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The Beautiful & Damned (album)

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The Beautiful & Damned
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 15, 2017 (2017-12-15)
GenreHip hop
Length74:22
Label
Producer
G-Eazy chronology
When It's Dark Out
(2015)
The Beautiful & Damned
(2017)
Everything's Strange Here
(2020)
Singles from The Beautiful & Damned
  1. "No Limit"
    Released: September 8, 2017
  2. "Him & I"
    Released: November 30, 2017
  3. "Sober"
    Released: December 8, 2017

The Beautiful & Damned is the fifth studio album by American rapper G-Eazy. It was released on December 15, 2017, by RCA Records.[1] It features guest appearances from Halsey, Cardi B, ASAP Rocky, Kehlani, E-40 and Charlie Puth.[2][3] The album was preceded by three singles: "No Limit", "Him & I" and "Sober".[3]

Background

[edit]

The album's cover art and release was released on November 8, 2017.[4] A short film accompanied its release date. The film was directed by Bobby Bruderle alongside G-Eazy, who co-wrote it and was released as an Apple Music exclusive.[2][4][5] It was later revealed that G-Eazy paid for the film himself, costing around $700,000. In an interview with Angie Martinez, he revealed the album's concept.[6]

"The concept of it is kinda split in half and it's two CDs, but for all intents and purposes its 20 songs, it's just a long album," he explained. "The concept of it is kinda like its about the lifestyle, 'The Beautiful and Damned'. Like being a kid, having the dream of doing this, starting from square one, from outside looking in from without having nothing -- to chasing this dream, and then all these years down the road of following this yellow brick road trying to get to where you're going, one day waking up and being like, 'Did it take me where I wanted to go?' This fantasy of, like, sex, drugs, & rock 'n' roll is kinda clichéd, but it's clichéd for a reason. It's dark."

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic59/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Consequence of SoundD+[8]
The Guardian[10]
HipHopDX3.9/5[11]
Pitchfork5.1/10[12]

The Beautiful & Damned received generally mixed reviews from music critics, with a score on Metacritc of 59/100.[9] Neil Z. Young of AllMusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars stating that, "With an inspired guest list and excellent production, The Beautiful & Damned is a satisfying artistic accomplishment that cautions as much as it seduces."[7] HipHopDX concluded; "Established formulas of pandering singles and assembly line choruses aside, The Beautiful & Damned possesses enough serious assertiveness and classic Bay area slick talk to get burn well into 2018.", giving the album 3.9 out of 5 stars.[11]

In a more mixed review, Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork Media gave the album a 5.1 out of 10, and said that, "There are no insights to be found here about prestige, depression, or dependency. The whole thing is unbelievably dour and boring."[12] Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian gave the album 2 out of 4 stars, and disapproved of the album's themes, stating in her conclusion, that, "His take on rap’s current go-to themes of drug dependency, joyless sex and the double-edged sword of success feels stale and smug."[10]

In a negative review, Wren Graves of Consequence of Sound shared a similar sentiment, and gave the album a D+, stating "There’s no interruption, no welcome silence between discs one and discs two. No, just 20 songs, a brutal slog of stacks and condoms and stacks and condoms and occasionally a disembodied ass without any other parts of a woman sighted."[8]

Commercial performance

[edit]

The Beautiful & Damned debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with 122,000 album-equivalent units, of which 68,000 were pure album sales.[13] It is G-Eazy's third US top 10 album.[13] In its second week, the album dropped to number eight on the chart, earning an additional 50,000 album-equivalent units.[14] In its third week, the album climbed to number four on the chart, selling 42,000 more album-equivalent units.[15] In its fourth week, the album climbed to number three on the chart, selling 38,000 units, bringing its four-week total to 252,000 album-equivalent units.[15] On January 31, 2019, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a million units in the United States.[16]

Track listing

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Beautiful & Damned" (featuring Zoe Nash)
Dakari3:09
2."Pray for Me"3:27
3."Him & I" (with Halsey)The Futuristics4:28
4."But a Dream"
3:26
5."Sober" (featuring Charlie Puth)
  • The Futuristics
  • Dakari
  • Charlie Puth
3:23
6."Legend"
3:25
7."No Limit" (featuring ASAP Rocky and Cardi B)
  • Boi-1da
  • Ritter
4:05
8."The Plan"
  • Gillum
  • Gwitira
Dakari4:10
9."That's a Lot"
  • Gillum
  • Julian Gramma
  • John Mitchell
  • Machuca
  • Gwitira
J Gramm3:34
10."Pick Me Up" (featuring Anna of the North)
3:47
11."Gotdamn"
2:52
12."Leviathan" (featuring Sam Martin)
  • Gillum
  • Michael Keenan
  • Gwitira
  • Nicolas Scapa
  • Michael Aljadeff
  • Machuca
  • Keenan
  • Dakari[b]
3:47
13."Crash & Burn" (featuring Kehlani)3:00
14."Summer in December"
  • Dakari
  • Henry Daher
3:06
15."Charles Brown" (featuring E-40 and Jay Ant)
  • Kuya Beats
4:48
16."No Less" (with SG Lewis and Louis Mattrs)SG Lewis4:10
17."Mama Always Told Me" (featuring Madison Love)
3:11
18."Fly Away" (featuring Ugochi)
  • Gillum
  • Ugochi Azuike
  • Gwitira
Dakari3:31
19."Love is Gone" (featuring Drew Love)
  • Dakari
  • G-Eazy
3:54
20."Eazy" (featuring Son Lux)
  • Dakari
  • G-Eazy
5:09
Total length:74:22
3rd anniversary deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
21."Boss Tycoon" (featuring Kossisko and Slimmy B)
  • Gillum
  • Kossisko Konan
  • Jabbar Brown
  • Ben Manlove
  • Joseph Waks
  • Andre Louis Hicks
  • Halston Williams
  • Manlove
  • Waks
3:34
22."Love You Like I Do" (featuring Rittybo)
  • Gillum
3:54
Total length:81:50

Track notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • "Pray for Me" features background vocals by Madison Love.
  • "But a Dream" features background vocals by Devon Baldwin.
  • "Leviathan" features background vocals by Michael Jade and Nicky Blitz.
  • "No Less" is a remix of SG Lewis' song "No Less".
  • "Love Is Gone" features background vocals by Leven Kali.
  • "Charles Brown" contains uncredited interpolations of "Heard Em Say" by Kanye West.
  • "Eazy" samples "Easy" by Son Lux.

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[17]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[38] Platinum 80,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[39] Gold 10,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[40] Platinum 20,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[41] Platinum 20,000
United States (RIAA)[42] Platinum 1,000,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "The Beautiful & Damned by G-Eazy". Apple Music. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Benjamin, Jeff (November 9, 2017). "G-Eazy Shares 'The Beautiful & Damned' Album Release Date, Collaborators, Film Trailer". Fuse. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "G-Eazy Announces December 15th Release Date For "The Beautiful & Damned" Album & Short Film". RCA Records. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Mojica, Nick (November 8, 2017). "G-Eazy Shares 'The Beautiful & Damned' Album Cover, Release Date". XXL. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  5. ^ "G-Eazy Reveals 'The Beautiful & Damned' Release Date, Film Trailer". Rap-Up. November 8, 2017. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  6. ^ Penros, Nerisha (October 17, 2017). "G-Eazy's 'The Beautiful and Damned' Will Be a Double Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "The Beautiful & Damned - G-Eazy | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  8. ^ a b "Album Review: G-Eazy – the Beautiful and Damned – Consequence of Sound". 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-07-11. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  9. ^ a b "The Beautiful & Damned by G-Eazy Reviews and Tracks - Metacritic". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  10. ^ a b "G-Eazy: The Beautiful & Damned review – overwrought raps and smug self-love | Music | the Guardian". TheGuardian.com. 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  11. ^ a b "G-Eazy the Beautiful & Damned Album Review | HipHopDX". 16 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  12. ^ a b "G-Eazy: The Beautiful & Damned". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  13. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (December 24, 2017). "Eminem's 'Revival' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart, G-Eazy & Jeezy Bow in Top 10". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  14. ^ Caulfield, Keith (December 31, 2017). "Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' Returns to No. 1 on Billboard 200, Huncho Jack Debuts at No. 3". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (January 7, 2018). "'The Greatest Showman' Soundtrack Hits No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  16. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA.
  17. ^ a b "The Beautiful & Damned / G-Eazy TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on December 26, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  18. ^ "Australiancharts.com – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  19. ^ "Austriancharts.at – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  22. ^ "G-Eazy Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  23. ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 2, 2018". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  25. ^ "G-Eazy: The Beautiful & Damned" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  27. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 22 December 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  28. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 8, 2018. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  29. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 2, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  30. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on November 5, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
  31. ^ "Swisscharts.com – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  32. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  33. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  34. ^ "G-Eazy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  35. ^ "Canadian Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  36. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  37. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  38. ^ "Canadian album certifications – G-Eazy". Music Canada. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  39. ^ "Danish album certifications – G-Eazy – The Beautiful & Damned". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  40. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – G-Eazy" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  41. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 17, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter The Beautiful & Damned in the search box.
  42. ^ "American album certifications – G-Eazy". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 5, 2018.