tears of joy by Mike - Uhune

ALBUM Explicit

Crafting his mixtapes from an abstract, almost collage-like aesthetic, Queens-based rapper MIKE melded introspective lyrical flows to brief, floating beats. Chopped samples had long been imperative to rap production, but MIKE took sample deconstruction to new levels, zooming into the granular elements of fragmented soul songs and mincing the results until they were unrecognizable. His woozy style on early mixtapes was adopted by bigger-named collaborator Earl Sweatshirt on his acclaimed 2018 album Some Rap Songs, and much like that record creates a consistent mood out of abstract miniatures, MIKE's tears of joy is a dreamlike meditation on sorrow and grief brought on by his mother's death. Muted instrumental samples sound submerged in oily puddles throughout the album, beginning with a melancholic looped flute on album opener "Scarred Lungs Vol. 1 & 2." This short intro melts into an also short second half, where a broken jazz sample supports MIKE's lyrics of solitary pain as he processes his mother's death. The grief-stricken song is an introduction to the raw nerves that comprise tears of joy. The song ends with a sample of spoken dialogue stating "the rest of the world is coming apart in slow motion," and that's exactly what it sounds like. "Goin' Truuu" has more discernible drums and shattered soul samples in a jagged time signature as MIKE's flow picks up energy. The album's various textures take the form of only slightly more traditional beats on tracks like the dark "Big Smoke" and the humid, hypnotic wash of "It's Like Basketball." MIKE addresses his mother repeatedly as the album goes on, touching also on themes of anxiety, depression, and struggles outside of the emotional realm. Otherworldly production makes it hard to immediately locate the album's emotional currents or catch both the heaviness and lightness one track at a time. Taken as a whole, however, tears of joy is an immersive and painfully beautiful listening experience with MIKE's vulnerability the main force moving the songs.

1. scarred lungs vol.1 & 2

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Bluezy
Michul Kuun; Production

2. Whole Wide World

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Ohbliv; Production

3. goin truuu

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Rbchmbrs; Production

4. GR8FUL 2K19

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

5. TAKE CROWNS

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

6. memorial

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Laron
Dj Blackpower; Production

7. summer 17

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Laron; Production

8. big smoke

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

9. its like basketball

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Sporting Life
Dj Blackpower; Production

10. Ain't no love

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Ted Kamal; Production

11. parkS

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

12. PLANET

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Adé Hakim; Production

13. #memories

by Mike, Duendita

Featured Artist: Duendita; Main Performer
Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

14. right here next to you, baby

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

15. sleepwalk

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Omari Lyseight
Redlee; Production

16. BREATHE, GOOD

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

17. fool in me

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

18. suffocate

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Dj Blackpower; Production

19. true blood

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Ntvrme
Dj Blackpower; Production

20. stargazer pt.3

Primary Artist: Mike; Main Performer
Composer: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Lyricist: Michael Jordan Bonema; Composer
Producer: Navy Blue; Production

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

20 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

41 minutes and 56 seconds

Explicit

Containing curse words, language, or art that is sexually, violently, or offensively oriented.

Coverart

Available and up to 3000x3000 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

16/20 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Rap, Hip Hop

Label

10k

Music Distribution Service

Stem

Country

United States

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Jun 20, 2019

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

194526516234