| Big Grams | ||||
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| EP by Big Grams (Big Boi &Phantogram) | ||||
| Released | September 25, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2015 | |||
| Genre | Experimental hip hop | |||
| Length | 26:35 | |||
| Label | Epic Records | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Big Boi chronology | ||||
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| Phantogram chronology | ||||
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Big Grams is the self-titled debutEP by American hip hop trio Big Grams, which consists ofrapperBig Boi andelectronic rock duoPhantogram. The EP was released on September 25, 2015, byEpic Records.[1][2]
In December 2010,Big Boi, one half of famed hip hop duoOutkast, accidentally discoveredPhantogram, an electronic rock duo consisting of Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, when hearing their single "Mouthful of Diamonds" in a pop-up ad. Big Boi shared the song on his website as the "Jam of the Week". Barthel saw the post and contacted Big Boi, which led to future collaborations. Big Boi's 2012 studio albumVicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, included three tracks featuring Phantogram: "Objectum Sexuality", "CPU" and "Lines", and in an interview days before its December 11 release, Big Boi revealed that he and Phantogram were planning to record a "one-off EP type of thing" titledBig Grams.[3]
Carter described the project's sound as "sort of" "psyched-out hip-hop". Barthel and Big Boi provided sung vocals and rapped vocals respectively, while Carter only occasionally provided vocals and was the project's primary producer.[4]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 61/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Consequence of Sound | B[7] |
| The Guardian | [8] |
| HipHopDX | [9] |
| Pitchfork | 6.4/10[10] |
| Rolling Stone | [11] |
| RapReviews.com | 6.5/10[12] |
Big Grams received generally mixed reviews frommusic critics. AtMetacritic, which assigns anormalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received anaverage score of 61 based on 8 reviews, which indicates "generally positive reviews".[5] David Jeffries ofAllMusic said, "The MC's copious sex talk makes Phantogram seem like Catherine Deneuve and Bowie inThe Hunger, a stoic and sexy duo who let others to do the "dirty work," and just like those vampires, this EP dazzles and then disappears before the sun comes up, leaving listeners with the exhilarating feeling of "wow," and the less-pleasing feeling of "what happened?"[6] Lyndsey Havens ofConsequence of Sound said, "ThroughoutBig Grams, Big Boi, Carter, and Barthel demonstrate their ability and willingness to take risks, even if some don't work as well as others ("Goldmine Junkie" features Barthel's futile attempt at rapping). But the downfalls of the LP are more or less overshadowed by the gambles that do pay off. And the biggest gamble of all? Tossing any and all expectations out the window."[7] David Turner ofRolling Stone stated, "Even guest turns from Run the Jewels and Skrillex can't add enough energy to makeBig Grams feel like anything more than an attempt at landing a better festival slot."[11] Sheldon Pearce ofHipHopDX said, "There's no creative expansion, just two acts trying to exist in their own worlds simultaneously instead of finding a new and interesting middle ground. Mixing classic Big Boi verses over old Phantogram songs would've probably been just as effective."[9]
The album debuted at number 38 on theBillboard 200, selling 9,626 copies in the United States;[13] "Lights On" reached No. 30 on theBillboard Alternative Songs chart.[14]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Run for Your Life" | Phantogram | 3:56 |
| 2. | "Lights On" | Phantogram | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Fell in the Sun" | Phantogram | 3:47 |
| 4. | "Put It on Her" | 9th Wonder | 2:51 |
| 5. | "Goldmine Junkie" | Phantogram | 3:42 |
| 6. | "Born to Shine" (featuringRun the Jewels) | Phantogram | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Drum Machine" (featuringSkrillex) | Skrillex | 3:47 |
| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard 200[15] | 38 |
| USTop Rap Albums (Billboard)[16] | 5 |
| USTop Alternative Albums (Billboard)[17] | 9 |
