{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Lovework | type = [[Album]] | artist = [[Gabriel Teodros]] | cover = Gabrielteodros_lovework.jpg | alt = | released = February 27, 2007 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Hip-hop]] | length = {{Duration|m=55|s=0}} | label = MassLine | producer = {{hlist|Amos Miller|[[Blue Scholars|Sabzi]]|Kitone|Specs-One}} | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = ''[[AllHipHop]]'' | rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | last=Newman | first=Jason | title=Lovework | website=[[AllHipHop]] | url=https://allhiphop.com/reviews-music/lovework/}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[ColorLines]]'' | rev2score = favorable<ref>{{cite web | last=Kalamka | first=Juba | title=Gabriel Teodros: Lovework (Massline Media). | website=[[ColorLines]] | date=2007-07-01 | url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Gabriel+Teodros:+Lovework+(Massline+Media).-a0166786421}}</ref> | rev3 = ''JIVE Magazine'' | rev3score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>[http://www.jivemagazine.com/review.php?rid=2049&rtid=2 JIVE Magazine review]</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Okayplayer]]'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/lovework/ Okayplayer.com review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309012743/http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/lovework/ |date=2007-03-09 }}</ref> | rev5 = ''OneTwoOneTwo.com'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onetwoonetwo.com/main/index.php/Albums/Gabriel-Teodros-Lovework.html |title=OneTwoOneTwo.com review |accessdate=2008-03-04 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208161652/http://www.onetwoonetwo.com/main/index.php/Albums/Gabriel-Teodros-Lovework.html |archivedate=February 8, 2008 }}</ref> | rev6 = ''RapReviews.com'' | rev6score = {{Rating|6.5|10}}<ref>{{cite web | last=Hernandez | first=Pedro | title=GABRIEL TEODROS :: LOVEWORK | website=Rap Reviews | date=2007-03-13 | url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2007/03/gabriel-teodros-lovework/}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev7score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | last=Christgau | first=Robert | title=Ethiopian-American MC stakes out his own patch of hip-hop | website=[[Robert Christgau]] | date=2007-03-22 | url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/rs/teodros-07.php}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Shotgun Reviews'' | rev8score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | last=LeMinh | first=Angelica | title=Gabriel Teodros - Lovework | website=Shotgun Reviews | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205033005/http://shotgunreviews.com/archive/reviews/music/hiphop}}</ref> | rev9 = ''[[URB (magazine)|URB Magazine]]'' | rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20070617220533/http://www.urb.com/reviews/cd/feature.php?ReviewId=250 URB Magazine review]</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot--> '''Lovework''', is the critically acclaimed debut album by [[Gabriel Teodros]], released on February 27, 2007 by MassLine Media.
==Overview== Aesthetically and politically, ''Lovework'' descends from a mid-'90s school of [[Conscious hip hop|conscious]] [[Northwest hip hop]], characterized by groups such as Black Anger and Silent Lambs Project. It was a time when the [[Seattle]] sound became jazzier—more melodic, intricate, and atmospheric. It turned away from the gangsta themes and beats that dominated the period and instead focused on progressive politics, utopian aspirations, and an organic connection with black Africa.
''Lovework'' was produced by Amos Miller with additional beat contributions from Sabzi (of [[Blue Scholars]]), Kitone, and Specs One – its sound was primarily influenced by Seattle veteran Vitamin D (who also mixed the record) and the late [[J Dilla]].<ref>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=166020 "Let 'Lovework' Rule" by Charles Mudede]. The Stranger. February 27, 2007.</ref>
On ''Lovework'', [[Gabriel Teodros]] ponders issues of racism, sexism, and colonialism, as well as lighter topics like romance and the art of rhyme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-02-21/music/categorize-this.php/ |title="Categorize This" by Jonah Flicker |accessdate=2013-05-18 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728160533/http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-02-21/music/categorize-this.php/ |archivedate=July 28, 2012 }}. Seattle Weekly. February 21, 2007.</ref>
The opening song ''Sacred Texts'' creatively namedrops groups of influence in Teodros' life, including [[A Tribe Called Quest]], [[Freestyle Fellowship]], [[Common (rapper)|Common]], [[Boogie Down Productions]], [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]], [[Roy Ayers]] and [[Bob Marley]].<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=February 14, 2007 |title=Platform8470 - HipHopZine |url=http://www.platform8470.com/reviews/reviews_selectedlp.asp?id=392 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108214202/http://www.platform8470.com/reviews/reviews_selectedlp.asp?id=392 |archive-date=2007-11-08 |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=www.platform8470.com}}</ref>
In the song ''East Africa'', Teodros first speaks about his family and how he grew up, and then goes on to talk about the [[2005 Ethiopian police massacres]].<ref>[http://abesha.com/abesha21/readarticle.php?article=2 "Work is Love made Visible: An Interview with Gabriel Teodros"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074400/http://abesha.com/abesha21/readarticle.php?article=2 |date=2011-07-07 }}. Abesha.com. January 31, 2007.</ref>
The album title, ''Lovework'' was inspired by [[bell hooks]] and her book ''[[All About Love: New Visions|All About Love]]'', where Hooks insists that to truly know love, one must agree that love is a verb. She goes further to say to truly know love, one must work to undo every system of domination that stops people from truly loving. The title was also inspired by a quote from [[Khalil Gibran]]'s ''[[The Prophet (book)|The Prophet]]'' where Gibran says "Work is love made visible".<ref>[http://insomniacmagazine.com/interviews/gabriel-teodros-of-abyssinian-creole-interview-by-todd-e-jones/ Gabriel Teodros (of Abyssinian Creole) - interview by Todd E. Jones]. Insomniac Magazine. December 19, 2006.</ref>
There were 3 official music videos made for the ''Lovework'' album. The first 2 were both directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi; ''No Label (Esma Remix)'' and ''Don't Cry For Us'' featuring Khingz & Toni Hill. The third video was for ''Third World Wide'' and was directed by Salvatore Fullmore.
The album held the #1 spot on the [[College Music Journal|CMJ]] Hip Hop charts for 2 weeks and came in at #19 for the year 2007.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980220011510/http://www.cmj.com/ College Music Journal]. New Music Report. 2007.</ref>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | title1 = Sacred Texts (Intro) | length1 = 1:27 | extra1 = {{hlist|Amos Miller|Ethan Lawton}} | title2 = Do U | note2 = featuring Jerm | length2 = 3:04 | extra2 = Amos Miller | title3 = No Label (Esma Remix) | length3 = 3:24 | extra3 = {{hlist|[[Blue Scholars|Sabzi]]|[[Moka Only]]}} | title4 = Beautiful (GT Version) | length4 = 3:50 | extra4 = {{hlist|Amos Miller|Mark Oi}} | title5 = Sexcapism | length5 = 3:55 | extra5 = {{hlist|Amos Miller||Jeff Huston}} | title6 = Racoon Rock | note6 = featuring Toni Hill | length6 = 3:38 | extra6 = Amos Miller | title7 = East Africa | length7 = 3:11 | extra7 = {{hlist|Amos Miller|Mark Oi}} | title8 = Don't Cry For Us | note8 = featuring [[Abyssinian Creole|Khingz]] and Toni Hill | length8 = 2:35 | extra8 = Amos Miller | title9 = In This Together | length9 = 3:59 | extra9 = Sabzi | title10 = The Dirty 6 (skit) | length10 = 0:49 | extra10 = Amos Miller | title11 = It's That | note11 = featuring [[Blue Scholars|Geologic]] | length11 = 3:38 | extra11 = {{hlist|Amos Miller|Mark Oi}} | title12 = Third World Wide | length12 = 3:26 | extra12 = Kitone | title13 = Warriors (Lovework Reprise) | length13 = 3:44 | extra13 = Amos Miller | title14 = Chili Sauce | length14 = 2:51 | extra14 = {{hlist|Specs-One|Amos Miller}} | title15 = Find A Place | note15 = featuring Rajnii Eddins | length15 = 3:42 | extra15 = Amos Miller | title16 = Lovework | note16 = featuring Toni Hill | length16 = 4:00 | extra16 = {{hlist|Amos Miller|Jonas Siegal}} | title17 = Rest O' Me Dayz | note17 = featuring Khingz | length17 = 3:47 | extra17 = Amos Miller | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 55:00 }}
==References== <references/>
==External links== * ''[https://www.gabrielteodros.com/lovework Official Website]'' *{{Discogs release|name=Lovework|id=1090666}}
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[[Category:2007 albums]] [[Category:Gabriel Teodros albums]]