Evil Genius (album)

For the Mr Eazi album, see The Evil Genius (Mr Eazi album).
Evil Genius
Studio album by
Gucci Mane
ReleasedDecember 7, 2018
Genre
Length50:38
Label
Producer
Gucci Mane chronology
El Gato: The Human Glacier
(2017) 		Evil Genius
(2018) 		Delusions of Grandeur
(2019)
Singles from Evil Genius
  1. "Solitaire"
    Released: March 2, 2018
  2. "Kept Back"
    Released: August 9, 2018
  3. "Wake Up in the Sky"
    Released: September 14, 2018

Evil Genius is the twelfth studio album by American rapper Gucci Mane. It was released on December 7, 2018, by Atlantic Records and GUWOP Enterprises.[1] The album features guest appearances from Quavo, 21 Savage, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Kevin Gates, Bruno Mars, Kodak Black, Migos, Lil Yachty, Lil Skies, and Lil Pump, while the production was handled by Southside, Metro Boomin, Murda Beatz, Honorable C.N.O.T.E. and OG Parker, among others.[2]

The album is supported by three singles: "Solitaire" featuring Migos and Lil Yachty, "Kept Back" featuring Lil Pump, and "Wake Up in the Sky" with Bruno Mars and Kodak Black. The album went gold on June 24, 2021.

Background

[edit]

Less than a week after releasing his mixtape El Gato: The Human Glacier, Gucci Mane announced his next studio album titled "The Evil Genius".[3]

During an interview with Billboard, Gucci Mane spoke about the progress of album:

I've been really working on the songs. You know, I just don't put out anything. So I'm trying to make this project one of my best projects ever. I'm really trying to collaborate with the best producers and make sure I give my fans something that they can be like, 'Ok, Gucci still coming hard. He still passionate about the music.[4]

In an interview with Zane Lowe, Gucci Mane revealed production from Metro Boomin, Southside, and Honorable C.N.O.T.E. and guest appearances from Offset, Quavo, 21 Savage, Kevin Gates and YoungBoy Never Broke Again.[5]

On November 6, 2018, the album's release date was announced, alongside the revealing of the tracklist.[6]

On November 27, 2018, the cover art was revealed via Instagram, with a short album teaser on Twitter.[7]

Promotion

[edit]

The album's lead single, "Solitaire" featuring Migos and Lil Yachty, was released on March 2, 2018.[8] The music video was released on May 22, 2018.[9]

Followed by the second single, bonus track "Kept Back" featuring Lil Pump was released on August 9, 2018.[10] The official music video was released on October 17, 2018 for Mane’s “National 1017 Day” to celebrate the day in 2017 he married Jamaican model Keyshia Ka'oir.

The third single "Wake Up in the Sky" with Bruno Mars and Kodak Black was released on September 14, 2018.[11] The music video was released on October 31, 2018.[12] The single is tied for Gucci Mane's highest charting single to date, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also his highest performing single on radio.

"I'm Not Goin'" featuring Kevin Gates, was released as the first promotional single on November 15, 2018, along with the music video.[13]

"Bipolar" featuring Quavo, was released as the second promotional single on November 30, 2018.[14]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic78/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Consequence of SoundC+[17]
Exclaim!8/10[18]
HipHopDX3.6/5[19]
NME[20]
Pitchfork6.5/10[21]

Evil Genius received generally positive reviews from critics. Evan Rytlewski of Pitchfork generally praised the album, giving it a 6.5 out of 10, but noted that although "it's one of his most considered and carefully curated projects, Gucci plays it uncharacteristically safe for most of it."[22] Aaron Williams of Uproxx praised Gucci's effort, saying that "On his latest project, Gucci Mane may not break much new ground, but he's reached the point in his career where he doesn't really need to, because he already has."[23]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Evil Genius debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 51,000 album-equivalent units (with 5,000 in traditional album sales) in its first week, becoming Gucci Mane's fifth top-ten album on the chart.[24]

Track listing

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[25]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Off the Boat"
3:45
2."By Myself"
  • Davis
  • Massey
  • Marii Beatz
  • Bone The Producer
2:54
3."BiPolar" (featuring Quavo)
3:34
4."Just Like It" (featuring 21 Savage)
3:03
5."Cold Shoulder" (featuring YoungBoy Never Broke Again)
Earl on the Beat3:19
6."On God"
2:06
7."Father's Day"
1:51
8."Outta Proportion"
  • Davis
  • Chris Rosser
Quay Global2:24
9."Lost Y'all Mind" (featuring Quavo)
  • Davis
  • Marshall
  • Courtland Johnson
Spiffy Global2:35
10."I'm Not Goin'" (featuring Kevin Gates)
3:16
11."Wake Up in the Sky" (with Bruno Mars and Kodak Black)
3:23
12."Solitaire" (featuring Migos and Lil Yachty)
2:16
13."This the Night"
  • Davis
  • Luellen
  • Robert Curti
  • Southside
  • Swede
2:48
14."Mad Russian" (featuring Lil Skies)
  • Murda Beatz
  • Rex Kudo
2:21
15."Hard Feelings"
2:46
16."Lord"
  • Davis
  • Luellen
  • Avery
  • Martinez
  • Southside
  • DY
2:34
17."Money Callin"
  • Davis
  • Johnson
Spiffy Global2:46
18."Kept Back" (featuring Lil Pump (bonus track))
Murda Beatz2:57
Total length:50:38

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[25]

  • Eddie "eMIX" Hernandez – mixing (tracks 7, 15)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing (track 11)
  • Kori Anders – mixing (track 12)
  • Colin Leonard – mastering (tracks 7, 12, 15)

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[34] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lamarre, Carl (November 6, 2018). "Gucci Mane Shares Release Date and Track List For 'Evil Genius'". Billboard.
  2. ^ Zidel, Alex (November 6, 2018). "Gucci Mane Teases "Evil Genius" Tracklist With Quavo, 21 Savage, & More". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  3. ^ A., Aron (December 28, 2017). "Gucci Mane Announces New Album "The Evil Genius"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  4. ^ A., Aron (June 27, 2018). "Gucci Mane Says He Trying To Make "Evil Genius" One Of His Best Project Ever". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  5. ^ Findlay, Mitch (August 9, 2018). "Gucci Mane Shares Stacked "Evil Genius" Features". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  6. ^ Zidel, Alex (November 6, 2018). "Gucci Mane Reveals Release Date For "Evil Genius"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  7. ^ A., Aron (November 27, 2018). "Gucci Mane Shares Album Teaser & Cover Art For "Evil Genius"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  8. ^ Goddard, Kevin (March 1, 2018). "Gucci Mane Teams Up With Migos & Lil Yachty On "Solitaire"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  9. ^ A., Aron (May 22, 2018). "Gucci Mane, Migos & Lil Yachty Get Iced Out For "Solitaire" Music Video". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  10. ^ "Gucci Mane lets loose new song "Kept Back" featuring Lil Pump: Stream". Consequence of Sound. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  11. ^ Goddard, Kevin (September 14, 2018). "Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars & Kodak Black Team Up For New Song "Wake Up In The Sky"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  12. ^ Zidel, Alex (October 31, 2018). "Gucci Mane, Kodak Black & Bruno Mars Are Vintage Soul Stars In "Wake Up In The Sky"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  13. ^ Cowen, Trace William (November 15, 2018). "Gucci Mane Ushers in a Harsh Freeze With Kevin Gates Collab "I'm Not Goin"". Complex. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  14. ^ Legaspi, Althea (November 30, 2018). "Gucci Mane, Quavo Trade Verses on Opulent Lifestyles in 'Bipolar'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  15. ^ "Gucci Mane – Evil Genius – Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  16. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Evil Genius – Gucci Mane". AllMusic. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  17. ^ "Gucci Mane's Evil Genius Disappoints with Lack of Musical Alchemy". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  18. ^ Tomlinson, Clayton (11 December 2018). "Gucci Mane-Evil Genius". Exclaim!. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  19. ^ Spielberger, Daniel (18 December 2018). "Review: Gucci Mane's Overstuffed "Evil Genius" Still Has Glimmers Of Excellence". HipHopDX. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Gucci Mane – 'Evil Genius' review". NME. December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  21. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (December 11, 2018). "Gucci Mane : Evil Genius". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  22. ^ Rytlewski, Evan (December 11, 2018). "Gucci Mane - Evil Genius". Pitchfork.
  23. ^ Williams, Aaron (December 10, 2018). "Gucci Mane Sounds As Comfortable As Ever On The Effortless 'Evil Genius'". Uproxx.
  24. ^ "XXXTentacion's 'Skins' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". December 17, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  25. ^ a b "Evil Genius / Gucci Mane – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  26. ^ "Ultratop.be – Gucci Mane – Evil Genius" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  27. ^ "Gucci Mane Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Gucci Mane – Evil Genius" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  29. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 50, 2018)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  30. ^ "Gucci Mane Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  31. ^ "Gucci Mane Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  32. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  33. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  34. ^ "American album certifications – Gucci Mane – Evil Genius". Recording Industry Association of America. October 12, 2023.
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