Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA) [17] | Gold | 500,000 |
| ||
| "Sacrifices" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Dreamville, EarthGang and J. Cole featuring Smino and Saba | |
| from the album Revenge of the Dreamers III | |
| Released | July 5, 2019 |
| Recorded | January 2019 |
| Studio | Tree Sound Studios, Atlanta, Georgia [1] |
| Genre | |
| Length | 6:22 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
|
"Sacrifices" is a song by record label Dreamville with American rappers EarthGang and J. Cole featuring Smino and Saba. The song was released as the final track on the label's compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III . [2]
On January 6, 2019, Dreamville announced the compilation album and the recording sessions taking place at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, inviting a total of 343 artists and producers throughout the 10 days. [3] [4] A snippet of the song was teased in the documentary film Dreamville Presents: Revenge , released on July 2, 2019. [5] The song is described as a posse cut which features contributions from Midwest rappers Saba and Smino, who are frequent collaborators and part of the trio Ghetto Sage. [6] J. Cole's verse on the song revealed he and his wife have a second child on the way. [7]
Groove said in an interview that the song was produced in 2018, but due to miscommunication and a few missed opportunities, it never came out. "I made that beat sometime last fall and crazy enough, I had actually sent that to Cole a while ago." Co-producer Henny Tha Bizness sent Groove a folder of loops and samples including the guitar riffs that was used to make "Sacrifices." [8] Groove claims that without Childish Major organizing the beat in his laptop, "this song doesn't exist. During the rap camp, ideas were lost so fast." He continued to say in the interview "I've based my whole career on sacrifices. For this to be my first placement, it just means so much to me. 'Sacrifices' involves everyone who pushed me to the next level. Childish ushered me into these rooms, which allowed me to be at the right place at the right time. For him to be the one who recorded it, that’s special." [8]
The song was recorded during Dreamville's 10-day recording sessions for the compilation album, between January 6 to January 16, 2019. On the fifth day, Groove described the studio saying "it was kind of an energy shift of the artists that were there," as Buddy, Smino, Saba, Mez, and more arrived to the sessions. Olu was the first to record his verse while Smino, Saba were writing their verses and Cole was the last to record his verse. The song was created on the same day and the same room as the Elite-produced "1993", with a total of ten songs made that day. [8] [9]
A writer for Revolt praised J. Cole's verse saying "the song would not be what it was without the Dreamville founder adding his two sense. Coming in hot on verse five, Cole brings it home with a grand finale. Every bar captures the reality of what happens when you work hard and dedicate your living life for what you're truly passionate about. For Cole, it's music." [10] Writing for HipHopDX , Trent Clark said "Cole gives the people want they want: some insight into his typically guarded household and openly praises his wife for their good fortune." [11] Lucy Shanker of Consequence of Sound wrote about J. Cole's feature run saying he "inhabits the same role he's been in for the past year: a redeeming feature. Just as he did on 21 Savage's "A Lot" or Anderson .Paak's "Trippy", Cole exhibits his uncanny ability to both elevate and seal together a song." [12]
The official music video for "Sacrifices" was released on August 12, 2019, marking the first visuals released from the album. The video was directed by Scott Lazer, David Peters, and Chad Tennies. [13] The video was dedicated to Olu's late father who died in 2018, and features an appearance from the rapper's mother. [14]
Credits and personnel adapted from Tidal. [15]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA) [17] | Gold | 500,000 |
| ||
Jermaine Lamarr Cole known professionally as J. Cole, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early 2007. Intent on further pursuing a musical career, he went on to release two additional mixtapes, The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010) both to critical acclaim, after signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint in 2009. Cole is regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation.
Dreamville Records is an American record label founded by American hip hop artist J. Cole and his manager Ibrahim Hamad. The label is currently distributed through Interscope Records, a unit of Universal Music Group. The label’s roster includes Ari Lennox, Bas, Cozz, Omen, Lute, JID, EarthGang, and Cole himself. Dreamville also houses American record producers Elite, Ron Gilmore, and Cedric Brown.
Abbas Hamad, better known by his stage name Bas, is a Sudanese-American rapper. He is signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. His first studio album Last Winter, was released on April 29, 2014, followed by his second studio album, Too High to Riot that was released on March 4, 2016. His third album, Milky Way, was released on August 24, 2018.
EarthGang is an American hip hop duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, composed of Atlanta-based rappers Olu and WowGr8. They are co-founders of the musical collective Spillage Village, with JID, Hollywood JB, JordxnBryant, 6LACK, Mereba, and Benji.
Luther Nicholson, better known by his stage name Lute, is an American rapper. He is signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records. He released his first mixtape, West1996, on February 22, 2012. His debut album, West1996 pt. 2, was released on September 29, 2017. His second album, Gold Mouf, was released on October 4, 2021.
Revenge of the Dreamers II is the second compilation album by American record label Dreamville Records and was released on December 8, 2015. The album includes contributions by Dreamville artists, J. Cole, Bas, Cozz, Omen, Lute, and Ari Lennox. Producers on this album include, J. Cole, Cedric Brown, K-Quick, Soundwave, Meez, Elite, Ron Gilmore Jr., DJ Grumble, and J Dilla.
Revenge of the Dreamers is the first compilation album by American record label Dreamville Records and was released on January 28, 2014. The album includes contributions by Dreamville artists, J. Cole, Bas, Omen, K-Quick as well as Treasure Davis. Producers on this album include, J. Cole, Omen, Ron Gilmore, Cedric Brown, K-Quick, and Jay Kurzweil. The project is the first in the series and spawned two sequels: Revenge of the Dreamers II (2015) and Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019).
Christopher Smith Jr., better known by his stage name Smino, is an American rapper and singer from St. Louis, Missouri. Smino is the founder of the musical collective Zero Fatigue with Bari, Monte Booker, Jay2, and Ravyn Lenae. He is a member of the hip-hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with JID, Buddy and Guapdad 4000. He is also one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Saba and Noname. Smino is signed to Downtown Records and Interscope.
Destin Choice Route, better known by his stage name JID, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He is part of the musical collective Spillage Village, founded by EarthGang in 2010, with Hollywood JB, JordxnBryant, and 6lack, among others. He is also signed to J. Cole's Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with Smino, Buddy and Guapdad 4000.
Mirrorland is the major label debut studio album by American hip hop duo EarthGang, released on September 6, 2019 by Dreamville, Interscope, and Spillage Village. The album includes features from Young Thug, T-Pain, Kehlani, Arin Ray, and Malik. The production of the album was handled by a variety of producers including Olu, J. Cole, Elite, Ron Gilmore, Christo, Bink, DJ Dahi, Childish Major and Groove, among others.
Revenge of the Dreamers III is the third compilation album by American record label Dreamville, released on July 5, 2019, by Dreamville and Interscope Records.
Spillage Village is an American musical collective from Atlanta, Georgia. The group is composed of rappers, singers and producers, and was founded by the members of EarthGang. Spillage Village was primarily made up of five initial members with a split-base in both Atlanta and Baltimore.
American rapper JID has released two studio albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays (EP), four mixtapes and fourteen singles.
"Down Bad" is a song by American record label Dreamville, featuring J. Cole, JID, Bas, EarthGang, and Young Nudy, released on June 12, 2019 alongside "Got Me" as the second single from Dreamville's 2019 compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III.
"Got Me" is a song by American record label Dreamville. It was released on June 12, 2019 along with "Down Bad" as the second singles from the Dreamville's compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III. The song features Ari Lennox, Omen, Ty Dolla Sign, and Dreezy.
"Costa Rica" is a single by American record label Dreamville, with Bas and JID, featuring Guapdad 4000, Reese Laflare, Jace, Mez, Smokepurpp, Buddy and Ski Mask the Slump God. It was released on July 1, 2019, along with "LamboTruck" as the third and fourth single from Dreamville's 2019 compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III.
Dreamville Presents: REVENGE is a documentary based on creation and recording of the compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III. It was released on July 2, 2019 by Dreamville, to YouTube.
"Under the Sun" is a song by record label Dreamville Records with American rappers J. Cole and Lute featuring DaBaby. It also has extra vocals from Kendrick Lamar, who raps the short two-lined chorus of the song. The song was released as the first track on the label's album, Revenge of the Dreamers III. DaBaby received praise for his guest verse, with Billboard,Complex and HotNewHipHop all ranking it as his best feature of 2019.
Akeem Ali Douglas Hayes, professionally known as Guapdad 4000, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter of Filipino and African-American descent. He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with JID, Smino and Buddy. He released his first mixtape Scamboy Color on December 6, 2017. His debut studio album Dior Deposits was released on October 25, 2019.
Ahmanti Booker, professionally known as Monte Booker is an American producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is part of the musical collective Zero Fatigue, and has worked with artists such as Smino, Ravyn Lenae, Noname, Saba, Mick Jenkins, Sango, Ari Lennox and JID, among others.