Wow... That's Crazy
studio
ArtistWale
CoverWale - Wow That's Crazy.jpg
ReleasedOctober 11, 2019
Recorded2018–2019
GenreHip hop
Length53:42
LabelEvery Blue Moon · Maybach · Warner
ProducerThe Arcade · Ayo & Keyz · Bizness Boi · The DropKix · D Woo · Esta · Hit-Boy · J-Bo · Kyle Donald · Lionel Nealy · Mike Hector · Norva "VA" Denton · OB · OTF Rah · OZ · Sango · StreetRunner · Super Miles · Tarik Azzouz · Todd Bergman · Todd Moore
Prev year2017
Next year2021

Wow... That's Crazy is the sixth studio album by American rapper Wale. It was released on October 11, 2019, by Every Blue Moon, Maybach Music Group and Warner Records.[1] The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including: Hit-Boy, OZ, Ayo & Keyz, The Arcade and Bizness Boi among others. The album also features guest appearance by Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Bryson Tiller, Ari Lennox, Boogie, 6lack, Lil Durk, and more.[2][3]

Wow... That's Crazy was supported by five singles: "On Chill", "BGM", "Love & Loyalty", "Love... (Her Fault)" and "Sue Me".[4] The album received generally positive reviews from music critics and was a moderate commercial success. It debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 with 38,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.[5] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in November 2021.[6]

Background

In 2018, Wale announced that he parted ways with Atlantic Records, and released three EPs with Warner Records throughout the year: It's Complicated, Self Promotion, and Free Lunch.[7]

Cover art

The album's cover art is a reference to the 2018 art intervention Love Is in the Bin by Banksy, when his painting of his mural Girl with Balloon was shredded by means of a self-destruction mechanism immediately after the painting's sale at auction. This is emulated in the cover art for Wow... That's Crazy, which shows the shredding of a portrait of Wale striking the same pose as on the cover art for his 2011 album Ambition.[8] The cover art for Wow... That's Crazy also features a red balloon, a notable element of Banksy's mural Girl with Balloon.[9][10]

Singles

Wale released "Black Bonnie" and "Poledancer" in 2018 as promotional singles.[11]

The first single from the album, "On Chill" featuring Jeremih, was released on July 12, 2019.[12] On August 26, the second single "BGM" was released.[13] He released the third single on October 1, titled "Loyalty & Love" featuring Mannywellz.[14]

"Love... (Her Fault)", featuring Bryson Tiller was released as a single in January 2020. The album opener "Sue Me", featuring Kelly Price was released as a single in April 2020. "Sue Me" was performed as a medley with "Love... (Her Fault)", alongside Price on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah on February 11, 2020, in which Wale paid tribute to Kobe Bryant and Bryant's daughter Gianna.[15] A video, in the form of a short-film, was released for "Sue Me" on April 22, 2020.[16] Rap-Up described the video as "provocative and powerful", showcasing "an alternate reality where the black and white experience are reversed".[16]

Commercial performance

Wow... That's Crazy debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 38,000 album-equivalent units (including 5,000 copies in pure album sales) in its first week.[5] This became Wale's fourth US top-ten debut on the chart.[5] On November 30, 2021, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.[6]

Track listing

Notes

  • signifies an additional producer
  • signifies a co-producer

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
US Billboard 200[5]7

References

  1. ^ "Wow... That's Crazy by Wale". Apple Music. 11 October 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  2. ^ "Stream Wale's New Album 'Wow... That's Crazy' f/ Megan Thee Stallion, 6lack, and More". Complex. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  3. ^ "Listen To Wale "Wow…That's Crazy" Album". 8o8wave. 11 October 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Wale Reveals 'Wow... That's Crazy' Tracklisting". Rap Up. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  5. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 20, 2019). "YoungBoy Never Broke Again Nabs First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  6. ^ RIAA
  7. ^ "Wale Parts Ways with Atlantic Records, Drops New Track "All Star Break Up"". The Source. 15 February 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  8. ^ https://hiphop-n-more.com/2019/10/wale-channels-inner-banksy-for-his-wow-thats-crazy-album-cover/
  9. ^ https://uhurumag.com/1571/culture/music-culture/album-review-wow-thats-crazy/
  10. ^ https://hiphop-n-more.com/2019/10/wale-channels-inner-banksy-for-his-wow-thats-crazy-album-cover/
  11. ^ "Wale Only Has Eyes For The "Poledancer"". HotNewHipHop. 20 December 2018.
  12. ^ "On Chill (feat. Jeremih) – Single". Apple Music
  13. ^ "BGM - Single". Apple Music
  14. ^ "Loyalty & Love (feat. Mannywellz) - Single". Apple Music
  15. ^ Saponara, Michael (February 12, 2020). "Wale Pays Tribute to Kobe Bryant With 'Wow... That's Crazy' Medley Performance on 'The Daily Show': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  16. ^ "Wale Debuts Powerful Short Film for 'Sue Me'". Rap-Up. April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.