{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = MartyrLoserKing | type = studio | artist = Saul Williams | cover = MartyrLoserKing.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2016|01|29}} | recorded = | studio = | genre = Alternative hip hop | length = {{Duration|m=41|s=33}} | label = Fader Label | producer = Saul Williams | prev_title = Volcanic Sunlight | prev_year = 2011 | next_title = Encrypted & Vulnerable | next_year = 2019 | misc = {{Singles | name = MartyrLoserKing | type = studio | single1 = Burundi | single1date = {{Start date|2015|04|21}} }} }} '''''MartyrLoserKing''''' (sometimes stylized as '''''Martyr Loser King'''''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/07/08/saul-williams-martyr-loser-king-album-interview/|title="Go to sleep, wake up, burn something down." Saul Williams returns with Martyr Loser King|work=Fact|first=Chris|last=Kelly|date=July 8, 2015|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref>) is the fifth solo studio album by Saul Williams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nylon.com/articles/saul-williams-wants-to-start-a-revolution|title=saul williams wants to start a revolution|work=Nylon|first=Noah|last=Jackson|date=May 22, 2015|accessdate=October 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.2840/title.saul-williams-martyrloserking-is-the-last-fuck-that-i-have-to-give|title= Saul Williams: "MartyrLoserKing" Is "The Last Fuck That I Have To Give"|work=HipHopDX|first=Ural|last=Garrett|date=January 28, 2016|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/saul_williams_talks_martyrloserking_album_and_david_bowies_influence|title=Saul Williams Talks 'MartyrLoserKing' and David Bowie's Influence|work=Exclaim!|first=Ryan B.|last=Patrick|date=January 28, 2016|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref> It was released by Fader Label on January 29, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1854567/stream-saul-williams-martyrloserking/mp3s/|title=Stream Saul Williams MartyrLoserKing|work=Stereogum|first=Tom|last=Breihan|date=January 21, 2016|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/20/463736514/first-listen-saul-williams-martyrloserking|title=First Listen: Saul Williams, 'MartyrLoserKing'|work=NPR|first=Timmhotep|last=Aku|date=January 20, 2016|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref> It includes guest appearances from Emily Kokal and Haleek Maul.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/saul-williams-r/|title=Saul Williams released ‘MartyrLoserKing,’ touring (dates)|work=BrooklynVegan|first=Andrew|last=Sacher|date=February 1, 2016|accessdate=June 18, 2017}}</ref>
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 78/100<ref name=metacritic>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/martyrloserking/saul-williams|title=MartyrLoserKing by Saul Williams|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/martyrloserking-mw0002903662|title=Saul Williams - Martyr Loser King|work=AllMusic|first=David|last=Jeffries|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Clash'' | rev2score = 7/10<ref name=clashmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/saul-williams-martyrloserking|title=Saul Williams - MartyrLoserKing|work=Clash|first=Sam|last=Walker-Smart|date=January 27, 2016|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Exclaim!'' | rev3score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/saul_williams-martyrloserking|title=Saul Williams - MartyrLoserKing|work=Exclaim!|first=Ryan B.|last=Patrick|date=January 27, 2016|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref> | rev4 = ''MusicOMH'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=musicomh>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/saul-williams-martyrloserking|title=Saul Williams – MartyrLoserKing|work=MusicOMH|first=Bekki|last=Bemrose|date=January 25, 2016|accessdate=January 29, 2016}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev5score = 7.1/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21517-martyrloserking/|title=Saul Williams: MartyrLoserKing|work=Pitchfork|first=Mosi|last=Reeves|date=January 31, 2016|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref> | rev6 = ''The Skinny'' | rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/saul-williams-martyrloserking|title=Saul Williams – MartyrLoserKing|work=The Skinny|first=Jon|last=Davies|date=January 12, 2016|accessdate=February 23, 2016}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Vice'' | rev7score = A−<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/expert-witness-hamilton-cast-recording-saul-williams-kool-a-d-kassa-peaceful-solutions/|title=Poets, Playwrights, and Pranksters: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau|work=Vice|first=Robert|last=Christgau|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=February 23, 2016}}</ref> }} At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78% based on 17 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name=metacritic/>
Sam Walker-Smart of ''Clash'' gave the album a 7 out of 10, describing it as "a fevered slice of righteous rage moving at breakneck speed, filled to the brim with unsettling production and vivid imaginary."<ref name=clashmusic/> Bekki Bemrose of ''MusicOMH'' gave the album 4 stars out of 5, saying, "This collection of songs is a stark contrast to much of the politically neutered output of many contemporary musicians."<ref name=musicomh/>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | title1 = Groundwork | length1 = 4:15 | title2 = Horn of the Clock-Bike | length2 = 3:35 | title3 = Ashes | length3 = 2:52 | title4 = Think Like They Book Say | length4 = 3:53 | title5 = The Bear/Coltan as Cotton | length5 = 4:18 | title6 = Burundi | note6 = featuring Emily Kokal | length6 = 4:05 | title7 = The Noise Came from Here | length7 = 2:39 | title8 = Down for Some Ignorance | length8 = 2:24 | title9 = Roach Eggs | length9 = 4:23 | title10 = All Coltrane Solos at Once | note10 = featuring Haleek Maul | length10 = 3:23 | title11 = No Different | length11 = 2:28 | title12 = Homes/Drones/Poems/Drums | length12 = 3:18 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" !scope="col"| Chart !scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- !scope="row"| US Heatseekers Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/saul-williams/chart-history/tln/|title=Saul Williams: Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> | 11 |- !scope="row"| US Independent Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/saul-williams/chart-history/ind/|title=Saul Williams: Chart History (Independent Albums)|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> | 30 |- !scope="row"| US Rap Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/saul-williams/chart-history/rlp/|title=Saul Williams: Chart History (Rap Albums)|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> | 23 |- !scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/saul-williams/chart-history/blp/|title=Saul Williams: Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 3, 2018}}</ref> | 37 |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Discogs master|950224|MartyrLoserKing}} * {{MusicBrainz release group|mbid=95846af2-4189-4049-879b-25af1852bf91|name=MartyrLoserKing}}
{{Saul Williams}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2016 albums Category:Saul Williams albums Category:Fader Label albums