description It Is What It Is Overview
It Is What It Is is a 2020 studio album by bassist, singer, and songwriter Thundercat, whose legal name is Stephen Bruner. The record combines jazz fusion, funk, soul, electronic production, humor, and reflections on grief, including material shaped by the death of his friend Mac Miller. Featuring numerous guest musicians and vocalists, it received the Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album.
insights Ranking position
It Is What It Is ranks #58 of 204 in the Funk Album ranking, behind Skin Tight, ahead of Lovesexy.
help It Is What It Is FAQ
How did Mac Miller's death shape It Is What It Is?
Thundercat was a friend and collaborator of Mac Miller, who died in 2018, and grief runs through the album. "Fair Chance," featuring Ty Dolla $ign and Lil B, directly addresses loss and the difficulty of moving forward.
Who produced It Is What It Is with Thundercat?
Thundercat produced the album with Flying Lotus, the founder of the Brainfeeder label. Their production combines Stephen Bruner's virtuosic six-string bass with synthesizers, compact song structures, and jazz-fusion harmony.
Which guests appear on It Is What It Is?
The album includes Childish Gambino, Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil B, and BADBADNOTGOOD. Kamasi Washington also appears, continuing a musical association that reaches back through Los Angeles' jazz scene.
Did It Is What It Is win a Grammy?
Yes, it won Best Progressive R&B Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards. The album had been released in 2020 through Brainfeeder and includes "Dragonball Durag," "Black Qualls," and "Fair Chance."
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