Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind
| Company type | Studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | August 12, 2022 |
| Founder | The Game |
| Products | Hip hop music |
| Parent | 100 Entertainment, Virgin Music Label & Artist Services |
Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind (commonly referred to as Drillmatic) represents the tenth studio album by American hip-hop artist the Game, released on August 12, 2022, through 100 Entertainment and Virgin Music Label & Artist Services (currently known as Virgin Music). This project includes collaborations with prominent figures such as Kanye West, Big Sean, and Drake. Production credits feature renowned producers including Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Mike Dean, and Hit-Boy.
The album's promotion involved two singles: "Eazy" featuring Kanye West and "Stupid" featuring Big Sean. It is notable for containing diss tracks like "Eazy" and "The Black Slim Shady," which respectively target comedian Pete Davidson and rapper Eminem. Moreover, the song "World Tours" includes a feature from Nipsey Hussle but is absent from streaming services.
Background
On social media, The Game presented Drillmatic as a definitive statement affirming his status as "the best rapper alive," claiming it to be the most powerful release of his career. He cited delays in the album’s release as partly due to challenges with sample clearances and significant "disloyalty" from close associates that impacted both his professional trajectory and financial situation.
The lead single, "Eazy," which features Kanye West, initially premiered exclusively on Spotify on January 15, 2022, before becoming available on additional platforms. This track also appeared on West’s album Donda 2. Although originally scheduled for a July 8, 2022 release date, Drillmatic was postponed.
The album received a range of critical responses, from moderate ratings such as 2.5/5 by AllMusic and Slant Magazine to higher scores like 8/10 from Medium, culminating in an average Metacritic score of 59/100. Critics acknowledged several standout moments but also pointed out inconsistencies throughout the record.
Critical reception
Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind garnered mixed feedback from music reviewers. According to Metacritic, it holds a score of 59 out of 100 based on five critiques, signifying "mixed or average reviews."
Matthew Ruiz of Pitchfork assigned the album a 5.7/10 rating, characterizing it as "wearisome" due to its extensive length and "disappointing" because The Game’s allusions to various hip-hop subgenres and veteran artists felt more like hidden references than sincere homages.
Commercial performance
In the United States, Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind entered the Billboard 200 chart at number twelve and reached number eight on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, moving 25,000 album-equivalent units during its debut week. This achievement marked the eighteenth time The Game has charted an album domestically.
Notes
- "Drake with the Braids (Interlude)" includes vocal contributions from Drake.
- "O.P.P." initially featured a verse by YoungBoy Never Broke Again, which was removed one week after release due to clearance complications.
- "World Tours" was taken down following the album’s release.
- The original tracklist contained "Wasteman," which was ultimately unreleased.
Sample credits
- "La La Land" incorporates a sample from "Friday" by Ice Cube.
- "Change the Game" samples the track of the same name by Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, and Memphis Bleek.
- "No Man Falls" uses a sample from "Blow Away Breeze" by Marvin Sims.
- "Chrome Slugs & Harmony" samples "Thuggish Ruggish Bone" by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
- "Start from Scratch II" contains a sample of "Get Away" by Mobb Deep.
- "Rubi's Rose" includes samples from "They Don't Know" by Jon B. and "Take Away" by Missy Elliott and Ginuwine.
- "Money Cash Clothes" samples "Money, Cash, Hoes" performed by Jay-Z and DMX.
- "Save the Best for Last" features a sample from "Castles of Sand" by Jermaine Jackson.
- "A Father's Prayer" incorporates a sample from Jay-Z's "Song Cry."
- "Universal Love" uses samples from "Got Til It's Gone" by Janet Jackson, Joni Mitchell, and Q-Tip.
- "Eazy" samples "Eazy-Duz-It" by Eazy-E.
Charts
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (2022) | Highest ranking |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 72 |
| Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA) | 23 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 40 |
References
- Articles with short description
- 2022 albums
- The Game (rapper) albums
- MNRK Music Group albums
- Albums produced by Hit-Boy
- Albums produced by Mustard (record producer)
- Albums produced by DJ Paul
- Albums produced by London on da Track
- Albums produced by Symbolyc One
- Albums produced by Mike Dean (record producer)
- Albums produced by Swizz Beatz