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The Pink Lavalamp is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist Charles Hamilton, released December 8, 2008, by Hamilton himself, due to disagreements with his former label, Interscope Records. Produced entirely by Hamilton, the album has received positive reviews and has since gained a cult following.

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The Pink Lavalamp
Studio album by Charles Hamilton
Released	December 8, 2008
Studio	Frederick Douglass Academy Music Lab (Harlem, New York)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	70:18
Label	Self-released
Charles Hamilton chronology
Sonic The Hamilton (2008) The Pink Lavalamp (2008) Hamilton, Charles (2016)
10 Year Anniversary reissue cover

Background

In August 2008, Charles Hamilton announced via interview that he had signed to Interscope Records.[1] After beginning a series of mixtapes known as the Hamiltonization Process, Hamilton released his debut single "Brooklyn Girls" on November 11, 2008, which proved to be a hit.[2] Hamilton was rumored to be recording his major-label debut was under pressure from the label to include "Brooklyn Girls" on the album. He later disagreed with this idea and chose to release his debut effort independently. The album did not include new material and was actually recorded during Hamilton's notorious bout of homelessness in the recording studio of the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem, New York, which Charles and other members of Demevolist Music Group dubbed "The Lab".[3]

Music & Lyrics

The Pink Lavalamp is an introspective, loose concept album detailing Hamilton's thoughts and emotions leading up to an attempted suicide.[4] The production is rooted in soulful samples mixed with down-tempo grooves and draw influence from jazz, psychedelic funk, R&B, and rock.[5] Lyrically, the album concerns themes of depression, substance abuse, infidelity, and individuality. It was the final project in the Hamiltonization Process.[6]

Critical reception

Despite its low mainstream coverage at the time of its release, ‘’The Pink Lavalamp’’ has over time continued to receive rave reviews, both from the hip hop community as well as music critics.^{[citation needed]} Hamilton's personal lyrics and sample-based production were both particularly praised widely. Jordan Rogowski of Punknews.org wrote that "Hamilton has created swirling, dynamic atmospheres that suit his clever bars to perfection".[5]

Tracklisting

• All tracks produced by Charles Hamilton

Notes

• “Music” contains dialogue from the film Zoolander.
• "Voices" contains dialogue from the film The Usual Suspects.
• "Boy Who Cried Wolf" contains dialogue from the film EuroTrip.
• "Latte" interpolates "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails.

Sample credits

• "Music (Intro)" contains samples from "Today" by Graham Central Station and "Impeach The President" by The Honey Drippers.
• "She's So High" contains a sample from "Breathe", as performed by Télépopmusik featuring Angela McCluskey.
• "Voices" contains a sample of "It's A Shame", as performed by The Spinners.
• "Let Me Live" contains a sample of "Love Hangover", as performed by Diana Ross.
• "Brighter Days" contains a sample of "Friends & Strangers", as performed by Ronnie Laws.
• "The Cookout" contains a sample of "Mothership Connection (Star Child)", as performed by Parliament.
• "Live Life to the Fullest" contains a sample of "This Place Hotel (Heartbreak Hotel)", as performed by The Jacksons.
• "Come Back to You" contains a sample of "Voyage to Atlantis", as performed by The Isley Brothers.
• "Shinin'" contains a sample of "Golden Time of Day", as performed by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.
• "I'll Be Around (Outro)" contains a sample of "I'll Be Around" by The Spinners.

References

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