Rolling Stone (album)
| Rolling Stone | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 12 January 2024 | |||
| Studio | IBØ Studio (Paris) | |||
| Length | 48:29 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer |
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| D-Block Europe chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rolling Stone | ||||
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Rolling Stone is the third full-length studio album by British hip hop duo D-Block Europe (consisting of Young Adz and Dirtbike LB), independently released through EGA Records and UMG on 12 January 2024. The album is a follow-up to their sixth mixtape, DBE World in July 2023.[1][2] The album features guest appearances from Kodak Black, Noizy, and Yxng Bane, alongside production from Da Beatfreakz, Eight8, Harry Beech, Lone Wolf, and Mike Vegas, alongside several other producers.[3][4][5]
Background
[edit]The album was first announced on 30 November 2023, following the release of its lead single released on the same day, "I Need It Now".[6] To promote the sale of the album, they also announced their first show back at The O2 Arena in London stating that early access to the tickets will be given to buyers who pre-order their new album.[7] However, the date quickly sold out, resulting in Young Adz and Dirtbike LB adding another three dates for the O2 Arena, all of which continued to sell out. Due to high demand, they also announced a show in Manchester's AO Arena.[8][9] In order to promote the release and sales of the album, the rap duo announced physical album signing dates in partnership with HMV who will assist them in their stores in Nottingham, Leeds, Birmingham, and Manchester.[9]
D-Block Europe released the album's second single, "Skims" on 4 January 2024, alongside its official music video.[10] The track's main lyrical topic was of Kim Kardashian's shapewear and clothing brand, Skims as the two artists rap about the brand, Kim, alongside firearms, money, and drugs.[11] On 10 January 2024, Young Adz had taken to his social media to post the album's tracklist, previewing guest appearances from Kodak Black, Noizy, and Yxng Bane. Just a day prior to the release of the album, D-Block Europe released the third and final single from the album, "Eagle" with Noizy, accompanied by its official music video, which was filmed in Albania.[12][13]
Following the release of the album, on January 25, 2024, D-Block Europe released the official music video for "Badgalriri".[14]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 8/10[15] |
| The Guardian |   [16] |
| The Observer | [17] |
Rolling Stone received mediocre reviews from critics. Writing for Clash, Shanté Collier-McDermott wrote that "DBE have delivered love and anti-love anthems for past few years, and as we get into their third album – and at least ninth overall project – it's admirable to see them still churning out refreshing but similar themed tracks". He stated that "for every upbeat bubbler this album also has a sombre pick, giving a realistic depiction of their journey".[15] Thomas Hobbs for The Guardian praised the artists, noting that "D-Block Europe's formula has been wildly successful: a catchy combination of saccharine Auto-Tune effects, x-rated bars, melancholic trap beats and woozy hooks about drug dealing", however, "on their third studio album, Young Adz and Dirtbike LB's formula reaches its limitations". Hobbs noted that "Rolling Stone teems with addictively wavy trap that shimmers with a fascinating mix of glory and paranoia", but notes that their lyricism is basic and "surface-level". Summarising his review, he stated that "anything that approaches depth on the album is immediately overlooked in favour of misogynistic sex talk or tirades about luxury items".[16]
Writing for The Observer, Damien Morris noted that despite "the pair's lyrics [being] often uninspiring", D-Block Europe "have spoken and rapped eloquently in the past about the horrors of trap life, their unstable mental health and therapy's consolations, yet interventions here rarely extend beyond sex and shopping". Morris wrote that "sometimes Adz's ever-present AutoTune makes his rapping sound like being importuned by a dying robot", but "once you're addicted to their codeine-paced palliatives, Rolling Stone offers its own therapy via an unexpectedly comforting listen".[17]
Commercial performance
[edit]Rolling Stone landed at the number one position on the UK Albums Chart.[18][19] The album beat out 21 Savage's American Dream and The Vaccines' Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations for the number one spot.[20][21] Singles "I Need to Know", "Skims", and "Eagle" charted on the UK singles chart: "I Need to Know" (78), "Skims" (72), and "Eagle" (19). UK chart rules prevent artists from having more than three songs in the top 40 at once, otherwise, D-Block Europe's album would have generated further new entries in the countdown.[22]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Need It Now" |
|
| 3:05 |
| 2. | "Go Go Gang" |
|
| 3:56 |
| 3. | "Poisonous Tongue" |
|
| 2:43 |
| 4. | "Girls Love Lies" |
|
| 2:53 |
| 5. | "Bando Aiko" |
| 24x7 | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Pink Lemonade" (with Yxng Bane) |
|
| 2:44 |
| 7. | "Still Outside" |
|
| 3:45 |
| 8. | "Eagle" (with Noizy) |
| Da Beatfreakz | 4:57 |
| 9. | "Skims" |
|
| 3:02 |
| 10. | "Gassed Up Like Esso" |
|
| 2:55 |
| 11. | "Metro Bank" |
|
| 2:57 |
| 12. | "Not All Heroes Wear Capes" |
|
| 3:05 |
| 13. | "Lady in Hermes" |
|
| 3:20 |
| 14. | "Badgalriri" |
|
| 2:24 |
| 15. | "Still Play Valorant" (with Kodak Black) |
|
| 3:11 |
| Total length: | 48:29 | |||
Personnel
[edit]D-Block Europe
- Young Adz – rap vocals
- Dirtbike LB – rap vocals
Additional contributors
- Prince Galalie – mastering, mixing
- Harold "IBØ Studio" Hotton – mixing, recording
- Yxng Bane – rap vocals (6)
- Noizy – rap vocals (8)
- Kodak Black – rap vocals (15)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Albums (OCC)[23] | 15 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[24] | 2 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[25] | 1 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[26] | 1 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[27] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Keith, James (15 January 2024). "D-Block Europe Draft Kodak Black, Yxng Bane & Noizy For New Album 'Rolling Stone'". Complex. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ Cattermole, Liam (8 January 2024). "Notion Now: D-Block Europe, UMI, Lewis Capaldi". Notion. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "D-BLOCK EUROPE LIBERATE BRAND NEW 'ROLLING STONE' ALBUM". GRM Daily. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "D-BLOCK EUROPE – ROLLING STONE". Wonderland. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Rap duo D-Block Europe battle The Vaccines to claim their first number one album". Express & Star. 15 January 2024. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ Archibald-Powell, Naimah (1 December 2023). "D-Block Europe Announce New Album Rolling Stone with "I Need It Now" Visuals". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Johnson, Laura (1 December 2023). "D-Block Europe Announce New Album Rolling Stone And London Show At The O2". Stereoboard. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Pilly, Max (7 December 2023). "D-Block Europe announce two extra shows at The O2 in London due to phenomenal demand". NME. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ a b Johnson, Laura (8 December 2023). "D-Block Europe Announce Fourth London Date And Manchester Show For February". Stereoboard. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ Smith, Carl (4 January 2024). "New Releases: Shed Seven, Bring Me The Horizon, Sprints and more". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ Scott, Jim (5 January 2024). "D-Block Europe Mark Return with New Banger "Skims"". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ "D-Block Europe Unleash New "Eagle" Video Featuring Noizy". GRM Daily. 11 January 2024. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Powell, Jon (11 January 2024). "D-Block Europe drops off latest visual for "Eagle" with Noizy". Revolt. Archived from the original on 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "WATCH D-BLOCK EUROPE SHINE IN "BADGALRIRI" VIDEO". GRM Daily. 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b Collier-McDermott, Shanté (12 January 2024). "D-Block Europe – Rolling Stone". Clash. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ a b Hobbs, Thomas (5 January 2024). "D-Block Europe: Rolling Stone review – captivating music only underscores rap duo's superficial lyrics". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
- ^ a b Morris, Damien (14 January 2024). "D-Block Europe: Rolling Stone review – melodic, codeine-paced palliatives". The Observer. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (16 January 2024). "D-Block Europe Set to Crush U.K. Albums Chart With Rolling Stone". Billboard. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Paine, Andre (19 January 2024). "'D-Block Europe are titans of UK rap': Inside EGA Distro's chart-topping album campaign". Music Week. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "The Vaccines and D Block Europe battle for number one album". Daily Echo. 19 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ Brandle, Lars (22 January 2024). "D-Block Europe Set to Crush U.K. Albums Chart With Rolling Stone". Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ Smith, Carl (19 January 2024). "D-Block Europe celebrate first-ever Number 1 album with Rolling Stone". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – D-Block Europe – Rolling Stone". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 24 August 2024.