W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
W.A.R. is the third studio album of American hip hop artist Pharoahe Monch released on March 22, 2011, under Duck Down Records. Producers include Lion's Share Music Group, Exile, Marco Polo, M-Phazes, Mike Loe, Fatin "10" Horton, Diamond D, Samiyam, and Fyre Dept.'s Adam Deitch and Eric Krasno, while vocal features are contributed by Idris Elba, Immortal Technique, Vernon Reid of Living Colour, Showtyme, Styles P of The LOX, Phonte, Mela Machinko, Mr. Porter, Jean Grae, Royce da 5'9", Citizen Cope and Jill Scott. Scratches are provided by DJ Boogie Blind of The X-Ecutioners.
Background
The album's release date was announced during Pharoahe Monch's tour alongside supergroup Slaughterhouse, during early 2010. Featured guests were confirmed in July 2010 along with the track listing of the album. The original release date was October 26, 2010. Since then, track listing and features have been slightly changed.Singles
Thus far, the album has four singles: the first one, "Shine", a collaboration with Mela Machinko was released on July 27, 2010. The song was produced by Diamond D.The second promotional single, "Clap ", was released on January 18, 2011. Produced by M-Phazes, the song features Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind, who have collaborated with Pharoahe Monch on various occasions. A ten-minute extended music video was released on March 8, 2011, depicting "a police raid gone dramatically wrong". It was directed by Terence Nance, with a score by Lion's Share Music Group, and appearances from Gbenga Akinnagbe, Kim Howard and Josiah Small.
A third promotional single, "Black Hand Side", has been released on March 3, 2011. It was produced by Mike Loe and features Phonte and Styles P of The LOX. Pharoahe Monch and Styles P have collaborated before, on Styles P's 2002 Ayatollah produced single "My Life"
On March 15, 2011, the fourth promotional single, "Assassins", was released. Australian producer M-Phazes crafted the beat, while featured guest verses were provided by Jean Grae and Royce da 5'9".