Alone at Prom explained

Alone at Prom
Type:studio
Artist:Tory Lanez
Cover:alatprom.jpg
Border:yes
Recorded:2020–2021
Length:
  • (Deluxe edition)
Producer:
  • Chaz Jackson
  • Orlando tha Great
  • SSJ Mike
  • Bizness Boi
  • boyband
  • Foreign Teck
  • Tropics
  • Fortune
  • Roark Bailey
  • Nik Dean
  • Vikaden
  • Marcus Andersson
  • Blake Straus
Prev Title:Playboy
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Sorry 4 What
Next Year:2022

Alone at Prom is the sixth studio album by Canadian rapper and singer Tory Lanez. It was released on December 10, 2021, through his independent label One Umbrella.[1] The album's concept is built around '80s music, being inspired to that era of music and aesthetics.[2]

The album was supported by four singles: "Lady of Namek", "'87 Stingray", "Enchanted Waterfall", and "Hurts Me".[3] The album's fourth track, "The Color Violet", became a sleeper hit after going viral on TikTok, peaking at 63 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[4]

On November 17, 2023, the deluxe edition of the album was released, featuring 10 additional tracks.[5] Following the deluxe's release, Alone at Prom peaked at number 28 on the Billboard 200, marking its peak on the chart.[6]

Background

The album was first announced through the rapper's Instagram account when he revealed that he was working on an "80s capsule" in late 2020, sharing snippets of the project during the last months of 2020 and throughout 2021.[7] Alone at Prom was officially announced, along with its title, in September 2021. Lanez cited as musical inspirations for the project artists such as Hall & Oates, Toto, Michael Jackson and Rick James.[8]

The project was visually accompanied by the creation of an alter ego named Ashton Rain. The singer explained the character's creation saying: "The music was so retro and nostalgic that the character had to be created and authenticated through film, picture and music video."

In 2022, Tory Lanez was arrested for the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, being sentenced to ten years in prison. On September 25, 2023, he shared a voicemail update from prison, announcing the deluxe re-release of his 2021 album Alone at Prom, marking his first official release following his incarceration.[9]

Composition

According to AllMusic, Alone at Proms musical composition borrows from "early- to mid-'80s pop driven by synthesizers". Our Generation Music found its production to be "electro-inspired", also describing the album as R&B and bubblegum pop. Lanez stated that with Alone at Prom he wanted to create "a full catalog now and later of pure pop, R&B, alternative and 80s rock music".

Critical reception

Mason Kirby of Our Generation Music said, "Alone at Proms remarkable retro approach not only intertwines harmoniously sung melodies with ethereal, electro-inspired production, but ascends Tory to a higher level than ever before."[10] Andy Kellman of AllMusic defined the album "a soundtrack to idly browsing racks of distressed jeans", finding its musicality to be "in the vein of the Weeknd's After Hours".[11]

Copyright infringements

In December 2021, singer Madonna expressed her thoughts about the track "Pluto's Last Comet", alleging that Lanez plagiarized her 1985 single "Into the Groove". After she first made the allegations in an Instagram comment on Tory Lanez' page, Madonna explained her position further to Rolling Stone, saying: "I am tired of being taken advantage of and I mean business".[12]

According to Rolling Stone, the estate of the late singer George Michael and his former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley have accused Lanez of using their song "Careless Whisper" without permission for his track "Enchanted Waterfall". In a statement, the George Michael estate and Ridgeley, who co-wrote the 1984 song with Michael, said that they had previously denied Lanez' request to sample the song for his album. But Lanez allegedly did it anyways. Following the accusation, "Enchanted Waterfall" was removed from Spotify, but remained available on other platforms like Apple Music and Tidal.[13]

Track listing

Sample credits

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021–2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australian Vinyl Albums (ARIA)[15] 14
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[16] 44
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[17] 38
US Billboard 200[18] 28

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19] 49

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alone At Prom by Tory Lanez. Apple Music. December 10, 2021.
  2. Web site: Tory Lanez Is Ashton Rain On '80s Capsule "Alone At Prom" Ft. Tee. hotnewhiphop.com. December 10, 2021 . January 15, 2022.
  3. Web site: LeBron James Loves Tory Lanez's New 80s Album. hotnewhiphop.com. December 12, 2021 . January 15, 2022.
  4. Web site: Kyles . Yohance . January 10, 2023 . Tory Lanez's "The Color Violet" Debuts On Hot 100 Chart Following Assault Conviction . May 26, 2023 . AllHipHop.
  5. Web site: Tory Lanez Releases "Alone at Prom (Deluxe), Tacks on 10 More Tracks . HNHH . November 17, 2023 .
  6. Billboard 200™ . .
  7. Web site: Tory Lanez – 80s Capsule [All Snippets!] ]. YouTube. January 15, 2022.
  8. Web site: Tory Lanez's Ashton Rain Character on 80s Inspired 'Alone At Prom' is Turning Heads ListenWatch. EURweb. January 15, 2022.
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20231012034321/https://themessenger.com/entertainment/tory-lanez-voicemail-prison-announces-deluxe-album-re-release Article title
  10. Web site: January 14, 2022 . Tory Lanez takes a trip back in time on 'Alone at Prom' . March 14, 2023 . Our Generation Music . en-US.
  11. Web site: Alone at Prom – Tory Lanez Songs, Reviews, Credits. AllMusic. January 15, 2022.
  12. Web site: Tory Lanez Faces New Copyright Allegations .
  13. Web site: Tory Lanez Faces New Copyright Allegations .
  14. Web site: Madonna calls out Tory Lanez . popcrush.com. December 28, 2021 . January 15, 2022.
  15. Web site: ARIA Top 20 Vinyl Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. November 27, 2023. November 24, 2023.
  16. Web site: 2023 2-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100). AGATA. lt. January 13, 2023. January 13, 2023.
  17. Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. November 27, 2023. November 25, 2023.
  18. Web site: Tory Lanez. billboard.com. November 28, 2023.
  19. Independent Albums – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 27, 2023.