Killmatic

{{Unreliable sources|date=February 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = KILLmatic | type = studio | artist = [[Demigodz]] | cover = Demigodz_Killmatic.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2013|03|05}} | recorded = 2011−2013 | studio = HeadQcourterz Studios LTD. ([[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|NY]]) | genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]] | length = {{Duration|m=56|s=05}} | label = Dirty Version Records | producer = {{hlist|[[Apathy (rapper)|Apathy]]|Chumzilla|[[DJ Premier]]|[[Marco Polo (producer)|Marco Polo]]|Skammadix|[[Snowgoons]]|Teddy Roxpin|Will C.}} | prev_title = The Godz Must Be Crazier | prev_year = 2007 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles | name = KILLmatic | type = Studio | single1 = Demigodz Is Back | single1date = November 23, 2011 | single2 = Dead in the Middle | single2date = February 5, 2013 | single3 = Worst Nightmare | single3date = March 5, 2013 | single4 = Raiders Cap | single4date = May 13, 2013 }} }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = ''[[HipHopDX]]'' | rev1score = 3.5/5<ref name="HHDX">{{Cite web |last=Paine |first=Jake |date=March 15, 2013 |title=Demigodz - KILLmatic |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2053/title.demigodz-killmatic |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=[[HipHopDX]] |language=en}}</ref> | rev2 = RapReviews | rev2score = 9/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |date=March 5, 2013 |title=Demigodz :: KILLmatic – RapReviews |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2013/03/demigodz-killmatic/ |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=www.rapreviews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> }} '''''KILLmatic''''' is the second studio album by American hip hop collective [[Demigodz]]. It was released on March 5, 2013, via Dirty Version Records. Recording sessions took place at HeadQcourterz Studios in New York. [[Hip hop production|Production]] was handled by Teddy Roxpin, Chumzilla, [[DJ Premier]], [[Marco Polo (producer)|Marco Polo]], Skammadix, [[Snowgoons]], Will C., and [[Apathy (rapper)|Apathy]], who also served as executive producer together with [[Celph Titled]] and Open Mic. It features guest appearances from [[Eternia (rapper)|Eternia]], Panch, [[Planetary (rapper)|Planetary]], [[R.A. the Rugged Man]], [[Scoop DeVille]] and [[Termanology]].

==Pre-release== On November 23, 2011, [[Celph Titled]] from Demigodz shared the first single, "Demigodz Is Back" from the Demigodz album entitled as ''Killmatic'' on [[Facebook]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/celphtitled/posts/221781537893661|title=Celph Titled - oh word? new demigodz shit? ain't that some...|publisher=Facebook.com|accessdate=23 October 2014}}</ref> The official video of the song was later released on January 18, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ApathyDGZ/posts/322261111217790?stream_ref=10|title=Apathy - Demigodz is Back *OFFICIAL VIDEO*: "Demigodz Is...|publisher=Facebook.com|accessdate=23 October 2014}}</ref> The second single was released on February 5, 2013, called "Dead in the Middle".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/celphtitled/posts/422117987875090?stream_ref=10|title=Celph Titled - Celph Titled shared a link|publisher=Facebook.com|accessdate=23 October 2014}}</ref> On February 7, 2013, released date, artwork and tracklist were revealed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paine |first=Jake |date=February 7, 2013 |title=Demigodz "Killmatic" Release Date, Artwork & Tracklist |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.22830/title.demigodz-killmatic-release-date-artwork-tracklist |access-date=February 13, 2024 |website=[[HipHopDX]] |language=en}}</ref> The third single called "Worst Nightmare" was released on the same day as the album, March 5, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celph Titled - *NEW VIDEO* DEMIGODZ - "Worst Nightmare"... |url=https://www.facebook.com/celphtitled/posts/496880560347282?stream_ref=10 |accessdate=23 October 2014 |publisher=Facebook.com}}</ref>

==Post-release== The album debuted at No. 11 on the US ''Billboard'' [[Heatseekers Albums]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Demigodz |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/1561909/the-demigodz/chart |accessdate=23 October 2014 |publisher=Billboard.com}}</ref> The fourth and final single, "Raiders Cap", was released on May 13, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ApathyDGZ/posts/531001016958784?stream_ref=10|title=Apathy - Figured I'd leak this out... my favorite Demigodz...|publisher=Facebook.com|accessdate=23 October 2014}}</ref>

==Description== "Demigodz is for true, hardcore hip-hop fans", Apathy said. "This ''Killmatic'' album was made to reflect that. We always try to keep it grimy, dirty, creepy, spooky and fucked up".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://demigodzstore.bigcartel.com/product/demigodz-killmatic-cd-pre-order|title=Demigodz Store|publisher=Demigodzstore.bigcartel.com|accessdate=23 October 2014}}</ref>

==Reception== ''Killmatic'' received critical acclaim from [[Music criticism|music critic]]s. Jake Paine of ''[[HipHopDX]]'' gave the album a 3.5 out of 5 saying "If the title was any indication, ''Killmatic'' merges two things—seedy subject matter and Golden-Era style. References to [[David Berkowitz]], porn runaways, dirty apartments and more litter this album" and "The other Godz are role-players within an album that doesn’t focus on concept nearly as much as style. To some, this is Everyman music from artists with the antithesis of Everyman abilities".<ref name="HHDX" />

D.T. Swinga of HipHopSite gave the album a 4 out of 5 saying "The who-gives-a-fuck mentality of ''Killmatic'' comes through in both its brazen lyrical content and its flagrant sample selection. The lyrical content is a contest of jabs, designed to shock the listener and instigate friendly competition within the crew". And that "As hip-hop music continues to deteriorate into something only used to sell bottles (whether it be champagne or soda), it’s nice to see a crew of dudes like Demigodz still holding it down after a decade plus in the game, especially when many of the cats that came up in their era have more or less hung up their mics".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopsite.com/2013/03/20/demigodz-killmatic-review/ |title=Demigodz – "KILLmatic" – (Review) |work=HipHopSite.Com |access-date=23 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023211107/http://www.hiphopsite.com/2013/03/20/demigodz-killmatic-review/ |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}</ref>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = Intro (Giants On the Earth) | writer1 = | extra1 = [[Apathy (rapper)|Apathy]] | length1 = 0:47 | title2 = Demigodz is Back | writer2 = | extra2 = Apathy | length2 = 3:06 | title3 = Dumb High | note3 = featuring Open Mic | writer3 = | extra3 = Apathy | length3 = 3:57 | title4 = Never Take Me Out | note4 = featuring [[Termanology]] | writer4 = | extra4 = Teddy Roxpin | length4 = 3:51 | title5 = Just Can't Quit | note5 = featuring [[Scoop DeVille]] | writer5 = | extra5 = Apathy | length5 = 3:40 | title6 = Worst Nightmare | writer6 = | extra6 = [[DJ Premier]] | length6 = 3:35 | title7 = Can't Fool Me | note7 = featuring [[Eternia (rapper)|Eternia]] | writer7 = | extra7 = Apathy | length7 = 3:51 | title8 = DGZ x NYGz | note8 = featuring Panchi | writer8 = | extra8 = Chumzilla | length8 = 3:32 | title9 = Dead in the Middle | writer9 = | extra9 = Apathy | length9 = 3:17 | title10 = The Gospel According To... | note10 = featuring [[Planetary (rapper)|Planetary]] | writer10 = | extra10 = Skammadix | length10 = 4:43 | title11 = Raiders Cap | writer11 = | extra11 = Apathy | length11 = 3:19 | title12 = The Fallen Angels | writer12 = | extra12 = Apathy | length12 = 3:22 | title13 = The Summer of Sam | writer13 = | extra13 = [[Snowgoons]] | length13 = 3:15 | title14 = Tomax & Xamot | writer14 = | extra14 = Will C. | length14 = 2:59 | title15 = Captain Caveman | note15 = featuring [[R.A. the Rugged Man]] | writer15 = | extra15 = Teddy Roxpin | length15 = 4:02 | title16 = Audi 5000 | writer16 = | extra16 = [[Marco Polo (producer)|Marco Polo]] | length16 = 4:49 | total_length = 56:05 }}

==Personnel== {{div col}} *Chad "[[Apathy (rapper)|Apathy]]" Bromley – vocals (tracks: 2–9, 11–16), producer (tracks: 1–3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12), recording (tracks: 1–7, 9–16), mixing, executive producer *Victor "[[Celph Titled]]" Mercer – vocals (tracks: 2–13, 15, 16), executive producer *Tim "Motive" Cook – vocals (tracks: 3, 5–7, 10–13, 16) *Ryan "Ryu" Maginn – vocals (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16) *Seamus "[[Esoteric (rapper)|Esoteric]]" Ryan – vocals (tracks: 3, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16) *Ira "[[Blacastan]]" Osu – vocals (track 5–8, 13, 16), additional vocals (track 10) *Mike "Open Mic" LaRose – vocals (track 3), executive producer, graphic design *Daniel "[[Termanology]]" Carrillo – vocals (track 4) *Elijah "[[Scoop DeVille]]" Molina – vocals (track 5) *Silk "[[Eternia (rapper)|Eternia]]" Kaya – vocals (track 7) *Andre "Panchi" Davis – vocals (track 8) *Mario "[[Planetary (rapper)|Planetary]]" Collazo – vocals (track 10) *Richard Andrew "[[R.A. the Rugged Man]]" Thorburn – vocals (track 15) *Adrienne Law – skit vocals *Christopher "[[DJ Premier]]" Martin – additional vocals & recording (track 8), producer & scratches (track 6) *Anthony "Tone Spliff" Mucitelli – scratches (track 7) *Luke Campbell – guitar (track 8) *Adam "Chumzilla" Mathiason – scratches (tracks: 12, 14, 16), producer (track 8) *Teddy "Roxpin" Rosenthal – producer (tracks: 4, 15) *Kris "Skammadix" Rey – producer (track 10) *[[Snowgoons]] – producers (track 13) *Will Curley – producer (track 14) *[[Marco Polo (producer)|Marco Bruno]] – producer (track 16) *Chris B. Murray – cover illustration {{div col end}}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2013) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|11|artist=The Demigodz|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 3, 2016}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|39|artist=The Demigodz|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 3, 2016}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Discogs master|530460|KILLmatic}}

[[Category:2012 albums]] [[Category:Celph Titled albums]] [[Category:Apathy (rapper) albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by DJ Premier]] [[Category:Albums produced by Marco Polo]] [[Category:Hip-hop albums by American artists]]