| Evil Genius | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 7, 2018 | |||
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| Length | 50:38 | |||
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| Gucci Mane chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Evil Genius | ||||
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Evil Genius is the twelfthstudio album by American rapperGucci Mane. It was released on December 7, 2018, byAtlantic Records and GUWOP Enterprises.[1] The album featuresguest appearances fromQuavo,21 Savage,YoungBoy Never Broke Again,Kevin Gates,Bruno Mars,Kodak Black,Migos,Lil Yachty,Lil Skies, andLil Pump, while the production was handled bySouthside,Metro Boomin,Murda Beatz,Honorable C.N.O.T.E. andOG Parker, among others.[2]
The album is supported by threesingles: "Solitaire" featuringMigos andLil Yachty, "Kept Back" featuringLil Pump, and "Wake Up in the Sky" withBruno Mars andKodak Black. The album went gold on June 24, 2021.
Less than a week after releasing his mixtapeEl Gato: The Human Glacier, Gucci Mane announced his next studio album titled "The Evil Genius".[3]
During an interview withBillboard, 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 withZane Lowe, Gucci Mane revealed production fromMetro Boomin,Southside, andHonorable C.N.O.T.E. and guest appearances fromOffset,Quavo,21 Savage,Kevin Gates andYoungBoy 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]
The album'slead single, "Solitaire" featuringMigos andLil 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" featuringLil 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 modelKeyshia Ka'oir.
The third single "Wake Up in the Sky" withBruno Mars andKodak 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 theBillboard Hot 100. It is also his highest performing single on radio.
"I'm Not Goin'" featuringKevin Gates, was released as the first promotional single on November 15, 2018, along with the music video.[13]
"Bipolar" featuringQuavo, was released as the second promotional single on November 30, 2018.[14]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 78/100[15] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [16] |
| Consequence of Sound | C+[17] |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[18] |
| HipHopDX | 3.6/5[19] |
| NME | [20] |
| Pitchfork | 6.5/10[21] |
Evil Genius received generally positive reviews from critics. Evan Rytlewski ofPitchfork 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 ofUproxx 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]
Evil Genius debuted at number five on the USBillboard 200 chart, earning 51,000album-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]
Credits adapted fromTidal.[25]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Off the Boat" |
|
| 3:45 |
| 2. | "By Myself" |
|
| 2:54 |
| 3. | "BiPolar" (featuringQuavo) | 3:34 | ||
| 4. | "Just Like It" (featuring21 Savage) | 3:03 | ||
| 5. | "Cold Shoulder" (featuringYoungBoy Never Broke Again) |
| Earl on the Beat | 3:19 |
| 6. | "On God" |
| 2:06 | |
| 7. | "Father's Day" |
| 1:51 | |
| 8. | "Outta Proportion" |
| Quay Global | 2:24 |
| 9. | "Lost Y'all Mind" (featuring Quavo) |
| Spiffy Global | 2:35 |
| 10. | "I'm Not Goin'" (featuringKevin Gates) | 3:16 | ||
| 11. | "Wake Up in the Sky" (withBruno Mars andKodak Black) |
|
| 3:23 |
| 12. | "Solitaire" (featuringMigos andLil Yachty) |
| 2:16 | |
| 13. | "This the Night" |
|
| 2:48 |
| 14. | "Mad Russian" (featuringLil Skies) |
|
| 2:21 |
| 15. | "Hard Feelings" |
|
| 2:46 |
| 16. | "Lord" |
|
| 2:34 |
| 17. | "Money Callin" |
| Spiffy Global | 2:46 |
| 18. | "Kept Back" (featuringLil Pump (bonus track)) |
| Murda Beatz | 2:57 |
| Total length: | 50:38 | |||
Credits adapted from Tidal.[25]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[34] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
