{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Care for Me | type = studio | artist = Saba | cover = This is the cover art for CARE FOR ME by Saba. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to the label%2C Saba PIVOT%2C or the graphic artist%28s%29.jpg | alt = | released = April 5, 2018 | recorded = | studio = | genre = Hip-hop, jazz rap | length = 41:35 | label = Saba Pivot, LLC | producer = {{hlist|daedaePIVOT <small>(also exec.)</small>|Daoud <small>(also {{abbr|exec.|executive producer}})</small>|Saba <small>(also {{abbr|exec.|executive producer}})</small>}} | prev_title = Bucket List Project | prev_year = 2016 | next_title = Few Good Things | next_year = 2022 | misc = {{Singles | name = Care for Me | type = studio | single1 = Busy | single1date = February 26, 2018 | single2 = Life | single2date = March 20, 2018 }} }}
'''''Care for Me''''' (stylized as '''''CARE FOR ME''''') is the second studio album by American rapper Saba. It was released on April 5, 2018, by Saba Pivot, LLC., has received critical acclaim from music critics and audiences alike.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/care-for-me/1365784239|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408172844/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/care-for-me/1365784239|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2018|title=CARE FOR ME by Saba|work=iTunes Store (US)|accessdate=April 13, 2018}}</ref> The album was produced entirely by daedaePIVOT, Daoud and Saba.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/85831-stream-sabas-care-for-me-project-new-mixtape|title=Stream Saba's "Care For Me" Project|work=HotNewHipHop|date=4 April 2018 |access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> The album also includes guest appearances from Chance the Rapper, Kaina and theMIND.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pigeonsandplanes.com/music/2018/04/saba-care-for-me-new-album|title=Saba Releases Candid, Introspective Album 'Care For Me'|work=Pigeons and Planes|accessdate=April 13, 2018}}</ref>
==Background== In February 2017, Saba's cousin and fellow Pivot Gang member, Walter E. "John Walt" Long was stabbed to death in Chicago. In an interview, Saba spoke about the mental process and how writing the songs on the album were therapeutic saying: {{cquote|''Care For Me'' is the first time I delve into talking about depression and anxiety, and then all of these factors as to why I am the way I am. A lot of it had to do with losing my best friend and older cousin, [John] Walt, which is throughout the album. I think why Care For Me is so important is because it talks about mental health in a lot of ways that are simple but I just haven't heard it done in hip-hop music that way.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Platon |first1=Adelle |title=SABA ON BREAKING OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE AND RAPPING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ON 'CARE FOR ME' |url=http://read.tidal.com/article/saba-care-for-me-interview |website=Tidal|date=18 April 2018 }}</ref>}}
==Music and lyrics== ''Care for Me'' is a concept album dedicated to the memory of his late-cousin, which Saba started working on in December 2017. The penultimate track "Prom / King" recounts a story of being set up a blind prom date by Walt, who saves him from the potential embarrassment of public loneliness. The blind date is a success and the pair head to an afterparty. The festive mood suddenly turns dangerous when the date's brother arrives and threatens to stab him. The track was initially planned to be the outro of the album however Saba felt the song was too depressing and didn't want to leave listeners with that feeling. Towards near completion of the album, Saba recalled a moment to review his progress saying: "I was listening with one of the producers and he actually pointed it out: 'Damn dude, all of these songs are about Walt,' I didn't even realize."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Leight |first1=Elias |title=How Saba Made Art Out of Grief on 'Care for Me' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/saba-interview-care-for-me-700019/ |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=19 July 2018 }}</ref>
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | ADM = 8.2/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/9258/Saba-Care-For-Me.aspx|title=Care For Me by Saba reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=September 1, 2019}}</ref> | MC = 93/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/care-for-me/saba|title=CARE FOR ME by Saba Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=April 15, 2018}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/care-for-me-mw0003191649|title=Care for Me – Saba|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=November 24, 2018|last=Thomas|first=Fred}}</ref> | rev2 = ''The A.V. Club'' | rev2score = B+<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/wye-oak-eels-and-more-albums-to-know-about-this-week-1824562010|title=Saba, Care For Me|work=The A.V. Club|date=April 6, 2018|access-date=April 15, 2018|last=Waite|first=Kelsey J.}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Consequence of Sound'' | rev3score = A−<ref name="consequence.net">{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2018/04/album-review-saba-artfully-dresses-fresh-wounds-on-care-for-me/|title=Saba Artfully Dresses Fresh Wounds on Care for Me|work=Consequence of Sound|date=April 7, 2018|accessdate=April 15, 2018|last=Graves|first=Wren}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Exclaim!'' | rev4score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/saba-care_for_me|title=Saba: Care For Me|work=Exclaim!|date=April 7, 2018|accessdate=April 15, 2018|last=Campos|first=Daniela}}</ref> | rev5 = ''HipHopDX'' | rev5score = 4.4/5<ref name="hiphopdx.com">{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3124/title.sabas-care-for-me-is-an-essential-listen-in-a-sea-of-disposable-music|title=Saba's "Care For Me" Is An Essential Listen In A Sea Of Disposable Music|work=HipHopDX|date=April 5, 2018|accessdate=April 15, 2018|last=Ivey|first=Justin}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev6score = 8.7/10<ref name="pitchfork.com">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/saba-care-for-me/|title=Saba: CARE FOR ME|work=Pitchfork|date=April 12, 2018|accessdate=April 15, 2018|last=Pearce|first=Sheldon}}</ref> | rev7 = ''PopMatters'' | rev7score = 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/saba-care-for-me-2567329753.html|title=Saba Sends a Cry for Help for His Beloved Chicago on 'CARE FOR ME'|work=PopMatters|date=May 10, 2018|accessdate=November 27, 2018|last=Thiessen|first=Christopher}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Under the Radar'' | rev8score = 6.5/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/saba_care_for_me/|title=Saba: Care For Me (Saba Pivot, LLC.) review|work=Under the Radar|date=June 6, 2018|accessdate=November 27, 2018|last=Watkins|first=Michael}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Tom Hull – on the Web'' | rev9Score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm3}})<ref>{{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=July 31, 2018|url=http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/arch/rhap/rh1807-1.php|title=Streamnotes|website=Tom Hull – on the Web|accessdate=July 19, 2020}}</ref> | rev10 = ''Vice'' (Expert Witness) | rev10score = A−<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/robert-christgau-on-sabas-humanist-hip-hop/|title=Robert Christgau on Saba's Humanist Hip-Hop|department=Noisey|magazine=Vice|date=February 2, 2019|access-date=February 2, 2019|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> }} ''Care for Me'' was met with widespread critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 93, based on 5 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="MC"/> In his review for AllMusic, Fred Thomas described the album as a "masterful artistic statement" with "Beautifully minimal production [that] supports the feeling of emptiness"<ref name="allmusic.com"/> Writing for ''HipHopDX'', Justin Ivey stated "With ''Care for Me'', Saba accomplished his objective by making an album that can endure for years to come. His higher aspirations won't afford him the visibility of the rappers acting out for attention, but projects like ''Care for Me'' should put him into the discussions of his generation's best hip-hop artists."<ref name="hiphopdx.com"/> Sheldon Pearce of ''Pitchfork'' gave the album a rave review, awarding it Best New Music, saying "The grief-stricken Chicago rapper’s latest is a marvel of craft, musicality, and emotion. Through Saba's inner turmoil, he finds his most powerful and diaristic storytelling."<ref name="pitchfork.com"/> Wren Graves of ''Consequence of Sound'' wrote "At 10 breezy tracks, ''Care for Me'' isn't just a collection of songs; it’s an honest-to-god album that develops ideas at its own pace."<ref name="consequence.net"/>
===Accolades=== {| class="sortable wikitable" |- ! Publication ! Accolade ! Rank |- | scope="row"| ''The A.V. Club'' | The A.V. Club's 20 best albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title= The A.V. Club's 20 best albums of 2018 |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-s-20-best-albums-of-2018-1831107874 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref> | {{center|3}} |- | scope="row"| ''Billboard'' | The 50 Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite magazine |title= 50 Best Albums of 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/photos/8489227/best-albums-2018-staff-picks |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref> | {{center|32}} |- | scope="row"| ''Chicago Tribune'' | The Best rock and rap albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kot |first1=Greg |title=Best rock and rap albums of 2018 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/sc-ent-best-albums-of-2018-greg-kot-1209-story.html |website=Chicago Tribune |date=5 December 2018 |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref> | {{center|5}} |- | scope="row"| ''Complex'' | The Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=The Best Albums of 2018 |url=https://www.complex.com/music/best-albums-2018/ |website=Complex |accessdate=29 December 2018}}</ref> | {{center|15}} |- | scope="row"| ''Consequence of Sound'' | The 23 Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 50 Albums of 2018 |url=https://consequence.net/2018/12/top-50-albums-of-2018/full-post/ |website=Consequence of Sound|date=3 December 2018 }}</ref> | {{center|3}} |- | scope="row"| ''NPR Music'' | The 50 Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2018 |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/12/04/671206573/the-50-best-albums-of-2018-page-1 |website=NPR Music}}</ref> | {{center|26}} |- | scope="row"| ''Okayplayer'' | The Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=The Best Albums of 2018 |url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/what-were-the-best-albums-of-2018.html |website=Okayplayer |access-date=January 2, 2019 |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221121315/https://www.okayplayer.com/music/what-were-the-best-albums-of-2018.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> | {{center|15}} |- | scope="row"| ''PopMatters'' | The Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=70 Best Albums of 2018 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/best-albums-of-2018-2622492661.html |website=PopMatters |date=20 December 2018 |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref> | {{center|15}} |- |''Rolling Stone'' |The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Weingarten |first1=Charles Aaron, Mankaprr Conteh, Jon Dolan, Will Dukes, Dewayne Gage, Joe Gross, Kory Grow, Christian Hoard, Jeff Ihaza, Julyssa Lopez, Mosi Reeves, Yoh Phillips, Noah Shachtman, Rob Sheffield, Simon Vozick-Levinson, Christopher R. |last2=Aaron |first2=Charles |last3=Conteh |first3=Mankaprr |last4=Dolan |first4=Jon |last5=Dukes |first5=Will |last6=Gage |first6=Dewayne |last7=Gross |first7=Joe |last8=Grow |first8=Kory |last9=Hoard |first9=Christian |date=2022-06-07 |title=The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-hip-hop-albums-1323916/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> | {{center|184}} |- | scope="row"| ''Spin'' | The 51 Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=The 51 Best Albums of 2018 |url=https://www.spin.com/featured/best-albums-2018/ |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref> | {{center|37}} |- | scope="row"| ''Uproxx'' | The 50 Best Albums of 2018<ref>{{cite web |title=50 Best Albums Of 2018 |url=https://uproxx.com/music/best-albums-of-2018-ranked/ |website=Uproxx |date=3 December 2018 |accessdate=2 January 2019}}</ref> | {{center|12}} |}
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | title1 = Busy / Sirens | note1 = featuring theMIND | length1 = 5:29
| title2 = Broken Girls | length2 = 4:37
| title3 = Life | length3 = 2:42
| title4 = Calligraphy | length4 = 3:04
| title5 = Fighter | note5 = featuring Kaina | length5 = 4:42
| title6 = Smile | length6 = 3:28
| title7 = Logout | note7 = featuring Chance the Rapper | length7 = 2:30
| title8 = Grey | length8 = 4:00
| title9 = Prom / King | length9 = 7:31
| title10 = Heaven All Around Me | length10 = 3:32
| total_length = 41:35 }}
'''Notes''' * All track titles are stylized in upper case letters, e.g. "BUSY / SIRENS". * "Prom / King" features uncredited vocals by John Walt
==Personnel== Credits are adapted from the rapper's official SoundCloud and Genius pages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/sabapivot/sets/care-for-me |title=CARE FOR ME by SABA | Saba Pivot |accessdate=April 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/albums/Saba/Care-for-me |title=Saba - CARE FOR ME Lyrics and Tracklist | Genius |accessdate=October 18, 2018}}</ref>
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Vocalists''' * Tahj Malik Chandler – vocals * theMIND – vocals {{small|(1)}} * Kaina – vocals {{small|(5)}} * Chance the Rapper – vocals {{small|(7)}}
'''Musicians''' * Saba – additional drums {{small|(6)}} * daedaePIVOT – additional drums {{small|(10)}} * Daoud – keyboards {{small|(7)}} * Satya Jimenez – violin {{small|(1, 4, 6, 7)}} * Herbie One – trumpet {{small|(4, 7, 8, 9, 10)}} * Nick Phelps – additional drums {{small|(2)}} * Brandon Farmer – additional drums {{small|(7, 8, 9)}} * Andre Mateo – guitar {{small|(2, 10)}} * Cheflee – bass {{small|(4, 7)}} * SeanZy – additional vocals {{small|(5, 6)}} * Emanuel Townsend – acoustic guitar {{small|(6)}} * Huntly Morrison – guitar {{small|(7)}}
{{col-2}} '''Technical''' * Saba – production {{small|(1–10)}}, executive producer * Daoud – production {{small|(1–10)}}, executive producer * daedaePIVOT – production {{small|(1–10)}}, executive producer * Matt Wheeler – mixing {{small|(1, 6, 7, 8, 10)}} * Alex "Papi Beatz" Baez – mixing {{small|(2, 3, 4, 5, 9)}}
{{col-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Discogs master|1432323|Saba – Care For Me}}
{{Saba (rapper)}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2018 albums Category:Saba (rapper) albums Category:Midwest hip-hop albums Category:Hip-hop albums by American artists Category:Albums free for download by copyright owner Category:Neo soul albums Category:Jazz rap albums