I'm Gay (I'm Happy)

{{Infobox album

| name = I'm Gay (I'm Happy)

| type = studio

| artist = Lil B

| cover = Lilbimgay.png

| alt =

| released = June 29, 2011

| recorded = 2010–11

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Hip hop

| length = 44:00

| label = Amalgam Digital

| producer = {{flatlist|

BigBoyTraks • Caleb Mak • Keyboard Kid • Lil B • Lou Pocus • Rick Flame • Supreme Jean
Clams Casino

}} • Talen Ted

| prev_title = Bitch Mob: Respect Da Bitch Vol. 1

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = I Forgive You

| next_year = 2011

}}

I'm Gay (I'm Happy) is the fifth studio album by American rapper Lil B. The album was released digitally on June 29, 2011. On June 30, 2011, the rapper provided a free download link on his Twitter account.{{cite tweet|user=LILBTHEBASEDGOD|number=86625174899793920|date=30 June 2011|title=CUZ I LOVE YOU IF YOU DONT HAVE 10 DOLLERS TO BUY MY NEW PROJECT HERE IT GOES FOR FREE- Lil B}}{{cite web|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/07/01/lil-b-offers-new-%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99m-gay%E2%80%99-album-for-free/|title=Lil B Offers New 'I'm Gay' Album For Free|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110704102119/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/07/01/lil-b-offers-new-%E2%80%98i%E2%80%99m-gay%E2%80%99-album-for-free/|archive-date=July 4, 2011|date=July 4, 2011|website=MTV|last=Chandler|first=D.L.|access-date=July 1, 2021}} The album entered the Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at number 56 and the Heatseekers Albums chart at number 20 for the week of July 16, 2011.{{cite magazine|title=Lil B Album & Song Chart History|magazine=Billboard|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lil b|chart=all}}|access-date=July 24, 2011}} The album's cover is an allusion to Marvin Gaye's 1976 album, I Want You.

Background and controversy

Lil B announced the album and its title during his performance at the Coachella Festival in 2011. Shortly after the announcement, the rapper was met with backlash, even from his own fans. In MTV News, Lil B claimed he received death threats: "People been hitting me up like, ‘I’m gonna bash your head in,’ ‘you faggot,’ ‘I’m gonna kill you', a lot of my supporters have turned on me. It’s been a few supporters that’s saying, ‘I’m not gonna rock with you anymore'".{{Cite magazine |last=Perpetua |first=Matthew |date=2011-04-25 |title=Lil B Receives Threats For 'I'm Gay' Album Title |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-b-receives-threats-for-im-gay-album-title-99967/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}

The title was met with controversy from the media as well as figures in the hip-hop community. Terrance Dean, former MTV executive and openly gay author of "Hiding In Hip-hop", stated, "I think that [announcement] was so much bigger than he was. That it was like seeing his future before it even actually happened". Openly gay BET blogger Lloyd "Gyant" Dinwiddie perceived the album name as a publicity stunt: "I don't want to take anything away from what I think he's trying to do. I really do feel that it is less about social evolution, and it's more about making a name for yourself and selling your project".{{Cite web |title=Rapper Lil B on 'I'm Gay': 'We're all one people' |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/24/lil.b.album/index.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.cnn.com |language=en}} GLAAD issued a statement addressing the album's title. "As a lyricist, Lil B knows that words matter. Slurs have the power to fuel intolerance. We hope that Lil B's album title is not just a gimmick, and is really a sincere attempt to be an ally".{{Cite web |last=Pulse |first=Pink |title=GLAAD reacts to Lil B's new album title, 'I'm Gay' |url=https://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/18016756 |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=GoPride Chicago (ChicagoPride.com) |language=EN}} In response to the statement, Lil B told MTV "I got major love for the gay and lesbian community, and I just want to push less separation and that’s why I’m doing it. I hope GLAAD sees that I’m taking initial steps to break barriers."

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| MC = 73/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/im-gay-im-happy/lil-b|title=I'm Gay (I'm Happy) by Lil B|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=September 23, 2018}}

| rev1 = The A.V. Club

| rev1Score = B−{{cite web|last=Harvey|first=Eric|url=https://www.avclub.com/lil-b-i-m-gay-i-m-happy-1798169000|title=Lil B: I'm Gay (I'm Happy)|work=The A.V. Club|date=July 26, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2021}}

| rev2 = The Boston Phoenix

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite web|last=Battan|first=Carrie|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/124000-lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/|title=Lil B {{!}} I'm Gay (I'm Happy)|work=The Boston Phoenix|date=July 19, 2011|access-date=September 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111222183548/http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/124000-lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/|archive-date=December 22, 2011|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Consequence of Sound

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Choudhery|first=Möhammad|url=https://consequence.net/2011/07/album-review-lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/|title=Album Review: Lil B – I'm Gay (I'm Happy)|work=Consequence of Sound|date=July 7, 2011|access-date=July 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713085655/https://consequence.net/2011/07/album-review-lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/|archive-date=July 13, 2011|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = Drowned in Sound

| rev4Score = 6/10{{cite web|last=Bychawski|first=Adam|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16445/reviews/4143388|title=Album Review: Lil B – I'm Gay (I'm Happy)|work=Drowned in Sound|date=August 23, 2011|access-date=September 23, 2018|archive-date=September 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085535/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16445/reviews/4143388|url-status=dead}}

| rev5 = Now

| rev5Score = 3/5{{cite web|last=Errett|first=Joshua|url=https://nowtoronto.com/lil-b-im-gay|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181305/https://nowtoronto.com/lil-b-im-gay|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2021|title=Lil B – I'm Gay|work=Now|date=July 21, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2021}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6Score = 8.1/10{{cite web|last=Greene|first=Jayson|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15641-im-gay-im-happy/|title=Lil B: I'm Gay (I'm Happy)|work=Pitchfork|date=July 14, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2021}}

| rev7 = Slant Magazine

| rev7Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Cole|first=Matthew|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/|title=Lil B: I'm Gay (I'm Happy)|work=Slant Magazine|date=July 11, 2011|access-date=July 13, 2011}}

| rev8 = URB

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Shahan|first=James|url=http://www.urb.com/2011/07/04/lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/|title=Lil B – I'm Gay (I'm Happy)|work=URB|date=July 4, 2011|access-date=July 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713011812/http://urb.com/2011/07/04/lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/|archive-date=July 13, 2011}}

| rev9 = XXL

| rev9Score = 3/5{{cite web|last=Greenfield|first=Henry|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/reviews/2011/07/lil-b-im-gay/|title=Lil B, I'm Gay|work=XXL|date=July 6, 2011|access-date=July 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710135506/http://www.xxlmag.com/reviews/2011/07/lil-b-im-gay/|archive-date=July 10, 2011|url-status=live}}

}}

I'm Gay (I'm Happy) received positive reviews; fans commented on the album's wide variety of positive messages and also the unique beats and lyrical styles not common to mainstream hip-hop. Lil B rapped about many controversial issues in the album including race relations, poverty, humanity and the justice system. The album, according to many fans, shows the "true" side of Lil B, many noting the album's inspirational theme. I'm Gay received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 73, based on 10 reviews. Lil B was the subject of controversy because upon the album's release he decided to provide a free version via a download link on Facebook. Many believed this to be a publicity stunt; however, he cleared the controversy when on his Facebook page he posted: "for all my fans who don't have 10 dollars to buy my album, here it is for free."{{cite web|url=http://www.ology.com/music/album-review-im-gay-im-happy-lil-b|title=Album Review: 'I'm Gay (I'm Happy)' by Lil B|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710033921/http://www.ology.com/music/album-review-im-gay-im-happy-lil-b|archive-date=July 10, 2011|last=Ology|first=James|date=July 6, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://k1ngeljay.com/2011/07/04/album-review-lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/#more-4332 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711155051/http://k1ngeljay.com/2011/07/04/album-review-lil-b-im-gay-im-happy/#more-4332|archive-date=July 11, 2011 |title= [Album Review] {{pipe}} Lil' B – "I'm Gay (I'm Happy)" |website=K1ngEljay.com |date=July 4, 2011 |access-date=November 12, 2011}}Weiss, Dan. (2011-07-05) [http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2011/07/lil_bs_im_gay.php Lil B's I'm Gay: More Bashful Than Expected – San Francisco Music – All Shook Down] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709030237/http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2011/07/lil_bs_im_gay.php |date=July 9, 2011 }}. Blogs.sfweekly.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.[http://www.yungdrew.com/2011/07/03/lil-b-im-gay-album-review-download/ Lil B – I'm Gay (Album Review + Download) | Yung Drew's Hip Hop Music] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006102750/http://www.yungdrew.com/2011/07/03/lil-b-im-gay-album-review-download/ |date=October 6, 2011 }}. Yungdrew.com. Retrieved on November 12, 2011.[http://www.soulculture.co.uk/reviews/lil-b-i%E2%80%99m-gay-album-review/ Lil B – I'm Gay | Album Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705122308/http://www.soulculture.co.uk/reviews/lil-b-i%E2%80%99m-gay-album-review/ |date=July 5, 2011 }}. SoulCulture (July 1, 2011). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.[http://prolificmovementblog.com/2011/06/30/lil-b-the-based-god-im-gay-album-review/ Lil B 'The Based God'-I'm Gay (Album Review)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706062340/http://prolificmovementblog.com/2011/06/30/lil-b-the-based-god-im-gay-album-review/ |date=July 6, 2011 }}. Prolificmovementblog.com (June 30, 2011). Retrieved on November 12, 2011.{{Excessive citations inline|date=January 2025}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ Publications' year-end list appearances for I'm Gay (I'm Happy) !Critic/Publication !List !Rank !Ref
scope="row"\| Tiny Mix Tapes \| Tiny Mix Tapes{{'}} Top 50 Albums of 2011 \| style="text-align:center;" \| 30 \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{cite web\|url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/2011-favorite-50-albums-2011\|title=Favorite 50 Albums of 2011\|website=Tiny Mix Tapes\|date=December 15, 2011\|access-date=July 1, 2021}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Publications' year-end list appearances for I'm Gay (I'm Happy)

!Critic/Publication

!List

!Rank

!Ref

scope="row"| Tiny Mix Tapes

| Tiny Mix Tapes{{'}} Top 50 Albums of 2011

| style="text-align:center;" | 30

| style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web|url=https://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/2011-favorite-50-albums-2011|title=Favorite 50 Albums of 2011|website=Tiny Mix Tapes|date=December 15, 2011|access-date=July 1, 2021}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 44:00

| title1 = Trapped in Prison

| extra1 = Lou Pocus

| length1 = 4:00

| title2 = Open Thunder Eternal Slumber

| extra2 = Supreme Jean

| length2 = 2:47

| title3 = Game

| extra3 = BigBoyTraks

| length3 = 3:43

| title4 = Unchain Me

| extra4 = Clams Casino

| length4 = 3:54

| title5 = Neva Stop Me

| extra5 = Talen Ted

| length5 = 2:36

| title6 = Gon Be Okay

| extra6 = Caleb Mak

| length6 = 2:23

| title7 = The Wilderness

| extra7 = Rick Flame

| length7 = 3:29

| title8 = I Hate Myself

| extra8 = Keyboard Kid

| length8 = 5:45

| title9 = Get It While It's Good

| extra9 = Talen Ted

| length9 = 3:36

| title10 = I Seen That Light

| extra10 = BigBoyTraks

| length10 = 4:02

| title11 = My Last Chance

| extra11 = BigBoyTraks

| length11 = 4:04

| title12 = 1 Time Remix

| extra12 = Clams Casino

| length12 = 4:00

}}

;Samples

"Trapped in Prison" contains a sample of "Leaving Shire" by Bo Hansson.
"Open Thunder Eternal Slumber" contains a sample of "Catch the Breeze" by Slowdive.
"Game" contains a sample of "Of All the Things" by Stephanie Mills
"Unchain Me" contains a sample of "Cry Little Sister" by Gerard McMann.
"Neva Stop Me" contains a sample of "Quasimodo's Marriage" by Alec R. Costandinos.
"Gon Be Okay" contains a sample of "One Summer's Day" by Joe Hisaishi.
"The Wilderness" contains a sample of "Futari Dake No Ceremony" by Yukiko Okada.
"I Hate Myself" contains a sample of Boyz II Men's cover of "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls.
"Get It While It's Good" contains a sample of "Dreaming" by Bill Summers.
"I Seen That Light" contains a sample of "Lost in Time" by Eric Benet.
"My Last Chance" contains a sample of "Still Waiting" by Johnny Gill.

Charts

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+Chart performance for I'm Gay (I'm Happy)
Chart (2011) ! Peak position
{{album chart\|BillboardHeatseekers\|20\|artist=Lil B\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=August 16, 2020}}
{{album chart\|BillboardRandBHipHop\|56\|artist=Lil B\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=August 16, 2020}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Chart performance for I'm Gay (I'm Happy)

Chart (2011)

! Peak
position

{{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|20|artist=Lil B|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 16, 2020}}

{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|56|artist=Lil B|rowheader=true|accessdate=August 16, 2020}}

References

Category:2011 albums

Category:Lil B albums

Category:Amalgam Digital albums

Category:Albums free for download by copyright owner

Category:LGBTQ-related controversies in music

Category:Albums produced by Clams Casino (musician)