Luv Is Rage 2
Luv Is Rage 2 is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It was released on August 25, 2017, through Generation Now and Atlantic Records. The album serves as a sequel to Uzi's commercial debut mixtape "Luv Is Rage" (2015). It features guest appearances from The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams. "Luv Is Rage 2" was supported by three singles: "XO Tour Llif3", "The Way Life Goes" and "Sauce It Up". The album debuted at number one on the US "Billboard" 200 with 135,000 album-equivalent units, and received positive reviews from most  critics. Background. In November 2016, Lil Uzi Vert initially announced "Luv Is Rage 2" that would suffer from numerous delays amid confusion. In February 2017, Lil Uzi released an extended play (EP), "Luv Is Rage 1.5" containing four tracks for streaming on SoundCloud. It serves as a prequel for "Luv Is Rage 2"; as well as Uzi previewing snippets of those songs online throughout the whole year. In July 2017, DJ Drama and Don Cannon premiered five songs on their Shade 45 radio show, which were not to be included on the album. On August 24, 2017, Lil Uzi unexpectedly  announced the release of "Luv Is Rage 2" a day before release via social media, including the cover art and track listing. Release and promotion. "Luv Is Rage 2" was released on August 25, 2017, for streaming and digital download. The deluxe edition of the album was released on November 17, 2017, and included four bonus tracks: "Skir Skirr", "Loaded", "Diamonds All on My Wrist" and "20 Min". The album was released a few days later in Japan, with two additional tracks: "Money Longer" and "Do What I Want", both originally featured on "Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World" and  The Perfect LUV Tape, respectively. Singles. "XO Tour Llif3" was released for free streaming as the album's lead single on March 24, 2017. The song was originally included on Lil Uzi's prequel extended play (EP), "Luv Is Rage 1.5" (2017). The song was produced by TM88 and JW Lucas. The song peaked at number seven on the US "Billboard" Hot 100. "The Way Life Goes" was released as the album's second single to urban contemporary radio on October 3, 2017. The remix to the single was released on November 3, 2017, with a guest appearance from Trinidadian -American rapper Nicki Minaj. "Sauce It Up" was released as the album's third single to urban contemporary radio on February 27, 2018. Critical reception. "Luv Is Rage 2" was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 75, based on eight reviews. Scott Glaysher of "XXL" gave a positive review, stating "Despite the long-winded nature of the album, Uzi definitely got it right with "Luv Is Rage 2". The songs are catchy, the beats are hot and Uzi gives  a vocal performance that redefines the term rap rock star". Hip hop website "HotNewHipHop" stated that "Uzi is changed a person now, more weary of the world, less naively cheerful, and this is reflected on "Luv Is Rage 2". If he does have a heart, it may soon be blackened. Uzi is feeling vindictive, rather than just being "happy to be here" (as he was on "Luv Is Rage"), he's looking, now, for admiration and acknowledgement that's deserved of him". Dan Weiss of "Consequence" said, "Nearly every song on "Luv Is Rage 2" comes with a distinct enough  hook to break up the limited set of things it does and subjects it ponders". In his review, Aaron McKrell of "HipHopDX" states, ""Luv Is Rage 2" is proof that Lil Uzi Vert is simply an artist who succeeds in making music he loves, for people that hold tightly to his carpe-diem attitude". Corrigan B of "Tiny Mix Tapes" said, "The breadth of sounds covered will scan as inconsistency to all but the most pious Uzi devotees, but it's hard to imagine anything else serving as a more comprehensive document of rap in 2017". Neil Z. Yeung of  AllMusic said, "Although Uzi's post-breakup pain rears its head throughout the entirety of the album, many of the tracks are too fun to get too bogged down in emotions". Paul Thompson of "Pitchfork" stated that "Luv Is Rage 2" is Lil Uzi Vert's "most musically developed work and features a bulk of his most interesting songs to date", as well as commending the subject matter and production, concluding: "Whether he's full of joy or howling into the void, he pushes his songs to their edge, which helps to deliver on the promise shown in his earlier  work. We knew Lil Uzi Vert would become one of rap's biggest stars, but "Rage 2" suggests that he may spend his time on top experimenting rather than retreating to a comfort zone." Steve "Flash" Juon of "RapReviews" wrote: "As for today's singing rappers, Vert fits in comfortably next to the likes of Fetty Wap and French Montana, and I have little qualms with calling him a better writer than the latter. The production is a little bit more of a mixed bag." In a mixed review, Sputnikmusic's Robert Lowe stated: "A lot of tracks start off  OK, but his flow and style are so unfocused and muddled the songs become a chore to sit through." Commercial performance. "Luv Is Rage 2" debuted at number one on the US "Billboard" 200 with 135,000 album-equivalent units, of which 28,000 were pure album sales. In its second week on the chart, "Luv Is Rage 2" moved another 73,000 units bringing the total sales to 208,000. On March 19, 2019, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales, streaming and track-sale equivalents of two million units. The album also  entered at number 14 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 3,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Track listing. Notes Sample credits Personnel. Credits were adapted from the album's liner notes and Tidal. Performers Technical Production Additional personnel