Freudian is the debut album of Canadian R&B-artist Daniel Caesar, released on August 25th, 2017 via Golden Child Recordings. It is the follow up to his highly acclaimed EP, Pilgrim Paradise.

The album contains his hit song, “Get You” and noticably features H.E.R., Syd and Kali Uchis.

On August 3, 2017, Daniel announced on his Instagram that the project is set to be released the 25th of the same month. The announcement came after he the release of the joint music video for “We Find Love” and “Blessed,” directed by Sean Brown, Keavan Yazdani, and Daniel himself.

After the album’s release, Daniel penned a thank you to all of those who supported and contributed to his album.

About the album, he told The FADER:

I’ve never been as proud about anything I’ve created in my whole life. This body of work is about examining my most complex feelings and thoughts more directly. I’m more exposed than ever on this album. It’s like I’m in therapy, but it’s on display. And I got to make this with my friends. It’s just us, no label, so it makes it that much more special.

The alternate cover art displays Eminem sitting on the porch of his home he lived in as a teenager. It gives a nostalgic feeling to Em to go back to his childhood house with his recent success. He reflected on the photo shoot by saying:

I had mixed feelings because I had a lot of good and bad memories in that house. But to go back where I grew up and finally say, “I’ve made it”, is the greatest feeling in the world to me.

Originally, the album was going to be named Amsterdam after a trip there shortly after the release of The Slim Shady LP, in which he wrote of the album.

The same house is also used in the album The Marshall Mathers LP 2, the sequel to this album. However, the only significant difference is that Marshall is no longer sitting on the steps.

LEISURE is an electronic band from Auckland, New Zealand. The Kiwi collective consists of Tom Young, Jaden Parkes, Jordan Arts, Djeisan Suskov and Josh Fountain. Signed to New Zealand and New York-based Saiko Management, the band is described as an unusual melting-pot of contributions; having influences from 70’s funk, 90’s rap and R&B, all the way to dance music from the early 2000’s. As stated on their label’s website:

Each member brings a different skill set — strong pop song writing sensibilities, experimental production techniques, and the talent to mix and master their own work.

On October 21, 2016, the band released their self-titled debut album, Leisure. Having amassed over 50 million streams on the project, the collective signed globally to US and UK record label Nettwerk. The band’s sophomore album Twister, is set to be released on July 26, 2019.

This is the second single by Bibi Bourelly, released after Riot. Many consider it to be a blues song because of Bourelly’s raspy vocals and her deriding lyrics for all those that have her fucked up:

https://twitter.com/BibiBourelly_/status/659398084905058304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Trinity Bellwoods is a park in the city of Toronto, Canada. Shortly after leaving home, Daniel was homeless for a time, forced to sleep in Trinity Bellwoods. The song “Trinity Bellwoods” plays the ambient sounds of birds, dogs, and bikes that one would hear in the area.

As foreshadowed on his previous work, Daniel has grown weary of the taxes (no pun intended) of his faith and turned to abandon it. He expresses this relinquishing to kick off this EP with an unenthusiastic mutual rebuff.

Caesar told the FADER through email:

[It] sets the stage for what I have to say, and the story I’m going to tell,“ he explained. "I live in the real world, I’ve lost my faith, I’m trying to find my way. I actually wrote the first version of this song years ago while I was still in high school, and kind of put it aside. It took on new meaning for me this time around and I was able to finish it.

Taxes are an inevitability no matter what form of society you live in. Truthfully, any of the definitions of taxes could fit with this theme as they are all sure to happen. The ones that most fit with this song is the following:

1. a strain or heavy demand.

2. to confront (someone) with a fault or wrongdoing.

Death is brought into the song, of course as being the first (if not only) guarantee in life. In addition, death is involved as:

• The aftermath of all of the taxes throughout Daniel’s life.

• Being taxed by God for not repenting.

Death and Taxes is also an idiom made famous by Benjamin Franklin,

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

But was first said by Daniel Defoe in The Political History of the Devil

Things as certain as Death and Taxes, can be more firmly believed.

Note that the book about the Devil’s role in history, which goes along with the religious theme of the album.