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E3 (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

E3
A photo of the artist sitting inside a drawing of a doorway cut into a tree in a dark forest.
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1, 2023 (2023-09-01)
GenrePop-trap
Length34:14
LabelGeffen
Producer
  • Aaron Shadrow
  • Alex Goldblatt
  • Austin Corona
  • Charlie Heat
  • Dejuan Cross
  • Drew Drucker
  • Drew Dvorsky
  • Elxnce
  • Hunter Madrid
  • Isaac Rose
  • Jeff Hazin
  • Psymun
  • Roark Bailey
  • Romil Hemnani
  • Sophie Gray
  • Wyatt Bernard
  • Zachary Cassell
  • Zuko
Midwxst chronology
Back in Action 3.0
(2022)
E3
(2023)
Back in Action 4.0
(2024)
Singles from E3
  1. "Pretty Girls"
    Released: July 7, 2023
  2. "Warning"
    Released: August 4, 2023

E3 is the debut studio album by American rapper and singer Midwxst, released on September 1, 2023, by Geffen Records. The album consists of pop-trap, notably softer than Midwxst's previous work. It was preceded by two singles, "Pretty Girls" and "Warning".

Most of the album was co-written and produced by Drew Drucker and Sophie Belle Grajcer, among other collaborators. Other producers include Charlie Heat, Psymun, and Romil Hemnani.

Background

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Midwxst said that the album had "been in my head since I was 17", with him having kept "a full notepad in my phone with the script for the interludes on the project and the ideas that eventually became E3."[1] He called the album an "emotional journey through the mistakes I've made as a person and that 'E3', the protagonist of the story, is constantly facing and having to finally come to terms with."[1]

Release

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The album's name was first announced on July 7, 2023, with the release of lead single "Pretty Girls".[2][3] The single came with a music video directed by Ari Nissenbaum which features Midwxst and different women in various highly saturated scenarios.[2][3] Midwxst revealed the album's release date and cover art on July 12.[4] On August 4, Midwxst released the second single, "Warning".[5] The album was released on September 1 by Geffen Records.[6][7]

Composition

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E3 consists of a "nimbly eclectic mode of pop-trap",[6] with layers of rock[6] and gospel,[6][7] and softer melodies than his previous hyperpop and rage rap work.[6] The album is also said to be "a rollercoaster that takes you through the sounds of hip-hop, pop, rock, hyperpop, and emo rap."[1] Midwxst is said to have a "pop-punkesque vocal quality".[7]

Reception

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E3 ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash6/10[8]
Pitchfork6.5/10[6]

Clash's Robin Murray said the album gives "a feeling of tentative step forward, rather than radical leaps."[8] Pitchfork's Hattie Lindert wrote that the album "positions Midwxst not as a Playboi Carti heir, but a pop star in his own right."[6] HotNewHipHop's Zachary Horvath said that Midwxst "really tries so many different things" with the album, and that "it is one thing to try, but he succeeds here."[1] The Fader's Arielle Lana LeJarde said the album "hooks you from the beginning with gospel-infused 'Lost' and keeps you engaged with a variety of genres throughout its entirety."[7]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Edgar Nathaniel Sarratt III, Drew Drucker, and Sophie Belle Grajcer (except track 7 written solely by Sarratt), with others noted. All tracks except 7 produced by Drucker and Sophie Gray with others noted.

E3 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducersLength
1."Lost"
3:22
2."Pretty Girls"
  • Austin Corona
  • Wyatt Bernard
  • Zachary Cassell
  • Corona
  • Bernard
  • Zuko
3:00
3."Warning"
  • Cassell
  • Elxnce
  • Zuko
  • Elxnce
2:52
4."Lights Out"
  • Drew Dvorsky
  • Steve Cheung
  • Cassell
  • Dvorsky
  • Zuko
2:32
5."Heartache Blues"
  • Shadrow
  • Dejuan Cross
  • Isaac Rose
  • Roark Bailey
  • Cheung
  • Bernard
  • Cassell
  • Shadrow
  • Cross
  • Hunter Madrid
  • Rose
  • Bailey
  • Bernard
  • Zuko
3:46
6."Ball & Chain"
  • Shadrow
  • Cross
  • Bailey
  • Cheung
  • Cassell
  • Shadrow
  • Cross
  • Bailey
  • Zuko
2:54
7."Grandpas Interlude"  1:13
8."Old Me"
3:13
9."S.F.B."
  • Shadrow
  • Corona
  • Bernard
  • Zuko
2:48
10."Like Nah"
  • Corona
  • Bernard
  • Corona
  • Bernard
2:32
11."Hate How Much"
  • Dvorsky
  • Jeff Hazin
  • Jesse Fink
  • Dvorsky
  • Hazin
  • Gray
2:42
12."Ready for You"
  • Shadrow
  • Cassell
  • Shadrow
  • Zuko
3:20
Total length:34:14

Personnel

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Musicians

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  • Midwxst – vocals
  • Aaron Shadrow – guitar (1), bass guitar (1), drums (1), synthesizer (5, 6, 12)
  • Psymun – guitar (1), bass guitar (1)
  • Anthony "Jawan" McEastland, Nikki Grier, and Naarai Jacobs – choir (1)
  • Sophie Gray – synthesizer (4, 10), additional vocals (5, 6, 9–12)
  • Drew Dvorsky – guitar (4–6, 8, 10, 12), bass guitar (5, 8, 11)
  • Aaron Leibowitz – flute (5, 8), saxophone (8, 9, 12)
  • Kim Vi – piano (5, 12)
  • Roark Bailey – synthesizer (6)
  • Austin Corona – guitar (8, 10), bass guitar (9, 10)
  • Romil Hemnani – piano (8)
  • Wyatt Bernard – piano (9), synthesizer (10)
  • Denzel Curry – additional vocals (9)
  • Ericdoa – additional vocals (9)
  • Drew Drucker – guitar (11), additional vocals (11)

Technical

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Horvath, Zachary (September 3, 2023). "Midwxst Brings All Sorts of Sounds to His Debut Album E3". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Renshaw, David (July 7, 2023). "Midwxst shares "Pretty Girls" video, announces debut album title". The Fader. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Gregory, Allie (July 7, 2023). "Midwxst Announces Debut Album E3, Shares "Pretty Girls"". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Midwxst [@midwxst] (July 12, 2023). "E3 is here. 9/1. vinyl pre-order + new merch in bio". Retrieved September 28, 2023 – via Instagram.
  5. ^ ""Warning" / Midwxst". Tidal. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Lindert, Hattie (September 7, 2023). "Midwxst: E3 Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d LeJarde, Arielle Lana (September 1, 2023). "New Music Friday: This week's essential new projects". The Fader. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Murray, Robin (September 1, 2023). "Midwxst – E3". Clash. Retrieved September 28, 2023.