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Rap Game Awful
Mixtape by Clavish
Released	13 January 2023 (2023-01-13)
Length	89:32
Label	Polydor Universal Music UK
Producer	Aifo AyeTM Chek Beatz Disco Elyas Eugene Tsai The FaNaTiX GO Beatz Hal HARGO Harry Beech Hazey Just Landed HD Beats Hoskins ID Crysis JJ Beatz Joe Reeves Kazza Kieran Nash Kyle Evans Lia Liza M1OnTheBeat Mack Jamieson Madz Thomas Makenobeats Nick French ODZZ Off & Out Omar Guetfa Prince Galalie R14 Beats Simon Crisp SK the Plug svdominik TN 490 Two Inch Punch
Clavish chronology
2022 (2021) Rap Game Awful (2023) Chapter 16 (2024)
Singles from Rap Game Awful
"Greece" Released: 19 May 2022 "Public Figure" Released: 22 September 2022 "NRF Freestyle" Released: 16 October 2022 "Rocket Science" Released: 17 November 2022 "Traumatised" Released: 5 January 2023 "No Difference" Released: 12 January 2023

Rap Game Awful is the debut mixtape by British rapper Clavish. It was released through Polydor Records and Universal Music UK on 13 January 2023. The mixtape features guest appearances from D-Block Europe, Fredo, Frosty, Rimzee, Tiny Boost, Youngs Teflon, Tiggs da Author, MoStack, Teeway, Kirky, Jordan, and Kaash Paige.

Rap Game Awful was supported by six singles: "Greece", "Public Figure", "NRF Freestyle", "Rocket Science" featuring D-Block Europe, "Traumatised", and "No Difference".

Release and promotion

On 19 May 2022, Clavish released the mixtape's lead single, "Greece." The song proceeded to peak at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart. The mixtape's second single "Public Figure" was released on 22 September 2022. It proceeded to peak at #66 on the Official UK Charts. The mixtape's third single "NRF Freestyle" was released on 16 October 2022.

On 15 November 2022, through Instagram, Clavish announced the release of the mixtape alongside him previewing the tracklist with features such as Frosty, D-Block Europe, Fredo, Rimzee, Tiny Boost, Youngs Teflon, Tiggs da Author, MoStack, Teeway, Kirky, Jordan, and Kaash Paige.

The D-Block Europe-assisted "Rocket Science" was released on 17 November 2022, as the mixtape's fourth single; the success of the song marked Clavish's highest charting single at #9 on the Official UK Charts.

On 3 December 2022, Clavish announced a UK tour which would see him in vastly populated cities such as Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, London, and Manchester. A week later, another London date was added due to the tour's high demand.

The mixtape's fifth single "Traumatised" was released on 5 January 2023, just over a week prior to its release. A day before the release, on 12 January 2023, the mixtape's sixth and final single "No Difference" was released.

Tour

On December 3, 2022, Clavish announced the Rap Game Awful Tour, a 4-date United Kingdom concert tour, in support of the album, beginning March 20, 2023, at Dublin Green Room in Dublin, and concluding March 28, 2023, at O2 Academy Islington in London. Due to popular demand, five more shows were added. After being edited, the tour would start on March 13, 2023, at the Trinity Centre in Bristol and would conclude on March 28, 2023, at O2 Academy Islington in London.

Shows

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Guardian
NME
The Observer
Pitchfork	6.6/10

Rap Game Awful received positive reviews from music critics. Fred Garratt-Stanley from NME notes that "Clavish peppers an eclectic range of beats with clear, cutting, confessional verses." He follows up on this by stating "the tape is a lingering sense of darkness; his stories of prison, gang crime, and betrayal are given an extra bite by ominous, yet stripped-back instrumentals that offer Clavish space to bar and echo the murkiness of early drill heavyweights like 67 and Harlem Spartans." Concluding his review, Garratt-Stanley notes that "the powerful sense of emotion echoed across Rap Game Awful is what makes the mixtape so memorable" and that "If he learns to refine his output a little, there’s no reason Clavish can’t achieve the levels of stardom he’s been tipped to reach." Damien Morris from The Observer noted that "the north London rapper has been carefully nurtured for success over the past two years." He concluded his review as he wrote "the chill, sparse productions foreground Clavish’s economical delivery beautifully, as he flirts with imploring vulnerability and vicious querulousness without ever committing to either." Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis states that "his worldview is strikingly drawn and bleak, devoid of politicking, expressions of anger at societal injustice or indeed optimism." This is followed by Petridis noting that "all this is rendered in a genuinely skilled and original voice, the subtle idiosyncrasies of his flow pointed up by the guest appearances." He concluded his review as he wrote, "he’s abundantly talented, a singular and austerely powerful voice."

Commercial performance

Rap Game Awful debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, selling 5,070 album-equivalent units in the first week, becoming Clavish's first top-ten album. The sales consisted of 4,356 from streams, 585 from physical copies and 129 from downloads. Singles "Greece", "Public Figure" and three other songs from the albums charted on the UK Singles Chart: "Greece" (77), "Public Figure" (66), "Rocket Science" (9), "Traumatised" (63), and "No Difference" (57).

Track listing

Notes

• signifies an additional producer
• signifies a co-producer

Sample credits

• "Traumatised" contains a sample of "Thong Song" as performed by Sisqó, written by Mark Andrews, Draco Rosa, Bob Robinson and Tim Kelley.

Personnel

Musicians

• Clavish – vocals (all tracks)
• R14 Beats – drum programming (3)
• Frosty – vocals (7)
• Young Adz – vocals (9)
• Dirtbike LB – vocals (9)
• Rimzee – vocals (11)
• Tiny Boost – vocals (11)
• Youngs Teflon – vocals (11)
• Tiggs Da Author – vocals (14)
• Two Inch Punch – bass, – synthesizer (14)
• Mack Jamieson – guitar (14)
• TN 490 – programming (14)
• MoStack – vocals (15)
• Teeway – vocals (18)
• Kirky – vocals (21)
• AyeTM – drums, rhythm arrangement (21)
• JJ Beatz – bass, drums (23)
• Jordan – vocals (24)
• Kaash Paige – vocals (26)

Technical

• Eli Crossan – assistant mixing (6)
• Lilian Nuthall – assistant mixing (6)
• Dante "PR" Vicens – recording (9)
• Matt Colton – mastering (2, 6, 9, 12)
• LiTek – mixing (12)
• Henri Davies – recording (14)
• Nick French – recording (14)
• Jake Jones – recording (5, 11, 15)
• Prince Galalie – recording (16)
• Manon Grandjean – mixing (2, 9, 20)
• Matt Doughty – mixing (22)
• Jeremy Cooper – mastering (22)
• Manon Grandjean – mixing (2-5, 7-11, 13-15, 17, 19-21, 23, 24)
• Nathan Boddy – mixing (1, 6, 16, 18, 25-28)
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering (1, 3-5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13-21, 23-28)
• Benjamin Stokes – recording (3, 5-8, 10, 13, 14, 17-23, 26-28)

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Keith, James (13 January 2023). "Clavish Delivers 28-Track Mixtape 'Rap Game Awful' f/ Fredo, D-Block Europe, Rimzee & More". Complex UK. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
2. Olaoya, Ezra (24 May 2022). "Clavish Flies Out To Sunny "Greece" For New Music Video". Complex. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
3. King, Tyrese. "Clavish Deals With Being A 'Public Figure' On New Record". newwavemagazine.com. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
4. "CLAVISH GOES IN ON "NRF FREESTYLE"". grmdaily.com. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
5. "The streets is fake the rap games worse... 13/01/23 🤲🏾". Retrieved 15 November 2022.
6. Homewood, Ben (25 November 2022). "Team Polydor celebrate Clavish's first Top 10 and look ahead to 2023". Music Week. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
7. Griffiths, George (22 November 2022). "Clavish & D-Block Europe hit Number 1 on Official Trending Chart with Rocket Science". Official Charts. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
8. ^ "My first UK tour 📍Link in bio for early access to tickets..pre sale ends 5th December at 5PM..general sale December 8th.. 🤞🏾#RapGameAwful". Retrieved 3 December 2022.
9. ^ "Sold out dates 💕 more cities are getting added in a couple days but don't miss out on the extra London date !! & lemme know what cities you lot want me to pull up at 📍📍#RapGameAwful". Retrieved 6 December 2022.
10. Powell, Jon (12 January 2023). "Clavish drops off new visual for "Traumatised"". revolt.tv. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
11. ^ "Clavish: Rap Game Awful review – rising rapper conjures a haunting, despondent mood". The Guardian. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
12. ^ "Clavish – 'Rap Game Awful' review: UK rap's next megastar has arrived". NME. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
13. ^ "Clavish: Rap Game Awful review – beautifully delivered ambivalence". The Observer. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
14. Pritchard, Will (25 January 2023). "Clavish: Rap Game Awful Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
15. ^ "Clavish targets Top 5 finish for debut mixtape". Music Week. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
16. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
17. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
18. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
19. "British album certifications – Clavish – Rap Game Awful". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 October 2023.

• 2023 mixtape albums
• Polydor Records albums
• Debut mixtape albums