Bad Vibes Forever Explained

Bad Vibes Forever
Type:studio
Artist:XXXTentacion
Cover:Bad vibes forever xxxtentacion.jpg
Recorded:2014–2019
Released:December 6, 2019[1]
Length:57:24
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Members Only, Vol. 4
Prev Year:2019
Next Year:2022

Bad Vibes Forever is the fourth and final studio album by American rapper and singer-songwriter XXXTentacion. It was released through Bad Vibes Forever and Empire Distribution on December 6, 2019. The production was handled by XXXTentacion himself, alongside DJ Carnage, John Cunningham, JonFX, Ronny J, XXYYXX, and among others. The album features a wide range of guest appearances from artists including PnB Rock, Trippie Redd, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Killstation, Noah Cyrus, Tom G, Tory Lanez, Mavado, Craig Xen, Kemba, Joey Badass, Sauce Walka, Carnage, Ky-Mani Marley, Stefflon Don, Vybz Kartel, Jimmy Levy, Joyner Lucas, Ikabod Veins, and Blink-182.[2] The album serves as a follow-up to his first posthumous album and third studio album, Skins (2018).

Bad Vibes Forever was supported by three singles – "Royalty", "Hearteater", and "Bad Vibes Forever". Bad Vibes Forever received mostly mixed reviews from critics and debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, earning 65,000 album-equivalent units.

Background

Bad Vibes Forever was initially planned as XXXTentacion's debut album, with a slated release date of October 31, 2016.[3] In a March 2017 interview, XXXTentacion stated he was working on Bad Vibes Forever alongside 17.[4] 17 was released as his debut album in August 2017, followed by the EP A Ghetto Christmas Carol in December. That same month, XXXTentacion announced that his next three albums would be titled ?, Skins, and Bad Vibes Forever.[5]

XXXTentacion's second studio album ? was released in March 2018, the last project he released before being murdered in June 2018. His first posthumous album, Skins, was released in December 2018. On the anniversary of his murder, his estate announced an upcoming album and documentary planned for the year.[6] Billboard confirmed the album's title as Bad Vibes Forever in August 2019, with a slated release for fall 2019.[2] The album was reported to feature guest appearances from Stefflon Don, Lil Wayne, Lil Nas X, Trippie Redd, Rick Ross, Joey Badass and more. However, the song featuring Lil Nas X would later be scrapped; stating that the fans didn't want it at first, it was because of one of Lil Nas X's tweets from his old Twitter account. But it was resolved, right around the corner from the release of the album.[7] On August 25, 2019, the songs "Hearteater" and "School Shooters (ft. Lil Wayne)" were confirmed for the album.[8]

On November 12, 2019, a teaser for the album and XXXTentacion's clothing line, also titled Bad Vibes Forever, was released through his Instagram story. In the video, the album was presented as "the final album".[9]

On November 20, 2019, the album's cover art was teased on social media by XXXTentacion's mother who stated that the album would be "coming soon".[10] A followup album trailer revealed the release date for December 6, 2019.[11]

Promotion

"Royalty", featuring Ky-Mani Marley, Stefflon Don and Vybz Kartel, was released on July 19, 2019, as the album's lead single.

"Hearteater", originally a scrapped track from ?, was teased on October 18, 2019, with a picture of XXXTentacion's ex-girlfriend, Geneva Ayala, eating a bloody heart.[12] The single was officially released on October 22, 2019.[13] A music video for the track was also announced, and features Ayala, who had previously accused the rapper of domestic abuse.[14] The music video was released on October 25, 2019.[15]

The album's title track, featuring Trippie Redd and PnB Rock, was released on November 22, 2019, following a teaser video released the day before.[11] The teaser video showed the two artists, as well as Billie Eilish and Lil Skies, recounting the impact XXXTentacion had on their lives, with Eilish referring to the artist as "a beam of light [that] tried to do everything for other people".[11]

Critical reception

According to Metacritic, which calculated an average score of 55 based on six reviews, the album received "mixed or average reviews". Kyann-Sian Williams, writing for NME, called the album "better than last year's Skins, but still a case of diminishing returns" and "a serious case of over-embellishing thin material".

Commercial performance

Bad Vibes Forever debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 with 65,000 album-equivalent units.[16]

Official videos

Track listing

Track listing adapted from Tidal.[17]

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
Estonian Albums (IFPI)[19] 7
French Albums (SNEP)[20] 98
Latvian Albums (LAIPA)[21] 6
US Billboard 200[22] 5

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: XXXTENTACION - Bad Vibes Forever (Teaser). December 18, 2021. YouTube.
  2. David Peisner . August 22, 2019 . What To Expect From XXXTentacion's Second Posthumous Album . . August 24, 2019.
  3. Web site: The Mars Files (EP. 25) XXXTENTACION [Powered MiamiSoundWav] ]. September 29, 2016 . . 24 August 2019 . The release date for Bad Vibes Forever as of now is October 31st..
  4. Web site: XXXTentacion's Debut Project 'Bad Vibes' to Be Released This Spring – XXL . Xxlmag.com . March 2017 . 24 August 2019.
  5. Web site: XXXTentacion Shares the Titles of His New Albums – XXL . XXL Mag. December 29, 2017 . August 24, 2019.
  6. Web site: XXXTentacion to Release New Album and Documentary. Complex.com. December 18, 2021.
  7. News: Fu . Eddie . XXXTentacion's Upcoming Album 'Bad Vibes Forever' Features Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Joey Bada$$, & Joyner Lucas . December 26, 2019 . Genius . December 3, 2019.
  8. Web site: XXXTentacion's New Album 'Bad Vibes Forever' Includes A Lil Wayne Collaboration Titled "School Shooter". Genius.com. December 18, 2021.
  9. News: Zidel . Alex . XXXTentacion Estate Teases His Final Album 'Bad Vibes Forever, Vol. 1' . November 13, 2019 . HotNewHipHop . November 12, 2019.
  10. News: Zidel . Alex . XXXTentacion 'Bad Vibes Forever' Cover Art Revealed . November 21, 2019 . HotNewHipHop . November 21, 2019.
  11. Saponara . Michael . XXXTentacion's Estate Sets 'Bad Vibes Forever' Release Date, Drops Title Track With Trippie Redd & PnB Rock . November 23, 2019 . Billboard . November 22, 2019.
  12. News: Zidel . Alex . XXXTentacion 'Heart Eater' Teased With Footage Of Bloody Ex-Girlfriend . October 18, 2019 . HotNewHipHop.
  13. News: Berry . Peter A. . XXXTentacion's 'Hearteater' Gets an Official Release: Listen . October 22, 2019 . XXL . October 22, 2019.
  14. News: Tigg . FNR . Ex-Girlfriend Who Accused XXXTentacion of Domestic Violence to Appear in 'Heart Eater' Video . October 22, 2019 . Complex . October 18, 2019.
  15. Saponara . Michael . XXXTentaction's Bloodthirsty 'Hearteater' Video Features Ex-Girlfriend as a Cannibal: Watch . November 13, 2019 . Billboard . October 25, 2019.
  16. Roddy Ricch Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 'Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial'. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. December 15, 2019. December 15, 2019.
  17. Web site: Bad Vibes Forever / XXXTentacion . December 7, 2019 . Listen.tidal.com.
  18. Web site: Bad Vibes Forever / XXXTENTACION. AllMusic. January 18, 2020.
  19. Web site: EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS, Kuulajad jätavad varalahkunud Juice WRLDiga hüvasti. December 17, 2019. May 29, 2024. Eesti Ekspress. Estonian.
  20. Web site: Top Albums (Week 50, 2019). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. fr. December 17, 2019.
  21. Web site: Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 50. nedēļa. lv. LAIPA. December 13, 2019. December 14, 2019.
  22. Roddy Ricch Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 With 'Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial'. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. December 15, 2019. December 16, 2019.
  23. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 10, 2020.