$EX $ELLS

*$EX $ELLS* is the first album from UGK David. Released on January 1st, 2021, it includes fourteen tracks as UGK David discusses drug addiction, love affairs - both blossoming and failed, braggadocio topics involving his success as a rapper, his trials on the streets as a drug dealer, and his depression.

### Producer

Mike Barkhoff

Singles for the album included ROBIN WILLIAM$, PHONE $EX, and KRIM$ON AND KLOVER. The album was met with critical acclaim upon release, with many considering it a "proper debut" for the rapper. David followed the release of this album with Live Free UGK.

## Prior

Prior to this project, UGK David had released two mixtapes, several EPs, and remixes of mainstream songs, and had gained notoriety for songs of his such as "The Ex Girlfriend Anthem", which was repurposed for this album. Many songs on this album had previously been released by David but were repurposed due to fitting the theme of the album and allowing listeners just hearing about him with this project a chance of hearing his 'golden jewels'.

## Recording

Distributed by Live Free and Executive Produced by Mike Barkhoff, UGK David worked on the album from mid 2019 to the end of 2020, and has intended plans to potentially release a Deluxe variable in the near future. After this album, David capped off the attention to release "Live Free UGK" and begin prepping for his Remix EP Series "DEVIL DAY$ EVIL NIGHT$".

## Promotion

In late December 2020, David released the non album single "$.M.D. (ALWAY$ FORGIVE, NEVER FORGET)" to acclaim, following a bad breakup. Within the week, Live Free announced that the album was delayed to 2021 after being teased for a 2020 release throughout the previous months. However, they announced a surprise in two days, which was when they revealed the tracklist for the album.

This accumulated in being a marketing red heir, as January 1st, 2021 ended up being the surprise release of the album. Barkhoff listened to the album with fans as it premiered. It amassed more than 500 streams on it's debut night. In the weeks proceeding it, "BANGIN, $LANGIN, & $NITCHIN' was released, with the third verse cut out (due to sampling issues). Though it appears on the YouTube version of the album, it wasn't included on the streaming service version, even with the third verse cut out.

On Live Free's YouTube, a playlist was curated for the album, with many tracks being from UGK David's YouTube Topic page, but many also being the original Music Videos created by UGK David from whenever he had made the song. For example, "99 FREE$TYLE" appears with it's Music Video for the album on the playlist, but was actually recorded and released back in 2018.

## Conception

UGK David conceived the album in late 2019, after having worked on songs for his debut album, and settled on the title "$EX $ELLS" due to seeing the media market sexually based content and how well it sold.

Upon telling Barkhoff about the concept, Barkhoff stated that he was disinterested in marketing sexually based content much more than a simple share. However, after David explained to him the concept was merely to mock the world's stance and to also make a statement by showing how the album would perform with the title and the sexually motif cover, Barkhoff became more adept to the concept.

## Production

Many of the tracks were produced by UGK David himself. The features also came from people interested in the same street principals as himself. He performed mixing and mastering on all tracks himself.

## Tracklist

1. PHONE $EX
2. 99 FREE$TYLE
3. A$$ & TITTIE$
4. YE$ $IR
5. ($)EX GIRLFRIEND ANTHEM
6. $ELF CARE
7. DJ $CREW
8. AYTO (GUILTY PLEA$URE)
9. KRIM$ON & KLOVER
10. $TAYING ON MY GRIND
11. BANGIN, $LANGIN, & $NITCHIN (ft. Jeff2Fresh and Yung Eric)
12. WHOLE LOTTA GANG $HIT
13. $TR8 FLEXIN
14. ROBIN WILLIAM$ (1-800-273-8255)

## Executive Production

Barkhoff's role as Executive Producer was mainly credited due to him being the one curating the tracklist. He initially planned to release a Chat With Creators blended with Twisted Tracklist where he discussed the meaning behind the Tracklist, including making sure Tracks 6 and 12, the middle of and end of the album were two that discussed the topic of depression, to cultivate to the idea of depression being one that repeats amongst the normalcies of everyday life.

## Reception

The album was met with critical acclaim. On YouTube, many commenters gave it a fire emoji or a positive comment. Clarke Accloades declared it "A Classic Debut". UGK David spent time replying to comments on it shortly after the release. Barkhoff's personal opinion of the album was shared, declaring his love for it, especially the tracks "$TAYIN ON MY GRIND", "BANGIN, $LANGIN, & SNITCHIN", and more.

The album amassed more than 500 streams on it's debut night, and has remained fairly consistent since release. Due to the reception of the album, UGK David became much more active in 2021 than he was in 2020, releasing his Remix EP Series "DEVIL DAY$ EVIL NIGHT$" and his Greatest Hits-esque mixtape "Live Free UGK". Notably, since the release, and shortly beforehand, David has capitalized many of his titles and included a "$" symbol in place of an "S".