Business Is Business (stylized in all caps) is the third studio album by American rapper Young Thug. It was released on June 23, 2023, through YSL Records and was distributed by Atlantic Records and 300 Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Future, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Yak Gotti, Lil Uzi Vert, BSlime, Lil Gotit and Nate Ruess. American record producer and album executive producer Metro Boomin's version of the album was released four days later on June 27, 2023, and is the tracklist that he originally envisioned, along with bonus tracks.[2] It features additional guest appearances from the late Juice Wrld and Nicki Minaj. Production on the album was handled by Metro Boomin, Wheezy, London on da Track, Dr. Luke, FnZ, Allen Ritter, Dre Moon, F1lthy, Southside, Bobby Raps, and among others.
| Business Is Business | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 23, 2023 | |||
| Length | 46:40 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Young Thug chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Business Is Business | ||||
Business Is Business marks Young Thug's first and only project since his arrest on Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges in May 2022, in which he released the album while in jail. It serves as the follow-up to his previous album, Punk (2021).
Background
editOn May 9, 2022, Young Thug was arrested in a massive gang indictment alongside multiple other affiliates of his record label, Young Stoner Life, with one of them notably being fellow American rapper Gunna, who turned himself in two days later, and also Yak Gotti, who also appears on the album.[3] The 28 defendants were later charged with 56 counts related to gang activity and racketeering. At the time of the release of the album, he was still incarcerated and has been denied bond several times. Thug has since pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.[4] His trial started in July 2023.[5] In reference to the situation, the album cover depicts Thug in a courtroom surrounded by co-defendants.[6] The record was announced on the rapper's social media on June 22, 2023.[7] American record producer Metro Boomin, who also serves as the executive producer of the album, later shared the announcement on his social media in support of the rapper.[8] He had previously posted a QR code leading to a countdown on his website with the album title and tagged Thug on June 16.[9] The clock was also shared by fellow rappers and producers Drake, Chance the Rapper, Gunna, Don Toliver, Quavo, Doe Boy, Lil Durk, 21 Savage, G Herbo, Ty Dolla Sign, Chase B, London on da Track, Southside and Wheezy.[10]
Critical reception
edit| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 64/100[11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [12] |
| Exclaim! | 5/10[13] |
| HipHopDX | 3.4/5[14] |
| Mic Cheque | 5/10[15] |
| Pitchfork | 7.0/10[16] |
| Rolling Stone |  [17] |
| Slant Magazine | [18] |
Business Is Business received generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 64, based on five reviews.[11]
In a mixed review, Mark Braboy of Rolling Stone wrote "The title Business Is Business feels appropriate. Thug's performance is just that. Strictly business. Eerily, the album's hodge-podge quality has the feel of a posthumous LP made by someone who is still alive. The boundary-pushing, dress-rocking, unpredictable superstar we've watched evolve over the years feels significantly diminished here. Whatever the spark the music has is largely carried by his guests" and "Such moments excepted, the content of Business Is Business feels bland, especially for an expectations-thwarting artist like Thug".[17] Paul Attard of Slant Magazine wrote, "Bizarre vocalic inflections and utterances aside, Business Is Business also abounds in Thug's trademark outlandish songwriting quirks."[18] Vernon Ayiku of Exclaim! stated, "Overall, the album doesn't have a lot of replay value besides a few stand-out songs like the Drake-featuring "Oh U Went" and "Went Thru It," which is led mainly by the strength of Metro Boomin's production."[13] Reviewing for HipHopDX, Dash Lewis praised the production of the album, stating "More than anything, Business is a triumph for Metro Boomin's curatorial skills, earning his executive producer credit by guiding the album's greyscale sound. Metro provides the lion's share of the beats, but the other producers he recruits — Wheezy, Aviator Keyyz, F1LTHY — match the unsteady atmosphere", but also wrote "There isn't much more context to be found in the music, which isn't nearly as fun or inventive as his previous work. It's unclear exactly what Thug was trying to communicate here; if it's meant to be a good bit of escapism, both for artist and audience, it's a little too brooding."[14] Paul A. Thompson of Pitchfork wrote, "Business Is Business, perhaps due to its nature as a cobbled-together collection from someone who can't access a recording studio, even to comb through his vaults, frequently recalls Thug's loosest, most apparently improvisatory work. It's all the more compelling for it."[16]
Commercial performance
editBusiness Is Business debuted at two on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 89,000 album-equivalent units (including 9,000 pure sales) in its first week.[19] The album also accumulated a total of 106.32 million on-demand streams of the album's songs. The album is Thug's ninth top-ten debut and his first to not reach the number one section on the Billboard 200.[19]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Parade on Cleveland" (featuring Drake) |
|
| 3:48 |
| 2. | "Money on the Dresser" |
| Aviator Keyyz | 2:13 |
| 3. | "Gucci Grocery Bag" |
| Aviator Keyyz | 2:55 |
| 4. | "Cars Bring Me Out" (featuring Future) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 5. | "Wit da Racks" (featuring 21 Savage, Travis Scott, and Yak Gotti) |
|
| 3:46 |
| 6. | "Uncle M" |
|
| 2:20 |
| 7. | "Abracadabra" (featuring Travis Scott) |
|
| 4:07 |
| 8. | "Went Thru It" |
| Dr. Luke | 2:35 |
| 9. | "Oh U Went" (featuring Drake) |
|
| 3:05 |
| 10. | "Want Me Dead" (featuring 21 Savage) |
|
| 3:14 |
| 11. | "Hellcat Kenny" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) |
|
| 2:34 |
| 12. | "Mad Dog" |
| Metro Boomin | 3:49 |
| 13. | "Jonesboro" |
| Metro Boomin | 2:43 |
| 14. | "Hoodie" (featuring BSlime and Lil Gotit) |
|
| 3:35 |
| 15. | "Global Access" (featuring Nate Ruess) |
|
| 2:28 |
| Total length: | 46:40 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jonesboro" |
| Metro Boomin | 2:43 |
| 2. | "Mad Dog" |
| Metro Boomin | 2:49 |
| 3. | "Uncle M" |
|
| 2:20 |
| 4. | "Want Me Dead" (featuring 21 Savage) |
|
| 3:14 |
| 5. | "Cars Bring Me Out" (featuring Future) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 6. | "Oh U Went" (featuring Drake) |
|
| 3:05 |
| 7. | "Money" (featuring Juice Wrld and Nicki Minaj) | Charlie Heat | 4:26 | |
| 8. | "Hoodie" (featuring BSlime and Lil Gotit) |
|
| 3:35 |
| 9. | "Wit da Racks" (featuring 21 Savage, Travis Scott, and Yak Gotti) |
|
| 3:46 |
| 10. | "Parade on Cleveland" (featuring Drake) |
|
| 3:48 |
| 11. | "Abracadabra" (featuring Travis Scott) |
|
| 4:07 |
| 12. | "Went Thru It" |
| Dr. Luke | 2:35 |
| 13. | "Money on the Dresser" |
| Aviator Keyyz | 2:13 |
| 14. | "Hellcat Kenny" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) |
|
| 2:34 |
| 15. | "Gucci Grocery Bag" |
| Aviator Keyyz | 2:55 |
| 16. | "Global Access" (featuring Nate Ruess) |
|
| 2:28 |
| 17. | "Sake of My Kids" |
| Wheezy | 3:58 |
| Total length: | 55:05 | |||
Notes
edit- "Uncle M" features additional vocals from Travis Scott
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
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References
edit- ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". July 12, 2023. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ @MetroBoomin (June 26, 2023). "This is the tracklist and sequence I originally envisioned for this album 💼🤝🏾#BusinessIsBusiness" (Tweet). Retrieved June 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (May 11, 2022). "Rapper Gunna Jailed in Atlanta on Racketeering Charge With Young Thug". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (June 23, 2023). "Young Thug Releases New Album Business Is Business: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Bernstein, Elaina (June 22, 2023). "Young Thug's 'Business is Business' Dropping Tonight". Hypebeast. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Garcia, Thania (June 23, 2023). "Young Thug to Drop New Album 'Business Is Business' From Jail". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Lamarre, Carl (June 22, 2023). "Young Thug Announces 'Business Is Business' Album From Jail and It's Arriving Very Soon". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (June 22, 2023). "Young Thug Will Drop Album 'Business Is Business' From Jail". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (June 16, 2023). "Metro Boomin Teases Young Thug Music With New Countdown Timer". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (June 23, 2023). "Young Thug Drops 'Business Is Business' Album While Behind Bars f/ Drake, Travis Scott, and More". Complex. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Business Is Business by Young Thug". Metacritic. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Staff, TiVo. "BUSINESS IS BUSINESS Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Ayiku, Vernon (June 27, 2023). "Young Thug Is All Work on the Muddled 'Business Is Business'". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Lewis, Dash (June 27, 2023). "Young Thug Delivers an Uneven Surprise on 'Business Is Business'". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ Riaz, Hamza (June 30, 2023). "Review: Young Thug, 'Business Is Business'". Mic Cheque. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Thompson, Paul A. (June 28, 2023). "Young Thug: Business Is Business Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Braboy, Mark (June 26, 2023). "Young Thug's 'Business Is Business' Has the Feel of a Posthumous Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Attard, Paul (June 26, 2023). "Young Thug Business Is Business Review: A Strictly Business Playlist". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (July 2, 2023). "Morgan Wallen's 'One Thing at a Time' Spends 15th Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Young Thug – Business Is Business" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Young Thug – Business Is Business" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Young Thug – Business Is Business" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Young Thug Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Young Thug – Business Is Business" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Young Thug – Business Is Business" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 26 – 2023" [The Music – Albums – Week 26 – 2023] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "2023 26-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
- ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 23.06.2023–29.06.2023 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Young Thug – Business Is Business". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ "Young Thug Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Young Thug Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.