Faith (Pop Smoke album)

After American rapper Pop Smoke was shot and killed at the age of 20 during a home invasion,[1][2] fellow American rapper 50 Cent decided to help finish the late rapper's album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon by serving as executive producer.[3][4] After the album was released on July 3, 2020,[5] it was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200,[6] and spawning four US Billboard Hot 100 top 20 singles "For the Night",[7][8] "What You Know Bout Love",[9] "The Woo",[10] and "Mood Swings".[10] The album helped Pop Smoke win Top Billboard 200 Album and Top Rap Album at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards.[11]

On May 1, 2021, American producer Rico Beats hinted at the release of another posthumous Pop Smoke album.[12][13] The producer posted a mirror selfie and added, "I see and hear everything kept it cool tho no worries pay back around the corner Pop smoke new album loading".[12][13] After Rico Beats indicated the release of Pop Smoke's second album, 50 Cent told radio personality Kris Kaylin in an interview that he was unsure if he would be involved and executive produce it.[14][15] On June 4, Haitian-American record executive Steven Victor announced that there would be a second posthumous project released.[16] Rico Beats announced that Faith was "95% loading the fuck up" and also confirmed that he would be one of the producers on the album through a post on Instagram on June 15.[17]

"Tell the Vision" features vocals from Kanye West (left, in 2019) and Pusha T (right, in 2015).

Faith is a drill,[18] trap,[19] and hip hop record,[20] with the songs containing elements of pop-trap,[21] gospel,[22] and pop.[22] The album opens up with the gospel-influenced spoken word[23] and soul[19] intro "Good News".[22] The intro features Pop Smoke's mother speaking over the instrumentals of her son's 2019 single "Welcome to the Party"[18][24] while explaining the reasoning behind the album's title[18][24] and explains Pop Smoke had a natural drive, a drive to materialize greatness and to show his listeners that they, too, can achieve greatness.[23] In the following track "More Time", Pop Smoke raps about being a confident man on the streets while trying to honor his mother's wishes.[19] It consists of reverberating keys added by American composer Nicholas Britell.[25] "Tell the Vision" featuring Kanye West and Pusha T is a drill track[26] that uses a synth-pop production and features the use of drill drums,[27] lurching synths, choral flourishes, and interspersed spoken testimonials.[20] In the song, West raps the intro[28] while it features a sample of Power 105.1 host Angie Martinez delivering an ode to Pop Smoke.[29] Pop Smoke raps about his early life in Brooklyn, New York, and the struggles he faced at the time,[20][26] while Pusha T disses Canadian musician Drake[30] and hints on releasing an album soon.[31] "Manslaughter" featuring Rick Ross and The-Dream is an R&B,[32] hip-hop,[32] and pop[21] track that features strings[33] and downbeat percussion.[34] The rappers discuss how they would go to great lengths to defend their loved ones. Pop Smoke sings of being willing to commit a crime if someone upsets him or his family.[23] The song initially had a different beat and featured Dread Woo and Dafi Woo, however Victor explained that they couldn't clear the sample.[34]

"Bout a Million" featuring 21 Savage and 42 Dugg is a chamber folk,[19] ambient,[19] and drill[35] track with braggadocio,[23] a lead guitar,[35] and 808's.[35] It's lyrics are about the three rappers flexing their expensive jewels and lifestyles,[36] and their upbringing and experiences throughout different places in the United States.[37] "Brush Em" featuring Rah Swish is a drill[38] track that uses percussion.[39] Pop Smoke and Rah Swish both rap about their dangerous tendencies[38][39] and about the streets of Brooklyn.[40] "Top Shotta" with The Neptunes, featuring Pusha T, Travi, and Beam is a dancehall-inspired drill[24] track that utilizes a tropical beat[41] and caribbean-style steel drums.[37] The track was originally supposed to feature American rapper Eli Fross.[24][37] "30" featuring Bizzy Banks is a drill[18] song with interplay between the two rappers.[42] It is followed by drill[32] track "Beat the Speaker", in which Pop Smoke raps about the death of Kenneka Jenkins.[38] "Coupe" has the use of looping 808's, while the lyrics discuss the themes of celebrity excess.[20] Pop Smoke raps "Don't run in my crib, I'll put guns to your head" before a brief pause in the music to emphasize the line's profundity.[43] Robin Murray from Clash stated that "Coupe" and "Beat the Speaker" are "freestyle[s] carved out into individual track[s]".[22] "What's Crackin" featuring Takeoff is a trap song that uses bells in the background.[24] "Genius" featuring Lil Tjay and Swae Lee is a drill song.[24] HotNewHipHop author Aron A. expressed that "[Lil] Tjay and Swae Lee's contributions electrify through smooth vocal performances".[44] "Mr. Jones" featuring Future sees both rappers rap about their lavish lifestyles[45] and pursuit for self-gratification.[46] "Woo Baby Interlude" is sung A cappella and was originally called "Tiger".[41] According to Antoine-Samuel Mauffette Alavo of Exclaim!, the song is "raw and uncut".[33] "Woo Baby" featuring Chris Brown is an R&B[19] and trap[47] song. The song uses an uncredited sample of American singer-songwriter Ne-Yo's 2005 number one hit single "So Sick".[18][48][49]

"Demeanor" featuring Dua Lipa is a electropop[37] and disco-pop song[20][50] that uses a bassline,[51] rhythm guitar,[52] drums,[43] funky groove and bounce, woozy vibes, and rhythmic verses.[53][54] It contains a spliced-in verse from an unreleased Pop Smoke track called "Face2Face".[24] In the song, Pop Smoke sings about how women enjoy the way he acts and being intoxicated.[55] The late artist then raps about suffering through poverty.[56] Lipa gets her own verse[57] as she sings: "You can't say Pop without Smoke",[57][58] referring to Pop Smoke's line "You cannot say Pop and forget the Smoke" in his 2019 song "Gatti" with JackBoys and Travis Scott.[55] "Spoiled" featuring Pharrell is a pop,[19] funk[38] and R&B[27] song with keyboard melodies.[59] Its lyrics discuss women as being spoiled.[59] "8-Ball" featuring Kid Cudi is a Latin[56] and drone[19]-influenced blues[27] and Middle Eastern[19][22] track that features a guitar[56] and elastic bassline.[20] Both Pop Smoke and Kid Cudi rap about luck, loss and love.[19][22] Udit Mahalingan of The Line of Best Fit stated that "Back Door" featuring Quavo and Kodak Black is about a "piece of maternal advice into a meditation on the urban New York experience".[20] Faith closes with the lofi hip hop[21] and trap[39] song "Merci Beaucoup", which stands for "thank you very much" in French.[32] It makes use of a UK drill-style bassline[21] and sonic undertones.[60] Pop Smoke raps about attacking his enemies,[39] taking their jewelry,[39] and women wanting to be with him.[21] It then transitions to a spoken word outro, in which Pop Smoke stands on his accomplishments and predicts more, emphasizing his loyalty to his goal.[39] Rolling Stone author Milan Kordestani opined that Pop Smoke is "clearly speaking to his target audience" during "Merci Beaucoup". Kordestani recognized that Pop Smoke was "referencing his marketing strategy at the same time". The author concludes that when Pop Smoke writes his lyrics, he isn't thinking about the 'masses'; instead, he is thinking about the people in his hometown of Brooklyn, New York. He's aiming for an audience that will want to hear his distinct lyrics and voice.[61]

On July 13, 2021, Pop Smoke's team unveiled the album cover,[74] which is a close-up of Pop Smoke in a black-and-white photo, with the word "Faith" tattooed above his left eyebrow.[74][75] The cover art was originally taken by photographer Flixz, who snapped photos of Pop Smoke at a nightclub. The late rapper wore a collared unbuttoned Dior shirt with a set of chains in the original photo.[74]

English pop singer Dua Lipa (left, in 2020) is featured on Faith's second single "Demeanor" while American R&B singer Chris Brown (right, in 2012) is featured on the album's third single "Woo Baby"

On June 23, 2021, Victor announced the album's release date of July 16, 2021.[76] A trailer video for Faith, which features Pop Smoke's career highlights and a motivational short speech from him, was also released.[75] A 30-second promotional single, "Outro", was released on July 4, 2021.[77] In the promotional single, Pop Smoke talks about following your dreams and not giving up.[78] Initially, it was assumed that the album would be self-titled after Pop Smoke was the title of the album on Apple Music during its pre-order as a placeholder. Victor announced on July 11 that the album would be titled Faith.[75] The following day, the cover art was revealed along with a promotional video.[79] On July 10, posters started going up in New York City and Los Angeles in support of the album.[80][81] According to reports, the ads had QR codes in them that could be accessed through Snapchat.[80][81] With the app open, a video sample of the late rapper's new song would begin to play.[80] Pop Smoke is seen rapping to an unreleased track on stage and in the studio in black-and-white video footage.[80] The track list was released on July 14, in what was considered an "unusual" way; it was revealed through an interactive website that allowed fans to scratch virtual lottery tickets to reveal the track titles.[75] On July 20, 2021, a deluxe version of Faith, which features four additional tracks, was released on what would have been Pop Smoke's 22nd birthday.[65] On July 30, 2021, six additional tracks were added, including "Dior".[82]

"Mr. Jones" was released as the lead single the same day as the album.[83] The song debuted and peaked at number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 70 on the Billboard Global 200.[10][84] A music video for the song was released on the same day.[45] The visual features stock and archival footage of Pop Smoke at the Mr. Jones nightclub in Miami, Florida,[85] while showing Future hanging out with a plethora of women.[85] On July 20, 2021, "Demeanor" was sent to American rhythmic contemporary and contemporary hit radio as the album's second single.[86][87] The song also impacted contemporary hit radio in Italy on July 23, 2021.[88] It debuted and peaked at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 62 on the Billboard Global 200.[10][84] After it was released as a single, the song peaked within the top 30 of the Billboard airplay Rhythmic and Mainstream Top 40 charts.[89][90] In the United Kingdom, "Demeanor" debuted and peaked at number 14, making it the highest new entry on the chart dated July 25, 2021.[91] A music video for the song was released on Pop Smoke's YouTube channel on July 29, 2021,[92] and was directed by Australian-American director Nabil Elderkin.[93][94] In the visual, Pop Smoke is a ghost and is seen on a medieval tableau that comes to life and depicts different versions of him,[93][95] as well as white doves flying around in the painting.[93][96] Lipa wears a vintage corset-style lace-trimmed ballgown from Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 1998 couture collection,[97][98][99] which was inspired by Marie Antoinette and the Age of Enlightenment,[97][98] as she does different activities and dances throughout the visual.[100][101] "Woo Baby" was also sent to American rhythmic contemporary radio as Faith's third single on July 22, 2021.[102] The song debuted and peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 49 on the Billboard Global 200.[10][84] "Woo Baby" peaked at number four on the Billboard airplay Rhythmic chart, giving Pop Smoke his fifth top-10 hit on the chart.[89] "Bad Boys" was released as the album's fourth and final single on July 30, 2021.[69]

A music video for "Coupe" was released on July 21, 2021.[103] The video was directed by JLShotThat.[104][105] The visual takes place in Pop Smoke's hometown of Canarsie, Brooklyn and was primarily filmed at a basketball court in the late rapper's neighborhood.[50] The visual sees a group of people celebrating Pop Smoke's birthday and legacy, while riding cars and bikes through the streets.[104][105]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	5.6/10[106]
Metacritic	53/100[107]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[41]
Clash	8/10[22]
Cult MTL	4.5/10[108]
Exclaim!	5/10[33]
HipHopDX	2.5/5[24]
The Line of Best Fit	9/10[20]
NME	[21]
Pitchfork	3.8/10[18]
RapReviews	7/10[68]
Rolling Stone	[59]

Faith was met with mixed reviews from music critics,[109][110] most of whom criticized the number of features on the album.[110] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 53, based on nine reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[107] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 5.6 out of 10 based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[106]

Anthony Malone of HipHopDX saw that the album is "compiled from unfinished verses, reference tracks and soulless guest spots", and stated it is not a "Pop Smoke album – it's a symbol of greed curated for the streaming era".[24] Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves wrote, "Faith consists of audio files recombined by producers and record executives into something coherent, listenable, and at times even enjoyable, but not quite dazzling. Maybe it's not an Anthony Bourdain doc constructed with artificial intelligence, but it still feels a bit weird".[59] In a lukewarm review, Alavo said, "Despite poor production choices and lazy song structures, Pop Smoke's energy and solo spurts of brilliance won't allow for this stale posthumous release to tarnish his legacy".[33] David Crone for AllMusic felt that Faith subdues Pop Smoke, believing he "is no longer the thunderous cloud descending on his anthems; rather, he feels almost entirely an afterthought". Crone opined "with friends and collaborators surgically removed, Faith is littered with jarring voices, avaricious creative decisions, and a fundamental sidelining of its visionary figurehead".[41] Mr. Wavvy for Cult MTL gave the album 4.5 out of 10, saying it is "clear that many of the tracks were works in progress, with guest verses slapped on to 'complete' the songs".[108]

Kyann-Sian Williams of NME felt the album is "oversaturated with unnecessary features" and is an "obvious money grab". She continues, saying that it "feels more disingenuous" than Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.[21] Writing for Pitchfork, Alphonse Pierre commented Faith is made up of "unfinished records, demos, and reference tracks that were sliced together and completed with features only selected to juice streaming numbers". He claims that Pop Smoke's team "leeched" money from his legacy and that the "most offensively bad [tracks] on Faith are the ones that have no shame in hiding their financial intentions".[18] Keith Nelson Jr. of Mic asserted that Pop Smoke sounds "like a guest on his own album", characterizing it was "made more from the thoughts of the living trying to keep the dead alive".[43] According to Noor Lobad of L'Officiel, the album boasts "repetitive hooks and exorbitant number of features", and mentions it "inadvertently turn[s] the rapper's booming voice into a muddled echo on his own album".[111]

In a more positive review, Billboard's Jason Lipshutz felt impressed with Faith, believing it was "made with the same type of thoughtfulness and precision" as Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.[112] Mahalingan praised the album, saying that "unlike the majority of [posthumous releases], Faith speaks to Pop Smoke's perpetuity in hip-hop's current context, serving as less of a lament of what could have been and more as a memorial for what was and still is".[20] Murray also enjoyed the album, saying, "Faith succeeds by offering not only an elegiac portrait of Pop Smoke, but also a vision of what he could have become".[22] A.D. Amorosi, writing for Variety, mentions that "despite being fully Frankenstein-ed from volumes of verses the rapper left behind, [the album] never feels limp or stitched together". He states the album "advanced and even bettered what the trap-and-drill-focused production team did on [Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon].[19] Craig Jenkins for Vulture felt the album was "joyous, celebratory, and snide". He mentions it "refuses to let its somber circumstances weigh it down".[27] Writing for The Ringer, Micah Peters opined Faith is like "Travis Scott's fashionably oversized Dior shirt—clean and nicely framed, competently executed, expensive, a little ridiculous. It exists and it's cool enough, but maybe we could've done just as well without it".[39] Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan saw that "sometimes Faith feels like a genuinely touching tribute to Pop Smoke, but not always". He continues, saying it "didn't need to be 20 songs long and overstuffed with superstars, but considering Pop [Smoke's] recorded material is already finite, the good moments shouldn't be taken for granted".[42]

Faith debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 88,000 album-equivalent units that consisted of 113.34 million on-demand streams, 4,000 pure album sales, and 1,000 track-equivalent albums.[117] This gave the late artist his second number one album, and third top-10 hit overall in the United States.[117] Pop Smoke became the first artist in history to have his first two albums posthumously debut at the top of the Billboard 200.[109][118] Faith also topped the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Canadian Albums Chart.[119][120]

Faith debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart, giving Pop Smoke his second top-10 hit in the United Kingdom.[91] In Australia, the album debuted at number four, giving the late rapper his second top-10 hit in the country.[121] The album further peaked within the top-10 of record charts in Austria,[122] both the Belgium Flanders and Wallonia charts,[123][124] Denmark,[125] the Netherlands,[126] Finland,[127] France,[128] Germany,[129] Ireland,[130] Italy,[131] Lithuania,[132] New Zealand,[133] Norway,[134] Sweden,[135] and Switzerland.[136]

Upon release, Faith received mixed responses from Pop Smoke's fans.[137] Some people praised the album and said it paid tribute to Pop Smoke, while others criticized the album and wanted the late rapper to rest in peace.[137]

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer

Performers

Technical