Villa Manifesto is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Slum Village. It was released on July 27, 2010, via Ne'Astra Music Group and E1 Entertainment.[8] The recording sessions took place at RJ Rice Studios in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The album was produced by Young RJ, J Dilla, Hi-Tek, Kon Artis, Khrysis and Supa Dave West, with Craig Lane serving as co-producer. It features guest appearances from AB, Colin Munroe, Dwele, Keys, Little Brother, Phife Dawg, Posdnuos and Vice Verse.[9]
In the United States, the album debuted at number 37 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 21 on the Top Rap Albums and number 31 on the Independent Albums charts.
The album was supported with Villa Manifesto EP, released on December 15, 2009, and the lone single "Faster" b/w "Lock It Down", which was released on June 1, 2010.[10] An accompanying music video for the song "Faster" was released on July 12, 2010.[11]Villa Manifesto Instrumentals was released on October 23, 2012 via Ne'Astra Music.[12]
Founding member Baatin, who reunited with the group in 2008 prior to his death the year after, worked on nearly twenty songs; unreleased vocals from J Dilla are featured on four songs. Villa Manifesto serves as both a reunion and a memorial album. Two late founding members of the group (Baatin and J Dilla) appeared posthumously as main artists of the album alongside T3 and Elzhi. Illa J, J Dilla's younger brother, is also contributed to the album, as well as production from Young RJ, making it the first Slum Village full-length to feature all six members. Founding member T3 stated: "I wanted to pull the whole squad together. The reason why we call it Villa Manifesto is that it was a statement we want to give our people because we had been away for so long. What we're doing, what's going on, how we're feeling and where we're at today".[8] Before the album's release, T3 stated on Twitter that it was their final studio album.[13] However, in a subsequent interview with Billboard, he clarified: "If this album does phenomenal and the supporters just overwhelm me, I wouldn't have a choice but to do another record – and I believe this record could be phenomenal for us".[13]
[1]
