Amen (Rich Brian album)
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Amen
| type = studio
| artist = Rich Brian
| cover = Amen RichBrian.jpg
| alt =
| released = 2 February 2018
| recorded = 2016–2017
| genre = Hip hop{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8097424/rich-brian-interview-album-amen-name-change|title=Rich Brian Discusses Debut Album 'Amen' and Name Change: 'Rich Chigga Isn't Me Anymore'|magazine=Billboard |publisher=}}
| length = 44:03
| label = {{hlist|88rising|Empire}}
| producer = {{hlist|Rich Brian|Austin Powerz|Bkorn|NIKI|Rogét Chahayed|Channel Tres|Joshua Crosby|Cubeatz|J Hill|Frans Mernick|Wesley Singerman}}
| next_title = The Sailor
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Amen
| type = studio
| single1 = Glow Like Dat
| single1date = 15 August 2017
| single2 = Chaos
| single2date = 5 October 2017
| single3 = See Me
| single3date = 8 January 2018
}}
}}
Amen is the debut studio album by Indonesian rapper Rich Brian. It was released on 2 February 2018, by 88rising and Empire.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/amen/1341513315|title=Amen by Rich Brian on Apple Music|publisher=Apple Music|access-date=1 February 2018}} It is the debut commercial project by Rich Brian after releasing a string of non-album singles since 2016, such as "Dat Stick". The album was primarily produced by Rich Brian, alongside Bkorn, Cubeatz, Frans Mernick, Austin Powerz, Rogét Chahayed and Wesley Singerman and features guest appearances from Offset, Joji, Niki and August 08.
Background
On 26 May 2017, Rich Brian was featured in an interview with XXL about his artistic transition, by stating,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/05/rich-chigga-serious-about-rap-interview/|title=Rich Chigga Gets Serious About Rap|magazine=XXL|last=Madden|first=Sidney|date=26 May 2017|accessdate=1 February 2018}}
{{cquote|"This project that I'm working on, I think it's going to be an introduction to a more serious rap. There's still going to be funny stuff. When you listen to it, you might still laugh and stuff, that's cool. That's what I'm going for too. But it's not a joke. When people listen to it, they're going to be like, 'It's that real shit."}}
On 19 December 2017, Brian announced the album's title, alongside the reveal of the cover art.{{cite magazine|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/rich_chigga_announces_debut_project_amen|title=Rich Chigga Announces Debut Project 'Amen'|magazine=Exclaim!|last=Slingerland|first=Calum|date=19 December 2017|accessdate=1 February 2018}} On 29 January 2018, he unveiled the album's tracklist.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/01/rich-brian-amen-album-tracklist/|title=See Rich Brian's 'Amen' Album Tracklist|magazine=XXL|last=Berry|first=Peter A.|date=30 January 2018|accessdate=1 February 2018}}
Promotion
=Singles=
The album's lead single, "Glow Like Dat" was released for streaming and digital download, alongside its music video on 15 August 2017.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/glow-like-dat-single/1268913090?app=music|title=Glow Like Dat - Single by Rich Chigga on Apple Music|website=iTunes |access-date=15 August 2017}}
The album's second single, "Chaos" was released on 5 October 2017.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/chaos/1290461457|title=Chaos - Single by Rich Chigga on Apple Music|website=iTunes |access-date=21 December 2017}}
The album's third single, "See Me" was released on 1 January 2018.{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/1/brian-rich-chigga-new-single-see-me|title=Rich Chigga Is Now Known as Brian, Shares New Single "See Me"|website=Hypebeast|date=1 January 2018|accessdate=2 February 2018}}
=Other songs=
The non-album single, "Crisis" was released on 10 November 2017.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/crisis-feat-21-savage-single/1309256027|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052024/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/crisis-feat-21-savage-single/1309256027|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 December 2017|title=Crisis (feat. 21 Savage) - Single by Rich Chigga on Apple Music|website=iTunes |accessdate=10 November 2017}} The song features a guest appearance from British rapper 21 Savage.
The collaborative single with Kris Wu and Joji, "18" featuring Trippie Redd and Baauer, was released on 16 January 2018.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/18-single/1334962023|title=18 – Single by Kris Wu, Rich Brian, Joji, Trippie Redd & Baauer on Apple Music|publisher=iTunes|access-date=2 February 2018}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 68/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/amen/rich-brian |title=Reviews for Amen by Rich Brian |publisher=Metacritic}}
| rev1 = Exclaim!
| rev2 = The Guardian
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last1=Beaumount-Thomas|first1=Ben|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/02/rich-brian-amen-review-online-sensations-dreamy-deadpan-debut|title=Rich Brian: Amen review – online sensation's dreamy, deadpan debut|newspaper=The Guardian|date=2 February 2018|accessdate=2 February 2018}}
| rev3 = Highsnobiety
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last1=Greenwood|first1=Douglas|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/rich-brian-amen-review/|title= Rich Brian's Supremely Confident Flow Makes 'Amen' a Triumph |website=Highsnobiety|date=2 February 2018|accessdate=2 February 2018}}
| rev4 = HipHopDX
| rev4score = 3.6/5{{cite web|last1=Glaysher|first1=Scott|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3087/title.review-rich-brian-sheds-his-trapper-aspirations-for-honesty-on-amen|title=Review: Rich Brian Sheds His Trapper Aspirations For Honesty On Amen|website=HipHopDX|date=6 February 2018|accessdate=7 February 2018}}
| rev5 = Pitchfork
| rev5score = 5.9/10{{cite web|last1=Pearce|first1=Sheldon|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/rich-brian-amen/|title=Rich Brian: Amen Album Review|website=Pitchfork|date=6 February 2018|accessdate=7 February 2018}}
}}
Amen garnered a generally positive reception from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 68 based on 6 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Citation|title=Amen by Rich Brian|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/amen/rich-brian|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}} Ben Beaumont-Thomas of The Guardian gave Amen a positive review, stating: "His neo-G-funk backings – synthscapes in pink neon with weed smoke drifting across them – are admirably lush and melancholic, but his flow is his greatest skill of all, deadpan patter that rattles out like ticker tape." Scott Glaysher of HipHopDX commended the content of the album in comparison to Brian's previous work, also commending the production: "The kaleidoscope of production is freshly tailored to Brian's equally mixing moods with trap drums helping the crypto flexes and somber keys leading the way for the emo-pop ballads. It's the exact musical buffet that the majority of 18-year-olds would eat up 2018. Rich Brian's attempt at honesty throughout the album forebodes critics from outright clowning him while the beats are definitely catchy enough to keep his live shows rocking like a pulpit. As long Rich Brian remains in the driver seat and Rich Chigga in the trunk, Brian Immanuel's future will bright."
Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork stated that "the debut from Rich Brian has the fun, wit, and snark of a choice tweet but lacks the essential qualities of a solid well-made rap album", criticising the album's lyricism: "But there is very little happening within his verses right now, and even as he's pivoted toward the personal, he's still doing impressions, sonically and stylistically."
Exclaim! stated that "Rich Brian's full-length debut isn't good in any typical sense, which shouldn't shock anyone."{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/rich_brian-amen|title=Rich Brian- Amen review|work=Exclaim!|date=2 February 2018|accessdate=28 February 2018}}
Commercial performance
In the United States, initial projections for the first week sales were between 19,000 and 22,000 album-equivalent units.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=310409|title=HITS Daily Double : Rumor Mill – Your Top 20: Whose Woods These Are|work=HITS Daily Double|accessdate=6 February 2018}}
Track listing
All tracks written and produced by Rich Brian, except where noted.
{{Track listing
| headline = Amen track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 44:03
| title1 = Amen
| length1 = 1:56
| title2 = Cold
| length2 = 3:48
| title3 = Occupied
| length3 = 2:41
| title4 = Introvert
| note4 = featuring Joji
| writer4 = {{hlist|Brian Imanuel|George Miller}}
| length4 = 3:42
| title5 = Attention
| note5 = featuring Offset
| writer5 = {{hlist|Imanuel|Kiari Cephus|Austin Schindler|Brandon Korn|Kevin Gomringer|Tim Gomringer}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Austin Powerz|Bkorn|Rich Brian|Cubeatz}}
| length5 = 2:50
| title6 = Glow Like Dat
| length6 = 3:30
| title7 = Trespass
| length7 = 2:59
| title8 = Flight
| writer8 = {{hlist|Imanuel|Frans Mernick|Rogét Chahayed|Wesley Singerman}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Mernick|Chahayed|Singerman|Rich Brian{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BelXQKqh_3s/|title=I produced/wrote "Flight" on @brianimanuel's debut album w the kings @rogetchahayed, @wesleysingerman and Chigga himself|publisher=Instagram|accessdate=2 February 2018}}}}
| length8 = 2:57
| title9 = See Me
| length9 = 3:32
| title10 = Enemies
| length10 = 3:27
| title11 = Kitty
| length11 = 2:45
| title12 = Little Prince
| note12 = featuring Niki
| writer12 = {{hlist|Imanuel|Nicole Zefanya{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_id/article/a3k4ke/meet-the-latest-indonesian-randb-singer-trying-to-take-over-the-us|title=Meet the Latest Indonesian R&B Singer Trying to Take Over the US|publisher=Vice|accessdate=4 February 2018}}}}
| extra12 = Niki
| length12 = 2:52
| title13 = Chaos
| length13 = 2:12
| title14 = Arizona
| note14 = featuring August 08
| writer14 = {{hlist|Imanuel|Joseph Hill, Jr.|Joshua Crosby|Sheldon Young{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/duckwrth/tamagotchi-prod-by-channel-tres|title=TAMAGOTCHI (Prod. by Channel Tres)|publisher=SoundCloud|accessdate=4 February 2018}}}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|J Hill|Crosby|Channel Tres|Rich Brian}}
| length14 = 4:52
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for Amen ! scope="col"| Chart (2018) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{album chart|Australia|27|artist=Rich Brian|album=Amen|rowheader=true|access-date=25 August 2024}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|108|artist=Rich Brian|album=Amen|rowheader=true|access-date=10 February 2018}} |
| scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums/2018-02-17|title=Canadian Albums: February 17, 2018|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=13 February 2018}}
| 18 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Netherlands|61|artist=Rich Brian|album=Amen|rowheader=true|access-date=10 February 2018}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|30|artist=Rich Brian|album=Amen|rowheader=true|access-date=25 August 2024}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|87|date=20180209|rowheader=true|access-date=10 February 2018}} |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2018-02-17|title=Top 200 Albums: February 17, 2018|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=13 February 2018}}
| 18 |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rich Brian}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Empire Distribution albums