Erys (2019)

Erys (stylized in all caps and pronounced "Iris") is the second studio album by American rapper Jaden, released on July 5, 2019, through MSFTSMusic and Roc Nation. It is the follow-up to 2017's Syre, and features collaborations with Tyler, the Creator, Trinidad James, ASAP Rocky, Kid Cudi, Lido, and Willow. The lead single "Again" was released on July 2.

Background

Following the release of his debut studio album Syre in 2017, Jaden announced the follow-up Erys in December of the same year. In September 2018, Smith told Zane Lowe that while he likes "to do it all" and "experiment", "the people have spoken on what they like from me so I try to come really, really hard", describing Erys as a "strict, hard rap album". He went on to say that "every song, back to back, [will be] high tempo, [and have] a lot of bass like just crazy".

Composition

Erys resumes the narrative from Jaden's previous album, Syre. A boy who is obsessed with chasing the sunset then is chased it, and it kills him. Erys is a now resurrected part of Syre. The album portrays Erys as a boy whose ego has gotten the best of him. He is characterized as an ill-mannered person who contrasts with the main character of the album Syre.

Promotion

In April 2019, Smith released the three-track EP Erys Is Coming, and in June, debuted the song "Summertime in Paris" with sister Willow on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The song "On My Own" was featured in the PlayStation 4/PlayStation 5 video game Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Erys received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics.

Commercial performance

In the United States, Erys debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 23,932 album-equivalent units, with 4,036 coming from pure album sales in its first week.