| Artist | Cage |
|---|---|
| Cover | Cage Hell's Winter.jpg |
| Released | September 20, 2005[1] |
| Genre | |
| Label | Definitive Jux |
| Producer | |
| Prev year | 2004 |
| Next year | 2009 |
Hell's Winter is the second solo studio album by American rapper Cage. It was released by Definitive Jux on September 20, 2005. It peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart,[3] as well as number 36 on the Independent Albums chart.[4]
Critical reception
Tom Breihan of Pitchfork gave the album an 8.3 out of 10, calling it "a harrowing ride on which Cage describes his childhood in fractured blips of vivid images instead of broad, sweeping statements."[5] Ross McGowan of Stylus Magazine gave the album a grade of B−, saying, "Hell's Winter has its moments, but while the production is noteworthy, the actual songs within are rather hit or miss."[6]
Exclaim! named it the 9th best hip-hop album of 2005.[7] In 2010, Rhapsody included it on the "10 Best Albums by White Rappers" list.[8]
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Cage – vocals
- El-P – vocals (11), production (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14)
- Matt Sweeney – guitar (1)
- James McNew – bass guitar (1, 5)
- Blockhead – production (2, 5, 7)
- Jello Biafra – vocals (3)
- DJ Shadow – production (3)
- Camu Tao – vocals (4), production (4, 8, 11, 12)
- Daryl Palumbo – vocals (6)
- RJD2 – production (6)
- Pawl – production (10)
- Aesop Rock – vocals (11)
- Tame One – vocals (11)
- Yak Ballz – vocals (11)
- Nasa – recording
- Joey Raia – mixing
- Ken Heitmueller – mastering
- Kiku – artwork, design
- Nairobi Morgan – photography
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[3] | 26 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[4] | 36 |
References
- ^ "Hell's Winter LP | Cage". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
- ^ Greene, Jayson (June 30, 2009). "Depart From Me". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
Cage follows 2005's Hell's Winter, a harrowing emo-rap record, with an extended wallow in self-pity and self-loathing.
- ^ "Cage: Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Cage: Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (October 12, 2005). "Cage: Hell's Winter". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ McGowan, Ross (September 21, 2005). "Cage - Hell's Winter". Stylus Magazine. Archived June 17, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Hip-Hop: Year in Review 2005". Exclaim!. January 1, 2006. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "The 10 Best Albums By White Rappers". Rhapsody. June 22, 2010. Archived July 31, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2018.