Absolute Value (album)

Absolute Value is the second studio album by Boston rapper Akrobatik.^[1] It was released on February 19, 2008 by Fat Beats Records. The album features guest appearances by hip hop artists Talib Kweli, Chuck D, and B-Real, as well as production by 9th Wonder, Illmind, J Dilla, and Da Beatminerz. Despite receiving rave reviews, the album sold about 600 units in its opening week.^[2]

Absolute Value
Studio album by Akrobatik
Released	February 19, 2008 (2008-02-19)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	52:07
Label	Fat Beats Records
Producer	Illmind Da Beatminerz J Dilla Hezekiah 9th Wonder J-Zone DJ Therapy Tzarizm DJ Fakts One Baba Israel Yako
Akrobatik chronology
Balance (2003) Absolute Value (2008) Built to Last (2014)
Singles from Absolute Value
"A to the K / Beast Mode" Released: 2006 "Put Ya Stamp on It" Released: 2008

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[3]
ArtofRhyme.com	[4]
AllMusic	[5]
DJBooth.net	[6]
HipHopDX	[7]
HipHopLinguistics.com	[8]
The Phoenix	[9]
PopMatters	[10]
RapReviews.com	9/10[11]
XLR8R	7.5/10[12]

Marisa Brown of AllMusic gave the album 4 stars out of 5, commenting that it "mixes his socially conscious messages and his battle-honed cadence, healthy ego, and energetic production (courtesy here of Illmind, Dilla, J-Zone, and 9th Wonder, among others) into a palatable but intelligent creation that entertains as much as it educates."^[5] She added, "Absolute Value has a few requisite tracks -- the melancholy 'Rain,' the sweet 'Back Home to You' -- but it also has a lot of sharp, thoughtful, fun material that knows how to keep the audience moving, both in body and mind."^[5] J-23 of HipHopDX gave the album a 4.0 out of 5, saying, "you won't find anything on this album that will have you reaching for the skip button."^[7]

Andrew Martin of PopMatters gave the album 7 stars out of 10, calling it "a strong representation of Ak's versatility as an emcee."^[10] Max Herman of XLR8R gave the album a 7.5 out of 10, writing, "the MC leaves the greatest impression when he balances his hard-hitting approach with focused subject matter as he does on the Little Brother-assisted 'Be Prepared,' a soulful examination of the rap game."^[12]

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"A to the K" (featuring B-Real)	Illmind	2:52
2.	"Soul Glo"	Da Beatminerz	2:38
3.	"Put Ya Stamp on It" (featuring Talib Kweli)	J Dilla	3:22
4.	"Step It Up"	Hezekiah	3:02
5.	"Rain" (featuring Brenna Gethers)	Illmind	3:11
6.	"Be Prepared" (featuring Little Brother)	9th Wonder	3:40
7.	"Absolute Value"	J-Zone	2:43
8.	"Black Hell Breaks Loose" (featuring Willie Evans Jr. and DJ Therapy)	DJ Therapy	3:36
9.	"Kindred" (featuring Chuck D and Brenna Gethers)	Illmind	4:00
10.	"Front Steps Pt. II (Tough Love)"	Tzarizm	3:34
11.	"Beast Mode" (featuring Mr. Lif)	DJ Fakts One	3:09
12.	"If We Can't Build" (featuring Bumpy Knuckles)	Illmind	3:00
13.	"Ak B. Nimble"	Baba Israel Yako	2:55
14.	"Back Home to You"	DJ Therapy	6:35
Total length:			52:07

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.

• Akrobatik – vocals
• B-Real – vocals (1)
• Illmind – production (1, 5, 9, 12)
• Da Beatminerz – production (2)
• DJ Evil Dee – turntables (2)
• Talib Kweli – vocals (3)
• J Dilla – production (3)
• DJ Jayceeoh – turntables (3, 4, 6, 10, 14)
• Hezekiah – production (4)
• Brenna Gethers – vocals (5, 9)
• Little Brother – vocals (6)
• 9th Wonder – production (6)
• J-Zone – production (7)
• Willie Evans Jr. – vocals (8)
• DJ Therapy – vocals (8), production (8, 14), turntables (13)
• Chuck D – vocals (9)
• Tzarizm – production (10)
• Mr. Lif – vocals (11)
• DJ Fakts One – production (11)
• Bumpy Knuckles – vocals (12)
• Baba Israel – production (13)
• Yako – production (13)
• Buttaskotch – engineering
• Lucy Fernandes – engineering
• Ray Fernandes – engineering
• Sir Bob Nash – engineering
• Mark Donahue – mastering
• Alphabet Arm Design – art direction
• Billy Nunez – illustration
• A. Garcia – photography