Due Drop

Due Drop
Studio album by Toya Delazy
Released 23 April 2012 (2012-04-23)[1]
Recorded 2011-2012
Genre
Label Sony Music Entertainment Africa
Producer
Toya Delazy chronology
Due Drop
(2012)		 Ascension
(2014)
Singles from Due Drop
  1. "Pump It On"
    Released: 28 October 2011[2]
  2. "Love Is In the Air"
    Released: 2 April 2012[3]
  3. "Are You Gonna Stay?"
    Released: 27 July 2012[4]
  4. "Heart"
    Released: 17 October 2012[5]
  5. "Memoriam"
    Released: 30 September 2013[6]

Due Drop is the debut studio album by South African singer Toya Delazy, released by Sony Music Entertainment Africa on 23 April 2012. The album is a fusion of JEHP, an acronym for Jazz, Electo, Hip hop, and Pop.[7] Production for the standard edition of the album was primarily handled by Jax Panik. The Johannesburg-based production duo Octave Couplet also assisted with production. The deluxe edition of the album includes addition production and remixes from Justin Denobrega, Pascal & Pearce, and Classy Menace.

The standard edition of the album features a cappella group The Soil, and the deluxe edition features Ross Jack. Due Drop was preceded by the release of the singles "Pump It On" and "Love Is In the Air". The artwork for all three installments of the album was conceptualized and created by photographer Ross Garrett.[8]

The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who commended its production, sound, and commercial appeal. The album sold over 20,000 copies and was awarded a Gold plaque by the Recording Industry of South Africa.[9] The deluxe edition of the album won Best Pop Album at the 2013 South African Music Awards, and was nominated in two categories at the 2013 Metro FM Music Awards. Delazy won Newcomer of the Year at the aforementioned SAMAs, and received a total of two nominations at the aforementioned Metro FM Music Awards for her work on the album.

Composition

The song "Love Is In the Air" has elements of house groove beats. "Are You Gonna Stay?" is a mid tempo song; Delazy's vocals on the song is reminiscent of Nicki Minaj.[10] "Jai Lover" is an electro pop song with Zulu lyrics.[11] "Yeah Hell Yeah (With You)" is an ode to her sexual instincts. Delazy meditated and thought in silence on the broken hearted ballad "Love Takes Time". "Memoriam" is an electro anthem centered around the loss of love and life.[12]

Singles

"Pump It On" was released as the album's lead single on 28 October 2011. The song was produced by Jax Van Heerden and Johnny Deridder. It received substantial airplay on 5FM and Metro FM.[13] The music video for "Pump It On", which was released on November 15, 2011, surpassed 200,000 views on Vevo.[14]

On 2 April 2012, SME Africa released "Love Is In the Air" as the second single.[3] The music video for the single, uploaded onto Vevo on 26 March 2012, ran for 4 minutes and 29 seconds. Classy Menace's remix of the song appeared on the deluxe edition of the album. "Are You Gonna Stay", the album's third single, was released simultaneously with its video on 27 July 2012.[4][15]

"Heart" was released as the fourth single from the album. The remix of the song, which appeared on the album's deluxe edition, was produced by the electronic production duo Pascal & Pearce. The music video for the single was released simultaneously with the audio; it was directed by Jeana Theron of Velocity Films, and was aided by the non-profit organization Great Heart. The video was shot in three days, and a full hour was spent shooting 12 frames.[16][17]

On 30 September 2013, Delazy released the album's fifth single "Memoriam". The song was written in honor of one of her teachers who died in 2009. It was listed among Channel 24's compiled list titled "15 of the best SA songs of 2013". The song explores themes of agony and despair as well as the acceptance and curing that comes with time. Delazy said that writing the song alleviated some of her psychological and emotional trauma.[18][19] The music video for the song was shot and directed in Gauteng by Fausto Becatti.[20]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Channel 24
The Times8/10

Upon its release, Due Drop received average to good reviews from music critics. Georgina Marques of Channel 24 (a subsidiary of News24) gave the album 3 out 5 stars, adding that "the album is unashamedly pop, but Toya's Jazz background and classical training allow most of the songs to transcend the superficial genre offering a more layered and interesting sound. 'Simple' is not a word that comes to mind when listening to Due Drop and Jax Panic has produced an album that is so hell-bent on commercial success it often goes too far, making the songs tiring to listen to all in-one-go. Toya's debut album deserves all the success and attention it has been receiving, and more. She has created something so unique to the South African market and the future is bright for this Zulu princess."[11]

Genevieve Vieira, an editor for Indie Does It, added that "the young pianist, Toya has everything it takes, from the style, to the voice, flair and talent. The road is a long and tricky one, and recent success proves that she is doing something right, but the future is somewhat unknown. I believe she has more to offer, so for a debut, the release is altogether satisfactory, but the bar will be raised…"[21]

Nyeleti Machovani of Radio Biz said that "the album is poppy, electro, and very much a dance-album; the lyrics do not offer much depth. The auto-tune is dominant, and this is a distraction to an artist who otherwise, has more to show. The feeling here is, it would be a treat to hear Toya Delazy at her most natural and undeterred, just her voice and piano playing with harmonious melodies. Nonetheless, she had garnered enough supporters to show that there is something she is doing rather well."[22]

Molebogeng Maunatlala of GoXtra News said that the album is accommodating because it "satisfies all the music lovers, and goes from Jazz, soul, hip hop to house".[10] Lebohang Nthongoa of The Times gave the album 8 out of 10 stars, adding that the album is catchy and has a vibe all its own.[23] You Magazine gave the album a 4 out 5 rating.[24]

Accolades

The deluxe edition of the album won Best Pop Album at the 2013 South African Music Awards, and was nominated in two categories at the 2013 Metro FM Music Awards. Delazy's work on the album earned her the Newcomer of the Year category at the aforementioned SAMAs. Moreover, Jax Panik won the Best Producer category for his work on the deluxe edition. Delazy received a total of two nominations at the aforementioned Metro FM Music Awards for her work on the album.[25][26]

Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) Results
2013 South African Music Awards Best Pop Album Won
Newcomer of the Year Won
Metro FM Music Awards Best Top 5 Produced Album Nominated
Best Top 5 Female Album
Best Top 5 Newcomer
Top 5 Styled Artist/Group

Tracklisting

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "With You (Intro)" (featuring The Soil)  0:50
2. "Are You Gonna Stay?"    4:10
3. "Heart"    4:04
4. "Yeah Hell Yeah (With You)"    3:53
5. "Love Is In the Air"    4:29
6. "Memoriam"    4:38
7. "Pump It On"  Jax Panik 4:25
8. "Love Takes Time"    3:45
9. "It's All Good"  Octave Couplet 2:39
10. "Jai Lover"    5:00
11. "Say It Out"    3:24

Personnel

Release history

Digital platform Date Version Format Label
iTunes South Africa 23 April 2012 Standard
Sony Music Entertainment Africa
25 February 2013[27] Deluxe
22 February 2013[28] Super Deluxe
  • DVD
  • digital download

References

  1. ↑ "Due Drop by Toya Delazy". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Pump It On - Single by Toya Delazy". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Love Is In the Air - Single by Toya Delazy". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Toya Delazy - "Are You Gonna Stay?"". Rolling Stone. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "Toya Delazy "Heart" Music Video by Jeana Theron". 10and5.com. between10and5. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Toya Delazy drops her latest single "Memoriam"". jacarandafm.com. Jacaranda FM. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Toya Delazy announces debut album ‘Due Drop’ Out 16 April". Muse Magazine. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Toya Delazy: Due Drop". Channel O. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Toya Delazy certified gold". Kickoff.com. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  10. 1 2 Maunatlala, Molebogeng (30 April 2012). "Toya’s album "Due Drop" a must have". Go Xtra News. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  11. 1 2 Marques, Georgina (15 May 2013). "Toya Delazy - Due Drop Deluxe". channel24.co.za. Channel 24. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  12. ↑ Keylock, Miles (22 May 2012). "Toya Delazy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Toya Delazy, South Africa’s Most Exciting New Artist, Set For Pan- African Breakthrough With Debut Single ‘Pump It On’". ROCKSTAR4000. March 24, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  14. ↑ Arts. "Toya Delazy | 200 young South Africans". Ysa2013.mg.co.za. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "Toya Delazy - "Are You Gonna Stay?"". Rolling Stone. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  16. ↑ "Toya Delazy duly redrops phatter "Due Drop"". Showbiz One. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  17. ↑ Kona, Bongani (25 October 2012). "Video: Toya Delazy ‘Heart’". Okay Africa. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "15 of the best SA songs of 2013". Channel 24. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "Toya Delazy Releases Sixth Single Off ‘Due Drop’". Miznformed. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Toya Delazy Memoriam Music Video". LW Magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  21. ↑ Vieira, Genevieve (29 April 2012). "Toya Delazy – Due Drop Album". Indie Does It. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  22. ↑ Machovani, Nyeleti (23 July 2012). "A Music Review: Toya Delazy". radiobiz.co.za. Radio Biz. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  23. ↑ Nthongoa, Lebohang (25 October 2012). "Album review: Toya Delazy - 'Due Drop'". Times Live. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  24. ↑ "CD: Toya Delazy – Due Drop". you.co.za. You Magazine. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  25. ↑ "Pop Princess Toya Delazy on Music and Style". zenmagazineafrica.com. Zen Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  26. ↑ Bucibo, Bonga (January 17, 2013). "Metro FM Music Awards Finalists Announcement 2013". Metro FM. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  27. ↑ "Due Drop - Deluxe by Toya Delazy". itunes.apple.com. iTunes. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  28. ↑ "Due Drop (Super Deluxe Version) by Toya Delazy". iTunes. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
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