Posthumous Albums: They Aren’t Always Bad

Luke Duggan
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read

Death is taboo. When someone dies, they cease to be the person that they once were, and there are then customs we use to show reverence for them. We hold funerals to reflect on their lives. To pay our respects. Death is an end, and the best we can do is acknowledge these ends with regard. We reflect on our own lives to try to recover pieces of the person we lived with, and, hopefully, we gain from the loss. As music listeners, we wince at the thought of an artist’s vision being commodified after their death, and, even with artists who are living, we worry about the artist’s intention not matching the final product.


We can all think of albums that were obvious money grabs after an artist’s death. When an artist dies, there is an itch to mark their passing with a new release. Passive aggression fuels this phenomenon; it’s easiest to recognize someone’s artistry knowing where it ends. This hastiness is rarely in good taste. It takes the form of unnecessary compilations, or unreleased work that, if the artist were able to prevent it, would never reach the surface. I will use my words here to speak on a posthumous album that properly pays its respects to the artist, an album that meant a lot to those who released it, and an album that means a lot to me. This is Camu Tao’s King of Hearts.

This album was curated by Camu’s dear friend EL-P after his death. This is different from what we see on a major label. EL-P and camu had been working on music for years at the point of Camu’s death. They were both members of The Weathermen.What EL-P added to King of Hearts was fitting because of his knowledge of Camu Tao as an artist and a person. Even though what was added was in good taste, not much needed to be added. Much of the project was finished before Camu’s death so EL-P didn’t have to resurrect Camu tao. What is sickening about certain posthumous releases is the grave robbing that takes place and distorts what came from the artist and what came from the curator. With this project, we see consent to the release from those close to Camu. The liner notes of this album are filled with sign-offs from his family. His girlfriend even notes the stylistic change Camu underwent.

This album works as a posthumous release because it deals in death. It’s Camu’s struggle with cancer spread over 43 minutes. Camu was focused on rapping his ass off on previous work, but here he is singing for most of the project. The lyrical content is generally much more self-centered and dark than on anything else Camu did. His self-deprecating, paranoid lines stick out like the ribs of an emaciated dog. The ultra personal nature of this record separates it from other albums that take a dark tone .“Kill Me” is maybe the most chilling song on the album and certainly the peak of Camu’s thirst for death. Camu repeats “fuck me” “kill me” and “screw me” throughout the song. It is difficult to listen to. It shows how Camu Tao was experimenting with the form he worked in as well as his self-contempt. There are no delusions in the tone of the album. It is a reflection of his attitudes towards art, death, and self in his sickness.

King of Hearts is an exception when it comes to posthumous releases. It doesn’t attempt to resurrect Camu Tao. It attempts to pay him respects and to remember his music. This album explores the changes one goes through when faced with sickness and death, unlike your average posthumous record that digs deep into an artists back catalogue to squeeze out one last scattered record and a few more dollars. It is necessary to let the dead rest, but this is a unique case where a posthumous release allowed room to remember and honor the artist.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade