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333 (Bladee album)

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333
A vibrant painting of a figure in front of a halo in the center, surrounded by miscellaneous characters. The number "333" reads in the top-center.
Studio album by
Bladee
Released16 July 2020
GenreCloud rap
Length37:16
LabelYear0001
Producer
Bladee chronology
Exeter
(2020) 		333
(2020) 		Good Luck
(2020)

333 is the fourth studio album by the Swedish rapper Bladee. A surprise album, it was released by Year0001 on 16 July 2020. It is Bladee's second release of 2020, following April's Exeter. It was produced by Whitearmor with contributions from a variety of record producers, including Gud and Joakim Benon. Its title is a use of to the holy number 3, which is a recurring theme in Drain Gang's music. 333 is a cloud rap album that explores themes of introspection and love, and contains upbeat instrumentals. It charted in Scotland and the United Kingdom, and received a lukewarm review from Anthony Fantano, who considered it an improvement over Bladee's previous work.

Background and composition

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Bladee released his third studio album Exeter on 8 April 2020,[1] to positive reviews from Pitchfork and laut.de.[2][3] It contained two guest appearances from longtime collaborator Ecco2K, though 333 contains no guest appearances.[4] 333 was executively produced by fellow Drain Gang founder Whitearmor.[5] It was also produced by Whitearmor with contributions from Gud, Joakim Benon, Lusi, and Mechatok.[6] The album's title is a reference to the holy number 3, which is a recurring theme in Drain Gang's music.[7]

333 was classified as cloud rap by Jordan Darville from The Fader[5] and Anthony Fantano.[8] Fantano said it also pulls from ambient pop and art pop.[9] Ben Vassar of The Michigan Daily called it "hyperpop-adjacent".[10] It explores themes of introspection and the depths of toxic love, and contains moments of melancholy that are hidden by upbeat instrumentals.[11][12] The album also builds a soundscape of toxic love with a state of self-hatred.[11] Darville wrote that "Bladee sounds simultaneously dazed and effervescent with his rambling raver flow".[5] Fantano said the album "sounds like the next step in a stylistic shift for Bladee".[13] The Boar's Max Gentleman described "Keys to the City" and "100s" as containing "Microsoft error noise style bass" and a "haunting delivery". He also described "Innocent of All Things" as having a catchy hook, "Reality Surf" having "druggy mediations", and the "percussive hits contrasting the emotional resignation" in "Oh Well".[14]

Release and reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Needle Drop6/10[15][a]

333 was released as a surprise album on 16 July 2020, by Year0001.[4] Its album cover was created by the English artist Claire Barrow.[4][10] "Reality Surf" received an Animal Crossing-like music video that was directed by Bladee and animated by Nam Mac.[17][18] "Only One" also received a music video.[12] Fantano felt that the production on 333 was less experimental compared to the production on Exeter,[19] but that 333 accomplished Bladee's core blissful sound more effectively compared to his other records.[20] Li thought that "Innocent of All Things", "It Girl", and "Valerie" were standout tracks.[12]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Benjamin Reichwald and Ludwig Rosenberg, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Whitearmor, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Wings in Motion"
 2:24
2."Don't Worry"  2:19
3."Keys to the City"  2:27
4."Hero of My Story 3style3"  1:59
5."100s"  2:27
6."Mean Girls"  2:27
7."Innocent of All Things"  2:09
8."Reality Surf"
2:04
9."Noblest Strive"
  • Reichwald
  • Rosenberg
  • Timur Tokdemir
  • Whitearmor
  • Mechatok
2:15
10."It Girl"  2:16
11."Oh Well"
  • Reichwald
  • Rosenberg
  • Luis Cano
  • Whitearmor
  • Lusi
2:28
12."Valerie"  2:40
13."Finder"  1:44
14."Extasia"  2:21
15."Only One"
  • Reichwald
  • Rosenberg
  • Benon
  • Whitearmor
  • Benon
2:29
16."Swan Lake"  2:57
Total length:37:26

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the Year0001 website.[21]

Charts

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Chart performance for 333
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[22] 89
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23] 28

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label Edition Ref.
Various 16 July 2020
Year0001 Original [24]
1 September 2023
Reissue [25]

Notes

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  1. ^ Specifically, Fantano rated the album a "strong 5 to a light 6".[16]

References

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  1. ^ Ingvaldsen, Torsten (8 April 2020). "Listen to Bladee's Third Studio Album 'EXETER'". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  2. ^ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (16 April 2020). "Bladee: Exeter". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  3. ^ Gölz, Yannik (8 April 2020). "Eine Platte wie ein Irrgarten: Aus Cloud Rap wird Pop" [A record like a labyrinth: Cloud rap becomes pop]. laut.de (in German). Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Yoo, Noah (16 July 2020). "Bladee Surprise Releases New Album 333". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Jordan, Darville (16 July 2020). "Bladee shares new album 333". The Fader. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  6. ^ "333 / Bladee / credits". Tidal. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ George, Cassidy (4 May 2023). "Drain Gang". 032c. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  8. ^ Fantano 2020a, 1:45.
  9. ^ Fantano 2020a, 1:53.
  10. ^ a b Vassar, Ben (4 October 2020). "The eclectic iconography of hyperpop". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  11. ^ a b Li, Nicolaus (16 July 2020). "Bladee Releases Surprise New Album, '333'". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Johnson, Patrick (19 July 2020). "Best New Tracks: Drake, Joey Bada$$, Lupe Fiasco, BENEE & More". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  13. ^ Fantano 2020a, 1:27.
  14. ^ Gentleman, Max; Wilkes, Emma; Turner, Cerys (7 October 2020). "The best albums you may have missed this year". The Boar. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  15. ^ Fantano, Anthony (30 July 2020a). Bladee - 333 ALBUM REVIEW. The Needle Drop. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Fantano 2020a, 5:57.
  17. ^ Darville, Jordan (11 August 2020). "Bladee goes animal crossing in the "Reality Surf" video". The Fader. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  18. ^ Silbert, Jake (11 August 2020). "Bladee Asccends to Heaven in "Reality Surf" Music Video". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  19. ^ Fantano 2020a, 5:43.
  20. ^ Fantano 2020a, 5:48.
  21. ^ "Bladee - 333". Year0001. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  24. ^ "333 - Album by Bladee". Apple Music. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 23 August 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  25. ^ 333 (LP). Bladee. Sweden: Year0001. 1 September 2023. YR0115LP.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) CS1 maint: year (link)

Video sources

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Fantano, Anthony (30 July 2020). Bladee - 333 ALBUM REVIEW. The Needle Drop. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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