Amar is the debut studio album by American rapperBigXthaPlug, released on February 10, 2023 throughUnitedMasters. Named after the rapper's son,[1] it debuted at No. 4 onBillboard'sHeatseekers 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 andErica 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.
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. Hayley Tharp ofEarmilk 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".[5] Paul Simpson ofAllMusic 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".[2] Nadine Smith ofHipHopDX stated, "Armed with a gruff, booming vocal register, his debut albumAMAR exudes the kind of rich swagger and effortless charisma embodied by breakout Texas stars likeMaxo Kream".[3] Peter A. Berry ofPitchfork 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".[4]
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