talented people."

In a September 2014, interview with Respect., he spoke about the vibe of the album, saying: "I wouldn’t say that. Cadillactica is a free-floating album in a way where I felt like I was able to talk about whatever I wanted because I created a planet to do so. Cadillactica is a planet that I created, which in reality is my conscious mind. It’s where all my creative thoughts come from. It’s where all my ideas come from. All of my pain. All my passions. All of my struggles. All of my pain. It all comes from Cadillactica. Everything is a little obscure and a little different because in your mind, it IS like that. Your mind is abstract, your ideas are abstract and I wanted to make my music seem a little abstract. I wanted the skits to be a little abstract. I wanted some of the instrumentation and singing to be abstract. I wanted the content and the topics to be abstract. I think I was able to accomplish that on this planet called Cadillactica."

Release and promotion

On January 10, 2013, Big K.R.I.T. announced his next mixtape would be titled King Remembered in Time. In an interview with 3 Little Digs, he spoke about the mixtape and his second studio album, saying: "I feel blessed today just to be an artist. I came in here, I just rapped, I ain't had to do shit-else, I ain't got to mix, [Mike Will Made It] handled all the production shit, and I get to rap. I'm excited. I wrote my verse, I recorded and I sat the fuck down. He was like, 'I'ma chop this up, I'ma screw this up'…I ain't producing my whole next album, so that means that the homie right here is definitely going to be a part of my album. Just be on the look out for that…I ain't gonna tell you the name of the next album name, but I will tell you the next mixtape, K.R.I.T. (King Remembered In Time), be on the look out for that. There will be production from [Mike Will] on that, if he'll bless me with that." King Remembered in Time would be released on April 10, 2013. The mixtape features primary production handled by K.R.I.T. himself and guest appearances by Wiz Khalifa, Future, Smoke DZA and Trinidad James among others.

In March 2014, he released seven songs over a week in promotion of the album. In an April 2014, interview with Nah Right, he was asked if any of the songs would make the album, saying: "Nah, all of those tracks that I put out there for K.R.I.T. Week were just for the people. I created those songs specifically for Week of K.R.I.T. Being able to have Rick Ross on it, A$AP Ferg and Smoke DZA, Big Sant [was great], but these were all songs I wanted to give to the people man. I just wanted to give them something. I haven’t dropped a project since April of 2013, and it was just like, “Man, I want people to hear the growth here, and I’m excited again.” I think people can hear in the tone of my voice and the amount of aggressiveness on these songs that I’m excited, I’m ready. It’s several records I produced too so for all the people that want me to produce for myself I did, but none of those songs were for Cadillactica or right now are on Cadillactica. But I know people really liked me clicking with A$AP Ferg, and I’ve been seeing that pop up on radio stations around here. So that’s exciting that people are supporting it like that." On September 16, 2014, he released the mixtape See Me On Top 4 in promotion of the album. The mixtape featured guest appearances from Rico Love, Yo Gotti, Big Sant, Rittz, ASAP Ferg and Rick Ross.

Singles

On April 28, 2014, the album's first promotional single "Mt. Olympus" was released. On May 7, 2014, the music video was released for "Mt. Olympus". In an October 2014, interview he said he wrote "Mt. Olympus" one day after Kendrick Lamar’s "Control" verse was released in August 2013, saying: "I figured out how strategic things like that are. And, I said, 'Aight, I'll turn it into a situation where it’s not about that verse.' So, I was like, ‘Aight, I’m talk about all of this. Ten years of feeling like they don’t give a fuck. I wrote that song a day after the “Control” verse came out. It wouldn’t have helped me to drop it then. I learned that this game is chess not checkers. I’m not going to jump you right after you jump me. I got to think about this." He also spoke about where the title "Mt. Olympus" came from, saying: "I named it "Mt. Olympus” because it’s this rap god thing going on and I’m understand that Mt. Olympus is the place where all the gods kick it. So, I made it “Mt. Olympus” because I’m kicking it there. My track is where we all kick it."

On July 28, 2014, the album's first single "Pay Attention" featuring Rico Love was released. In a September 2014, interview with Respect., he spoke about how the lead single "Pay Attention" came about, saying: "I had the opportunity to go down to Miami and work with Jim Jonsin and his team of producers, Zac and Finatik. Also, at the same time I wanted to be able to get in with Rico Wade and work because Jim Jonsin and Rico have this musical relationship where it’s cohesive and they work in a way that’s organic and it was a blessing to be able to go down there and get in the studio with both of them and create a song of that nature. For me, it was about getting out of my comfort zone. This album is a lot about that too. I was used to producing my own records and singing my own hooks and it was out of necessity at first in my career because I couldn’t afford to pay for beats and I didn’t have anybody to sing on the hooks. At this point of my career, I want to create and write in a manner where I can always take it to the next level. It was dope to get in with Rico because he has a gift for writing hooks that are relatable for everybody. It doesn’t matter where you’re from and it doesn’t matter who you are, you can relate to these hooks. When he sent that to me, I was like “I got it” as far as the verses and it was just dope to be able to add a little bit of my edge and my southern twang to it. I can still be myself, but make a record as big as “Pay Attention” and showcase my growth as I’m getting older. I want to put that in my music. I’m not K.R.I.T. from 2010."

On October 14, 2014, the album's second single "Cadillactica" was released. On October 15, 2014, the music video was released for "Pay Attention" featuring Rico Love. On October 28, 2014, the album's third single "Soul Food" featuring Raphael Saadiq was released. On November 5, 2014, the music video was released for "Cadillactica". On December 12, 2014. the music video was released for "Soul Food" featuring Raphael Saadiq.

Critical reception

Cadillactica received universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 88, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 11 reviews. David Jeffries of AllMusic said, "Like David Banner before him, Meridian, Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. was baptized in deep Southern slop and then cut through the competition with a bit of an indie spin, but Cadillactica is on another level, and if the album cover makes it looks like one of Kid Cudi's space jams, there's good reason." Samantha O’Connor of Exclaim! stated, "Big K.R.I.T.'s second major label album, Cadillactica, surpasses the rudimentary purpose of filling his sophomore album slot, sending fans swirling through a textured orbit of flavourful production and detailed storytelling. The Mississippi rapper has created a 17-track modern southern-style fairy-tale that catapults K.R.I.T. into a new tier of artistic relevancy and, following an arguably lacklustre year in hip-hop, fills a void." Jay Balfour of HipHopDX said, "Cadillactica is the first time K.R.I.T. has tried something obviously original while under the scrutiny being a major label artist brings. Without leaning back he’s smartly pushing against himself by enlisting Dahi and Raphael Saadiq and Terrace Martin. There’s a conscious move into original music and instrumentation here that hints at where K.R.I.T. is heading, as well. With Cadillactica he’s found his stride by taking new steps. K.R.I.T. isn’t slept on, but he’s proven again that he should have a bigger bandwagon by now. Once he does he’ll throw some fifteens in the back and keep it moving."

Rachel Chesbrough of XXL stated, "In some ways Cadillactica is the Big K.R.I.T. we already know. He’s fearless in his content; unafraid to talk about (and even equate) both the material and the philosophical. It’s The South ‘til death, and underground at that. In maybe more ways though, this is K.R.I.T. evolved. Lyrically he’s never sounded surer of himself, and his beat selection proves we have nothing to worry about when he relinquishes some of that control. The album is incredibly dense, packed past capacity with metaphors, even for a concept album. Even without much mainstream appeal, K.R.I.T.’S relatability keeps it accessible, and ultimately, Cadillactica proves to be something the game barely knew it needed. Consider the gauntlet thrown." Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound said, "What makes Cadillactica arguably his best full-length to date is that he’s never sounded more determined to chart every foot – or every layer of atmosphere – in between." Logan Smithson of PopMatters stated, "Cadillactica stands on its own as a deviation in sound but a continuation of greatness. An intriguing concept, exceptional production, and captivating lyricism ensure that a trip to Cadillactica is one that will stick with you for life."

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, with sales of 44,000 copies in the United States. In second week, the album dropped to number 43 on the chart, selling 9,000 copies, bringing its total album sales to 53,000 copies.