333 is the fifth studio album by American singer Tinashe. It was released independently through her own label, Tinashe Music Inc., on August 6, 2021. Largely self-produced and written by Tinashe, the album was primarily recorded independently following her departure from RCA Records in 2019. 333 also features collaborations with artists including Buddy, Kaytranada, Wax Motif, Jeremih, Kaash Paige, Quiet Child, and Kudazi.
Musically, 333 spans a variety of genres including electro-pop, house, and R&B, as combining impressionistic vocal delivery with experimental production and a diverse palette of sounds. Thematically, the album explores independence, self-empowerment, love, and emotional vulnerability, often showing Tinashe's DIY approach and personal artistic growth. Its title references the angel number "333", which signifies guidance and optimism, while the cover art depicts a sci-fi-inspired image of Tinashe with three eyes amid tranquil scenery.
The album was promoted with singles including "Pasadena", "Bouncin'", and "X", alongside the 333 Tour and a deluxe edition featuring additional tracks. 333 received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its cohesive production, Tinashe's versatile vocals, and genre-spanning approach. It appeared on multiple year-end best-of lists, including Uproxx, Vibe, Spin, and Pitchfork. Commercially, the album peaked at number 175 on the US Billboard 200, number 23 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart, number 20 on the US Top R&B Albums chart, and number 56 on the UK Album Downloads chart.
Background
I started creating my music by producing and recording myself and creating my own stuff in my room at my house... That's been a very important part of how I've been able to build myself as a career, as well as my confidence as a creative.
Following her departure from RCA Records in 2019, Tinashe returned to independent music-making with Songs for You (2019).[2] She explained that "being independent has really given me that opportunity to refocus on those things and to reevaluate what my purpose in the music industry is", adding that the change helped her "refine that independent, that DIY energy".[1] Looking back on her earlier career, Tinashe described the period as "very much like DIY", noting that she was filming her own music videos and recording in her room. She said that this early period shaped her creative approach, and that returning to it with her new music made her feel "so, like, in alignment and just like everything falls into place".[3][4]
Tinashe emphasized that producing and recording her own material remained central to the album's creation. She described this self-sufficient approach as foundational to 333, particularly as she sought to strengthen her confidence as a creator and advocate for women producers and engineers.[1] She also acknowledged some challenges in this independent process, noting that there was "a lot of uncertainty" about how people would respond to her music and how she would fund and organize her projects.[5] During the red carpet for Billboard's 2022 Women in Music, Tinashe explained that releasing the deluxe edition of 333 "gives the album a little bit more life", which allowed her to create more videos and performances and continue the era while keeping fans engaged with additional content.[6]
Release and promotion
Tinashe in 2021
On May 28, 2021, Tinashe started to tease her new album through her social media.[7] On June 1, she posted a mysterious teaser video featuring the numbers "333", which she had previously referenced in earlier visuals including the Tokyo version of "Save Room for Us", and updated her social media imagery to match.[8][9] In the video, she is shown reading the fictional "Pasadena Post", accompanied by a slowed, unreleased version of a track playing in the background.[7] Tinashe further fueled speculation, which fans theorized that "333" represents her ninth project, after responding to a fan-created theory—"3rd letter of Tinashe's name is N which means... New album"—by replying, "It's true, I fear".[8] On July 23, Tinashe announced details of 333, including the album's cover art and release date, along with the announcement of "I Can See the Future".[10][11][12] The release date, August 6, had also been revealed in a 42-second visual clip, which depicted Tinashe with a third eye on her forehead and another on the palm of her hand.[13]
During the rollout of 333, Tinashe addressed fan inquiries about the album's physical editions, explaining that their delay was due to production issues. She also mentioned that she had additional songs recorded and indicated that "we'll also get a deluxe" when speaking about the possibility of an expanded release.[1] On March 3, 2022, the deluxe edition of the album was released, which features four additional tracks; "Something Like a Heartbreak," "HMU for a Good Time" (featuring Channel Tres), "Naturally" and "Woke Up Blessed".[14][15][16]
Singles
"Pasadena" featuring American rapper Buddy, was released as the album's lead single on June 4, 2021.[17][18] It was co-written and produced by Oliver Malcolm.[19][20] The music video, directed by Micaiah Carter, premiered on June 10, on Tinashe's YouTube channel.[21] The video was created as a collaborative effort with photography mobile-app VSCO, and was further promoted through a social-media creative challenge hosted by the company which encouraged users to create and share contents inspired by the music video, using the hashtag #VSCOPasadena.[22] The second single, "Bouncin'", was released on July 9, 2021. Its music video was subsequently released on July 14, 2021, directed by Lloyd Pursall and choreographed by Parris Goebel.[23][24] The third single of the album, "X", featuring Jeremih, was released on January 21, 2022, alongside a music video of both "X" and "I Can See the Future", directed by Sebastian Sdaigui.[25]
"Naturally" was released as the lead single from the album's deluxe edition on February 14, 2022.[26] The single was promoted with a music video,[27] inspired by the horror movie The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.[28][29]
Other songs
"I Can See the Future" was released as a promotional single on July 23, 2021, along with the album's track list announcement.[10] The music video for "HMU for a Good Time", featuring Channel Tres, was surprise released on June 24, directed by Jonah Haber and choreographed by Jojo Gomez.[30]
Tour
Tinashe on the 333 Tour
To promote the album, Tinashe announced the 333 Tour, with Rei Ami as the supporting act.[31][32] Tickets went on sale on July 16, with pre-sale and VIP packages available from July 13, through Tinashe's official website. The tour was set to conclude with a "worldwide digital experience", described as "a full-length creative production specially crafted for at-home fans around the world", in partnership with Moment House.[33]
Composition
Tinashe collaborated with Buddy (left), Kaytranada (center), and Jeremih (right) on tracks from 333, among others.
333 is a pop[34] and R&B[34][12] album that traverses variety of genres such as electro-pop, house and R&B in a way that made "the act of listening into a game of Duck, Duck, Goose".[35] It continues Tinashe's movement away from the conventional "pop princess" image associated with her former label.[36] According to Clash, 333 is "a kaleidoscope of R&B versatility" that prioritizes eclecticism within contemporary narratives of "hot girl summers, freedom, and occasional heartbreak".[37] Beyond these, the record "continues to build a catalogue of diverse, listenable R&B"[38] and incorporates "a speedy and atmospheric drum'n'bass interlude" carried by Tinashe's falsetto.[39] Throughout the album, Tinashe collaborated with various artists, such as Buddy, Kaytranada, Wax Motif, Jeremih, Kaash Paige, Quiet Child and Kudazi.[12][40][3] She then moves across "an eclectic landscape of sounds", centered on "fluttery impressionistic R&B" but extending to "neon arena anthems" like the Stargate-produced "The Chase", "undulating synth-pop" on "Undo (Back to My Heart)" with Motif, "breathless dance-adjacent hip-hop" on the Buddy collaboration "Pasadena", and "darkly spacious slow jams" on the Paige duet "Angels".[41] Later songs move through "changes in tempo, style, and mood", with high-tension beats dropping out and returning in altered form as transitions are handled either by Tinashe herself or by featured artists.[39]
The album opens with "Let Go", which the Financial Times describes as "a track about finding release after a break-up", pairing its theme with contrasting elements such as birdsong and bass.[42] "I Can See the Future" is a bassy[36] R&B song[43] which features Tinashe's more percussive and "rap-like cadences".[37] "X" is a "bouncy" song[43] that conveys "erotic energy" with a balance of nimbleness and intensity, presenting both artists' liberated musical approach.[42] "Shy Guy" briefly experiments with a jungle beat for just over a minute before moving on.[44] "Bouncin'" is noted as an "irresistibly catchy" track designed to embed itself in the listener's mind.[42] A dance track[36] "Unconditional" opens with "uptempo, dance-ready production" before easing into a slower second half, a shift that Uproxx noted aligns with Tinashe's request for "love without restriction" as she offers the same in return.[43] "Angels" captures a moment that is simultaneously sad and sensual.[45] The title track adopts no chorus[44] and a more rapturous tone, offering "an account of sunrise in the arms of another".[42] "Undo (Back to My Heart)" is a "crowd-friendly dance"[34] and "pop-leaning" song[43] that accelerates into a "1980s pop reminiscent of the Weeknd".[42] "Let Me Down Slowly" is presented as a moodier track, where Tinashe appears "heartbroken and in denial".[37] The following track, "Last Call", is "rich with detail" that makes collective standout moment on the album.[37] "The Chase" is a pop-rock song[34] and "Rihanna-esque power ballad"[44] that presents a narrator who has moved on and refuses to seek a past lover's return.[43] "Pasadena" is structured around a sample from OutKast's "Hey Ya!".[42] According to Clash, the song favors "ambience over substance" with its razor-sharp synths.[37] At four and a half minutes, "Small Reminders" is the album's longest track, evolving from "smoldering jazz" into "doobie-lighting funk".[44] Following the club-ready charm of "Bouncin'", "Bouncin' Pt. II" presents a darker and cavernous atmosphere.[45]
The deluxe edition opener "Something Like a Heartbreak" combines layered vocal melodies and "twitchy electronic rhythms" over a steady bass line.[46] It also presents a narrator who concludes, "You didn't deserve my love", and later adds that she is "thankful that you cracked me open".[46] "HMU for a Good Time" is noted as an "electrifying house-infused pop record",[47] whose music video presents an energetic party setting that indicates the track's title.[48] "Naturally" is a "smooth and effortless bop", according to Stereogum.[26]The Fader described it as a tribute to "the most sensual kind of muscle memory", saying Tinashe's performance over "twangy guitar" and a "gently disco-fied rhythm section" aimed at drawing a specific person to the dancefloor.[29]Rated R&B noted that among the new tracks, "Woke Up Blessed" stands out as the closing song.[14]
Title and artwork
For this particular album, I created most of it during lockdown last year. And in the past couple of years, I've been focused on spirituality and empowering myself. So I wanted those themes to come across. 333 is angel numbers, representing that you're on the right path, you're protected, and that things are gonna work out for you. And that's the message I've been trying to embody myself, as a person, as an artist. With 333, I wanted to share that message and that good omen with my fans.
The album's title is an allusion to the angel number, associated with messages from the divine of protection, love, and destiny.[50] According to Uproxx, the number "333" is a "reassuring sign" that indicates one is on the correct path, acknowledging fears and anxieties while emphasizing optimism.[43] Regarding the title selection, Tinashe commented that "I named it 333 because I really felt like I was on the right path, in alignment with what I was meant to do. I just wanted to acknowledge that."[45] For the cover artwork, the cover depicts a "sci-fi-themed" image[12] of the singer "crouched amid peaceful scenery", featuring three eyes.[11][51]
333 received critical acclaim. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, 333 received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[52]
Clash called the album "a sparkling display of personal evolution" and despite not being a radically innovative record, it is coherent with "artful production", and "never having a dull moment". They also praised Tinashe's vocals as "faultless as ever" with "rap-like cadences."[37] Giving four out of five stars, NME said 333 "furthers the 28-year-old's narrative of being whatever she wants to be musically". It said the album also "gives off the same energy as Tinashe's early mixtapes such as Black Water (2013) and In Case We Die (2012), reminding us of the singular artist that [she] is and always has been."[36]Pitchfork named the album her best work to date, stating it as a "showcase for her omnivorous tastes and supremely light touch. Tinashe's voice glides through much of the record as if she's smirking at a private joke. Ultimately, it's that breezy, impish spirit that most distinguishes 333 and its predecessor from her RCA albums."[44]Stereoboard described 333 as adding to Tinashe's "catalogue of diverse, listenable R&B", but wrote that the album "levels out at mediocre", as remarking that this was "surprising given the promise of the first half". The review suggested that this outcome may reflect "not enough risks having been taken, nor freedom deployed".[38]
AllMusic claimed that "333 sees the singer truly settling into independence. There's a near surplus of the breathy slow jams and midtempo cuts that roll and skitter like the tracks on which she built her reputation. Each one of those songs uniquely tweaks the approach to make it sound fresh."[39]Stereogum praised the cohesiveness of the album in comparison to her previous works.[41]Uproxx noted that while the pandemic year may appear to be a primary influence, the album's inspiration runs much deeper for Tinashe.[43]
Year-end lists
For year-end recognition in 2021, 333 appeared on numerous critics' lists across major publications. Uproxx included the album in both The 50 Best Albums of 2021[54] and The 15 Best R&B Albums of 2021,[55] while Vibe ranked it No. 2 on The 21 Best R&B Albums of 2021.[56] The album was also placed at No. 5 on 34th Street's The Best Albums of 2021,[57] and Spin ranked it No. 9 on The 30 Best Albums of 2021,[58] additionally listing "Bouncin'" at No. 11 on The 30 Best Songs of 2021.[59]
Further recognition included PopCrush's placement of the album at No. 13 on The Best Albums of 2021,[60]PopBuzz listing it at No. 14,[61] and Okayplayer ranking it No. 16.[62]Insider Inc. featured 333 at No. 19 on its year-end list,[63] followed by Cosmopolitan at No. 22.[64]Slant Magazine ranked it No. 35 on The 50 Best Albums of 2021.[65]Pitchfork selected 333 for its unranked feature The Best Progressive Pop Music of 2021,[66] and placed "Bouncin'" at No. 16 on The 100 Best Songs of 2021.[67]Stereogum ranked "Pasadena" at No. 28 on The Best Pop Songs of 2021,[68] and included "X" in its unranked The Best Songs of 2021.[69]HipHopDX featured "Bouncin'" and "Angels" at Nos. 26 and 45, respectively, on The Best R&B Songs of the Year.[70] Additional recognition came from NPR, which ranked "X" at No. 90 on The 100 Best Songs of 2021,[71] and BrooklynVegan, which placed "X" at No. 3 on 15 R&B Songs That Defined 2021.[72]
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