Armor On
title: "Armor On" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2012-eps", "dawn-richard-eps"] topic_path: "general/2012-eps" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armor_On" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Armor On |
| type | EP |
| artist | Dawn Richard |
| cover | Armor_On_Cover.jpg |
| released | |
| recorded | 2011–12 |
| genre | Alternative R&B, experimental |
| length | 45:00 |
| label | Our Dawn Entertainment, Cheartbreaker Music Group |
| producer | Andrew Scott, Dawn Richard (Exec.) |
| prev_title | The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart |
| prev_year | 2011 |
| next_title | Whiteout |
| next_year | 2012 |
| misc | {{Singles |
| name | Armor On |
| type | EP |
| single1 | S.M.F.U (Save Me from You) |
| single1date | January 7, 2012 |
| single2 | Bombs |
| single2date | March 27, 2012 |
| single3 | Automatic |
| single3date | June 18, 2012 |
| single4 | Faith |
| single4date | August 29, 2012 |
| :: |
| name = Armor On | type = EP | artist = Dawn Richard | cover = Armor_On_Cover.jpg | alt = | released = | recorded = 2011–12 | venue = | studio = | genre = Alternative R&B, experimental | length = 45:00 | label = Our Dawn Entertainment, Cheartbreaker Music Group | producer = Andrew Scott, Dawn Richard (Exec.) | prev_title = The Prelude to A Tell Tale Heart | prev_year = 2011 | next_title = Whiteout | next_year = 2012 | misc = {{Singles | name = Armor On | type = EP | single1 = S.M.F.U (Save Me from You) | single1date = January 7, 2012 | single2 = Bombs | single2date = March 27, 2012 | single3 = Automatic | single3date = June 18, 2012 | single4 = Faith | single4date = August 29, 2012
Armor On is the first EP and second major release by American recording artist Dawn Richard as a solo act. Dawn Richard is best known for being a part of Diddy – Dirty Money and Danity Kane. The album and track listing for Armor On was revealed on March 7, 2012. The album serves as a prelude to her upcoming album Goldenheart Trilogy, the first of which was released in January 2013. Armor On was released exclusively on iTunes.
Richard released several promotional songs before the release of the album. "S.M.F.U (Save Me from You)" was the first. A black-and-white video for "S.M.F.U" was released online. "Change" was released as the second promotional single from Armor On, while "Black Lipstick" was chosen as the third promotional single.
The lead single "Bombs" debuted March 27 and Richard appeared on 106 & Park to premiere the video. On June 25, the video for the second single "Automatic" premiered on 106 & Park.
Background
Following what Dawn said was an amicable split with Dirty Money, Diddy told her that she would have to wait a year or two to release a solo project if she stuck around, but after requesting a release, he granted it. "It was a choice and I needed to go where the best place was for me," said Dawn. "As an artist, you can't wait two years. People forget about you in three seconds, so you have to grind like no other to stay relevant. He was gracious enough to say, 'I'll let you do that.' Labels don't do that. They'll shelve you. [...] I was so thankful that he didn't do what everybody said he was gonna do. He was like, 'You gave me six years, so here's your chance.'"
In an interview Richard said "You're gonna hear R&B taken to a whole 'nother level." She worked with Druski on nine of the EP's 10 tracks. The EP serves as a prelude to her album Goldenheart. Richard released several songs before the anticipated release date ("Change", "Black Lipstick", "Fly", and the bass-driven "Bombs") though "Fly" is not on the final track listing. This EP serves as an opening to the sound of Goldenheart. Dawn Richard presented Armor On at a listening session in Beverly Hills on March 21, 2012. In an interview Richard spoke on her feelings about Armor On, saying "We are pushing the limits. [...] R&B is really linear and it's not a bad thing. I just think being with Danity Kane and being with Dirty Money, I've experienced so many things sonically and lyrically that I want ya'll to be moved. It's time for something a little bit more refreshing. I want to be that person for you guys."
Reception
Critical response
| rev1 = About.com | rev1Score = | rev2 = Allmusic | rev2Score = | rev3 = Pitchfork Media | rev3Score = (8.2/10) | rev4 = The Guardian | rev4Score = | rev5 = Rap-Up | rev5Score = favorable | rev6 = The Uptown Lounge | rev6Score = favorable{{cite web|url=http://theuptownlounge.com/2012/03/27/review-dawn-richard-armor-on-ep|title=REVIEW: DAWN RICHARD – ARMOR ON (EP) |first=Andrea|last=Brown|date=27 March 2012|work=The Uptown Lounge|accessdate=July 24, 2012}} | rev7 = Muso's Guide | rev7Score = favorable{{cite web|url=http://musosguide.com/dawn-richard-armor-on-ep/20970|title=REVIEW: Dawn Richard – Armor On EP |first=Greg|last=Salter|date=17 April 2012|work=Muso's Guide|accessdate=July 24, 2012}} | rev8 = The A.V. Club | rev8Score = favorable{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/dawn-richard-1798230946|title=Dawn Richard |first=Evan|last=Rytlewski|date=22 April 2012|work=The A.V. Club|access-date=July 24, 2012}}
Armor On received considerable acclaim from critics.
Track listing
| total_length = 45:00 | title1 = Call to Hearts (Intro) | writer1 = Dawn Richard | note1 = | length1 = 2:53 | title2 = Black Lipstick | writer2 = Richard, Andrew Scott | note2 = | length2 = 4:08 | title3 = Bombs | writer3 = Scott | note3 = | length3 = 3:38 | title4 = Automatic | writer4 = Scott, Carla Carter | note4 = | length4 = 4:26 | title5 = Change | writer5 = Richard | note5 = | length5 = 3:17 | title6 = Heaven | writer6 = Richard, Scott | note6 = featuring Druski | length6 = 3:55 | title7 = Faith | writer7 = Richard, Lewis | note7 = | length7 = 3:43 | title8 = Scripture | writer8 = Richard, Scott | note8 = | length8 = 4:24 | title9 = Save Me from U (Remix) | writer9 = Richard, Scott | note9 = | length9 = 3:16 | title10 = The Battle (Outro) | writer10 = Richard | note10 = | length10 = 2:32
Notes:
- "Wild 'N' Young" is not featured for purchase in the iTunes Store. A video for this song was released in August 2012, but under the name Wild 'N' Faith.
Personnel
Musicians
- Dawn Richard – vocals
Productions
- Druski – producer
- Ricky "Ric Rude" Lewis – producer
- Carla Carter – songwriter
- Stan Greene – engineer
Staff
- Kyle Cabrol – Executive Assistant
Charts
::data[format=table] | Chart (2012) | Peak position | US Billboard 200 | US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | US Independent Albums | US Top Heatseekers | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 145 | | | | | | | 28 | | | | | | | 25 | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | ::
Release history
::data[format=table]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Worldwide |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2012 | Digital download | ||
| :: |
References
References
- "Dawn Richard Unveils 'Armor On' Cover Art, Tracklisting". Rap-Up.com.
- (2012-03-22). "Rap-Up TV: Dawn Richard Talks 'Armor On' EP, Departure from Bad Boy". Rap-Up.com.
- (2012-03-28). "Dawn Richard Unleashes 'Armor' on '106 & Park'". Rap-Up.com.
- Edward Nero, Mark. "Dawn Richard - Armor On". [[About.com]].
- Kellman, Andy. "Armor On - Dawn Richard". [[Allmusic]].
- Finney, Tim. (April 13, 2012). "Dawn Richard: Armor On EP". [[Pitchfork Media]].
- Macpherson, Alex. (19 April 2012). "Dawn Richard: Armon On - review". [[The Guardian]].
- (26 March 2012). "ALBUM PREVIEW: DAWN RICHARD – 'ARMOR ON'". [[Rap-Up]].
- "Dawn Richard - Wild N' Faith".
- "Dawn Richard Album & Song Chart History". [[Allmusic]].
- "Armor On - Dawn Richard". [[Allmusic]].
- "Dawn Richard: Armor on EP".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::