Mirrorland

''Mirrorland'' is the major label debut studio album by American hip hop duo EarthGang, released on September 6, 2019 by Dreamville, Interscope, and Spillage Village. The album includes features from Young Thug, T-Pain, Kehlani, Arin Ray, and Malik. The production of the album was handled by a variety of producers including Olu, J. Cole, Elite, Ron Gilmore, Christo, Bink, DJ Dahi, Childish Major and Groove, among others.

Background

While touring in 2016, EarthGang began conceptualizing a "deconstructed album" which would form the three EPs, leading up to their major label debut album, ''Mirrorland''. The trilogy: ''Rags'', ''Robots'', and ''Royalty'' were released between 2017 and 2018. EarthGang describes the album as a "cinematic musical experience filled with delectation and delight."

In an interview with ''Pitchfork'', Olu said the album is inspired by ''The Wiz'', the 1978 film adaptation of the Broadway musical based on ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''.

Recording and production

On the album's opener, "LaLa Challenge," Olu says in his verse, "I been writing this album damn way too long." That song was recorded about halfway through completing ''Mirrorland'', and it represented the frustration they had on the album's long-awaited release. In late 2015, EarthGang joined Mac Miller on the GO:OD AM tour, where WowGr8 was informed about the death of a longtime friend of his, who was killed attempting a robbery. The night they created the song "Swivel," they were sleeping on the floor in Bink’s garage studio. It became one of the first songs they played for J. Cole before signing to Dreamville, and Cole suggested they hold the song for an album. As the song grew and changed like the rest of the album, it first appeared on ''Revenge of the Dreamers III''.

None of songs from the recording sessions of the Dreamville compilation made it on ''Mirrorland'', Olu mentioned that it "opened up the creative space" as they continued to work on the album. "Top Down" was inspired from those sessions in Atlanta "because you can feel how the momentum was still there from the sessions where everybody just wanted to continue to ollaborateand to be around one another in the studio." Although Cole isn't featured on the album, he played a direct and abstract role in the album's creation. "Tequila" was recorded at his North Carolina studio The Sheltuh. In an interview with ''Vibe'', WowGr8 said "We studied soundtracks and scores, not in any attempts to end up on anybody's movie, but just in an attempt to make a project that feels like a movie."

Release and promotion

Singles

On September 4, 2018, EarthGang premiered the song "UP" on the Berlin platform ''Colors Studio''. On September 21, they released a single titled "Stuck" featuring Arin Ray. On February 5, 2019, they released the second single "Proud of U" featuring Young Thug. The song "Swivel" was released on Dreamville's compilation album ''Revenge of the Dreamers III'' on July 5, as a preview of the album. On August 30, they officially released the single "UP". On September 2, they announced the release date of the album and released the promotional single "Ready to Die".

Tours

On September 5, the duo launched a mobile video game named after the album. EarthGang went on a 20-date "What On Earth" Tour in Europe from September to October, and announced the first leg of the "Welcome to Mirrorland" Tour in North America, with Guapdad 4000, Duckwrth, and Benji. In December, they announced a short Australian "Down Under" Tour.

Critical reception

''Mirrorland'' received generally positive reviews; aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalized rating of 79, based on 5 reviews. Jewel Wicker of ''Pitchfork'' called the album EarthGang's most cohesive project to date, saying "''Mirrorland'' seduces listeners into the eclectic world of these two Atlanta dreamers. This is most apparent on the bulbous funk of "Wings," where Olu name-drops local landmarks including Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Interstate 85, and the Georgia Dome." She continued to write that the album "is a vivid ode to Southern black culture. Where the scratchy electric guitars in "Blue Moon" channel the region's soul and blues lineage, "Trippin" pays homage to turn-of-the-century R&B acts like Ginuwine. Elsewhere, standout "La La Challenge" shows the duo's restless curiosity as it twists and turns through Lil Wayne references, hip-hop minimalism, and an extended outro that brings to mind a fiery gospel service." Writing for ''DJBooth'', Yoh Phillips gave a positive review of the album saying "EarthGang not only wrote an album, but they also wrote a love letter. A letter to their blackness, to their musical roots, and to the city that raised them. The album represents EarthGang, an exhibition of their talents, and a glimpse into their world as they see it. Olu and WowGr8 avoid the allure of being anyone else, confident in their cool; comfortable with their weird."

''NME'' gave the album a four of five star rating saying "Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot prove to everyone that rap groups are on the rise. In a genre overpopulated with solo artists, it’s refreshing to see a duo emerge from the ashes. If you give the sick lyricism and jazz overtones a few more years, they could be the next Outkast." Aaron Williams of ''Uproxx'' wrote a favorable review of the album saying "''Mirrorland'' doesn’t quite paint a picture of a new place as it does thoroughly explain Earthgang’s unique outlook — and the history and locations that influenced it." The writer continued to say "it’s just the way Earthgang sees Atlanta, through their own wavy lenses and strange sensibilities. It’s also a strong argument that they’re a worthy successor to Atlanta’s inescapable, inimitable legacy."

Commercial performance

The album sold 11,856 album-equivalent units in the first week, debuting at number 40 on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart and number 22 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Track listing

Notes
* signifies an additional producer
* "This Side" contains additional vocals from Mereba
* "Fields" contains additional vocals from BJ the Chicago Kid

Sample credits
* "Proud of U" contains a sample of "Really Rong" performed by ¿Teo?
* "UP" contains an interpolation of "Lady Marmalade" performed by Labelle and "Blue Suede Shoes" performed by Elvis Presley

Personnel

Instrumentation
* Nate Jones − bass
* Tim Maxey − organ
* Jasminfire − strings
* Yuli − strings
* Rasheeda Ali − flute
* Swayyvo − saxophone
* Dorran Thigpen − trumpet
* Olu − guitar

Technical
* Juro "Mez" Davis − mixing
* Joe LaPorta − mastering
* Julio Ulloa − assistant mixing
* Lido − recording
* Shaan Singh − recording
* Alex Tumay − mixing
* Chris Athens − mastering
* E. Dan (ID Labs) − mixing

Charts

References

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2019 debut albums
Dreamville Records albums
Interscope Records albums
Albums produced by J. Cole
EarthGang albums