# Reason to Smile

Reason to Smile is the debut studio album by British rapper Kojey Radical, released 4 March 2022 by Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Mercury Prize and nominated for Album of the Year at the 2022 MOBO Awards.

## Background

The album was preceded by four singles: "War Outside" released 23 September 2021; "Gangsta" released 15 November; "Payback" released 15 January 2022; and "Silk" released 18 February. The first three came along with music videos while "Silk" received an official visualiser. Another video for "Talkin" released 9 March, featuring animated versions of Radical and the song's guests Tiana Major9 and Kelis.

## Reception

Reason to Smile ratings :
| Aggregate scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.0/10 |
| Metacritic | 81/100 |
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 8/10 |
| DIY | |
| Financial Times | |
| The Guardian | |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10 |
| Loud and Quiet | 9/10 |
| NME | |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Reason to Smile received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 from 7 critic scores. "Payback" was included at number 9 on BBC Music's list of the best songs of the year.

### Accolades

Reason to Smile awards :
| Year | Organisation | Award | Status |
| 2022 | Mercury Prize | — | Shortlisted |
| 2022 | GRM Daily Rated Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | MOBO Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated |
Reason to Smile year-end lists :
| Publication | # |
| Clash | 22 |
| Double J | 22 |
| NME | 35 |
| PopMatters | 33 |

## Track listing

All tracks are written by Kwadwo Adu Genfi Amponsah with others noted
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Additional producer

## Personnel
### Musicians

* Kojey Radical – vocals
* Cameron Palmer – synth bass (2, 5, 10), piano (5, 8), keyboards (10, 13), organ (8), synthesizer (8), Rhodes solo (8), guitar (10), Wurlitzer (11)
* Kwame "KZ" Kwei-Armah Jr. – additional vocals (1, 3, 6, 10), synthesizer (2, 13), piano (1), Rhodes solo (2), piano (7), bass (8), guitar (8), synth bass (9), whistling (9)
* Tiana Major9 – vocals (1, 8)
* Masego – vocals (4)
* Shaé Universe – vocals (5)
* Cashh – vocals (6)
* Kelis – vocals (8)
* Lex Amor – vocals (9)
* Knucks – vocals (10)
* Shakka – vocals (12)
* Wretch 32 – vocals (12), additional vocals (8)
* Ego Ella May – vocals (13), additional vocals (9)
* Rexx Life Raj – vocals (14)
* Ayanna Christie Brown – additional vocals (2, 10)
* Emmavie – additional vocals (2, 10)
* Michael Stafford – additional vocals (2, 10)
* Christina Matovu – additional vocals (4, 7, 12, 15)
* Mundu – additional vocals (4, 14)
* Bobii Lewis – additional vocals (6)
* Benjamin Totten – guitar (1, 11)
* David Mrakpor – guitar, keyboards, synth bass (4)
* Rashaan Brown – guitar (6)
* Greg Mathews – guitar (8)
* Femi Koleoso – drums (1, 5)
* Namali Kwaten – drums, percussion (4)
* Dayna Fisher – bass guitar (6, 7, 11, 15), trombone (1)
* Neil Waters – trumpet (1–4, 10, 15), flugelhorn (4, 5, 11)
* Trevor Mires – trombone (2–4, 6–8, 10, 13, 15), sousaphone (7, 10), bass trombone (13)
* Charlie Stock and Stella Page – viola (1, 2, 4, 6–8, 12, 13, 15)
* Ezme Gaze and Wayne Urquhart – cello (1, 2, 4, 6–8, 12, 13, 15)
* Antonia Pagulatos, Emma Blanco, Marsha Skins, and Sam Kennedy – violin (1, 2, 4, 6–8, 12, 13, 15)
* Nathan "Flutebox" Lee – flute (2)
* Mike Keys – keyboards (9), piano, synth bass (13)
* Ed Thomas – piano (15)

### Technical

* Cameron Palmer – engineering (1, 2, 5, 7–10, 13, 15), drum programming (2, 5, 9, 10, 13)
* Kwame "KZ" Kwei-Armah Jr. – executive producer, engineering (1, 2, 6–9, 11–15), drum programming (6, 8, 9), vocal arrangements (13)
* Swindle – executive producer
* Stuart Hawkes – mastering engineer (1–9, 11–14)
* Joker – mixing engineer (1–8, 10–14)
* Neil Waters – string arrangements (1, 2, 4, 6–8, 12, 13, 15)
* Namali Kwaten – drum programming (4), sound design (4)
* Blue Lab Beats – engineering (4)
* Jay Weathers – drum programming (15)

## Charts

Chart performance for Reason to Smile :
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 11 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC) | 1 |