Unbothered

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Unbothered
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2021 (2021-01-22)
Recorded2019–2020
Genre
Length42:00
Label
Producer
Lil Skies chronology
Shelby
(2019)
Unbothered
(2021)
Out Ur Body Music
(2024)
Alternate cover
Deluxe edition cover
Singles from Unbothered
  1. "Havin My Way"
    Released: March 4, 2020
  2. "Riot"
    Released: May 14, 2020
  3. "On Sight"
    Released: November 6, 2020
  4. "Ok"
    Released: December 16, 2020
  5. "My Baby"
    Released: April 29, 2021

Unbothered is the second studio album by American rapper Lil Skies. It was released on January 22, 2021, by All We Got Entertainment and Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa and Lil Durk. The deluxe version was released on May 14, 2021. It features additional guest appearances from Trippie Redd, Zhavia Ward, and Drakeo the Ruler. It follows Skies' previous album, Shelby (2019).[1]

Background[edit]

In an interview with Complex, Skies elaborated on the album, explaining:

I just hope people take away from my album—just from me in general—is to just chase your dreams, and don't let nobody tell you what to do. I'm learning that still myself. I got a lot of people around me in my life tellin' me what I should do, what I shouldn't do… Do what you love, man. Life is too short.[2]

The title of the album is a self-analysis of Skies, that nothing can distract him from doing what he is doing. The cover art depicts him in a room that is filled with items that are distracting, in which he sits down in a chair, thinking about his ideas. He chose Wiz Khalifa and Lil Durk to appear on the album as they are some of his most favorite artists. As with Shelby (2019), the project that was released before Unbothered, it only contains a few features for Skies to showcase his own talent.

Release and promotion[edit]

Skies announced the album along with its title, cover art, and release date in an Instagram post on December 16, 2020.[3] The track listing was revealed three days before its release, on January 19, 2021.

Singles[edit]

Skies released the album's lead single, "Havin My Way", which features fellow American rapper Lil Durk, on March 4, 2020.[4] It was followed by the second single, "Riot", which was released on May 14, 2020.[5] The third single, "On Sight", was released on November 6, 2020.[6] "Ok" was released as the fourth and final single on December 16, 2020.[7] The lead single of the deluxe edition of the album, "My Baby", which features American singer Zhavia Ward, was released on April 29, 2021.

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Clash7/10[9]
Vinyl Chapters3/5[10]

Writing for Clash, Robin Murray felt that "every element on the album feels exact, placed with real precision"; Murray specifically praised the singles "Ok" and "Havin My Way", the latter of which features Lil Durk, opining that the album is an "inward journey" and the two singles exemplify that, while complimenting the songs "Trust Nobody", "Riot", and "Think Deep Don't Sink".[9]

Track listing[edit]

Unbothered track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fade Away"
  • Based1
  • Jakik
3:21
2."Take 5"
  • Foose
  • Sturdivant
  • Hagan Lange
  • Based1
  • Hagan
2:52
3."Excite Me" (featuring Wiz Khalifa)CashMoneyAP2:51
4."Havin My Way" (featuring Lil Durk)
Slim Pharaoh3:31
5."Ok"Buddah Bless2:35
6."Dead Broke"
  • Foose
  • Ringleb
  • Lange
  • Mitchell Cooper
  • Slim Pharaoh
  • Hagan
  • Sprite Lee
2:24
7."On Sight"
  • Foose
  • Ringleb
  • Garrison Webster
  • Slim Pharaoh
  • Vendr
2:41
8."Think Deep Don't Sink"
  • Foose
  • Sturdivant
  • Jack Gibson
  • Andrew Porter
  • Based1
  • Gibbo
  • Dru Armada
4:07
9."Red Wine & Jodeci"
2:27
10."Locked Up"
  • Foose
  • Durrell Barbour
  • Connor Mannina
  • Rello
  • Steeze
3:05
11."Trust Nobody"
  • Foose
  • Vladislav Makhin
  • Noah Bridges
  • MVA Beats
  • Noahsaki
3:34
12."Riot"
  • Foose
  • Petit
  • Joshua Pinter
  • Alexander Mullarkey
  • CashMoneyAP
  • Neel & Alex
2:46
13."Sky High"
  • Foose
  • Curtidor
  • Liam McAlister
  • Nils Noehden
  • Danny Wolf
  • LMC
  • Nils
3:19
14."Mhmmm"2:21
Total length:42:00
Deluxe bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Ice Water" (featuring Trippie Redd)
Based13:00
16."Bloody Emotions"
  • Foose
  • Liam McAlister
  • James Jarvis
  • Jake Martin
  • Paul Gachie
  • LMC
  • JustAcoustic
  • Twoprxducers
2:41
17."My Baby" (featuring Zhavia Ward)
  • CashMoneyAP
  • WizzleGotBeats
2:12
18."How You Feel"
  • Foose
  • McAlister
  • Josh O'Brien
  • Ryan LeRoy-Dyson
  • LMC
  • O'Brien
  • Dyce
3:04
19."Perfect Groove"
  • Foose
  • Mackenzie Edward
Ghxst3:01
20."Posse" (featuring Drakeo the Ruler)
  • Slim Pharaoh
  • Minor2Go
2:49
21."Backup"
  • Foose
  • Ringleb
  • Lange
  • Slim Pharaoh
  • Hagan
2:37
Total length:1:01:25

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]

Musicians[edit]

Technical[edit]

  • Samantha Kossoff – assistant mixing (tracks 5, 8–11, 14)
  • Chris Athens – mastering (tracks 2, 3, 6–11, 13, 14)
  • Neek – mixing (tracks 1–6, 12, 13), mastering (tracks 1, 4, 12)
  • Joe Fitz – mixing (tracks 5, 7–11, 14), mastering (track 5)
  • Based1 – programming (tracks 1, 2, 8)
  • Jakik – programming (track 1)
  • Hagan – programming (tracks 2, 6)
  • CashMoneyAP – programming (tracks 3, 12)
  • Slim Pharaoh – programming (tracks 4, 6, 7)
  • Buddah Bless – programming (track 5)
  • Sprite Lee – programming (track 6)
  • Vendr – programming (track 7)
  • Gibbo & Armada – programming (track 8)
  • Pvlace – programming (track 9)
  • Danny Wolf – programming (tracks 9, 13)
  • Rello – programming (track 10)
  • Steeze – programming (track 10)
  • Noahsaki – programming (track 11)
  • MVA Beats – programming (track 11)
  • Neel & Alex – programming (track 12)
  • Nils – programming (track 13)
  • LMC – programming (track 13)
  • T-Minus – programming (track 14)
  • Cubeatz – programming (track 14)

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Unbothered
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] 48
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[13] 60
US Billboard 200[14] 50
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] 29

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mahadevan, Tara C. (January 22, 2021). "Listen to Lil Skies' Album 'Unbothered' f/ Lil Durk and Wiz Khalifa". Complex. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (January 20, 2021). "Lil Skies on New Album 'Unbothered' and Lil Wayne Supporting Trump". Complex. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Lil Skies on Instagram: "My new album "Unbothered" is out now for pre-sale!🦋 New single "Ok" for you guys being patient with me!❣🤓wouldn't be shit without you guys!!!!!! LOVE🖤link in bio let's go up🤯🤯1/22". Instagram. December 16, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Okon, Wongo (March 4, 2020). "Lil Skies And Lil Durk Earn Their Freedom In 'Havin My Way' Video". Uproxx. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Lilah, Rose (May 14, 2020). "Lil Skies Is Ready To "Riot"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  6. ^ Pickus, Brandon (November 6, 2020). "Lil Skies - "On Sight" [STREAM + VIDEO]". Rhyme Hip Hop. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Zidel, Alex (December 16, 2020). "Lil Skies Releases New Single "Ok" And Announces "Unbothered" Album". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  8. ^ Thomas, Fred. "Unbothered - Lil Skies | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Murray, Robin (January 22, 2021). "Lil Skies - Unbothered". Clash. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Lawlor, Imogen (January 26, 2021). "Lil Skies: Unbothered - Album Review". Vinyl Chapters. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "Unbothered / Lil Skies - TIDAL". Tidal. January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  12. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart: February 6, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "2021 4-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. January 29, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Billboard 200: February 6, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart: February 6, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2021.