Money Can't Buy Happiness is the second studio album by British rapper Fredo, released on January 29, 2021, by Since 93, RCA, and Sony Music UK.[1][2] The album succeeds the debut album Third Avenue, released in 2019, and includes guest appearances from Dave, Pop Smoke, Summer Walker & Young Adz.[3] Money Can't Buy Happiness was executive produced by Dave, with additional production from Da Beatfreakz, Kyle Evans, and Rico Beats, alongside several other producers.
Money Can't Buy Happiness | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 29, 2021 | |||
Length | 43:21 | |||
Label |
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Producer | ||||
Fredo chronology | ||||
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Singles from Money Can't Buy Happiness | ||||
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Money Can't Buy Happiness was supported by three singles: "What Can I Say", "Back to Basics", which reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Money Talks" featuring Dave, which reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Background
editFredo released the album's lead single, "What Can I Say", on October 29, 2020, following a six-month absence before returning to music.[4][5][6] Following his six-month hiatus, on January 20, 2021, Fredo had officially taken to his Instagram to announce the album.[7][8][9][10] The announcement was followed by Fredo's return to music with the album's second single, "Back to Basics" on January 21, 2021, which peaked at #20 on the UK Singles Chart.[7][11] On January 24, 2021, Fredo had taken to his Instagram to post the album's official tracklist, teasing features from Dave, Pop Smoke, Summer Walker & Young Adz.[12][13] Just a day before the release of the album, on January 28, 2021, Fredo released the third and final single from the album, "Money Talks" featuring Dave.[14][15][16][17]
Critical reception
editReview scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Clash | 8/10[18] |
The Forty-Five | [19] |
The Observer | [20] |
Money Can't Buy Happiness received generally positive reviews from critics. Writing for Clash, Robin Murray wrote that "thematically, the album cuts close to the bone", before admitting that "it’s the sonic details that really allow Money Can’t Buy Happiness to reach that higher level". Murray wrote that "the sheer accuracy of the studio effects, the subtlety of the arrangements, all build to enhance Fredo’s bars, containing intricate messages of personal truth" and that "Fredo has never been so open, and this frankness is at first shocking". Concluding his review, he stated that the album "is our most vivid portrait yet of Fredo’s soul".[18] The Forty-Five's Kate French-Morris stated that "to document street life without staying stuck in it, both in music and real life, is a tough gig that Fredo hasn’t wholly mastered, but his fixation on solid narration could be his ace card". Concluding her review, she wrote that "the select feature list and continued neat control suggest Fredo’s not just a good rapper but a good editor, whittling down songs until only the finest remain".[19] Kate Hutchinson for The Observer wrote that on the album, "the mood is surprisingly melancholy, accented by Tupac-echoing piano, the beats punchy and unfussy, and Fredo’s lyrical flair shines through".[20]
Track listing
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Biggest Mistake" |
| Arkz Beats | 4:55 |
2. | "Back to Basics" |
| Dave | 3:17 |
3. | "Spaghetti" |
|
| 3:32 |
4. | "Ready" (featuring Summer Walker) |
|
| 4:22 |
5. | "Money Talks" (featuring Dave) |
| Dave | 4:34 |
6. | "Do You Right" |
| Mjproductions | 3:45 |
7. | "Burner On Deck" (featuring Pop Smoke and Young Adz) |
|
| 3:08 |
8. | "I Miss" |
| Kirk Beats | 3:45 |
9. | "Blood in My Eyes" |
| Dave | 4:09 |
10. | "Aunt's Place" |
| Dukus | 4:16 |
11. | "What Can I Say" |
| Da Beatfreakz | 3:38 |
Total length: | 43:21 |
Charts
editChart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[21] | 106 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] | 43 |
Irish Albums (OCC)[23] | 2 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] | 38 |
UK Albums (OCC)[25] | 2 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[26] | 3 |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Patterson, Joseph JP; Keith, James; Abiade, Yemi; Bishop, Aaron; Kazandjian, Robert (29 January 2021). "First Impressions Of Fredo's 'Money Can't Buy Happiness' Album". Complex UK. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Fredo releases new album 'Money Can't Buy Happiness'". Sony Music UK. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Fredo new album 'Money Can't Buy Happiness': release date, tracklist, features & more". Capital Xtra. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Lynch, Jack (30 October 2020). "Fredo Dedicates New Single "What Can I Say" To Lost Loved Ones". Complex UK. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Wynter, Courtney (29 October 2020). "FREDO RELEASES VISUALS FOR DEEP NEW SINGLE "WHAT CAN I SAY"". GRM Daily. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jon (4 November 2020). "Fredo reveals new visual for "What Can I Say"". Revolt TV. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ a b Kenneally, Cerys (22 January 2021). "Fredo announces new album with Dave-produced lead single "Back To Basics"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Wynter, Courtney (20 January 2021). "FREDO ANNOUNCES HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED SECOND STUDIO ALBUM 'MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS'". GRM Daily. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (22 January 2021). "Fredo Announces New Album 'Money Can't Buy Happiness'". Clash. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Lavin, Will (22 January 2021). "Fredo announces new album and shares Dave-produced lead single 'Back To Basics'". NME. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jon (22 January 2021). "Fredo gets "Back To Basics" in new visual". Revolt TV. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Archibald-Powell, Naimah (24 January 2021). "FREDO DROPS TRACKLIST FOR 'MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS' FEATURING YOUNG ADZ, POP SMOKE, DAVE & MORE". GRM Daily. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (25 January 2021). "Summer Walker, Dave, Pop Smoke and more to feature on Fredo's new album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Wynter, Courtney (28 January 2021). "FREDO & DAVE RE-UNITE IN VISUALS FOR NEW SINGLE "MONEY TALKS"". GRM Daily. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Griffiths, Joel (28 January 2021). "FREDO AND DAVE RETURN WITH CUTTING EDGE 'MONEY TALKS' VISUALS". Link Up TV. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Ainsley, Helen (2 February 2021). "Fredo lands Top 2 trending songs in the UK following the release of Money Can't Buy Happiness". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Fredo 'Money Talks' featuring Dave: lyrics meaning revealed". Capital Xtra. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ a b Murray, Robin (29 January 2021). "Fredo – Money Can't Buy Happiness". Clash. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ a b French-Morris, Kate (28 January 2021). "Fredo – 'Money Can't Buy Happiness' review: dark spangled stories from rap's frankest recruit". The Forty-Five. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ a b Hutchinson, Kate (7 February 2021). "Fredo: Money Can't Buy Happiness review – melancholy rap realism". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Fredo – Money Can't Buy Happiness" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Fredo – Money Can't Buy Happiness" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – Fredo – Money Can't Buy Happiness". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 January 2024.