The Beautiful & Damned | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | December 15, 2017 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 74:22 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
G-Eazy chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from The Beautiful & Damned | ||||
The Beautiful & Damned is the fifth studio album by American rapper G-Eazy. It was released on December 15, 2017, by RCA Records. [1] It features guest appearances from Halsey, Cardi B, ASAP Rocky, Kehlani, E-40 and Charlie Puth. [2] [3] The album was preceded by three singles: "No Limit", "Him & I" and "Sober". [3]
The album's cover art and release was released on November 8, 2017. [4] A short film accompanied its release date. The film was directed by Bobby Bruderle alongside G-Eazy, who co-wrote it and was released as an Apple Music exclusive. [2] [4] [5] It was later revealed that G-Eazy paid for the film himself, costing around $700,000. In an interview with Angie Martinez, he revealed the album's concept. [6]
"The concept of it is kinda split in half and it's two CDs, but for all intents and purposes its 20 songs, it's just a long album," he explained. "The concept of it is kinda like its about the lifestyle, 'The Beautiful and Damned'. Like being a kid, having the dream of doing this, starting from square one, from outside looking in from without having nothing -- to chasing this dream, and then all these years down the road of following this yellow brick road trying to get to where you're going, one day waking up and being like, 'Did it take me where I wanted to go?' This fantasy of, like, sex, drugs, & rock 'n' roll is kinda clichéd, but it's clichéd for a reason. It's dark."
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 59/100 [7] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
Consequence of Sound | D+ [9] |
The Guardian | [10] |
HipHopDX | 3.9/5 [11] |
Pitchfork | 5.1/10 [12] |
The Beautiful & Damned received generally mixed reviews from music critics, with a score on Metacritc of 59/100. [7] Neil Z. Young of AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars stating that, "With an inspired guest list and excellent production, The Beautiful & Damned is a satisfying artistic accomplishment that cautions as much as it seduces." [8] HipHopDX concluded; "Established formulas of pandering singles and assembly line choruses aside, The Beautiful & Damned possesses enough serious assertiveness and classic Bay area slick talk to get burn well into 2018.", giving the album 3.9 out of 5 stars. [11]
In a more mixed review, Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork Media gave the album a 5.1 out of 10, and said that, "There are no insights to be found here about prestige, depression, or dependency. The whole thing is unbelievably dour and boring." [12] Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian gave the album 2 out of 4 stars, and disapproved of the album's themes, stating in her conclusion, that, "His take on rap’s current go-to themes of drug dependency, joyless sex and the double-edged sword of success feels stale and smug." [10]
In a negative review, Wren Graves of Consequence of Sound shared a similar sentiment, and gave the album a D+, stating "There’s no interruption, no welcome silence between discs one and discs two. No, just 20 songs, a brutal slog of stacks and condoms and stacks and condoms and occasionally a disembodied ass without any other parts of a woman sighted." [9]
The Beautiful & Damned debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with 122,000 album-equivalent units, of which 68,000 were pure album sales. [13] It is G-Eazy's third US top 10 album. [13] In its second week, the album dropped to number eight on the chart, earning an additional 50,000 album-equivalent units. [14] In its third week, the album climbed to number four on the chart, selling 42,000 more album-equivalent units. [15] In its fourth week, the album climbed to number three on the chart, selling 38,000 units, bringing its four-week total to 252,000 album-equivalent units. [15] On January 31, 2019, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a million units in the United States. [16]
Credits adapted from Tidal. [17]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Beautiful & Damned" (featuring Zoe Nash) |
| Dakari | 3:09 |
2. | "Pray for Me" |
| 3:27 | |
3. | "Him & I" (with Halsey) |
| The Futuristics | 4:28 |
4. | "But a Dream" |
|
| 3:26 |
5. | "Sober" (featuring Charlie Puth) |
|
| 3:23 |
6. | "Legend" |
| 3:25 | |
7. | "No Limit" (featuring ASAP Rocky and Cardi B) |
|
| 4:05 |
8. | "The Plan" |
| Dakari | 4:10 |
9. | "That's a Lot" |
| J Gramm | 3:34 |
10. | "Pick Me Up" (featuring Anna of the North) |
|
| 3:47 |
11. | "Gotdamn" |
|
| 2:52 |
12. | "Leviathan" (featuring Sam Martin) |
|
| 3:47 |
13. | "Crash & Burn" (featuring Kehlani) |
| 3:00 | |
14. | "Summer in December" |
|
| 3:06 |
15. | "Charles Brown" (featuring E-40 and Jay Ant) |
|
| 4:48 |
16. | "No Less" (with SG Lewis and Louis Mattrs) |
| SG Lewis | 4:10 |
17. | "Mama Always Told Me" (featuring Madison Love) |
|
| 3:11 |
18. | "Fly Away" (featuring Ugochi) |
| Dakari | 3:31 |
19. | "Love is Gone" (featuring Drew Love) |
|
| 3:54 |
20. | "Eazy" (featuring Son Lux) |
|
| 5:09 |
Total length: | 74:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
21. | "Boss Tycoon" (featuring Kossisko and Slimmy B) |
|
| 3:34 |
22. | "Love You Like I Do" (featuring Rittybo) |
|
| 3:54 |
Total length: | 81:50 |
Track notes
Credits adapted from Tidal. [17]
Performers
Technical
| Production
|
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [38] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [39] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
France (SNEP) [40] | Gold | 50,000‡ |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [41] | Platinum | 20,000* |
Poland (ZPAV) [42] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [43] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Gerald Earl Gillum, better known by his stage name G-Eazy, is an American rapper, record producer and actor. Based in Oakland, California, he began his career in 2006 and released two independent studio albums until signing with RCA Records to release his third album and major label debut, These Things Happen (2014). It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and spawned the single "I Mean It", which received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
Samuel Denison Martin is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. His song "Want to Want Me" holds the record for the most adds in the American contemporary hit radio history.
When It's Dark Out is the fourth studio album by American rapper G-Eazy. It was released on December 4, 2015, by RCA Records. The album features guest appearances from Big Sean, Chris Brown, Tory Lanez, Too $hort, Yo Gotti, Lil Wayne, Kehlani, Rick Ross, E-40 and Keyshia Cole. The production was provided by OZ, DJ Spinz, Boi-1da and Southside.
"Me, Myself & I" is a song by American rapper G-Eazy and American singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha. It was released on October 14, 2015, as the lead single for his second studio album When It's Dark Out. The song was written by the two artists alongside Lauren Christy; originally produced by Rexha and TMS, it was re-produced by Michael Keenan with additional production by Christoph Andersson and G-Eazy. It was both artists' highest-peaking single, until Rexha's song "Meant to Be" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, and G-Eazy's song "No Limit" peaked at number four. It is also featured in the NBA 2K17 soundtrack.
I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It is the second studio album by English band the 1975, released on 26 February 2016 through Dirty Hit and Polydor. In 2014, frontman Matty Healy released a series of cryptic tweets containing lyrics from the album, revealing its title the following year. After their social accounts were deleted and reinstated with a new visual identity, the band officially confirmed the album in September 2015, a month before "Love Me" was released as the lead single. Over the course of five months, "UGH!", "Somebody Else" and "The Sound" were released as singles, with "A Change of Heart" released four days prior to release. "She's American" and "Loving Someone" were later released in November 2016 and February 2017 as the final singles.
American rapper G-Eazy has released seven studio albums, one compilation album, six mixtapes, nine extended plays and 73 singles.
Stoney is the debut studio album by American singer Post Malone. It was released on December 13, 2016, by Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from Justin Bieber, Kehlani, and Quavo. The deluxe edition was released on the same day. It features an additional guest appearance from 2 Chainz. The production on the album was handled by Malone himself, Mustard, Metro Boomin, Vinylz, Frank Dukes, Illangelo, Charlie Handsome, Rex Kudo, Foreign Teck, and Pharrell Williams, among others. Malone generally sing-raps on the album, which is noted for its woozy, contemporary R&B-hip hop production. The album also features influence from country and outlaw country music.
Damn is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, released on April 14, 2017, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Lamar assembled numerous artists and producers to produce the album, including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Mike Will Made It, and Ricci Riera, as well as further production contributions from James Blake, Steve Lacy, BadBadNotGood, Greg Kurstin, the Alchemist, and 9th Wonder, among others. It features guest appearances from Rihanna, Zacari, and U2.
"Him & I" is a song recorded by American rapper G-Eazy and American singer Halsey. The song was released via RCA Records on November 30, 2017, as the second single from the former's third studio album The Beautiful & Damned. It was written alongside Edgar Machuca, Jim Lavigne, Dakarai Gwitira, Madison Love, and production duo The Futuristics. The single reached the top 20 of the charts in the United States, Australia, Canada as well as multiple other countries.
"No Limit" is a song by American rapper G-Eazy featuring fellow American rappers A$AP Rocky and Cardi B. It was written by the artists, Edgar Machuca, Klenord Raphael, Earlly Mac, Pardison Fontaine, and producers Allen Ritter and Boi-1da. The song was released through RCA Records on September 8, 2017, as the lead single from G-Eazy's third studio album, The Beautiful & Damned (2017).
Without Warning is a collaborative studio album by British-American rapper 21 Savage, American rapper Offset, and American record producer Metro Boomin. The album was released on October 31, 2017, by Slaughter Gang, Epic Records, Capitol Records, Motown, Quality Control Music, Boominati Worldwide, and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Travis Scott and Quavo. Meanwhile, the album's production was handled primarily by Metro Boomin, alongside Bijan Amir, Cubeatz, Dre Moon, and Southside. Without Warning peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200, and received generally positive reviews from critics.
"Sober" is a song by American rapper G-Eazy, featuring vocals from American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth. It was released via RCA Records on December 8, 2017, as the third single from G-Eazy's third studio album, The Beautiful & Damned. Puth produced the song with Dakari and the Futuristics, and they wrote the song with G-Eazy alongside Matt Dragstrem and Edgar Machuca.
? is the second studio album by American rapper XXXTentacion and his last studio album to be released before his death. It was released through Bad Vibes Forever, Caroline Distribution, and Capitol Music Group on March 16, 2018, and primarily produced by frequent collaborator John Cunningham, it includes a wide range of guest appearances from PnB Rock, Travis Barker of Blink-182, Joey Badass, Matt Ox, Rio Santana, Judah, and Carlos Andrez, and also succeeds the release of his debut studio album 17 (2017) and the extended play A Ghetto Christmas Carol (2017).
Cosmic is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Bazzi, released on April 12, 2018 through Bazzi's imprint, iamcosmic, and Atlantic.
Goodbye & Good Riddance is the debut studio album by American rapper Juice Wrld. It was released on May 23, 2018, by Grade A Productions and Interscope Records. Production was primarily handled by Nick Mira alongside several other record producers, including Benny Blanco, Cardo, CBMix, Don Rob, Dre Moon, Ghost Loft, and Mitch Mula.
Championships is the fourth studio album by American rapper Meek Mill. It was released on November 30, 2018, by Atlantic Records and Maybach Music Group. The album features guest appearances from Fabolous, Anuel AA, Cardi B, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Future, Roddy Ricch, Young Thug, Drake, Kodak Black, Ella Mai, 21 Savage, Melii, Jeremih, and PnB Rock. Meanwhile, production was handled by Bangladesh, Cardo, Cubeatz, C-Sick, Don Cannon, Hit-Boy, Hitmaka, Prince Chrishan, Tay Keith, and Wheezy, among others. It was supported by the singles "Dangerous" "Going Bad", and "24/7".
Dying to Live is the second studio album by American rapper Kodak Black. It was released on December 14, 2018, via Atlantic Records. It follows his Heart Break Kodak mixtape, released earlier in 2018, as well as his previous mixtape, Project Baby 2: All Grown Up, the deluxe edition of his mixtape Project Baby 2, released in 2017. The album features guest appearances from Lil Pump, Travis Scott, Offset and Juice Wrld.
Street Gossip is a commercial mixtape by American rapper Lil Baby. It was released on November 30, 2018, by Quality Control Music, Motown, Capitol Records and Wolfpack Music Group. It features guest appearances from Meek Mill, Gunna, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Rylo Rodriguez, Offset, Young Thug, and NoCap.
4Real 4Real is the fourth studio album by American rapper YG, released on May 24, 2019 by 4Hunnid Records and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from G-Eazy, DaBaby, Tyga, Meek Mill, Ty Dolla $ign, and Nipsey Hussle, among others.
Legendary is the seventh studio album by American rapper Tyga, released on June 7, 2019, by Last Kings Records and Empire Distribution. It follows the release of his sixth album Kyoto (2018). It includes the singles "Taste" featuring Offset, "Goddamn", and "Haute" featuring Chris Brown and J Balvin. A deluxe version of the album was released on August 23, 2019. It features four previously released singles: "Dip" with Nicki Minaj, "Girls Have Fun" featuring G-Eazy and Rich the Kid, "Swish" and "Floss in the Bank", as well as four new songs.