Amar (album)

Last updated
Amar
BigXthaPlug - Amar.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 10, 2023
Genre
Length34:04
Label UnitedMasters
Producer
  • 88
  • Aimonmyneck
  • Baker Yung
  • BandPlay
  • Beezo
  • Ben Mari
  • Blazerfxme
  • Blondobeats
  • C Gutta
  • DonBeBumpin
  • Ephortless
  • FKAjazz
  • Flarryse
  • Hal Walker
  • Hollywood Cole
  • Luke Crowder
  • Nice Rec
  • RandyHitz
  • Rhyme Michaelson-Lara
  • ShoBeatz
  • Slizer
  • Tady Fletcher
  • Tony Coles
  • Trashbagg Beatz
  • Ziggymadeit
BigXthaPlug chronology
Big Stepper
(2022)
Amar
(2023)
The Biggest
(2023)
Singles from Amar
  1. "Rap Niggas"
    Released: May 20, 2022
  2. "Safehouse"
    Released: September 21, 2022
  3. "I Know"
    Released: October 14, 2022
  4. "Texas"
    Released: November 25, 2022
  5. "Primetime"
    Released: January 27, 2023

Amar is the debut studio album by American rapper BigXthaPlug, released on February 10, 2023 through UnitedMasters. Named after the rapper's son, it debuted at No. 4 on Billboard 's Heatseekers charts. It was preceded by the singles "Rap Niggas", "Safehouse", "I Know", "Texas" and "Primetime". The album features guest appearances from Ro$ama, Sauce Walka, Tay Money and Erica Banks, while the production is handled by Tony Coles, BandPlay and among other producers. A deluxe edition of the album was released on April 28, 2023, with four additional tracks.

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
HipHopDX 3.8/5 [2]
Pitchfork 7.0/10 [3]

The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. Hayley Tharp of Earmilk remarked, "BigXThaPlug is making a name for himself as a talented storyteller and fierce rapper. Amar proves he can deliver a full length project packed with cohesive beats and steady lyrical stamina. He is a hearty chicken soup for the trap lover's soul." [4] Paul Simpson of AllMusic wrote that BigXthaPlug "instantly makes a major impression with his commanding tone and restless flows, as well as the unconventional samples and instrumentation accompanying the booming 808s he raps over" and his "personality is intense and dramatic, yet he seems cool-headed and has a playful, humorous side. The tracks are mostly on the short side, making AMAR feel closer to a mixtape than a proper album, but it clearly makes an impression, and BigX seems like a name to watch." [1] Nadine Smith of HipHopDX stated, "Armed with a gruff, booming vocal register, his debut album AMAR exudes the kind of rich swagger and effortless charisma embodied by breakout Texas stars like Maxo Kream." [2] Peter A. Berry of Pitchfork commented "There are some unexpected production flourishes here, but on the whole, Amar doesn't do much to elevate the rapper it's hosting. BigX is still figuring out how to help himself, too. Pairing a screenwriter's knack for harnessing histrionics with a freestyler's ability to stack intricate rhymes atop emphatic punchlines, he always knows how to deliver captivating individual verses. The next step is merging them with less predictable song structures and more memorable hooks (as is, they often feel like placeholders meant to bridge the gap between one verse and the next). But that's fine; after all, he's only dropped three projects. With his storytelling know-how and mic presence, BigXthaPlug is worth a re-up." [3]

Track listing

Amar track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Switched Up"
  • Xavier Landum
  • Tony Anderson
  • Rashard McNeil
  • Khalid Monawar
  • Bishop Grinnage
  • Tony Coles
  • Beezo
  • Ephortless
  • Slizer
2:15
2."Rush Hour"
  • Michaelson-Lara
  • 88
2:33
3."Primetime"
  • Landum
  • Reginald Boyland
  • Charles Forsberg
  • Samir Zarif
  • TrashBagg Beatz
  • Charley Cooks
  • FKAjazz
3:33
4."Texas"
  • Landum
  • Vladislav Zabornikov
  • Miltiadis Partalis
  • Vladimir Vasilev
  • Shuggie Otis
  • Aimonmyneck
  • Blondobeats
  • Blazerfxme
2:26
5."Bad Bitches" (featuring Ro$ama)
  • Atupele Ndisale
  • Breonica Smith
  • Christopher Wood
  • David Patiño
  • Dominic Martin
ShoBeatz2:25
6."Bacc to Tha Basics"
  • Landum
  • Kameron Cole
  • Peter Mudge
  • Hollywood Cole
  • Nice Rec
1:54
7."Safehouse"
  • Landum
  • Baker Yung
  • Ivan Tagle
  • Yung
  • Ben Mari
2:16
8."Change"
  • Landum
  • Donovan Wells
  • Angelo Bond
  • William Weatherspoon
DonBeBumpin2:13
9."Badu Flow"
  • Landum
  • Anderson
  • Philip Clendennin
  • Erica Wright
  • James Yancey
Tony Coles2:24
10."I Know" (featuring Sauce Walka)
Ziggymadeit3:17
11."Levels"
  • Landum
  • Anderson
  • Billy Smith
Tony Coles2:37
12."Thick" (featuring Tay Money and Erica Banks)
  • Crowder
  • C Gutta
  • Tiggi
3:16
13."Dream"
  • Landum
  • Anderson
  • Billie Calvin
Tony Coles2:58
Total length:34:07
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Whip It"
  • Landum
  • Krishon Gaines
  • Anderson
  • Reginald Andrews
  • Leon Chancellor
  • Bandplay
  • Tony Coles
2:17
16."Left Eye"
  • Landum
  • Anderson
  • Hal Walker
  • Tony Coles
  • Walker
2:02
17."Rap Niggas"
  • Landum
  • RoDarrion Harrison
  • Randy Obasuyi
  • Tony Anderson
RandyHitz2:44
18."Ends"
  • Landum
  • DeShaun Williams
  • Zakharov Sergeyevich
  • Lagutyaev Vyachslavovich
  • Tady Fletcher
  • Flarryse
2:16
Total length:43:26

Charts

Chart performance for Amar
Chart (2023)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [5] 97
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [6] 40

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References

  1. 1 2 Simpson, Paul. "AMAR Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Nadine (March 22, 2023). "BigXThaPlug 'Amar' Gives Dallas A New Star". HipHopDX . Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 Berry, Peter A. (March 2, 2023). "BigXthaPlug: Amar Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  4. Tharp, Hayley (February 17, 2023). "BigXThaPlug defines Texas trap on new album, 'Amar' [Video]". Earmilk. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  5. "Billboard 200: Week of April 6, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  6. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of April 6, 2024". Billboard . Retrieved October 27, 2024.