Neon Icon is the debut studio album by American rapper Riff Raff. It was released on June 24, 2014, by Mad Decent. The album, which features Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, Paul Wall, Amber Coffman, Mike Posner, and Slim Thug, was produced by DJA, Larry Fisherman, DJ Mustard, Raf Riley, Harry Fraud, and executive producer Diplo. Neon Icon was supported by singles "How to Be the Man" and "Tip Toe Wing in My Jawwdinz".
Background
Following the release of his mixtape Hologram Panda with a record producer Dame Grease, Riff Raff told MTV that his upcoming Mad Decent's studio album would be titled as Riff Raff, The Neon Icon, which shortens into Neon Icon. In August 2013, in an interview with XXL, Riff Raff explained the album's title saying, "It's like a whole new world that's just all me. From going from nothing to becoming this shining star...so I mean, yeah, Neon Icon is just neon everything. It can't be stopped." He also explained the album's diversity to XXL saying, "People think it's gonna be all pretty much just hip hop music, trap music, whatever. I'm gonna have some country songs on there, some rock songs and everything like that. And I'm fading more towards that way, so it's gonna put people in a position where they can't even compare me to nobody."
Recording and production
On February 12, 2013, Riff Raff took to Twitter to reveal the collaborations with rappers such as Drake and A$AP Rocky, set to appear in his upcoming second studio album Neon Icon, uploading single photos to Instagram with both rappers respectively. On March 10, 2013, Riff Raff announced that the album would be feature Wiz Khalifa, Future, Mac Miller, YG and Snoop Dogg, among others. On the following year, he announced on his Twitter, as well as most of his multiple interviews with the other artists that would be appearing on his debut album; including Action Bronson, Asher Roth, Bun B, Childish Gambino, Fitz and the Tantrums, Juicy J, Mike Posner, Paul Wall, 2 Chainz and Skylar Grey, among others. It was also announced that his debut album would feature the production provided by Lex Luger, Larry Fisherman, DJ Mustard, TrapZillas and Skrillex; as well as Diplo, who is also executive producing the LP.
In November 2013, Riff Raff told Entertainment Weekly that he had recorded over 100 songs during the album's recording process. Following working with Clinton Sparks on his song "Stay With You Tonight", the two completed a song titled "A Spike Lee Joint" for Neon Icon. He also stated that Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors would appear on the album. The final track listing revealed that the album would feature previously announced collaborations including Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, Paul Wall, Mike Posner and Amber Coffman, as well as Slim Thug. The track "Versace Python" was meant to feature a verse from Wiz Khalifa. However, Atlantic Records refused to clear the vocals in a timely manner, which resulted in it being cut from the album version, although the alternate version was released by the label in the weeks preceding the album's release.
Release and promotion
On June 16, 2013, Riff Raff announced that Neon Icon would be released in September 2013. On August 12, 2013, he told The Source that the album would be released in mid-October 2013. However, during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards he told XXL that the album would be released on September 24, 2013, the same day as Drake's Nothing Was the Same album. However, in September, Riff Raff implied that the album would be released in October 2013. On October 3, 2013, he announced on his Twitter account that the album would be released on January 28, 2014, one day before his 32nd birthday. However, on January 26, 2014, Riff Raff confirmed that the album had been pushed back to an unknown date and urged his fans to ask Diplo on Twitter when the album would be released. Then on February 24, 2014, Riff Raff announced that the album would be released during April 2014. A release date of April 29, 2014 was confirmed the following month. On April 28, 2014, Diplo tweeted that the album would be released during June 2014.