# Hell's Winter

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***Hell's Winter*** is the second solo studio album by American rapper [Cage](/source/Cage_(rapper)). It was released by [Definitive Jux](/source/Definitive_Jux) on September 20, 2005. It peaked at number 26 on the *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))* [Heatseekers Albums](/source/Heatseekers_Albums) chart,[3] as well as number 36 on the [Independent Albums](/source/Independent_Albums) chart.[4]

## Critical reception

Tom Breihan of *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))* 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](/source/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!](/source/Exclaim!)* named it the 9th best hip-hop album of 2005.[7] In 2010, [Rhapsody](/source/Rhapsody_(online_music_service)) included it on the "10 Best Albums by White Rappers" list.[8]

## Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

- [Cage](/source/Cage_(rapper)) – vocals
- [El-P](/source/El-P) – vocals (11), production (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 14)
- [Matt Sweeney](/source/Matt_Sweeney) – guitar (1)
- [James McNew](/source/James_McNew) – bass guitar (1, 5)
- [Blockhead](/source/Blockhead_(music_producer)) – production (2, 5, 7)
- [Jello Biafra](/source/Jello_Biafra) – vocals (3)
- [DJ Shadow](/source/DJ_Shadow) – production (3)
- [Camu Tao](/source/Camu_Tao) – vocals (4), production (4, 8, 11, 12)
- [Daryl Palumbo](/source/Daryl_Palumbo) – vocals (6)
- [RJD2](/source/RJD2) – production (6)
- [Pawl](/source/Hangar_18_(band)) – production (10)
- [Aesop Rock](/source/Aesop_Rock) – vocals (11)
- [Tame One](/source/Tame_One) – vocals (11)
- [Yak Ballz](/source/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

1. ["Hell's Winter LP | Cage"](http://cagewm.bandcamp.com/album/hells-winter-lp). *[Bandcamp](/source/Bandcamp)*. Retrieved August 16, 2018.

1. Greene, Jayson (June 30, 2009). ["Depart From Me"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13309-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.

1. ["Cage: Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)"](https://www.billboard.com/artist/cage/chart-history/tln/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved August 15, 2018.

1. ["Cage: Chart History (Independent Albums)"](https://www.billboard.com/artist/cage/chart-history/ind/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved August 15, 2018.

1. Breihan, Tom (October 12, 2005). ["Cage: Hell's Winter"](http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/1820-hells-winter/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Retrieved August 15, 2018.

1. McGowan, Ross (September 21, 2005). ["Cage - Hell's Winter"](http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/cage/hells-winter.htm). *[Stylus Magazine](/source/Stylus_Magazine)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080617110619/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/cage/hells-winter.htm) June 17, 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2018.

1. ["Hip-Hop: Year in Review 2005"](http://exclaim.ca/music/article/hip-hop-year_in_review_2005). *[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)*. January 1, 2006. Retrieved August 15, 2018.

1. ["The 10 Best Albums By White Rappers"](http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html). *[Rhapsody](/source/Rhapsody_(online_music_service))*. June 22, 2010. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100731015749/http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/06/whiterappers.html) July 31, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 15, 2018.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hell's Winter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell's_Winter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell's_Winter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.