Pray IV Reign

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They did a show [at United Palace Theater] up in Washington Heights, the initial conversation was just that it was an honor to meet them, I think they're kinna cool. And from there it led into me saying, It'd be crazy if I remixed "Electric Feel". They were like, Yeah, that would be crazy. So I said, Let me get the beats and shit.

Release and promotion

On July 8, 2008, Jones' released a song titled "The Good Shit", featuring production from Ron Browz and a guest appearance from fellow ByrdGang member NOE. [8] [9] It was intended to be the album's first single when it was titled Back 2 Back, but was instead used for promotional purposes. [10]

"Pop Champagne", a song Jones recorded with Ron Browz and Dipset cohort Juelz Santana, was leaked online in the summer of 2008.[ citation needed ] It quickly became a club banger and hit single, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was released as the album's lead single on September 4, 2008. The song proved to be Jones' second most successful single to date, behind his 2006 hit "We Fly High".

In October 2008, Jim Jones released a promotional video for the album, rapping his verse on his remix to Kid Cudi's "Day 'n' Nite". [11] Jim Jones initially wanted to release the album on December 9, which was coincidentally the same date Jay-Z was going to release The Blueprint 3 and 50 Cent was going to release Before I Self Destruct . [12]

To promote the album, Jones worked with Damon Dash and director J. Kyle Manzay to stage the play Hip-Hop Monologues: Inside the Life and Mind of Jim Jones. The “Hip-Hop Monologues” is a musical theatrical experience, co-written by Jim Jones, using the music from Pray IV Reign, as the platform. An ensemble of professional actors portray various characters from Jones’ past, while Jones performed his new songs in the context of a scripted story. The two-day only play pulled in a packed audience of fans, media, and celebrities. Infused with a live band the performance "Gives you that live instrumentation feel — more like a real Broadway type of feel as opposed to just seeing a hip-hop track. So, you’ll get to hear both the real music from off of the album and then the band comes in and it takes over and it gives you that really funky feeling" said Jones of the play. [13]

On January 1, 2009 a song titled "Na Na Nana Na Na" was premiered and on February 17, was released to iTunes. It serves as the album's second single and features up-and-coming singer Brittney Taylor AKA Bree-Beauty. Jim Jones also teamed up with BET, to promote the album as well. On March 2, 2009, Jim Jones appeared on BET's 106 & Park to premiere the music video for "Na Na Nana Na Na". Later on in the show he announced that from March 2 to March 24, he would be announcing a new item out of his "Swag Bag". The goal for the fans was to keep track of all the items announced each day and once you've collected all the items, you had to log on to BET.com/JimJones on Friday, March 20 to enter the contest for a chance to win Jim Jones’ "Swag Bag". Who ever entered all 24 items correctly won the "Swag Bag" and its items.

Jones partnered with iTunes, which had a "Countdown to Jim Jones Pray IV Reign". On February 17, they released the second single "Na Na Nana Na Na". On March 3, they released "Precious" featuring vocals and production from Ryan Leslie, on March 17, the song titled "Frenemies" was released, and on March 24, the entire album was released. The lead single from Pray IV Reign, "Pop Champagne", which spent two weeks as America's #1 urban single, was also incorporated into the countdown and was already available for sale.

Reception

Critical response

Pray IV Reign
Pray IV Reign.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 24, 2009
Recorded200709
Genre Hip hop
Length74:45
Label
Producer
Jim Jones chronology
Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment)
(2006)
Pray IV Reign
(2009)
The Rooftop
(2009)
Deluxe Edition cover
Jimjones-prayivreign.jpg
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Artistdirect Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Beats Per Millennium(5.3/10) [16]
Entertainment Weekly (C+) [17]
HipHopDXStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [18]
PREFIXMAG.Com(4/10) [19]
RapReviews(8/10) [20]
Slant Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Spin Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [22]
XXL Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg(XL) [23]

XXL gave the album a 4/5, stating that the album is an extreme improvement with many heartfelt tracks, but many disappointments. XXL complimented the lead single, "Pop Champagne", "My My My", and the promo singles "Precious" and "Frenemies", but disliked the second single "Na Na Nana Na Na", "Pop Off" and "This Is the Life". [23]

Alex Thornton of HopHopDX liked the songs "How to Be a Boss" with Ludacris saying it stole the show, "Precious" with Ryan Leslie and "My My My". He also liked the lead single "Pop Champagne" but like most critics he hated the second single "Na Na Nana Na Na" [18]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200 with 42,982 copies sold in its first week released. [24]

Track listing

[25] [26] [27] [28]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" (featuring Starr) Andre Parker, Aqueelah McCummings, Ernest Wilson, Gene McDaniels, Joseph Jones No I.D., Chink Santana (co.)5:14
2."Pulling Me Back" (featuring Chink Santana)Charles Bobino III, Demetri Duncan, Dexter Randall, Jones, ParkerTrackSlayerz, Chink Santana (co.)3:45
3."Let It Out"Dave West, JonesSupa Dave West4:08
4."How to Be a Boss" (featuring Ludacris and NOE) Duane Bridgeford, Christopher Bridges, Jones, Rondell Turner Ron Browz 5:07
5."Medicine" (featuring NOE and Chink Santana)Bridgeford, Jones, ParkerChink Santana5:36
6."Frienemies" Ernest Isley, Christopher Jasper, Jones, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Parker, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley Chink Santana4:16
7."Precious" (featuring Ryan Leslie) Anthony Leslie, Jones, Parker Ryan Leslie 4:10
8."Blow the Bank" (featuring Oshy and Starr)Jones, Michael Crawford, Thomas ByrdMagnedo73:46
9."This Is for My Bitches" (featuring Oshy)Byrd, Jones, Ronald Ferebee, Jr.Young Yonny3:44
10."Girlfriend" (featuring Juelz Santana and Oshy)Bridgeford, Byrd, Jones, LaRon James, ParkerChink Santana4:51
11."This Is the Life" (featuring Starr)Bridgeford, Charles King, McCummings, Jones, Andre Atkins, Michael FloydTriple-A4:18
12."My My My" (featuring Rawana)Ayinde Thomas, Jones, Teraike CrawfordChris Styles, Cylla, Dangerous LLC4:28
13."Pop Off" (featuring NOE and Mel Matrix)Bridgeford, Jones, Joseph Holmes Young Seph 4:12
14."Pop Champagne" (with Ron Browz featuring Juelz Santana)James, Jones, TurnerRon Browz3:35
15."Rain" (featuring Rell, NOE, and Starr)Bridgeford, Gerrell Gaddis, Jones, TurnerRon Browz5:33
16."Na Na Nana Na Na" (featuring Bree-Beauty)Bridgeford, Brittney Taylor, Jed Cappelli, Jones, Matthew FriedmanILLFONICS3:59
Leftover tracks
Sample credits

Chart positions

Chart (2009)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 [29] 9
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [30] 2
U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums [31] 1

Pray IV Reign: The Mixtape

Pray IV Reign: The Mixtape
Jim Jones - Pray IV Reign.jpg
Mixtape by
ReleasedMarch 3, 2009
Recorded2008–2009
Genre Hip hop
Label Columbia, Sony
Producer Harley Is Majik, Ryan Leslie
Jim Jones chronology
Jim Jones & Skull Gang Present A Tribute To Bad Santa Starring Mike Epps
(2008)
Pray IV Reign: The Mixtape
(2009)
Pray IV Reign
(2009)

Jim Jones released a mixtape, titled Pray IV Reign: The Mixtape, on March 3, 2009 to promote the album. Most of the songs on the mixtape are tracks that failed to make the album's final track listing. [32] [33]

Track listing

No.TitleProducerLength
1."Trippin" (featuring Laylee) 4:44
2."Shorty" (featuring NOE and Rell) 5:39
3."Religion"Harley Is Majik5:22
4."Medicine" (featuring NOE and Chink Santana) 5:36
5."Fast Money" (featuring Mel Matrix and Sandman) 4:02
6."Uptown" (featuring Rell) 4:27
7."Precious" (featuring Ryan Leslie)Ryan Leslie4:10
8."My Life" (featuring Chink Santana and NOE) 5:50
9."Catch Up" (featuring Oshy) 2:28

Charts

Charts (2009)Peak
position
U.S. Top Rap Albums 11 [31]
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 38 [30]

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