Cancer 4 Cure

Cancer 4 Cure
Cancer 4 Cure
Studio album by El-P
Released	May 22, 2012
Recorded	2008–2012
Genre	Hip-hop
Length	49:05
Label	Fat Possum Records
Producer	El-P; Nick Diamonds; Little Shalimar; Wilder Zoby;
El-P chronology
Singles from Cancer 4 Cure
	"The Full Retard"; Released: April 24, 2012;

Cancer 4 Cure is the third solo studio album by American rapper and producer El-P. It was released through Fat Possum Records on May 22, 2012.^[1] It peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard 200 chart.^[2]

Background

The album is dedicated to El-P's friend and fellow rapper Camu Tao, who died of lung cancer in May 2008 at the age of 30.^[3] In an interview with Rolling Stone, El-P said, "Camu was a huge inspiration on this record, mostly because he had a huge effect on my life and who I am."^[4] He elaborated, "I think that I'm trying to create an idea or illustrate a thought pattern, just because there's darkness that I see and think about, it doesn't mean I've given into it. I think the record is ultimately about not giving into it. For the most part I'm struggling with that darkness throughout the record. When I say it's about wanting to live, I just say that because that's how I feel. When you get hit with death, sometimes as horrible as it is, one of the things that can come out of it is a reaffirmation of how much you don't want to go, and I think that's what happened with me."^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.2/10^[6]
Metacritic	84/100^[7]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[8]
The A.V. Club	A^[9]
Chicago Tribune	^[10]
The Guardian	^[11]
Los Angeles Times	^[12]
Mojo	^[13]
Pitchfork	8.5/10^[3]
Q	^[14]
Rolling Stone	^[15]
Spin	7/10^[16]

At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received a score of 84 based on 39 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".^[7]

David Jeffries of AllMusic stated, "Cancer 4 Cure is about hip-hop like Glengarry Glen Ross was about sales, but these great works transcend their industries, offering solace and inspiration to anyone who would prefer a satisfied mind over a Cadillac Eldorado, or in current terms, an Escalade."^[8]

In a more critical review, Dan Weiss of The Boston Phoenix stated that the album "is definitely not El-P's Age of Apocalypse" and that "in fact it's the only El-P production that sounds like it's been made on planet Earth, following hip-hop rules that someone else already defined".^[17]

Accolades for *Cancer 4 Cure*
Publication	Accolade	Rank	Ref.
The 405	Albums of the Year	12	^[18]
Beats per Minute	The Top 50 Albums of 2012	34	^[19]
Chicago Tribune (Greg Kot)	Top 10 Albums of 2012	7	^[20]
Cokemachineglow	Top 50 Albums 2012	3	^[21]
Complex	The 50 Best Albums of 2012	10	^[22]
Consequence of Sound	Top 50 Albums of 2012	25	^[23]
Exclaim!	Best Albums of 2012: Top 50 Albums of the Year	14	^[24]
No Ripcord	Top 50 Albums Of 2012	36	^[25]
Obscure Sound	Best Albums of 2012	35	^[26]
Paste	The 50 Best Albums of 2012	12	^[27]
Pitchfork	The Top 50 Albums of 2012	45	^[28]
PopMatters	The 75 Best Albums of 2012	35	^[29]
PopMatters	The Best Hip-Hop of 2012	4	^[30]
Pretty Much Amazing	Best Albums of 2012	20	^[31]
Spin	40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012	Unranked	^[32]
Spinner	The 50 Best Albums of 2012	33	^[33]
Stereogum	Top 50 Albums of 2012	15	^[34]
Treble	Top 50 Albums of 2012	22	^[35]
The Village Voice	Pazz & Jop	26	^[36]

Track listing

All tracks are written and produced by El-P, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Request Denied"			4:32
2.	"The Full Retard"	Jaime Meline Tero Smith		3:39
3.	"Works Every Time"			3:35
4.	"Drones Over Bklyn"		El-P Little Shalimar	5:49
5.	"Oh Hail No" (featuring Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire and Danny Brown)	Meline Hugh Allison Daniel Sewell		3:41
6.	"Tougher Colder Killer" (featuring Killer Mike and Despot)	Meline Michael Render Alec Reinstein		3:39
7.	"True Story"			3:14
8.	"The Jig Is Up"		El-P Little Shalimar	3:18
9.	"Sign Here"			2:51
10.	"For My Upstairs Neighbor (Mums the Word)"		El-P Wilder Zoby	3:15
11.	"Stay Down" (featuring Nick Diamonds)	Meline Nicholas Thorburn	El-P Nick Diamonds Little Shalimar	3:10
12.	"$4 Vic/Nothing but You+Me (FTL)"			8:23
Total length:				49:05

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

El-P – vocals, design
Little Shalimar – guitar (1, 2, 10, 12), vocoder (6), guitar effect (7), synthesizer (12), recording (all tracks)
Wilder Zoby – synthesizer (1), keyboards (3, 5, 7, 12)
Isaiah "Ikey" Owens – organ (1, 6), keyboards (5, 7, 9)
James McNew – bass guitar (1, 6, 10)
Camu Tao – vocals (2)
Paul Banks – vocals (3)
Jaleel Bunton – guitar (3)
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire – vocals (5)
Danny Brown – vocals (5)
Dave "Smoota" Smith – horns (11)
Killer Mike – vocals (6)
Despot – vocals (6)
Matt Sweeney – guitar (6, 12)
Himanshu Suri – vocals (7)
Nick Diamonds – vocals (11)
Biondo – vocals (12)
Joey Raia – mixing
Glenn Schick – mastering
Ron Croudy – design
Timothy Saccenti – photography

Charts

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[2]	71
US Independent Albums (Billboard)^[37]	15
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[38]	7

References

^ "El-P "Cancer For Cure" Album Art / Tracklist". Fat Possum Records. April 6, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ ^a ^b "El-P: Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Weiss, Jeff (May 21, 2012). "El-P: Cancer for Cure". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ Cubarrubia, R.J. (May 21, 2012). "Q&A: El-P on His New Album and Staying Relevant in Hip-Hop". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
^ Alexander Fruchter. "Interview El-P: Back In The Flow". Ruby Hornet. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ "Cancer For Cure by El-P reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Reviews for Cancer4Cure by El-P". Metacritic. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ ^a ^b Jeffries, David. "Cancer4Cure – El-P". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ Harvey, Eric (May 22, 2012). "El-P: Cancer For Cure". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ Kot, Greg (May 20, 2012). "Album review: El-P, 'Cancer 4 Cure'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ MacInnes, Paul (May 24, 2012). "El-P: Cancer for Cure – review". The Guardian. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
^ Martens, Todd (May 21, 2012). "Album review: El-P's 'Cancer 4 Cure'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ "El-P: Cancer 4 Cure". Mojo (224): 92. July 2012.
^ "El-P: Cancer 4 Cure". Q (312): 98. July 2012.
^ Hermes, Will (May 22, 2012). "Cancer4Cure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ Reeves, Mosi (May 16, 2012). "El-P, 'Cancer for Cure' (Fat Possum)". Spin. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
^ Weiss, Dan (May 15, 2012). "El-P - Cancer For Cure". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
^ "Albums of the Year 2012". The 405. 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ "The Top 50 Albums of 2012". Beats per Minute. December 14, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ Kot, Greg (December 7, 2012). "Greg Kot's top 10 albums of 2012". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "Top 50 Albums 2012". Cokemachineglow. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Complex. December 18, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ "Top 50 Albums of 2012". Consequence of Sound. December 14, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ Keast, James (December 11, 2012). "Best Albums of 2012: Top 50 Albums of the Year". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "Top 50 Albums Of 2012 (Part One)". No Ripcord. December 18, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ Mineo, Mike (December 5, 2012). "Best Albums of 2012: #40 to #31". Obscure Sound. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ Jackson, Josh (November 26, 2012). "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Paste. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "The Top 50 Albums of 2012". Pitchfork. December 20, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
^ "The 75 Best Albums of 2012". PopMatters. December 9, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ "The Best Hip-Hop of 2012". PopMatters. December 11, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "Best Albums of 2012". Pretty Much Amazing. December 27, 2012. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ "SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012 (page 16 of 41)". Spin. December 11, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Spinner. December 7, 2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2012". Stereogum. December 5, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
^ "Top 50 Albums of 2012". Treble. December 9, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
^ "Pazz + Jop 2012". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
^ "El-P: Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
^ "El-P: Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

External links

Cancer 4 Cure at Discogs (list of releases)
Cancer 4 Cure at MusicBrainz (list of releases)

[1] "El-P "Cancer For Cure" Album Art / Tracklist". Fat Possum Records. April 6, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[billboard200-2] "El-P: Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

[Pitchfork-3] Weiss, Jeff (May 21, 2012). "El-P: Cancer for Cure". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[rollingstone-interview-4] Cubarrubia, R.J. (May 21, 2012). "Q&A: El-P on His New Album and Staying Relevant in Hip-Hop". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

[5] Alexander Fruchter. "Interview El-P: Back In The Flow". Ruby Hornet. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[6] "Cancer For Cure by El-P reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 23, 2019.

[metacritic-7] "Reviews for Cancer4Cure by El-P". Metacritic. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[allmusic-8] Jeffries, David. "Cancer4Cure – El-P". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[AV_Club-9] Harvey, Eric (May 22, 2012). "El-P: Cancer For Cure". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[Chicago_Tribune-10] Kot, Greg (May 20, 2012). "Album review: El-P, 'Cancer 4 Cure'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[11] MacInnes, Paul (May 24, 2012). "El-P: Cancer for Cure – review". The Guardian. Retrieved April 21, 2018.

[LA_Times-12] Martens, Todd (May 21, 2012). "Album review: El-P's 'Cancer 4 Cure'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[13] "El-P: Cancer 4 Cure". Mojo (224): 92. July 2012.

[14] "El-P: Cancer 4 Cure". Q (312): 98. July 2012.

[Rolling_Stone-15] Hermes, Will (May 22, 2012). "Cancer4Cure". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[16] Reeves, Mosi (May 16, 2012). "El-P, 'Cancer for Cure' (Fat Possum)". Spin. Retrieved April 21, 2018.

[Phoenix-17] Weiss, Dan (May 15, 2012). "El-P - Cancer For Cure". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved May 22, 2012.

[18] "Albums of the Year 2012". The 405. 2012. Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[19] "The Top 50 Albums of 2012". Beats per Minute. December 14, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[20] Kot, Greg (December 7, 2012). "Greg Kot's top 10 albums of 2012". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[21] "Top 50 Albums 2012". Cokemachineglow. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[22] "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Complex. December 18, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[23] "Top 50 Albums of 2012". Consequence of Sound. December 14, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[24] Keast, James (December 11, 2012). "Best Albums of 2012: Top 50 Albums of the Year". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[25] "Top 50 Albums Of 2012 (Part One)". No Ripcord. December 18, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[26] Mineo, Mike (December 5, 2012). "Best Albums of 2012: #40 to #31". Obscure Sound. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[27] Jackson, Josh (November 26, 2012). "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Paste. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[28] "The Top 50 Albums of 2012". Pitchfork. December 20, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2013.

[29] "The 75 Best Albums of 2012". PopMatters. December 9, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[30] "The Best Hip-Hop of 2012". PopMatters. December 11, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[31] "Best Albums of 2012". Pretty Much Amazing. December 27, 2012. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[32] "SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2012 (page 16 of 41)". Spin. December 11, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

[33] "The 50 Best Albums of 2012". Spinner. December 7, 2012. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[34] "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2012". Stereogum. December 5, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2015.

[35] "Top 50 Albums of 2012". Treble. December 9, 2012. p. 3. Retrieved May 17, 2020.

[36] "Pazz + Jop 2012". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

[independent-37] "El-P: Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

[rbhh-38] "El-P: Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2018.

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v t e El-P
Discography Production discography
Studio albums	Fantastic Damage I'll Sleep When You're Dead Cancer 4 Cure
Instrumental albums	El-P Presents Cannibal Oxtrumentals FanDam Plus High Water Collecting the Kid
EPs	Shards of Pol-Pottery
Scores	Bomb the System Capone
Related articles	Company Flow Definitive Jux The Weathermen Run the Jewels

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