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333 (Bladee album)

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2020 studio album by Bladee
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

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

333 was classified as cloud rap by Jordan Darville from The Fader and Anthony Fantano. Fantano said it also pulls from ambient pop and art pop. Ben Vassar of The Michigan Daily called it "hyperpop-adjacent". It explores themes of introspection and the depths of toxic love, and contains moments of melancholy that are hidden by upbeat instrumentals. The album also builds a soundscape of toxic love with a state of self-hatred. Darville wrote that "Bladee sounds simultaneously dazed and effervescent with his rambling raver flow". Fantano said the album "sounds like the next step in a stylistic shift for Bladee". 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".

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Needle Drop6/10

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

Track listing

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

Credits adapted from the Year0001 website.

Charts

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

Release history

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

Notes

  1. Specifically, Fantano rated the album a "strong 5 to a light 6".

References

  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. ^ 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. ^ 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.
  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. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 16 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024 – via YouTube.
  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)
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