| Rich Gang | ||||
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| Released | July 23, 2013 | |||
| Genre | Hip-hop | |||
| Length | 53:51 | |||
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| Rich Gang chronology | ||||
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| Young Money Entertainment chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rich Gang | ||||
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Rich Gang is the debut album by the AmericansupergroupRich Gang. The album was released July 23, 2013, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records andRepublic Records. The album contains contributions from several YMCMB members, includingBirdman,Lil Wayne,Nicki Minaj,Tyga,Mack Maine,Limp Bizkit,Bow Wow,Ace Hood,Jae Millz,Cory Gunz,Gudda Gudda,Caskey,Detail,Busta Rhymes andMystikal. The album also featuresguest appearances from artists outside the labels, includingFuture,Meek Mill,French Montana,T.I.,Yo Gotti,Flo Rida,Chris Brown,Rick Ross,the Game,Kendrick Lamar, andR. Kelly.Rich Gang was supported by the three singles: "Tapout" (featuring Future), which peaked at number 45 on theBillboard Hot 100, along with "We Been On" (featuring R. Kelly) and "50 Plates" (performed by Rick Ross).
The album received generally mixed to unfavorable reviews from music critics, and sold 40,000 copies in the US after three weeks.
On February 16, 2013,Birdman released amixtape titledRich Gang: All Stars, in promotion of the album. It featured 24 tracks and appearances fromTyga,Jae Millz,Meek Mill,Mack Maine,Busta Rhymes andMystikal among others. The mixtape featured various YMCMB singles such as Drake's "Started From the Bottom", Tyga's "Dope", Ace Hood's "Bugatti", Lil Wayne's "Love Me" and "Rich As Fuck".[1]
On February 18, 2013, it was announced thatYoung Money Entertainment andCash Money Records would be releasing an album under the nameRich Gang, titledRich Gang: Flashy Lifestyle on May 21, 2013.[2] On May 5, 2013, it was announced that the album would be pushed back until June 25, 2013.[3] In May 2013, during an interview withMTV News,Birdman said even though the project would be released on Cash Money Records, it would feature music from non-YMCMB stars as well, stating: "We have other artists likeFuture, who is not signed to us but a part of us.French Montana,Rick Ross,Meek Mill and all these [guys] are friends that we rock with and call on. A lot of business we do don't necessarily have to be about money, it's about relationships and this is about people that we have relationships with."[4] On June 10, 2013, the album cover was released and it was pushed back again until July 23, 2013.[5]
It was reported that the album would contain appearances by YMCMB membersLil Wayne,Drake,Nicki Minaj,Mack Maine,Tyga,Bow Wow,Limp Bizkit,Kevin Rudolf,Jae Millz,Gudda Gudda,Caskey,Busta Rhymes, andMystikal. Artists outside of the record label that were reported to be working on the album included Future, French Montana,T.I.,2 Chainz and Meek Mill in June 2013.[6] The final track list revealed additional features fromRick Ross,Chris Brown,Yo Gotti,Game,Kendrick Lamar, andR. Kelly.[7] Notably Drake was the only artist from YMCMB announced to be on the album, yet not to appear. Birdman addressed this withMTV saying, "Drake was recording out the country and also he wants to "hold on" for the upcomingBig Tymers album.[8]
On June 10, 2013,Cash Money Records released a press release announcing the album's release date, saying: "Without a doubt, this album is one of the best group albums to date. I guarantee that it will be in rotation on every club, at every party and coming out of the speakers of every car, " saidRonald "Slim" Williams, co-founder of Cash Money Records. Slim's brother and partner Bryan "Birdman" Williams, added, "YMCMB is a family, and this album is an example of our bond. We are thrilled to come together, partner with some of our closest friends and create something special for our fans. Think of it as an audio present, from our family, to yours."[9]
On March 19, 2013, the first officialsingle from the album, titled "Tapout", featuringLil Wayne,Birdman,Mack Maine,Nicki Minaj and Future, was premiered.[10] Minaj confirmed amusic video shoot on March 11, 2013, but it was unknown for what song.[11] Birdman confirmed on his Twitter that the video shoot was for "Tapout".[12] The video was released on May 5, 2013 and featurescameo appearances fromKimora Lee Simmons,DJ Khaled,Bow Wow,Paris Hilton andChristina Milian.[13] The song has since peaked at No. 45 on theBillboard Hot 100.[14]
On July 16, 2013, the second and third singles "We Been On" featuringR. Kelly, Birdman and Lil Wayne, and "50 Plates" featuringRick Ross were released.[15][16] On August 30, 2013, the music video was released for "50 Plates" featuring cameos from Birdman,Ace Hood,Caskey andFred Durst.[17] Then on September 3, 2013, the music video for the R. Kelly featuring "We Been On" was premiered on106 & Park.[18]
On March 5, 2013, the firstpromotional single from the album, titled "Fly Rich", featuring Stevie J,Future,Tyga,Meek Mill andMystikal, was released.[19] In mid-July 2013 the second promotional single "100 Favors" featuringDetail, Birdman andKendrick Lamar was released along with the pre-order for the album on iTunes.[20] On July 22, 2013, the music video for "Dreams Come True" featuringYo Gotti, Ace Hood, Mack Maine and Birdman premiered on106 & Park.[21] On August 19, 2013, the music video was released for "Million Dollar" featuring Detail and Future.[22] On December 12, 2013, the music video for "100 Favors" featuring Birdman, Detail andKendrick Lamar was released.[23]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 47/100[24] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [25] |
| Artistdirect | [26] |
| Exclaim! | 3/10[27] |
| HipHopDX | [28] |
| Rolling Stone | [29] |
| XXL | (L)[30] |
Rich Gang was met with mixed reviews frommusic critics. AtMetacritic, which assigns anormalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received anaverage score of 47, which indicates "mixed or average reviews" based on 6 reviews.[24] Jon Dolan ofRolling Stone gave the album two out of five stars, saying "On this celebratory all-star compilation, Nicki and Weezy (but not Drizzy) are joined by CMYM bench contributors (Cory Gunz, Limp Bizkit, Ace Hood, Mack Maine, Tyga) and non-label heavies (Flo Rida, Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, R. Kelly and Chris Brown) for a crowded disc of Maybach waxing and club banging. Lamar drops a marvelously bendy verse on "100 Flavors" and hungry old-timers Mystikal and Busta Rhymes do some gonzo barking on the slippery yacht-rock jam "Everyday." Mostly, though, it's like a crowded party where you don't really get to talk to anyone as long as you'd like."[29] Chris Dart ofExclaim! gave the album a three out of ten, saying "The scientists at Young Money/Cash Money labs deserve to be congratulated for finally managing to synthesize a safe, rap-based alternative to Ambien. At least, that's what it sounds like they were attempting when they recorded this incredibly boring "super-group" album. It features a large chunk of the YMCMB roster, but almost none of them sound like they want to be there. All the songs onRich Gang bleed into one another; they all have the same slow-to-mid tempo, overproduced, synth-heavy beats; and almost all the rappers sleepwalk through their verses."[27] Dan Rys ofXXL gave the album an L, saying "Rich Gang is not especially lyrical, but that's not really a shocker; its strengths lie more in its hooks and club appeal, and it's fully stocked with tracks that demand to be played at ear-shattering and floor-shaking volumes. It's another all-around solid chapter in the Cash Money canon."[30]
David Jeffries ofAllMusic gave the album two and half stars out of five, saying "One begins to wonder ifRich Gang the album is simply a scrapped solo album from the label boss, one that was retooled and retitled, then hyped up to look like a Cash Money celebration piece. After all, Young Money superstar Drake is MIA, as is both the usual quality control and Cash Money sense of purpose. Fanatics only; everyone else can grab the singles."[25] Edwin Ortiz ofHipHopDX gave the album two and half stars out of five, saying "Rich Gang has its moments, but ultimately does little to establish what is truly compelling of Birdman's latest signees, as well the executive's own place in the Rap game. At best, this is a lateral move from their 2009 releaseWe Are Young Money—which isn't a great indication that their collaborative efforts are progressing. There's no doubt that this project will have traction with some listeners, but that will based on the names involved and not the quality control (or lack thereof) presented."[28]
The album debuted at number 9 on theBillboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 24,000 copies in the United States.[31] In its second week the album sold 9,600 more copies.[32] In its third week the album sold 6,400 more copies bringing its total album sales to 40,000.[33]
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[34]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "R.G. (Intro)" (Birdman featuringMystikal) |
| 2:53 | |
| 2. | "Million Dollar" (Birdman featuringDetail andFuture) | Detail | 2:27 | |
| 3. | "Tapout" (Birdman featuringLil Wayne.Mack Maine,Nicki Minaj and Future) | 4:35 | ||
| 4. | "We Been On" (Birdman featuringR. Kelly and Lil Wayne) |
| 5:32 | |
| 5. | "Dreams Come True" (Birdman featuringYo Gotti,Ace Hood and Mack Maine) |
| Nonstop Da Hitman | 4:39 |
| 6. | "50 Plates" (Birdman featuringRick Ross) |
|
| 3:26 |
| 7. | "Bigger Than Life" (Birdman featuringChris Brown,Tyga and Lil Wayne) |
|
| 4:43 |
| 8. | "100 Favors" (Birdman featuring Detail,Kendrick Lamar) |
| Detail | 4:08 |
| 9. | "Everyday" (Birdman featuringCory Gunz, Mystikal andBusta Rhymes) |
| I.N.F.O. | 4:13 |
| 10. | "Burn the House" (Birdman featuring Detail) |
| Detail | 4:25 |
| 11. | "Panties to the Side" (Birdman featuringFrench Montana, Tyga,Bow Wow andGudda Gudda) |
| The Runners | 4:21 |
| 12. | "Angel" (Birdman featuring Mystikal,Jae Millz, Ace Hood, Gudda Gudda and Mack Maine) |
| soFLY & Nius | 4:10 |
| 13. | "Sunshine" (Birdman featuringLimp Bizkit,Flo Rida andCaskey) |
| Detail | 4:07 |
| Total length: | 53:51 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Have It Your Way" (Birdman featuringT.I. and Lil Wayne) |
| Kane Beatz | 4:23 |
| 15. | "Paint Tha Town" (Birdman featuringGame and Lil Wayne) |
| I.N.F.O. | 5:14 |
| 16. | "Fly Rich" (Birdman featuring Stevie J, Future, Tyga,Meek Mill and Mystikal) |
| S-X | 4:35 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Here We Are" (Birdman featuringKevin Rudolf, Limp Bizkit and Lil Wayne) |
| Kevin Rudolf | 3:43 |
| 18. | "Savage" (Birdman featuring Jae Millz and T. Rone) |
| MGEEZY | 4:52 |
Notes
Credits adapted fromAllMusic.[36]
Weekly charts[edit]
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