SremmLife is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd. It was released on January 6, 2015, by Ear Drummer Records and Interscope Records. The album was supported by five singles: "No Flex Zone", "No Type", "Throw Sum Mo" featuring Nicki Minaj and Young Thug, "This Could Be Us" and "Come Get Her".
Background Rae Sremmurd is a Mississippi-bred hip hop duo composed of Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi. In 2014, the duo signed a recording contract with American music producer Mike Will Made It's newly found label, the Interscope Records imprint, Ear Drummer Records.
Singles The duo's debut single from the album, called "No Flex Zone" was released via digital download on May 18, 2014. The song was produced by Mike Will Made It, and co-produced by A+. The song gained media attention after the release of the remix, which features guest vocals from rappers Nicki Minaj and Pusha T. The song peaked at number 36 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The album's second single, called "No Type" was released on September 15, 2014. Producer Mike WiLL Made-It also serves the production on this track, along with Swae Lee. The song peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was the number 70 song of the 2015 year-end chart.
The album's third single, called "Throw Sum Mo" was released on December 9, 2014. The song features guest vocals from these fellow American hip hop recording artists Nicki Minaj and Young Thug, with the production that was handled by Soundz and Mike WiLL Made-It. The song peaked at number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The album's fourth single, "This Could Be Us" was sent to US urban adult contemporary radio on April 21, 2015. The song's production was handled by Mike WiLL Made-It. The song peaked at number 49 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The album's fifth single, "Come Get Her" was sent to US rhythmic radio on September 29, 2015. The song was produced by Mike WiLL Made-It, and co-produced by A+. The song peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Critical reception
SremmLife received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 78, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 15 reviews. Writing for Exclaim!, Eric Zaworski concluded that "SremmLife sounds like how cheap vodka works — it burns a little, yeah, but it gets you there," explaining that the record "only further reinforces the vice grip hip-hop from south of the Mason-Dixon has on the mainstream." Justin Charity of Complex said "the chants and ecstatic poetry of SremmLife are fully charged from start to finish."
Year-end lists Publication Accolade Year Rank Complex The 50 Best Albums of 2015 2015 Entertainment Weekly The 40 Best Albums of 2015 2015 LA Times10 Great Pop Albums in 20152015 Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2015 2015 Rolling StoneThe 50 Best Albums of 20152015 Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2015 2015
All time lists PublicationAccoladeYearRankRolling StoneThe 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time2022152
Commercial performance SremmLife debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard 200, with 49,000 equivalent album units; it sold 34,000 copies in its first week, with the remainder of its unit count reflecting streaming activity and track sales. In its second week, the album declined to number 17 with 23,000 units, including an additional 11,000 copies sold. It has remained on the album chart for 19 weeks thus far. As of June 2016, SremmLife has sold 198,000 copies domestically. With streaming and physical sales, the album has since gone Platinum and all of its singles have gone 2× Platinum or higher, with the promotional single "Up Like Trump" being certified Gold.
Track listing
Notes signifies a co-producer. "This Could Be Us" features additional vocals by Jace of Two-9.
Sample credits "This Could Be Us" contains a sample from "Burnin' Love" performed by Black Grass.
Personnel Credits adapted from the album booklet and Allmusic.
Performance
Rae Sremmurd – primary artists Sean "Big Sean" Anderson – featured artist Jason "Jace" Harris – featured artist , additional vocals Onika "Nicki Minaj" Maraj – featured artist Jeffery "Young Thug" Williams – featured artist
Producers
Michael "Mike Will Made-It" Williams – executive producer, producer Pierre "P-Nazty" Slaughter – executive producer Rae Sremmurd – executive producers Jeremy "BackPack" Miller – producer Carlton "Honorable C.N.O.T.E." Mays – producer Sonny "Sonny Digital" Uwaeauoke – producer Kenneth "Soundz" Coby – producer Tyree "Young Chop" Pitman – producer Asheton "A+" Hogan – co-producer Marquel "Marz" Middlebrooks – co-producer Khalif "Swae Lee" Brown – co-producer
Technical
Todd Bergman – recording assistant Maddox Chhim – mixing assistant Aubry "Big Juice" Delaine – engineer Stephen Hybicki – engineer , mixing Maximilian Jaeger – engineer Jaycen Joshua – mixing Dave Kutch – mastering Ryan Kaul – mixing assistant Randy Lanphear – engineer Marquel "Marz" Middlebrooks – engineer Cody Seal – engineer Pierre "P-Nazty" Slaughter – engineer Gregg Rominiecki – engineer Hakeem Wallace – engineer Michael "Mike Will Made-It" Williams – mixing
Miscellaneous
Ray Alba – publicity Chelsea Blythe – A&R coordinator Archie Davis – marketing Khalfani "Fani" Dennis – stylist DJ Mormile – management Todd Douglas – business affairs Jeremey "Migo The Plug" Ellis – management Dan Friedman – management Auro Harewood – digital Max "Directed By Max" Hliva – videography Stephanie Hsu – creative Tracy Kies – business affairs Justine Massa – creative Chris Mortimer – digital Aubrey "Aubz" Potter – style, merchandise Gunner Safron – marketing Pierre "P-Nazty" Slaughter – A&R Manny Smith – A&R Justin "JusDesignz" Thomas – graphic designer, cover art Diwang Valdez – photography Brian "Bwrightous" Wright – marketing, creative director
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2015)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position US Billboard 200 39 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 22 Chart (2016) Position US Billboard 200 106
Certifications
References