Ben | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 3, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2020–2022 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 54:03 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Macklemore chronology | ||||
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Singles from Ben | ||||
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Ben is the third solo studio album by American rapper Macklemore. It was released on March 3, 2023, by Bendo and Warner Music. It features guest appearances by charlieonnafriday, Collett, DJ Premier, Jackson Lee Morgan, Livingston, Morray, NLE Choppa, Sarah Barthel, Tones and I, and Vic Daggs II. It is his first album in 6 years since his 2017 album Gemini (2017). The album was recorded between 2020 and 2022.
The album garnered positive reviews from critics. Ben debuted and peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and spawned five singles: "Chant", "Maniac", "Faithful", "Heroes" and "No Bad Days".
Background and promotion
Macklemore officially revealed the album's release date and cover art on November 7, 2022.[1] He has stated that much of the album's content was influenced by his relapse with alcohol addiction during the COVID-19 lockdowns: "I think that pain is a catalyst for great art," he said. "I don't want to inflict the pain on myself anymore to make art. It's not like I need to self-sabotage in order to create, but I think that it created some darker, more honest, and vulnerable moments on the album."[2]
On February 16, 2023, Macklemore and his seven-year-old daughter, Sloane, filmed part of their music video for "No Bad Days" at the Climate Pledge Arena during a Seattle Kraken hockey game. Sloane directed the entire music video, which was released March 3, 2023.[3]
Singles
The album was preceded by four singles. The first single, "Chant" with Tones and I, was released on July 22, 2022.[4] The second single, "Maniac" featuring Windser, was released on August 19, 2022.[5] The third single, "Faithful" featuring NLE Choppa, was released on October 28, 2022.[6] The fourth single, "Heroes" featuring DJ Premier, was released on January 20, 2023.[7] The fifth single, "No Bad Days" featuring Collett, was released to contemporary hit radio on March 14, 2023.[8]
Ben Tour
Tour by Macklemore | |
Start date | April 3, 2023 |
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End date | July 11, 2024 |
Legs | 6 |
No. of shows | 69 |
Setlist
- Chant
- Thrift Shop
- No Bad Days
- Downtown
- Same Love
- White Walls
- Maniac
- Heroes
- Wings
- Otherside
- These Days
- Starting Over
- 1984
- And We Danced
- Dance Off
- Glorious
- TAIL LIGHTS
- The Town
- My Oh My
- Good Old Days
- Can't Hold Us
Tour dates
Date | City | Country | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | |||
Europe | |||
April 3 | Dublin | Ireland | 3Arena |
April 4 | |||
April 7 | Glasgow | Scotland | O2 Academy |
April 9 | Manchester | England | Victoria Warehouse |
April 11 | Birmingham | O2 Academy | |
April 12 | London | Brixton Academy | |
April 16 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | AFAS Live |
April 17 | Brussels | Belgium | Forest National |
April 18 | Paris | France | Zénith Paris |
April 19 | |||
April 21 | Cologne | Germany | Lanxess Arena |
April 22 | Berlin | Verti Music Hall | |
April 24 | Munich | Olympiahalle | |
April 25 | Offenbach | Stadthalle | |
April 27 | Hamburg | Edel-optics.de Arena | |
April 29 | Warsaw | Poland | EXPO XXI |
April 39 | Vienna | Austria | Wiener Stadthalle |
May 2 | Zürich | Switzerland | The Hall |
May 3 | Milan | Italy | Alcatraz |
May 4 | |||
May 6 | Stavanger | Norway | Kongeparken |
May 7 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Vega |
May 9 | Oslo | Norway | Sentrum Scene |
May 11 | Stockholm | Sweden | Gröna Lund |
June 29 | Marmande | France | Plaine De La Filhole |
July 1 | St. Gallen | Switzerland | Open Air St. Gallen |
July 2 | Arras | France | Main Square Festival |
July 22 | Ostrava | Czechia | Colours of Ostrava |
August 11 | Saalburg | Germany | SonneMondSterne |
August 16 | Esch-sur-Alzette | Luxembourg | Rockhal |
August 20 | Hasselt | Belgium | Pukkelpop |
September 10 | Berlin | Germany | Lollapalooza |
North America | |||
September 17 | Nashville | United States | Ryman Auditorium |
September 19 | Washington, D.C. | The Anthem | |
September 21 | Boston | MGM Music Hall at Fenway | |
September 22 | New York City | The Rooftop at Pier 17 | |
September 23 | Philadelphia | The Met | |
September 26 | Toronto | Canada | Rebel |
September 27 | Detroit | United States | The Fillmore |
September 29 | Chicago | Aragon Ballroom | |
September 30 | Milwaukee | The Rave/Eagles Club | |
October 1 | Minneapolis | Minneapolis Armory | |
October 3 | Denver | Mission Ballroom | |
October 5 | Salt Lake City | The Complex | |
October 7 | Portland | Roseland Theater | |
October 8 | |||
October 9 | |||
October 10 | Spokane | Spokane Arena | |
October 11 | Missoula | Adams Center | |
October 12 | Boise | Idaho Central Arena | |
October 14 | San Francisco | The Masonic | |
October 17 | Phoenix | Arizona Financial Theatre | |
October 18 | Los Angeles | Hollywood Palladium | |
Middle East | |||
October 28 | Dubai | UAE | Coca-Cola Arena |
North America | |||
December 21 | Seattle | United States | Climate Pledge Arena |
December 22 | |||
2024 | |||
Oceania | |||
May 8 | Wellington | New Zealand | TSB Arena |
May 9 | Auckland | Spark Arena | |
May 11 | Sydney | Australia | Hordern Pavilion |
May 12 | |||
May 13 | |||
May 15 | Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena | |
May 17 | Brisbane | Riverstage | |
May 18 | Darwin | Bassinthegrass | |
May 20 | Perth | HBF Stadium | |
May 21 | |||
Europe | |||
May 31 | Hanover | Germany | EXPO Plaza |
June 1 | Mönchengladbach | Warsteiner HockeyPark | |
July 11 | Nîmes | France | Arena of Nîmes |
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 71/100[9] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
HipHopDX | 2.4/5[11] |
Pitchfork | 6.0/10[12] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ben 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 71, based on four reviews.[9]
Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic wrote, "Altogether, Ben feels like the first time Macklemore has truly let listeners into his inner world, showcasing his underrated lyrical skills and enough varied production to keep the album moving forward toward a hopeful finish."[10] Clayton Purdom of Rolling Stone stated, "To be sure, Ben features plenty of catharsis and oversharing, but it also has no grand answers or conclusions, just apologies, acceptance, and ambiguity. Some of Ben's success must be attributed to the producer Budo, a longtime collaborator, here providing skillful texture to the album's broader arc, but the truth is that Macklemore, who on his last album rhymed 'porno' with 'DiGiorno,' has matured. Ben is handily his best album. It's a midcareer downshift from an artist who desperately needed it."[13]
In a mixed review, Matthew Ismael Ruiz of Pitchfork wrote, "These experiences, while certainly authentic, aren't particularly interesting. The struggle of the wealthy and talented white rapper was never especially sympathetic. And on Ben, his trials are mostly internal, the enduring struggle of man to find meaning and leave a legacy. This Macklemore is likely the most honest version we've seen to date."[12] Taylor Rubright of HipHopDX also gave a mixed review, stating "Macklemore is a dexterous rapper at his best, but the songs that showcase his talents are mostly confined to the middle of the album", additionally commenting that "despite some solid songwriting about addiction and mortality, Macklemore's comeback album still experiences the same struggles with corniness and over-sincerity that torpedoed him from a household name to an afterthought, leading to a mixed bag that's more admirable than actualized."[11]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Chant" (featuring Tones and I) |
| 4:30 | |
2. | "No Bad Days" (featuring Collett) |
| Budo | 2:53 |
3. | "1984" |
|
| 3:24 |
4. | "Maniac" (featuring Windser) |
|
| 3:00 |
5. | "Day You Die" (featuring Sarah Barthel) |
| Budo | 3:12 |
6. | "Heroes" (featuring DJ Premier) |
|
| 2:55 |
7. | "Grime" |
| Budo | 3:25 |
8. | "I Need" |
| Budo | 3:39 |
9. | "Lost / Sun Comes Up" (featuring Jackson Lee Morgan) |
| Budo | 5:51 |
10. | "Faithful" (featuring NLE Choppa) |
| Budo | 3:27 |
11. | "Tears" |
|
| 3:13 |
12. | "Sorry" (featuring Livingston) |
| Budo | 3:29 |
13. | "God's Will" (featuring Vic Daggs II) |
|
| 3:13 |
14. | "I Know" (featuring Charlieonnafriday) |
|
| 2:53 |
15. | "Tail Lights" (featuring Morray) |
| Budo | 4:50 |
Total length: | 53:55 |
Note
- ^[c] signifies a co-producer
Charts
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] | 48 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] | 17 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] | 69 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[17] | 107 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[18] | 61 |
French Albums (SNEP)[19] | 80 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] | 37 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] | 44 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] | 17 |
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[23] | 18 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[24] | 9 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[25] | 3 |
US Billboard 200[26] | 18 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27] | 4 |
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[28] | 6 |
References
- ^ Krol, Charlotte (November 7, 2022). "Macklemore shares details of new album 'BEN' alongside 2023 UK and European tour". NME. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Gonzalez, Alex (February 10, 2023). "Macklemore Opened Up About How His Relapse During COVID Inspired His Upcoming Album". Uproxx. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (February 20, 2023). "Macklemore recruits 7-year-old daughter Sloane to direct 'No Bad Days' music video". CNN. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (July 22, 2022). "Macklemore Shares Video for Latest Single "Chant"". Complex. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Callas, Brad (August 19, 2022). "Macklemore Releases New Single and Video for "Maniac"". Complex. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Bowenbank, Starr (November 2, 2022). "Macklemore Explains How His Sobriety Journey Inspired New Song 'Faithful': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ Elibert, Mark (January 20, 2023). "Macklemore Salutes 'Heroes' DJ Quik & N.W.A On New Preemo Collab". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases". AllAccess. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
- ^ a b "Ben by Macklemore Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Ben - Macklemore". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ a b Rubright, Taylor (March 18, 2023). "Macklemore's Comeback Album 'Ben' Stumbles Down The Same Musical Pitfalls That Halted His Stardom". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ a b Ruiz, Matthew (March 9, 2023). "Macklemore: Ben Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Purdom, Clayton (March 3, 2023). "Macklemore's 'Ben' is a Surprising Downshift From a Pathological Over-Sharer". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Macklemore – Ben". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Macklemore – Ben" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Macklemore – Ben" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Macklemore – Ben" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Macklemore – Ben". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Macklemore – Ben" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Macklemore – Ben". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
- ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
External links
- Ben at Discogs (list of releases)
- Ben at MusicBrainz (list of releases)