Hall of Fame (Polo G album)
Hall of Fame | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 11, 2021 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 54:04 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
Polo G chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Hall of Fame | ||||
|
Hall of Fame is the third studio album by American rapper Polo G. It was released on June 11, 2021. The album features guest appearances from the Kid Laroi, Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Scorey, G Herbo, Rod Wave, DaBaby, Young Thug, Roddy Ricch, Nicki Minaj, the late Pop Smoke, and Fivio Foreign. Production was handled by Einer Bankz, Angelo Ferraro, D Mac, Karltin Bankz, Londn Blue, BKH, Synco, Tahj Money, Varohl, & WizardMCE, among others. The deluxe edition, Hall of Fame 2.0, was released on December 3, 2021, with fourteen bonus tracks. It features additional guest appearances from Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, Yungliv, NLE Choppa, and Lil Tjay.[3]
Hall of Fame debuted atop the Billboard 200, earning 143,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, becoming Polo G's first number-one album of his career. The album was supported by four singles, including his first number-one hit on the Hot 100, "Rapstar".
Background and recording
In April 2021, Bartlett hinted at a song with fellow Chicago rapper Lil Durk and Australian rapper the Kid Laroi with a recorded music video.[4] In May, he confirmed fellow Chicago rapper G Herbo would appear on the album, with DJ Scheme previewing a snippet of their song during an Instagram live.[5]
On May 16, 2021, Polo took to Twitter to confirm that he had finished recording the album.[6][7]
Artwork
The album's artwork was created by art director Zanic, and features Polo G in a suit standing at a podium with platinum plaques for his prior albums behind him, and a bust of Polo G.[8]
Release and promotion
In September 2020, Polo released the album's lead single "Epidemic".[9] It peaked at number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
On February 5, 2021, he released the album's second single "GNF (OKOKOK)".[10] The song peaked number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100. On April 9, he released the third single "Rapstar".[11] The song peaked number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the song being his first number-one single in his career. "Rapstar" was previously previewed back in May 2020 in a YouTube video in which Polo and the song's co-producer Einer Bankz performed an acoustic version of the song. The song was then announced two days prior to its release with Polo posting a teaser for the music video. On May 21, "Rapstar" was certified platinum[12] and the same day he released the album's fourth single, "Gang Gang" featuring Lil Wayne.[13] The song peaked number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100. On May 27, Polo released a teaser trailer for the album which also revealed its release date of June 11, 2021, and features a snippet of a new song coined "Lil Wooski" by fans with an option to pre-save the album for all streaming services.[14] On June 2, Polo posted an Instagram video teasing another song from the album with the caption "Toxic", indicating the song's title.[15] On December 3, 2021 Polo released a Deluxe version of the album with 14 additional tracks featured on it.[16]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
HipHopDX | 8/10[18] |
Pitchfork | 7.0/10[2] |
Riff Magazine | 9/10[19] |
Hall of Fame received generally positive reviews. Pitchfork writer Matthew Ismael Ruiz said in his review of the project: "The Chicago rapper steps further into the mainstream on his third album, an ultimately hopeful exploration of how trauma manifests".[2] Fred Thomas from Allmusic also stated that "Hall of Fame swims even further into the mainstream, offering more of Polo G's catchy if painful reflections over more accessible and pop-minded production. Even still, Some of Hall of Fame's best moments come when Polo G is in his original element, like when he's commiserating with fellow pain rapper Rod Wave on 'Heart of a Giant' or trying on more aggressive approaches on the short but ruthless 'GNF (OKOKOK)'."[20]
Commercial performance
Hall of Fame debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 143,000 album-equivalent units (including 18,000 copies as traditional album sales) in its first week.[21] The album also accumulated a total of 181.9 million on-demand streams of the album's songs during that week.[21] During the week of September 3, 2021 the album sold 17,100 equivalent units bringing its cumulative total to 514,100.[citation needed]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Painting Pictures" |
| 2:17 | |
2. | "Rapstar" |
|
| 2:46 |
3. | "No Return" (featuring the Kid Laroi and Lil Durk) |
|
| 2:48 |
4. | "Toxic" | Bartlett |
| 2:11 |
5. | "Epidemic" |
|
| 2:57 |
6. | "Gang Gang" (with Lil Wayne) |
| Angelo Ferraro | 2:59 |
7. | "Boom" | Bartlett |
| 2:06 |
8. | "Black Hearted" | Bartlett |
| 3:10 |
9. | "Broken Guitars" (featuring Scorey) |
|
| 2:08 |
10. | "GNF (OKOKOK)" | Bartlett |
| 1:56 |
11. | "Go Part 1" (featuring G Herbo) |
| Kid Culture | 2:41 |
12. | "Heart of a Giant" (featuring Rod Wave) |
| BKH Beats | 2:48 |
13. | "Zooted Freestyle" | Bartlett | 2:12 | |
14. | "Party Lyfe" (featuring DaBaby) |
|
| 2:51 |
15. | "Losses" (featuring Young Thug) |
|
| 2:54 |
16. | "So Real" | Bartlett | SephGotTheWaves | 2:44 |
17. | "Fame & Riches" (featuring Roddy Ricch) |
| WizardMCE | 2:31 |
18. | "For the Love of New York" (with Nicki Minaj) |
|
| 2:55 |
19. | "Clueless" (featuring Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign) |
| Axl Beats | 2:45 |
20. | "Bloody Canvas" | Bartlett |
| 4:25 |
Total length: | 54:04 |
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[48] | Gold | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[50] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Album Review: Polo G is grinning through the pain on 'Hall of Fame'". Riff Magazine. 11 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (June 18, 2021). "Polo G: Hall of Fame Album Review". Pitchfork.
- ^ Zidel, Alex (22 November 2021). "Polo G "Hall Of Fame 2.0" Tracklist Features Lil Baby, MoneyBagg Yo, & A Song Called "Piano G"". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ "The Kid Laroi, Lil Durk and Polo G have a song + video in the tuck". XXL. April 8, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Boog, Zach (May 1, 2021). "Polo G Talks Hall of Fame, Goat Status, Chicago Violence & More". 1011thebeat. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ G, Polo (May 16, 2021). "💯%". Retrieved June 3, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Findlay, Mitch (May 17, 2021). "Polo G's "Hall Of Fame" Album Is Done". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (May 26, 2021). "Polo G Announces Release Date for New Album Hall of Fame". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ Yoo, Noah (September 25, 2020). "Watch Polo G's Video for New Song "Epidemic"". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (February 5, 2021). "Polo G Shares Video for New Song "GNF (OKOKOK)": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ Yoo, Noah (April 9, 2020). "Polo G Shares Video for New Song "RAPSTAR": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (May 21, 2021). "Polo G and Lil Wayne Share Video for New Song "Gang Gang": Watch". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ Doria, Matt (May 28, 2021). "Polo G sets a release date for new album 'Hall of Fame'". NME. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
- ^ "20 Chains💎6 Figures Just To Hit The Stage😈💯..."Toxic"☠️🤢🖤🖤🖤 #Hof #06/11🔥🔥". June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved June 3, 2021 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Polo G Drops Deluxe Edition of 'Hall of Fame' Album f/ Lil Baby, Moneybagg Yo, and More". Complex. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
- ^ Thomas, Fred. "Hall Of Fame - Polo G | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ Blake, David (June 29, 2021). "Polo G Paints a Tragic Picture of Success on 'Hall of Fame' Album". HipHopDX.
- ^ Hoffman, Tim (Jun 11, 2021). "Album Review: Polo G is grinning through the pain on 'Hall of Fame'". Riff Magazine.
- ^ Thomas, Fred. "Hall of Fame Review by Fred Thomas". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (June 20, 2021). "Polo G Lands First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Hall of Fame'". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Polo G – Hall of Fame" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Polo G – Hall of Fame" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Polo G – Hall of Fame" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Polo G Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Polo G – Hall of Fame" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Albumit 24/2021" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Polo G – Hall of Fame" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "2021 24-os SAVAITĖS (birželio 11-17 d.) ALBUMŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ "Polo G Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ "Polo G Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ "Danish album certifications – Polo G – Hall of Fame". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- ^ "British album certifications – Polo G – Hall of Fame". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
- ^ "American album certifications – Polo G – Hall of Fame". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 10, 2023.