page_title: The Ecology
section_title: Release and promotion
hierarchical_section_title: The Ecology / Release and promotion
caption_attribution_description: English: Fashawn is joined by Nas and Aloe Blacc during "The Ecology" album release concert in Los Angeles.
context_page_description: The Ecology is the second studio album by American hip hop recording artist Fashawn. The album was released on February 24, 2015 by Nas' Mass Appeal Records. Nas serves as executive producer for the album, and guest features include Nas himself, Aloe Blacc, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Dom Kennedy. The album's production, similar to Fashawn's debut album Boy Meets World, is handled primarily by Exile, with additional contributions by DJ Khalil, The Alchemist, and more.
  The title and concept of the album entails exploring the "ecology" of one's environment: the people, objects, and events surrounding one's life, the things that provoke human behavior, how individual choices lead to different paths, and how everyone and everything is ultimately interconnected.
  In its first week of release, The Ecology ranked among the top 10 most downloaded albums on the iTunes Hip-Hop Chart. The album was met with widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its heartfelt lyricism and soulful production. Since then, songs from the album have been featured in various forms of popular media.
context_section_description: On June 9, 2014, a variety of media outlets reported that Fashawn had officially signed to Nas' Mass Appeal Records, and that The Ecology was scheduled to be released under the new label. "Fashawn is one of the most underrated in the game," Nas said in a statement. "The world is gonna know soon. We're excited to have him as a part of the family." On August 21, 2014, Fashawn held a private listening party for The Ecology at a sold-out venue in his hometown Fresno, California, where attendees heard the entire album for the first time. He continued to keep busy with shows, including a performance set at Nas' 20-Year Illmatic Anniversary Concert at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in October 2014.
  As a prelude to his new album, Fashawn also released an EP with The Alchemist titled FASH-ionably Late on December 18, 2014. In January 2015, Fashawn announced that The Ecology would be officially released on February 24, 2015, and that he would also embark on a nationwide tour soon after its release. An official track list soon followed, which confirmed guest features by Nas, Aloe Blacc, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Dom Kennedy. On February 20, 2014, Fashawn surprised eager fans by releasing The Ecology on iTunes ahead of schedule, with the album debuting on its Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums Chart. Physical CD and vinyl copies of The Ecology maintained the original release date of February 24, 2015.
  To kickoff The Ecology tour in the United States, a special album release concert took place at Echoplex in Los Angeles on February 26, 2015, in which Fashawn headlined a sold-out venue with additional performances by Aloe Blacc, Blu, Exile, and more. The event was also highlighted by surprise guest appearances by Nas, Dilated Peoples, Dom Kennedy, and Everlast (who performed the 90s classic "Jump Around") to an energetic crowd. Following his American tour, Fashawn later embarked on The Ecology European Tour along with Exile in September 2015.
caption: Fashawn is joined by Nas and Aloe Blacc during "The Ecology" album release concert in Los Angeles.
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