Music Is the Weapon

Music Is the Weapon is the fourth studio album by American electronic band Major Lazer, released on October 23, 2020, via Mad Decent.[1][2] First announced in 2015, many conflicting statements have been made about the album, with the latest reports being that it will be the final Major Lazer album.[3] It was later announced in 2019 that the album would instead be titled Lazerism, but the name was later changed back to the original title.[4][2] It is the first album to be released after Jillionaire left the group and was replaced by Ape Drums.[5]

Music Is the Weapon
Studio album by Major Lazer
Released	October 23, 2020
Length	33:55
Label	Mad Decent
Producer	Diplo Alvaro Will Grands Nitti Gritti Boaz van de Beatz Dee Mad Tropkillaz King Henry Maximilian Jaeger Jr Blender Versano Fred Again Ape Drums Kevin Chukwunye Akpewe Kevin Bakker Allimar Maduro Beam Almando Cresso Nucleya
Major Lazer chronology
Soca Storm (2020) Music Is the Weapon (2020)
Singles from Music Is the Weapon
"Can't Take It from Me" Released: May 10, 2019 "Que Calor" Released: September 11, 2019 "Trigger" Released: October 24, 2019 "Rave de Favela" Released: February 14, 2020 "Lay Your Head on Me" Released: March 26, 2020 "Oh My Gawd" Released: September 10, 2020 "QueLoQue" Released: October 16, 2020

Background and singles

On April 27, 2015, Diplo revealed in an interview with Belgian radio station Studio Brussel that they have been working on a track with Belgian singer Selah Sue. He added that it might appear on their next album. Selah Sue herself confirmed this during an interview with Studio Brussels on May 4, 2015.[6] In May 2015, Major Lazer revealed their fourth album would be called Music Is the Weapon.[7]

A number of Major Lazer's singles released since the album's announcement have been reported to be on the album by journalists.[8] "Cold Water" was released on July 22, 2016, featuring Justin Bieber and frequent Major Lazer collaborator MØ.[9] The song received widespread airplay and made it a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart. Following the success of the song, leaked collaborations with singers Sia, Lorde and Bonnie McKee were announced, as well as teasing collaborations with former Fifth Harmony girl band member Camila Cabello and alternative R&B singer PartyNextDoor. In August 2016, the band's member Diplo teased on social media that he was working with Benny Blanco on a collab with American singer Ariana Grande, who was featured in the two short clips as well. The band also confirmed that they were collaborating with artists The Weeknd and Travis Scott.[10]

On September 30, 2016, "Believer", was released as a collaboration with Showtek. In December 2016, it was announced that a song from the album, "Run Up" featuring Nicki Minaj and PartyNextDoor, would be released as a single. Several days later, on December 6, 2016, the promotional single "My Number" was released, in collaboration with the newly formed band Bad Royale. It features uncredited vocals from Toots & The Maytals. On June 1, 2017, "Know No Better" featuring Travis Scott, Camila Cabello and Quavo, was released as the fourth single from the album.[11] Also in June 2017, Diplo stated in an interview with Billboard: "I shifted my goal to just make singles, because no one really buys our albums".[12] Despite this, outlets such as NME continued to report through 2017 that the album was scheduled for a 2018 release.[13] Reports surfaced in January 2018 that the album would be released the following March,[14][15] but the album failed to materialize in 2018. In June 2018, the songs released until then were reportedly to be on the album, according to Forbes, but had not received official confirmation.[8] In an interview with Complex in September 2018, Diplo said that he thought the album would be released in 2019 and that it would be the last Major Lazer album.[3]

Due to the album's delay, the song "Can't Take It from Me", featuring Skip Marley, was released as the album's new lead single on May 10, 2019.[16] The album's second single, "Que Calor", featuring J Balvin and El Alfa, was released on September 11, 2019.[17] On March 18, 2020, Diplo announced that the album is complete.[18] "Lay Your Head on Me", featuring Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons, was released as the album's fifth single on March 26, 2020.[19][1] On the same day, Diplo revealed on BBC Radio 1 with Annie Mac that the album would be released in June 2020, and that it would feature appearances such as Sia and Nicki Minaj.[20]

In a 2019 interview with Complex, Diplo revealed that the album was no longer titled Music Is the Weapon and would instead be titled Lazerism.[21] However, in September 2020, Major Lazer tweeted that the album would once again be called Music Is the Weapon with a release date set for October 23, 2020.[2] The tweet had an accompanying album artwork. The official track listing for the album was revealed on October 15, 2020.[22] "QueLoQue" featuring Paloma Mami was released as the album's seventh single on October 16, 2020.[23]

Reception

The album's release has been met with anticipation from a number of music and media outlets. Rolling Stone and WhatCulture listed it on its most anticipated albums of 2017 list.[24][25] Complex named the album their 38th most-anticipated album of 2018.[26] Idolator and Forbes also named it one of their most anticipated albums of 2018.[27][28]

Track listing

Music Is the Weapon track listing[22]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Hell and High Water" (featuring Alessia Cara)	Thomas Wesley Pentz Philip Meckseper Jasper Helderman Bas van Daalen Mickey Karbrl Alessia Caracciolo	Diplo Jr Blender Alvaro Will Grands	2:25
2.	"Sun Comes Up" (featuring Busy Signal and Joeboy)	Pentz Kevin Chukwunye Akpewe Reanno Gordon Joseph Akinwale Akinfenwa-Donus	Diplo Apkewe	2:39
3.	"Bam Bam" (featuring French Montana and Beam)	Pentz Karim Kharbouch Tyshane Thompson Eric Alberto-Lopez Kevin Bakker Allimar Maduro	Diplo Ape Drums Bakker Maduro	2:33
4.	"Tiny" (featuring Beam and Shenseea)	Pentz Richard Mears Helderman van Daalen Thompson Marc Schulz Almando Cresso Chinsea Lee	Diplo Beam Alvaro Grands Cresso	3:22
5.	"Oh My Gawd" (with Mr Eazi featuring Nicki Minaj and K4mo)	Pentz Fred Gibson Onika Maraj Oluwatosin Ajibade Dave Kelly Anthony Kelly K4mo	Diplo Fred Again	3:00
6.	"Trigger" (with Khalid)	Pentz Keckseper Halderman van Daalen Andrew Wyatt Khalid Robinson	Diplo Jr Blender Alvaro Grands	2:51
7.	"Lay Your Head on Me" (featuring Marcus Mumford)	Pentz Karen Marie Ørsted Henry Allen Marcus Mumford Halderman van Daalen	Diplo Grands King Henry Maximilian Jaeger	3:19
8.	"Can't Take It from Me" (featuring Skip Marley)	Pentz Skip Marley Mears Philip Constable Helderman Van Daalen	Diplo Alvaro Grands Nitti Gritti	2:55
9.	"Rave de Favela" (with MC Lan and Anitta featuring Beam)	Pentz Laudz Thompson Larissa Machado José Pinheiro Alberto-Lopez Caio Cruz	Diplo Tropkillaz Ape Drums	2:34
10.	"QueLoQue" (featuring Paloma Mami)	Pentz Helderman Van Daalen Anthony Clemons Jr. Paloma Astorga Andrea Mangimarchi MLKMN	Diplo Alvaro Grands	2:45
11.	"Jadi Buti" (with Nucleya featuring Rashmeet Kaur)	Pentz Rashmeet Kaur Raftaar Alberto-Lopez	Diplo Ape Drums Nucleya	2:43
12.	"Que Calor" (featuring J Balvin and El Alfa)	Pentz Alejandro Ramírez Andre da Silva Antonio Fernandez Emmanuel Batista Jose de Godoy Pinheiro José Balvín Sonia Bazanta Thompson Wissem Larfaoui	Dee Mad Diplo Tropkillaz	2:49
Total length:				33:55

Charts

Chart performance for Music Is the Weapon

Chart (2020)	Peak position
French Albums (SNEP)[29]	155
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)[30]	5

Personnel

Major Lazer

• Diplo – composer, producer, executive producer (1–12)
• Walshy Fire – producer (1–12)
• Ape Drums – producer (1–12)

References

1. Stickler, Jon (March 27, 2020), "Major Lazer Release New Song Lay Your Head On Me Featuring Marcus Mumford", Stereoboard, retrieved March 28, 2020
2. "MAJOR LAZER on Twitter: "MUSIC IS THE WEAPON. OCTOBER 23 #ML4"". Twitter. September 30, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
3. Arkin, Khalan (September 26, 2018). "Diplo Says the Next Major Lazer Album Might Be Their Last". Complex.
4. Ochoa, John (September 23, 2019). "Billboard Dance Fall 2019 Music Guide: 15 Must-hear releases from Major Lazer, Gryffin, Dillon Francis & more". Billboard. With the lineup change came an album title change, from Music Is the Weapon to Lazerism.
5. DeVille, Chris (June 3, 2019), "Jillionaire Quits Major Lazer, Replaced By Ape Drums", Stereogum, retrieved July 30, 2019
6. "MAJOR LAZER NEEMT NUMMER OP MET SELAH SUE". Studio Brussel. April 27, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
7. "Major Lazer Name New Album 'Music Is the Weapon'". Exclaim!. May 29, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
8. McIntyre, Hugh. "Major Lazer Has Been Talking About A New Album For 2 Years... So Where Is It?". Retrieved October 12, 2018.
9. Grant, Sarah (July 22, 2016). "Diplo on 'Spontaneous' Song With Justin Bieber 'Cold Water'". Retrieved October 12, 2018.
10. "Electro music group Major Lazer makes a splash with new single, Cold Water". New Straits Times. September 30, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
11. "Listen to Major Lazer's New Single "Know No Better," f/ Travis Scott, Quavo, and Camila Cabello". Complex. June 1, 2017. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
12. Ringen, Jonathan (June 22, 2017). "How Major Lazer Bet on Diversity (and Data) to Make Global Hits: 'The Audience Controls Music Now'". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
13. "Major Lazer surprise fans with new track 'Go Dung' - NME". December 27, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
14. Bein, Kat (January 9, 2018). "Major Lazer's 'Music Is the Weapon' Release Date & Tracklist Remain Unconfirmed". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
15. McNeilage, Ross (January 9, 2018). "A New Ariana Grande and Major Lazer Collab Is Reportedly Happening". MTV News. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
16. Mao, Jessica (May 10, 2019), "Major Lazer share their first single 'Can't Take It From Me' from final upcoming studio album", Dancing Astronaut, retrieved May 15, 2019
17. @MAJORLAZER (September 4, 2019). "SUMMER ISNT OVER YET QUE CALOR. WED SEPT 11. @JBALVIN @ELALFA18 🥵" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
18. Levin, Harry (March 18, 2020). "Diplo says the new Major Lazer album is finished". Dancing Astronaut. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
19. @MAJORLAZER (March 24, 2020). "THURSDAY" (Tweet). Retrieved March 25, 2020 – via Twitter.
20. @NickiOnChart (March 26, 2020). ".@Diplo from @MAJORLAZER talked on BBC RADIO 1 with @AnnieMac about the trio's upcoming final studio album" (Tweet). Retrieved May 7, 2020 – via Twitter.
21. Lutz, Quinn (June 21, 2019). "Ape Drums ushers in a new era for Major Lazer". Dance Music Northwest. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
22. @MAJORLAZER (October 15, 2020). "OCTOBER 23 MUSIC IS THE WEAPON" (Tweet). Retrieved October 15, 2020 – via Twitter.
23. "Paloma Mami y Major Lazer anuncian colaboración" [Paloma Mami and Major Lazer announce collaboration]. Radio Antara. October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
24. Christopher R. Weingarten, Jon Freeman, Brittany Spanos, Suzy Exposito, Joseph Hudak, Mosi Reeves, Kory Grow, Keith Harris, Richard Gehr (January 9, 2017). "63 Most Anticipated Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 12, 2018.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
25. "10 Most Anticipated Albums Still To Come In 2017". What Culture. June 27, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
26. "The Most Anticipated Albums of 2018Major Lazer, 'Music Is The Weapon'". Complex. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
27. "From Selena Gomez To Beyonce: The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2018". www.idolator.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
28. McIntyre, Hugh. "The Most Anticipated Dance/Electronic Albums Of 2018". Retrieved October 12, 2018.
29. "Top Albums (Week 44, 2020)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
30. "Major Lazer Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.