Absolute Value (album)

Absolute Value is the second studio album by Boston rapper Akrobatik.[1] It was released on February 19, 2008 by Fat Beats Records. The album features guest appearances by hip hop artists Talib Kweli, Chuck D, and B-Real, as well as production by 9th Wonder, Illmind, J Dilla, and Da Beatminerz. Despite receiving rave reviews, the album sold about 600 units in its opening week.[2]

Absolute Value
Studio album by
Akrobatik
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2008 (2008-02-19)
GenreHip hop
Length52:07
LabelFat Beats Records
Producer
Akrobatik chronology
Balance
(2003)		 Absolute Value
(2008)		 Built to Last
(2014)
Singles from Absolute Value
  1. "A to the K / Beast Mode"
    Released: 2006
  2. "Put Ya Stamp on It"
    Released: 2008

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[3]
ArtofRhyme.com[4]
AllMusic[5]
DJBooth.net[6]
HipHopDX[7]
HipHopLinguistics.com[8]
The Phoenix[9]
PopMatters[10]
RapReviews.com9/10[11]
XLR8R7.5/10[12]

Marisa Brown of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, commenting that it "mixes his socially conscious messages and his battle-honed cadence, healthy ego, and energetic production (courtesy here of Illmind, Dilla, J-Zone, and 9th Wonder, among others) into a palatable but intelligent creation that entertains as much as it educates."[5] She added, "Absolute Value has a few requisite tracks -- the melancholy 'Rain,' the sweet 'Back Home to You' -- but it also has a lot of sharp, thoughtful, fun material that knows how to keep the audience moving, both in body and mind."[5] J-23 of HipHopDX gave the album a 4.0 out of 5, saying, "you won't find anything on this album that will have you reaching for the skip button."[7]

Andrew Martin of PopMatters gave the album 7 stars out of 10, calling it "a strong representation of Ak's versatility as an emcee."[10] Max Herman of XLR8R gave the album a 7.5 out of 10, writing, "the MC leaves the greatest impression when he balances his hard-hitting approach with focused subject matter as he does on the Little Brother-assisted 'Be Prepared,' a soulful examination of the rap game."[12]

Track listing
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."A to the K" (featuring B-Real)Illmind2:52
2."Soul Glo"Da Beatminerz2:38
3."Put Ya Stamp on It" (featuring Talib Kweli)J Dilla3:22
4."Step It Up"Hezekiah3:02
5."Rain" (featuring Brenna Gethers)Illmind3:11
6."Be Prepared" (featuring Little Brother)9th Wonder3:40
7."Absolute Value"J-Zone2:43
8."Black Hell Breaks Loose" (featuring Willie Evans Jr. and DJ Therapy)DJ Therapy3:36
9."Kindred" (featuring Chuck D and Brenna Gethers)Illmind4:00
10."Front Steps Pt. II (Tough Love)"Tzarizm3:34
11."Beast Mode" (featuring Mr. Lif)DJ Fakts One3:09
12."If We Can't Build" (featuring Bumpy Knuckles)Illmind3:00
13."Ak B. Nimble"
  • Baba Israel
  • Yako
2:55
14."Back Home to You"DJ Therapy6:35
Total length:52:07

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

  • Akrobatik – vocals
  • B-Real – vocals (1)
  • Illmind – production (1, 5, 9, 12)
  • Da Beatminerz – production (2)
  • DJ Evil Dee – turntables (2)
  • Talib Kweli – vocals (3)
  • J Dilla – production (3)
  • DJ Jayceeoh – turntables (3, 4, 6, 10, 14)
  • Hezekiah – production (4)
  • Brenna Gethers – vocals (5, 9)
  • Little Brother – vocals (6)
  • 9th Wonder – production (6)
  • J-Zone – production (7)
  • Willie Evans Jr. – vocals (8)
  • DJ Therapy – vocals (8), production (8, 14), turntables (13)
  • Chuck D – vocals (9)
  • Tzarizm – production (10)
  • Mr. Lif – vocals (11)
  • DJ Fakts One – production (11)
  • Bumpy Knuckles – vocals (12)
  • Baba Israel – production (13)
  • Yako – production (13)
  • Buttaskotch – engineering
  • Lucy Fernandes – engineering
  • Ray Fernandes – engineering
  • Sir Bob Nash – engineering
  • Mark Donahue – mastering
  • Alphabet Arm Design – art direction
  • Billy Nunez – illustration
  • A. Garcia – photography

References
  1. Jones, Kevin (May 2008). "Akrobatic - Absolute Value". Exclaim!.
  2. Ewing, Aliya (February 27, 2008). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 2/24/08 | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  3. Adaso, Henry (February 19, 2008). "Akrobatik - Absolute Value (Fat Beats)". Rap.about.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  4. "review". Artofrhyme.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  5. Brown, Marisa. "Absolute Value - Akrobatik". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  6. S., Nathan. "Akrobatik - Absolute Value". DJBooth.net. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  7. J-23 (February 20, 2008). "Akrobatik - Absolute Value". HipHopDX.
  8. "HipHopLinguistics review". Hiphoplinguistics.com. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  9. Graham, Andrew (February 26, 2008). "Akrobatik - Absolute Value - Fat Beats". The Phoenix.
  10. Martin, Andrew (March 2, 2008). "Akrobatik: Absolute Value". PopMatters. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  11. Juon, Steve (February 5, 2008). "Akrobatik :: Absolute Value :: Fat Beats Records". RapReviews.com. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  12. Herman, Max (March 18, 2008). "Akrobatik - Absolute Value". XLR8R.
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