Die a Legend
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Die a Legend
| type = studio
| cover = Polo G - Die a Legend.png
| alt =
| artist = Polo G
| released = {{start date|2019|6|7}}
| recorded = 2018–2019
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|trap}}
| length = 41:06
| label = Columbia
| producer = {{hlist|1040 Beats|Ayo|Callari|Detrakz|D Major|Iceberg|JD On Tha Track|Jtk|Priority Beats|Sonic|The Superiors}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = The Goat
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Die a Legend
| type = studio
| single1 = Finer Things
| single1date = November 30, 2018
| single2 = Battle Cry
| single2date = January 31, 2019
| single3 = Pop Out
| single3date = February 1, 2019
| single4 = Deep Wounds
| single4date = May 17, 2019
| single5 = Pop Out Again
| single5date = June 7, 2019
}}
}}
Die a Legend is the debut studio album by American rapper Polo G. It was released on June 7, 2019, by Columbia Records. The cover art of the album is Polo G looking up and who he is looking up at is his friends and family who have died. On the right of Polo G is the title of the album and his rapping name. Under the title would be Polo G again with his back facing the camera, it also looks like he is walking or standing on grass.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/ByOEr8vleOt/|title=It's Almost Dat Time #diealegend #june7 (hit da link in ma bio too pre-save da album)|via=Instagram|date=July 2, 2019|accessdate=June 4, 2019}} It features his US top 20 single "Pop Out" featuring Lil Tjay, as well as the sequel to the track titled "Pop Out Again" featuring Lil Baby and Gunna.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/polo-g-announces-debut-project-die-a-legend-and-release-date-news.81404.html|title=Polo G Announces Debut Project "Die A Legend" & Release Date|website=HotNewHipHop|last=A.|first=Aron|date=May 27, 2019|accessdate=June 4, 2019}} The songs "Finer Things", "Battle Cry" and "Deep Wounds" were also released prior to the album.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/polo-g/1159371412|title=Polo G|website=Apple Music|accessdate=June 4, 2019}} The album received acclaim from music critics.
Promotion
The album was announced May 26, 2019 through his Instagram.{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx4123flXJv/|title=No moe Games....Da Wait Is Finally Ova Die A Legend Da Album Droppin June 7th MY VERY 1ST PROJECT EVA‼️Gone Shake Da Streets & Turn Up Da Summa Fashoooo #lemmeknoifyawready #DaHookGod @slousmedia : coverart|date=May 26, 2019|via=Instagram}} The following week, the track listing was revealed.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Fred|date=|title=Die a Legend - Polo G {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/die-a-legend-mw0003291575|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213144242/https://www.allmusic.com/album/die-a-legend-mw0003291575 |archive-date=2019-12-13 |access-date=August 18, 2020|website=AllMusic|language=en-us}}
| rev2 = HipHopDX
| rev3 = Pitchfork
| rev3score = 8.3/10{{cite web|last1=Pearce|first1=Sheldon|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/polo-g-die-a-legend/|title=Polo G: Die a Legend Album Review|website=Pitchfork|date=June 12, 2019}}
}}
The album received acclaim from critics upon release. Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork rated the album 8.3 out of 10, and gave it the "Best New Music" award. In his review, he stated that Polo G "blends pop and drill with ease and delivers a standout Chicago street rap debut that is meticulously crafted and honestly told".{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/polo-g-die-a-legend/|title=Album Review: Polo G - Die a Legend|website=Pitchfork|last=Pearce|first=Sheldon|date=June 12, 2019|accessdate=June 18, 2019}} Riley Wallace of HipHopDX said "There is a beautifully crafted blend of honesty and tragedy within [Die a Legend]". HipHopDX users gave a unanimous review of a perfect 5/5 for the album.
Commercial performance
Die a Legend debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart, with 38,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, becoming Polo G's first top-ten album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8516136/jonas-brothers-happiness-begins-album-debuts-number-1-billboard-200|title=Jonas Brothers' 'Happiness Begins' Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With Biggest Week of 2019|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=June 17, 2019|accessdate=June 18, 2019}} In its second week, the album dropped to number seven on the chart, earning 29,000 album-equivalent units.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8517120/madonna-madame-x-No1-debut-billboard-200-chart|title=Madonna Achieves Ninth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Madame X'|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=June 23, 2019|accessdate=June 30, 2019}} In its third week, the album dropped to number ten on the chart, earning 24,000 album-equivalent units that week.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8518137/the-raconteurs-first-no-1-album-billboard-200|title=The Raconteurs Land First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Help Us Stranger|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=June 30, 2019|accessdate=June 30, 2019}} On August 11, 2020, the album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 1,000,000 units in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=polo+g&ti=&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section|title = Gold & Platinum|website = Recording Industry Association of America}}
Track listing
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/artist/8157566|title=Polo G - TIDAL|website=Tidal|accessdate=June 7, 2019}}
{{Track listing
| title1 = Lost Files
| length1 = 2:00
| title2 = Dyin Breed
| length2 = 2:59
| title3 = Through da Storm
| length3 = 3:15
| title4 = Effortless
| length4 = 2:51
| title5 = Pop Out
| note5 = featuring Lil Tjay
| length5 = 2:46
| title6 = Battle Cry
| length6 = 3:12
| title7 = BST
| length7 = 3:22
| title8 = Finer Things
| length8 = 3:02
| title9 = Picture This
| length9 = 2:45
| title10 = Chosen 1
| length10 = 2:07
| title11 = Deep Wounds
| length11 = 3:00
| title12 = Last Strike
| length12 = 3:17
| title13 = A King's Nightmare
| length13 = 2:47
| title14 = Pop Out Again
| note14 = featuring Lil Baby and Gunna
| length14 = 3:43
| total_length = 41:06
| writer1 = {{hlist|Taurus Bartlett|Sidney Reynolds|Derrico Peck|Detric Jackson}}
| writer2 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Jahmere Tylon|Jordan Knight}}
| writer3 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tylon}}
| writer4 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Eric Sandoval}}
| writer5 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tione Merritt|Dylan Berg|João Duarte}}
| writer6 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tylon|Knight}}
| writer7 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tylon|Knight}}
| writer8 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tylon}}
| writer9 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tylon}}
| writer10 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Knight}}
| writer11 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Angelo Callari|Darrin Barthellemy|Joseph Steele}}
| writer12 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tylon}}
| writer13 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Tylon}}
| writer14 = {{hlist|Bartlett|Dominique Jones|Sergio Kitchens|Merritt|Berg|Duarte}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|The Superiors|Detrakz{{ref|a|[a]}}|Priority Beats{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Ayo|Jtk}}
| extra3 = Ayo
| extra4 = Sonic
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| extra5 = {{hlist|Iceberg|JD On Tha Track}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Ayo|Jtk}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Ayo|Jtk}}
| extra8 = Ayo
| extra9 = Ayo
| extra10 = Jtk
| extra11 = {{hlist|1040 Beats|Callari{{ref|a|[a]}}|Major D{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| extra12 = Ayo
| extra13 = Ayo
| extra14 = {{hlist|Iceberg|JD On Tha Track}}
}}
Notes
- {{Sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer
- "Through da Storm" features vocals by Leia Monroe.
Personnel
Technical
- Ayo – recording engineer (tracks 1, 2, 3, 7, 8. 12, 13), mixing engineer (track 8), mastering engineer (track 8)
- Todd Hurtt – recording engineer (tracks 3, 9, 10, 11)
- Eric Sandoval – recording engineer (track 4)
- Denly Morisset – recording engineer (tracks 5, 14), mixing engineer (tracks 5, 14)
- Luis Bordeaux – recording engineer (tracks 5, 14)
- Jahmere Taylor – recording engineer (track 6)
- Jordan Knight – recording engineer (track 6)
- Baruch "Mixx" Nembhard – mixing engineer (tracks 1–4, 7, 9–13)
- Eric Lagg – mastering engineer (tracks 1–7, 9–14)
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Die a Legend}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Polo G|title=Die a Legend|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|access-date=December 20, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|artist=Polo G|title=Die a Legend|award=Platinum|id=11612|relyear=2019|certyear=2022|access-date=August 30, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|artist=Polo G|title=Die a Legend|award=Gold|relyear=2019|certyear=2022|source=artist|access-date=August 14, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|certyear=2023|title=Die a Legend|type=album|artist=Polo G|id=17388-5509-2|access-date=June 12, 2023|relyear=2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Polo G|title=Die a Legend|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2019|certyear=2023|access-date=August 10, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Polo G}}
{{Authority control}}