Since Chico & The Man was “announced” in 2003 I have overseen 16 different releases—producing and mixing them in full, rapping on some, even mastering them and doing all of the graphic design for them in some cases. I’ve reluctantly taken beats from Chico & The Man and placed them elsewhere during this process (Things I Dream, The Gates, Embers, etc.) for the sake of putting out the best quality music for the fans. Hell, at the risk of sounding melodramatic I’ve watched my dedication to music crush personal relationships and allow my health to crumble as I, like you, have waited for this album to come to fruition. Music is what I love, this is what I do for a living and when it comes to delivering for our fans I don’t fuck around—my output reflects it.
I want this album to exist in your world as much as you do, but I refuse to allow something that I could eventually be the most proud of to A: become the bane of my existence in a pit of regret and B: not get heard by as many people as possible while it mires in some dark, dusty corner of iTunes.
That is why Chico & The Man will not be dropping in December and from this point forward won’t even be discussed or have questions about it entertained until I hold a finished product in my hand that I am 100% happy with. December release was contingent on it being unceremoniously “dropped” digitally on iTunes and Bandcamp just for the sake of getting the monkey off of our backs, but after sitting with the record I simply can’t have that happen now. Tonedeff is one of my best friends and I have no intention on throwing him under the bus—but I waited patiently while the brilliant writing on this record got to marinate, grow and take shape over the course of nearly 6 years and I feel it is simply unfair for the mixing & promotion process to be granted a few months, especially with such great distribution and promo opportunities on the table that we’d have to pass on otherwise. Even Matt Hobbs had nearly 2 years to work on the video for “1000 Ships”—I feel that the rest of these things deserve more than 2 months. You deserve it. The album deserves it. Our fans have shown a level of dedication to a record that only existed in theory that I truly appreciate—I want it to be available outside of the internet, I want it to be available on vinyl, I want you to actually hear about it outside of QN5.com.
A little while before the release date was announced I was about as close as you can come to just scrapping the entire project out of sheer frustration and resentment—I was tired of talking about it on tour, tired of making excuses for it, tired of it stressing me out, tired of the strain it was putting on my friendship with Tone but most of all I was tired of sitting on this awesome thing and feeling completely handcuffed. Reconciling my creative process with Tone’s hasn’t been easy, but I realize now that people do need to hear it and it has to be given the care & effort that 8 years of work deserves. No more “clues”, no more teasers, no more questions, no more anything until I am happy with not only the finished product but also the distribution, promotion and reach in place to make sure everyone who should hear it does hear it.
I know that I have deferred all questions and comments about this album to Tonedeff for the past 3-4 years, but the record is in my hands now and the decision to push it is mine and mine alone. I’ve only had two release dates pushed back ever—APOS thanks to a label snafu and Death Is Silent due to Souljah Boy—and both irritated the shit out of me, but this is the best move here and it simply has to be done. Hopefully the 3 albums I’ve dropped in the past 12 months can tide you over a little bit longer—they’re pretty dope, too.
Well said, Kno. I’m glad that you and Tone are on the same page stylistically and I really don’t think anyone wants it to be released to anything less than world-changing fanfare. As always, your unflinching honesty and transparency is much appreciated and is a standard that all in the industry should be held to. Sounds like kind of what happened with Oneirology too, hopefully there will be much more tour and promotion opportunities in the spring. Take the time. Get it pressed on vinyl. We’ll be here when it comes.
DjMc1200 said:Sounds like kind of what happened with Oneirology too.
Even though we didn’t have an announced release date with Oneirology until we had distro, part of the issue is we seem to always finish records around the END of the year when it is impossible to get anyone to do anything with it. DIS, Dirty Acres, APOS, Oneirology, NWL, SJV2 etc.—all late fall/winter releases, which completely hamstrings you.
From around mid-November to mid-February “industry” people just disappear, so doing anything with a record outside of what you can do with your own hands is nearly impossible.
Good decision. People won’t be happy, but it’s the right thing to do to make sure the record gets the attention and praise it deserves. It would have been a shame if the biggest release in QN5 history was only released digitally.
w00t! this means that the writing/tone part of the album is done from what I understand? I think this is great news, I rather wait and let Kno make it as much as a masterpiece as it can possibly be, rather than release the record prematurely. Blueschoolers can wait for sure, and I think giving this record the proper promotion and distribution is absolutely a must.
It’s all good. When it comes, it comes. If there’s material as incredible as The Gates and Things I Dream on it, C&TM; will be worth the wait (and more).
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to other releases.
To basically reiterate what has been said. Thanks for the details and the honesty. I don’t mind waiting because as you said it will improve the end product. I was really excited for the release this year, but the excitement will reignite in the future. And on the bright side, I have more time to save money to purchase even more copies. I would have also been disappointed with a digital-only release.
Take your time, man. You should never feel pressed to release something of yours that isn’t ready yet. I’m sure we can wait for the finished masterpiece.
I ain’t gonna lie,i’m a little mad that it’s not coming out next month(but i kinda figured it out after seeing the release date being taken down from the main page).But i’ve waited for years for this and waiting a little longer is no problem.I know Tone and Kno want this more than anyone and an unfinished or rushed product isn’t their style.Kno has what it takes to make this a perfect record,and he’ll be ready when he’s ready.
I’ll suck your dick man. I’ll suck your fuckin’ dick to let me hear this album in December. I’ll let you fuck me. I’ll fuck something in the room, just tell me what you want me to fuck.
Seriously though I’m definitely glad it looks like things have been getting done and this is actually going to be happening. I’m not happy that I was correct about it not being released until 2012, but we all knew the greatness of this album could be the only thing powerful enough to bring about the end of the world.
Although I might be upset about the fact that I won’t be able to hear the CD Dec. 12th, I completely understand that you, the artist, have to be completely comfortable about what is being put out.
neverbetter said:You made a good decision. Better to get perfection than stick to some self imposed deadline.
But definitely avoid making promises until the album’s 100% ready to drop, otherwise fans can’t help but feel disappointed.
Drop hints and clues though. The cryptic stuff is fun, builds up hype and makes no guarantees.
Can we get some sort of CATM teaser soon? That’d definitely keep us occupied and distracted from the changed release date.
Think we’ll have to live with the 1000 ships teaser for the next several months…kno seemed pretty adament that it’s gonna be really quiet until the album is 100% finished…something I’m actually happy about. I honestly don’t want to hear anything from them about this record again until it’s completely finished and ready to be released.
I haven’t said anything more than this for the past 3+ years. Matter of fact, unless pressed, I haven’t really talked about this album at all to be real. I just want it to be done. If you want anything more than the songs, I’m just not the guy to talk to.
No but really…like everyone else said, thanks for your honesty and keeping us in the loop. While it’s sad that it won’t be coming out soon, I trust your judgement. You’ve proven that over and over and I don’t think anyone questions your decision. I’ll keep on waiting with bated breath.
“Hey guys, album is basically done. I’ve heard it and it’s NUTS. SO NUTS that it would be a shame if the few remaining to-dos for the record (mixing, mastering, marketing, distribution) were rushed.”
Because this is great news. Go to town on that shit. Take another year if you need to. I understand why you prefaced this post with a long series of disclaimers, but I’m not even bummed guys. This is a significant milestone.
But it’s your decision and I appreciate it. I fully agree CATM deserve best distribution, promotion, etc. Digital release? Hell nah!
Kno, you f#cking perfectionist but this why I love your music. Do what you have to do.
I guess we can only imagine the level of emotion you’re enduring regarding the record. We’re with you. I will just quote myself from another thread in this forum section:
enthusiasm said:The anticipation’s been so big for so long that I literally can keep on waiting.
deStructuralized said:Am I reading this correctly?
“Hey guys, album is basically done. I’ve heard it and it’s NUTS. SO NUTS that it would be a shame if the few remaining to-dos for the record (mixing, mastering, marketing, distribution) were rushed.”
Because this is great news. Go to town on that shit. Take another year if you need to. I understand why you prefaced this post with a long series of disclaimers, but I’m not even bummed guys. This is a significant milestone.
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