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Gemini (Macklemore album)

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Gemini
Studio album by
Macklemore
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2017 (2017-09-22)
Studio
  • Macklemore, (Seattle)
  • The Gift Shop, (Los Angeles)
GenrePop-rap[1]
Length60:19
LabelBendo, ADA
Producer
Macklemore chronology
The Unplanned Mixtape
(2009) 		Gemini
(2017)
Singles from Gemini
  1. "Glorious"
    Released: June 15, 2017
  2. "Marmalade"
    Released: July 26, 2017
  3. "Good Old Days"
    Released: September 22, 2017

Gemini (stylized as GEMINI) is the second solo studio album by American rapper Macklemore. It was released on September 22, 2017, via Bendo LLC. The first album he did without producer Ryan Lewis since his 2005 solo effort The Language of My World, Macklemore wanted to create a record devoid of any political subject matter and just about having a good time. Reviews for the album were positive from critics. Gemini was supported by three singles: "Glorious", "Marmalade" and "Good Old Days".

Background

Gemini is Macklemore's first album without Ryan Lewis since the release of his solo album The Language of My World (2005). In an interview with Rolling Stone, Macklemore said of the album: "It's not extremely politically motivated or heavily subject- or concept-oriented. I think it's mostly the music that I wanted to hear. It's the music that I wanted to go get into my car and listen to. I wanted it to be fun."[2] He told Beats 1 radio host Zane Lowe about his new approach for this album: "I always try to get a different palette of sounds and textures and vibes. This album, I was in a good place man. There's some darker songs, for sure, but for the most part, if I'm in a happy place and life is good, that's going to be reflected in the music."

On August 22, 2017, Macklemore unveiled the album's track list and cover art.[3][4][5] He released a video teaser of the song "Willy Wonka", a collaboration with Offset, on September 8, 2017.[6] It features behind-the-scenes footage of the recording process.[7][8]

Singles

"Glorious" was released as the lead single from the album on June 15, 2017. It features a guest appearance from American singer Skylar Grey.[9] Its music video was released on July 6, 2017, in which Macklemore was seen traveling around Modesto, California with his grandmother.[10]

The second single from the album, "Marmalade", was released on July 26, 2017. It features a guest appearance from American rapper Lil Yachty.[11]

The collaboration with American singer-songwriter Kesha, "Good Old Days" was released as a promotional single from the album on September 19, 2017.[12] It was sent to adult contemporary radio October 9, 2017, as the album's third single.[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic63/100[14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
The A.V. ClubC[16]
Entertainment WeeklyB–[17]
Pitchfork5.4/10[18]
Rolling Stone[19]

Gemini received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 63, based on 8 reviews.[14] Neil Yeung of AllMusic rated the album 4 stars out of 5, saying "While some fans might prefer Macklemore with Lewis, Gemini is a reminder that before the multi-platinum singles, hit albums, and thrift shop threads, he could handle himself just fine."[15] Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone said, "Macklemore's first post-fame LP minus longtime partner Ryan Lewis finds the Seattle MC unburdened by stardom or the social concern that turns his woke anthems into online firestorms."[19] Chuck Arnold of Entertainment Weekly gave the record a B− grade, noting the unevenness and length through the track listing but commended Macklemore for keeping it together with his personality and giving the project a "loose mixtape quality."[17] Clayton Purdom of The A.V. Club rated the album a C grade, criticizing the use of "drop-out catchphrases [and] horn solos and minutes-long American Idol-style belting," along with Macklemore's "earnest neediness" in his delivery, concluding that "the rapper's sentimentality and kitchen-sink production ethos land the record alongside Katy Perry's Witness in the post-Hamilton bargain bin."[16]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.[20]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ain't Gonna Die Tonight" (featuring Eric Nally)
Macklemore3:34
2."Glorious" (featuring Skylar Grey)
3:40
3."Marmalade" (featuring Lil Yachty)
  • Budo
  • Dopps
4:24
4."Willy Wonka" (featuring Offset)
  • Budo
  • Dopps
  • Macklemore
3:42
5."Intentions" (featuring Dan Caplen)
  • Budo
  • Dopps
  • Macklemore
3:50
6."Good Old Days" (featuring Kesha)
Budo4:00
7."Levitate" (featuring Otieno Terry)
  • Haggerty
  • Karp
  • Andrews
  • Rawlings
  • Otieno Terry
  • Macklemore
  • Budo
3:32
8."Firebreather" (featuring Reignwolf)
  • Haggerty
  • Karp
  • Andrews
  • Rawlings
Budo3:25
9."How to Play the Flute" (featuring King Draino)
  • Haggerty
  • Dopps
  • Andrews
Dopps3:28
10."Ten Million"
  • Haggerty
  • Karp
  • Dopps
  • Andrews
  • Budo
  • Dopps
2:59
11."Over It" (featuring Donna Missal)
  • Haggerty
  • Dopps
  • Karp
  • Rawlings
  • Andrews
  • Kristine Flaherty
  • Caplen
  • Donna Missal
  • Samuel Ahana
  • Swish
  • Macklemore
  • Budo
  • Dopps
3:38
12."Zara" (featuring Abir)
  • Haggerty
  • Dopps
  • Andrews
  • Eric Keith
  • Abir
Dopps3:37
13."Corner Store" (featuring Dave B and Travis Thompson)
  • Haggerty
  • Jacob Dutton
  • Wishkoski
  • Dopps
  • Karp
  • David Bowman
  • Travis Thompson
4:33
14."Miracle" (featuring Dan Caplen)
  • Haggerty
  • Karp
  • Dopps
  • Andrews
  • Caplen
  • Andrew Joslyn
  • Dopps
  • Budo
3:44
15."Church" (featuring Xperience)
  • Haggerty
  • Karp
  • Andrews
  • Budo
  • Macklemore
4:10
16."Excavate" (featuring Saint Claire)
  • Haggerty
  • Karp
  • Andrews
  • John Sinclair
Budo3:56
Total length:60:09

Notes

  • "Glorious" features background vocals from Adam Aejaye Jackson, Will Wheaton, Oren Waters, Valerie Pinkston, Bridgett Bryant, Niomisha Renee Wilson, Harrison White, and Brenda McClure; and additional vocals from Donna Missal
  • "Firebreather" features background vocals from Grace Love and Tyler Andrews
  • "How to Play the Flute", "Corner Store", and "Excavate" features background vocals from Tyler Andrews
  • "Church" features additional vocals from Jerome Welch

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[48] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[49] Gold 40,000‡
France (SNEP)[50] Gold 50,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[51] Gold 25,000‡
United States (RIAA)[52] Gold 500,000‡

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Stephen Kearse (September 22, 2017). "Mackelmore Attempts Pop Rap But Makes Another Unruly Mess". Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  2. ^ Christopher, Weingarten (September 14, 2017). "Macklemore Talks 'Gemini,' His Upcoming Career Reset Without Ryan Lewis". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  3. ^ Peter, Berry (August 22, 2017). "Here's the Cover and Tracklist for Macklemore's 'Gemini' Album". XXL. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Carl, Lamarre (August 22, 2017). "Macklemore Announces 'Gemini' Album With Features From Lil Yachty, Kesha & Skylar Grey". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  5. ^ Winston, Cook-Wilson (August 22, 2017). "Macklemore Announces New Solo Album Gemini Featuring Kesha, Offset, Lil Yachty, and More". Spin. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  6. ^ C. Vernon, Coleman II (September 10, 2017). "Macklemore Previews New Offset Collab "Willy Wonka"". XXL. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  7. ^ Kevin, Goddard (September 8, 2017). "Macklemore Previews Upcoming Offset Collaboration "Willy Wonka"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  8. ^ "Macklemore Previews Offset Collaboration 'Willy Wonka'". Rap-Up. September 8, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  9. ^ Gaca, Anna (June 15, 2017). "Macklemore Releases New Song "Glorious" Off First "Solo" Album in 12 Years". Spin. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  10. ^ Moniuszko, Sara M (July 7, 2017). "Macklemore marks his grandma's 100th birthday with 'Glorious' video". USA Today. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  11. ^ "New Music: Macklemore feat. Lil Yachty – 'Marmalade'". Rap-Up. July 26, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  12. ^ "New Music: Macklemore feat. Kesha – 'Good Old Days'". Rap-Up. September 19, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  13. ^ "Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  14. ^ a b "Reviews and Tracks for Gemini by Macklemore". Metacritic. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Gemini – Macklemore". AllMusic. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  16. ^ a b Purdom, Clayton. "Macklemore is at his least hateable on Gemini". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Arnold, Chuck. "Macklemore goes back to his solo career with the uneven Gemini". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  18. ^ Bromwich, Jonah. "Macklemore: Gemini". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  19. ^ a b Dolan, Jon. "Review: Macklemore Eschews Deep Thoughts for a Good Time on 'Gemini'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  20. ^ "GEMINI / Macklemore TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  21. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Macklemore – Gemini". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  22. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Macklemore – Gemini" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  23. ^ "Ultratop.be – Macklemore – Gemini" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  24. ^ "Ultratop.be – Macklemore – Gemini" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  25. ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  26. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 39.Týden 2017 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  27. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Macklemore – Gemini". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  28. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Macklemore – Gemini" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  29. ^ "Macklemore: Gemini" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  30. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 39, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Macklemore – Gemini" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  32. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Macklemore". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  33. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Macklemore – Gemini". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  34. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
  35. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Macklemore – Gemini". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  37. ^ "Top 100 Albumes — Semana 39: del 22.09.2017 al 28.09.2017" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  38. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 29, 2017. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
  39. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Macklemore – Gemini". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  40. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  41. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 1, 2017). "The Killers Earn First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Wonderful Wonderful'". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  42. ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  43. ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  44. ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums 2017". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  45. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2017" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  46. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  47. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2018" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  48. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  49. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Macklemore – Gemini". Music Canada. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  50. ^ "French album certifications – Macklemore – Gemini" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  51. ^ "Italian album certifications – Macklemore – Gemini" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 27, 2020. Select "2020" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Gemini" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  52. ^ "American album certifications – Macklemore – Gemini". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
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