I Am Chipmunk

I Am Chipmunk
Studio album by
Chipmunk
Released9 October 2009 (2009-10-09)
Recorded2008–2009
GenreHip hop, grime, R&B
Length47:00
LabelColumbia
Producer
Chipmunk chronology
I Am Chipmunk
(2009) 		Transition
(2011)
Singles from I Am Chipmunk
  1. "Beast"
    Released: 8 December 2008
  2. "Chip Diddy Chip"
    Released: 2 March 2009
  3. "Diamond Rings"
    Released: 6 July 2009
  4. "Oopsy Daisy"
    Released: 4 October 2009
  5. "Look for Me"
    Released: 28 December 2009
  6. "Until You Were Gone"
    Released: 16 April 2010
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
BBC Music(favourable)[2]
Digital Spy[3]
In the News6/10[4]
The Guardian[5]
RapReviews6.5/10[6]
True to Sound7/10[7]
Virgin Media [8]

I Am Chipmunk is the debut album by British rapper Chipmunk, released on 9 October 2009 by Columbia Records. Unknown to many, the album was originally scheduled to have been released the year before: one being 4 May and the other release date being October.[citation needed] It produced four consecutive top 10 singles, including one chart-topper. The album was deemed a success after it debuted at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart[9][10]

In-line with its record sales, a new platinum edition of the album was released on 3 May 2010 featuring four new songs,[11] including the single "Until You Were Gone" featuring Dutch singer-songwriter Esmée Denters.

Singles

  • "Beast" was the first single taken from I Am Chipmunk and featured Loick Essien on guest vocals. It reached No. 181[12] on the UK Singles Chart following its release on 8 December 2008.
  • "Chip Diddy Chip" was released as the second single from the album on 16 January 2009. The single peaked at No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart and marked Chipmunk's breakthrough.[by whom?]
  • "Diamond Rings" was released as the third single on 6 July 2009 and featured vocals from upcoming Scottish R&B singer Emeli Sandé. The single peaked at No. 6 in the UK, marking Chipmunk's first top 10 hit.
  • "Oopsy Daisy" was released as the fourth official single on 4 October 2009 and featured vocals from Dayo Olatunji. The single went on to top the UK Singles Chart, marking Chipmunk's first No. 1 single, but also his second consecutive top 10 hit.
  • "Look for Me" featuring vocals from Talay Riley was released as the fifth single from the album on 28 December 2009. The single marked Chipmunk's third consecutive top 10 hit when it managed to peak at No. 7 in the UK.
  • "Until You Were Gone" served as the sixth official single to be released and the first and only single to be released from the Platinum Edition reissue of the album. The single featured vocals from Dutch pop/R&B singer Esmée Denters and was released on 19 April 2010, where it debuted at No. 3, marking Chipmunk's fourth consecutive top 10 hit and his second most successful single behind "Oopsy Daisy".

Unknown to many, "Muhammad Ali" was also meant to be a single off his album back when it was recorded in 2008. A video was also shot to support the song; whilst the visuals feature other UK artists such as Ghetts, Frisco, Scorcher and many others.[citation needed]

Commercial performance

I Am Chipmunk debuted on the UK Albums Chart at No. 2 on 18 October 2009 behind Editors. In its second week on the chart, the album fell 6 places to No. 8. The album spent 8 weeks in the Top 40 albums, before falling to No. 41 on 22 December 2009.[13]

Chipmunk chose to re-release the album with four extra tracks, including "Until You Were Gone", the lead single from the re-release. The album re-entered the Top 40 on 9 May 2010 at No. 11, before falling out of the top 40 on 2 July the next month.[13]

Track listing

I Am Chipmunk standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."Saviour"4:03
2."Chip Diddy Chip"3:29
3."Oopsy Daisy"3:36
4."Man Dem" (featuring Tinchy Stryder)3:12
5."Diamond Rings" (featuring Emeli Sandé)3:03
6."Lose My Life" (featuring N-Dubz)3:15
7."I AM (Interval)"3:03
8."Dear Family"4:04
9."Beast" (featuring Loick Essien)3:54
10."Look for Me" (featuring Talay Riley)3:24
11."Role Model"3:56
12."Sometimes"3:06
13."Business" (featuring Young Spray)4:48
Platinum edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
14."Until You Were Gone" (featuring Esmée Denters)3:30
15."Uh Ay"2:35
16."Superstar"3:38
17."History" (featuring Wretch 32)3:13
iTunes standard edition
No.TitleLength
14."Chip TV (This Is My Album)"5:46
iTunes special edition
No.TitleLength
14."The Best of Chip TV"7:41
15."Chip Diddy Chip" (music video; long version)4:13

Chart performance

Release history

Release history and formats for I Am Chipmunk
Region Date Format Edition Label
United Kingdom 9 October 2009 Digital download[20] Standard Columbia
12 October 2009 CD[21]
United Kingdom 26 April 2010 Digital download[22] Platinum
3 May 2010 CD[23]

References

  1. ^ Jon, Review: I Am Chipmunk. AllMusic. Retrieved on 2011-02-07.
  2. ^ "Music – Review of Chipmunk – I Am Chipmunk". BBC. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  3. ^ "Music – Album Review – Chipmunk: 'I Am Chipmunk'". Digital Spy. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  4. ^ "Chipmunk: I Am Chipmunk reviews – new music CD reviews on". Inthenews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  5. ^ Caroline Sullivan (9 October 2009). "Chipmunk: I Am Chipmunk | CD review | Music". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  6. ^ Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania. "Chipmunk: I Am Chipmunk CD review". RapReviews. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  7. ^ blikrophiliac. "Chipmunk: I Am Chipmunk CD review". True To Sound. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  8. ^ Dee, Johnny (12 October 2009). "Chipmunk: I Am Chipmunk review - Reviews - Music". Virgin Media. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  9. ^ "Chipmunk – A level headed player". The Independent. London. 9 April 2010.
  10. ^ "A Milli : Chip's career so far". Chipdaily.net. London. 20 November 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  11. ^ "I Am Chipmunk – Platinum Edition: Chipmunk". Amazon. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  12. ^ Chart Log UK – 2008
  13. ^ a b "Chipmunk songs and albums | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Chipmunk". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  18. ^ "UK Year-End Charts 2009" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  19. ^ "British album certifications – Chipmunk – I Am Chipmunk". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  20. ^ "iTunes – Music – I Am Chipmunk by Chipmunk". iTunes Store. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  21. ^ "I Am Chipmunk: Chipmunk: Amazon: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  22. ^ "iTunes – Music – I Am Chipmunk by Chipmunk". iTunes Store. 23 April 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  23. ^ "I Am Chipmunk – Platinum Edition: Chipmunk: Amazon: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 23 February 2012.