The Bigger Artist (2017)

The Bigger Artist is the debut studio album by American rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie. It was released on September 29, 2017, by Highbridge and Atlantic Records, serving as the second commercial release with Atlantic. The album features guest appearances from Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Kodak Black, 21 Savage, PnB Rock, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Robin Thicke and Don Q. Meanwhile, production comes from Metro Boomin, DJ Mustard, Murda Beatz, and Cardo, among others. The album received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised A Boogie's ability to blend melody with introspective lyricism.

Background

The album was announced on July 17, 2017. The album's cover art was revealed on September 3, 2017. The tracklist and pre-order was released on September 8, 2017.

Singles

The lead single, "Drowning" featuring Kodak Black, was released on March 10, 2017. "Beast Mode" featuring PnB Rock and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, was released as a pre-order single on September 8, 2017. The second and final single, "Say A'", was released on September 22, 2017.

Critical reception

The Bigger Artist received widespread critical acclaim. Pitchfork highlighted the album's blend of melody and grit, noting that A Boogie's ability to transform vulnerable moments into catchy sing-alongs was a standout feature . XXL Magazine commended the album's emotional depth, particularly on tracks like "No Comparison," where A Boogie delivers a brooding performance over solemn production . HipHopDX acknowledged the album's success in showcasing A Boogie's strengths, especially with the platinum-selling single "Drowning" featuring Kodak Black.

Commercial performance

The Bigger Artist debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 with 67,000 album-equivalent units, of which 10,000 were in pure album sales in its first week of release. It is A Boogie wit da Hoodie's third work to appear on the chart, and his highest-peaking after Hoodie SZN. On August 21, 2019, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over a million units in the United States.