User:Biglugg/sandbox

Fire Style! (Album)

Fire Style! is a Naruto-themed hip hop album by Yuri Lowenthal and Big Lugg, featuring various cast members from the show itself, released on August 19, 2022. The album was created as a means of raising money for Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern Californiaand the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. It was produced and written by Yuri Lowenthal and Big Lugg and composed by Big Lugg from Houston, who also provided all the instrumentals for the album.

Background
According to the album's artists, Yuri Lowenthal and Big Lugg, "Fire Style!" was born out of their love for both Naruto and hip hop music. They enlisted the help of various cast members from the English dub of Naruto to bring the album to life, with each track featuring a unique combination of performers. The album was created to raise money for important social justice causes, with all proceeds made from streams going to Asian Americans advancing Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Themes
The album features themes of meme culture, with references to popular internet memes, such as the "Sasuke against the wall" meme. The artists attempt to keep the themes serious yet lighthearted, drawing parallels between the characters and real-life experiences. For instance, on the track "Prayer," Big Lugg draws parallels between himself and Sasuke, highlighting their shared struggles with depression and addiction. Similarly, "Otogakure," sees Big Lugg and Kabuto reflecting on their respective journeys toward redemption. The album also allowed some of the voice actors to explore their characters in new ways, with Madara getting to say lines like "Hashirama couldn't even backstab me properly," and Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt creating a song together about shipping and fan fiction. The actors have expressed how the album gave them a new and fun experience in playing with the characters they portray.

Promotion
To promote the album, social media campaigns were run on platforms such as Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Additionally, Yuri Lowenthal, one of the artists featured on the album, planned to do a Sasuke cosplay on his livestream if the album sold enough pre-orders by the release date.

Track listing
{{Track listing
 * writing_credits = yes
 * headline       =
 * all_writing    = Big Lugg
 * all_producer   = Big Lugg
 * music_credits  =
 * title1         = Uchiha Gang
 * length1        = 2:53
 * extra1         =
 * writer1        = Big Lugg
 * producer1      = Big Lugg
 * artist1        = Yuri Lowenthal, Big Lugg
 * title2         = Hard Work
 * length2        = 2:06
 * extra2         =
 * writer2        = Big Lugg
 * producer2      = Big Lugg
 * artist2        = Brian Donovan, Big Lugg
 * title3         = What A Drag
 * length3        = 1:47
 * extra3         =
 * writer3        = Big Lugg
 * producer3      = Big Lugg
 * artist3        = Tom Gibis, Big Lugg
 * title4         = Leave The Village
 * length4        = 2:03
 * extra4         =
 * writer4        = Big Lugg
 * producer4      = Big Lugg
 * artist4        = Yuri Lowenthal, Big Lugg
 * title5         = Dude In A Crop Top
 * length5        = 2:13
 * extra5         =
 * writer5        = Big Lugg
 * producer5      = Big Lugg
 * artist5        = Ben Diskin, Big Lugg
 * title6         = Fans
 * length6        = 2:29
 * extra6         =
 * writer6        = Big Lugg
 * producer6      = Big Lugg
 * artist6        = Tara Platt, Big Lugg
 * title7         = Dub Love
 * length7        = 2:39
 * extra7         =
 * writer7        = Big Lugg
 * producer7      = Big Lugg
 * artist7        = Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt
 * title8         = Prayer
 * length8        = 2:09
 * extra8         =
 * writer8        = Big Lugg
 * producer8      = Big Lugg
 * artist8        = Yuri Lowenthal, Big Lugg
 * title9         = Otogakure
 * length9        = 2:55
 * extra9         =
 * writer9        = Big Lugg
 * producer9      = Big Lugg
 * artist9        = Henry Dittman, Big Lugg
 * title10        = What’s Mine
 * length10       = 2:35
 * extra10        =
 * writer10       = Big Lugg
 * producer10     = Big Lugg
 * artist10       = Cissy Jones, Big Lugg
 * title11        = Dance!
 * length11       = 2:01
 * extra11        =
 * writer11       = Big Lugg
 * producer11     = Big Lugg
 * artist11       = Yuri Lowenthal, Big Lugg
 * title12        = MC
 * length12       = 2:39
 * extra12        =
 * writer12       = Big Lugg
 * producer12     = Big Lugg
 * artist12       = Yuri Lowenthal, Big Lugg
 * title13        = Maybe Next Time
 * length13       = 2:25
 * extra13        =
 * writer13       = Big Lugg
 * producer13     = Big Lugg

Reception
Upon release, "Fire Style!" debuted at #5 on the hip hop category of iTunes and #30 on all of iTunes. Critics praised the album for its catchy beats and clever lyrics, with [insert notable publication here] calling it "a must-listen for fans of both Naruto and hip hop music."

Trivia

 * The album's name, "Fire Style!", is a reference to a type of jutsu (ninja technique) used in the Naruto anime and manga series.