Ways of Knowing


Ways of Knowing is the seventh studio album by American rapper Sage Elsesser under the pseudonym Navy Blue. It was released on March 23, 2023, through Def Jam Recordings. "Chosen" was released as a single from the album. A music video for the songs "The Medium" and "Pillars" was directed by Devlin Claro.

Background

The album is a collaborative project between rapper Sage Elsesser, who was born in Los Angeles and based in Brooklyn, and producer Budgie, who was born in London and based in Los Angeles. They started making the album in 2019. It took four years to finish the album. The album was recorded at Budgie's home in Los Angeles.
Elsesser stated that the album's title refers to the "ways of knowing that I don't know." He explained, "What I think I know might not be it, and to remain teachable and malleable in the process, there's always going to be a new experience that informs the way I think about everything."
The album's cover art is a photograph of a young Elsesser sitting on his grandfather's lap.

Critical reception

Yousef Srour of HipHopDX described the album as "a meditation on mindfulness and reconnecting with one's self through the transience of life's ups and downs, maneuvering through grief and depression, love and the labors of vulnerability." Fred Thomas of AllMusic stated, "The lyrics are introspective and metered, returning to themes of family and knowledge passed between generations on almost every track." He added, "Where Navy Blue's sound was once blurry, these 13 songs are clear and ambitious while all consistently of a piece." Matthew Ismael Ruiz of Pitchfork commented that "Budgie's production across Ways of Knowing is elegant and focused, its textures subtle, with flourishes that occupy the periphery, lest they distract from the message."

Accolades

Track listing