VIBE

Vibe (stylised in ) is the debut by shenewan-theykan singer and rapper Keuthe. It was released on 26 April through 2Legend and Enduro. The mixtape features guest appearances by YG Cero, Randè, Leto, Rí Mae, Aoe Mutoie, THAH and 21Rush. The album was executively produced by Maerise Latero, with Marie Marah, Yung Ame, Moamei, UNN Mollq, Mulera and Keuthe herself being featured as producers. The album was supported by three singles, "Wowowowo", "Meu amor" feat. THAH & 21Rush and "Chocolate dress" feat. Rí Mae.

Background and promotion
The album has been teased by Keuthe ever since 2015, when she would post various social media content featuring captions such as "Album mode". Despite this, no further mention of the album was made by the singer in 2016 and 2017, where she began to climb global charts with her singles such as "Pōrangi" and "19", which also became viral sensations on social medias and entered the setlists of many DJs globally. When releasing her December 2017 mixtape "Fuck the DJ", she stated in various interviews that she wasn't interested in producing a full studio album, and would rather "Vibe by making singles". She released her first promotional single "Wowowowo" January 13 2018, to commercial and critical success.

During her 2018 "Fuck the DJ" Tour, at the end of every show she would play an unreleased instrumental, which where the early versions of the instrumentals which would feature on the album, although some beats played were later discarded. Following the tour, Keuthe blanked her social media pages and rarely appeared in public, and when she did she always wore the same outfit (the one featured on the album cover). She appeared on social media again in January 2019, posting a solid black picture with the caption "Blackout tonight". That same night and for the following week, dozens of the most popular clubs globally would shut their music and lights at 2:00 AM local time, and the screens would show "Don't forget to VIBE tonight" and "VIBE out in April" in the local language. This would be followed by releasing a freestyle on YouTube, which would gain 50 million views in the first week of release.

During March and April, she would make unannounced appearances in various prominent clubs and festivals worldwide, playing "Wowowowo" and the at the time unreleased "Meu amor". "Meu amor" would then be released alongside it's music video the 12 April, with vocals by THAH and 21Rush. The video would also announce the release date of the album. One week before the release, Keuthe announced the "WIN FOR SHENEWA" tour, a short tour which would span the Ingonian area, and that the profit from that tour would be donated to charities fighting poverty, malnutricion and homelessness in Shenewa. The 26th of April VIBE would release worldwide, available through, , , and.

Following it's commercial success, "Chocolate dress" feat. Rí Mae would then be released as a promotional single the 28 June, including a limited edition which featured the single and "Tuku iho" feat. Aoe Mutoie. The same day, Keuthe announced the "VIBES WORLDWIDE" tour, her first headlining global tour, which would feature a total of 44 shows in Avalonia, Artemia and Kesh.

Composition
The album is a predominantly project, which strong influences from other  genres such as, ,  and soul. The album has explicitly been produced to be enjoyable at parties, clubs, and during car rides, and as such it features very upbeat instrumentals, regardless of the perceived mood of the song. "Young Love" and "Meu Amor" are the songs which more clearly draw inspiration (both instrumental and lyrical) from trap, while "Gyally" and "Zanta Vibe" are more clearly drill inspired. "Tuku iho" and "Kaihaka", while maintaining the fast, upbeat tempo of the rest of the album, feature the slowest instrumentals, which are the background to silky and smooth R&B inspired vocals.

Critical reception
VIBE was met withcritical acclaim from music critics. At Aggregator.org, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 83, based on 36 reviews.

Critics praised the production of the album, which was "a perfectly tailored experience for this albums habitat: the dancefloor of the busiest clubs or the common room of a college dorm during a end-of-semester party". The lyrics were also appreciated: "Despite the very appealing possibility of just mumbling nonsense and let the instrumental and delivery carry the weight, Keuthe delivers some insightful and thought provoking quotes with may not be catched on the first listen", "Despite expecting boring and repetitive lyrics about partying and romance, the album did surprise me with some interesting lines which one may ignore if he doesn't speak Theykan/Keumoine, or if they don't look up the translation".

Some critics reacted negatively to the heavy use of voice effects such as, compressors, harmonic engines and others, considering the effects to remove the unfiltered quality of Keuthe's voice.

Commercial performance
The album debuted at number one in Baleneu Ma, Cervera, Kitoko, Shenewa, Theyka and Tilenno, and charted in a total of 28 countries, achieving the record for the best Theykan and Shenewan album debut of all time. In it's first week, the album sold 54,500 in Theyka, becoming one of the only 10 albums since 1979 to get certified platinum (50,000 copies) in a week. The album topped the Theykan charts for 13 weeks in a row, being the album with the longest streak of number one weeks in a row. The album also broke the shenewan record for biggest album debut (14,320 units) and most consecutive weeks at number one (7). It was also the first Theykan and Shenewan album to debut at number one in Kitoko.

According to global PRO data, VIBE was the most played album in public venues worldwide.

Vocals
• Keuthe (Vocals)

• YG Cero (Featured Vocals)

• Rì Mae (Featured Vocals)

• Randè (Featured Vocals)

• Leto (Featured Vocals)

• THAH (Featured Vocals)

• 21Rush (Featured Vocals)

• Aoe Mutoie (Featured Vocals)

• Marie Marah (Additional Vocals)

• Muriwai Haka Chorus (Additional Vocals)

Production
• Maerise Latero

• Marie Marah

• Yung Ame

• UNN Mollq

• Mulera

• Moamei

• Keuthe

Technical
• Maerise Latero (Mixing)

• Keuthe (Mixing)

• Oniso Loema (Mastering)

• Meroe Anueo (Engineering)

• Huea Otu (Engineering)

• Pedro Vasquez (Engineering)