Rap Game Awful Explained

Rap Game Awful
Type:mixtape
Artist:Clavish
Cover:Clavish - Rap Game Awful.jpeg
Length:89:32
Label:
Producer:
  • Aifo
  • AyeTM
  • Chek Beatz
  • Disco
  • Elyas
  • Eugene Tsai
  • The FaNaTiX
  • GO Beatz
  • Hal
  • HARGO
  • Harry Beech
  • Hazey Just Landed
  • HD Beats
  • Hoskins
  • ID Crysis
  • JJ Beatz
  • Joe Reeves
  • Kazza
  • Kieran Nash
  • Kyle Evans
  • Lia Liza
  • M1OnTheBeat
  • Mack Jamieson
  • Madz Thomas
  • Makenobeats
  • Nick French
  • ODZZ
  • Off & Out
  • Omar Guetfa
  • Prince Galalie
  • R14 Beats
  • Simon Crisp
  • SK the Plug
  • svdominik
  • TN 490
  • Two Inch Punch
Prev Title:2022'
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Chapter 16
Next Year:2024

Rap Game Awful is the debut mixtape by British rapper Clavish. It was released through Polydor Records and Universal Music UK on 13 January 2023. The mixtape features guest appearances from D-Block Europe, Fredo, Frosty, Rimzee, Tiny Boost, Youngs Teflon, Tiggs da Author, MoStack, Teeway, Kirky, Jordan, and Kaash Paige.[1]

Rap Game Awful was supported by six singles: "Greece", "Public Figure", "NRF Freestyle", "Rocket Science" featuring D-Block Europe, "Traumatised", and "No Difference".

Release and promotion

On 19 May 2022, Clavish released the mixtape's lead single, "Greece."[2] The song proceeded to peak at number 70 on the UK Singles Chart. The mixtape's second single "Public Figure" was released on 22 September 2022.[3] It proceeded to peak at #66 on the Official UK Charts. The mixtape's third single "NRF Freestyle" was released on 16 October 2022.[4]

On 15 November 2022, through Instagram, Clavish announced the release of the mixtape alongside him previewing the tracklist with features such as Frosty, D-Block Europe, Fredo, Rimzee, Tiny Boost, Youngs Teflon, Tiggs da Author, MoStack, Teeway, Kirky, Jordan, and Kaash Paige.[5]

The D-Block Europe-assisted "Rocket Science" was released on 17 November 2022, as the mixtape's fourth single; the success of the song marked Clavish's highest charting single at #9 on the Official UK Charts.[6] [7]

On 3 December 2022, Clavish announced a UK tour which would see him in vastly populated cities such as Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, London, and Manchester.[8] A week later, another London date was added due to the tour's high demand.[9]

The mixtape's fifth single "Traumatised" was released on 5 January 2023, just over a week prior to its release.[10] A day before the release, on 12 January 2023, the mixtape's sixth and final single "No Difference" was released.

Tour

Concert Tour Name:Rap Game Awful Tour
Artist:Clavish
Album:Rap Game Awful
Start Date:March 13, 2023
End Date:March 29, 2023
Number Of Shows:9
This Tour:Rap Game Awful Tour
(2023)

On December 3, 2022, Clavish announced the Rap Game Awful Tour, a 4-date United Kingdom concert tour, in support of the album, beginning March 20, 2023, at Dublin Green Room in Dublin, and concluding March 28, 2023, at O2 Academy Islington in London.[8] Due to popular demand, five more shows were added. After being edited, the tour would start on March 13, 2023, at the Trinity Centre in Bristol and would conclude on March 28, 2023, at O2 Academy Islington in London.[9]

Shows

Date! scope="col" style="width:10em;"
CityCountryVenue
United Kingdom
March 13, 2023BristolEnglandTrinity Centre
March 15, 2023LeicesterO2 Academy 2
March 18, 2023NewcastleNewcastle University
March 20, 2023DublinRepublic of IrelandAcademy Main Room
March 22, 2023GlasgowScotlandSWG3 Studio Warehouse
March 23, 2023ManchesterEnglandAcademy 2
March 27, 2023BirminghamO2 Academy 3
March 28, 2023LondonO2 Academy Islington
March 29, 2023

Critical reception

Rap Game Awful received positive reviews from music critics. Fred Garratt-Stanley from NME notes that "Clavish peppers an eclectic range of beats with clear, cutting, confessional verses." He follows up on this by stating "the tape is a lingering sense of darkness; his stories of prison, gang crime, and betrayal are given an extra bite by ominous, yet stripped-back instrumentals that offer Clavish space to bar and echo the murkiness of early drill heavyweights like 67 and Harlem Spartans." Concluding his review, Garratt-Stanley notes that "the powerful sense of emotion echoed across Rap Game Awful is what makes the mixtape so memorable" and that "If he learns to refine his output a little, there’s no reason Clavish can’t achieve the levels of stardom he’s been tipped to reach." Damien Morris from The Observer noted that "the north London rapper has been carefully nurtured for success over the past two years." He concluded his review as he wrote "the chill, sparse productions foreground Clavish’s economical delivery beautifully, as he flirts with imploring vulnerability and vicious querulousness without ever committing to either." Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis states that "his worldview is strikingly drawn and bleak, devoid of politicking, expressions of anger at societal injustice or indeed optimism." This is followed by Petridis noting that "all this is rendered in a genuinely skilled and original voice, the subtle idiosyncrasies of his flow pointed up by the guest appearances." He concluded his review as he wrote, "he’s abundantly talented, a singular and austerely powerful voice."

Commercial performance

Rap Game Awful debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, selling 5,070 album-equivalent units in the first week, becoming Clavish's first top-ten album.[11] The sales consisted of 4,356 from streams, 585 from physical copies and 129 from downloads. Singles "Greece", "Public Figure" and three other songs from the albums charted on the UK Singles Chart: "Greece" (77), "Public Figure" (66), "Rocket Science" (9), "Traumatised" (63), and "No Difference" (57).

Track listing

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clavish Delivers 28-Track Mixtape 'Rap Game Awful' f/ Fredo, D-Block Europe, Rimzee & More. Keith. James. Complex UK. 13 January 2023. 14 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Clavish Flies Out To Sunny "Greece" For New Music Video. Olaoya. Ezra. Complex. 24 May 2022. 12 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Clavish Deals With Being A 'Public Figure' On New Record. King. Tyrese. newwavemagazine.com. 12 January 2023.
  4. Web site: CLAVISH GOES IN ON "NRF FREESTYLE". grmdaily.com. 17 October 2022 . 12 January 2023.
  5. Web site: The streets is fake the rap games worse... 13/01/23 . 15 November 2022.
  6. Web site: Team Polydor celebrate Clavish's first Top 10 and look ahead to 2023. Homewood. Ben. Music Week. 25 November 2022. 12 January 2023.
  7. Web site: Clavish & D-Block Europe hit Number 1 on Official Trending Chart with Rocket Science. Griffiths. George. Official Charts. 22 November 2022. 12 January 2023.
  8. Web site: My first UK tour Link in bio for early access to tickets..pre sale ends 5th December at 5PM..general sale December 8th.. #RapGameAwful. 3 December 2022.
  9. Web site: Sold out dates more cities are getting added in a couple days but don't miss out on the extra London date !! & lemme know what cities you lot want me to pull up at #RapGameAwful. 6 December 2022.
  10. Web site: Clavish drops off new visual for "Traumatised". Powell. Jon. revolt.tv. 12 January 2023. 7 January 2023.
  11. Clavish targets Top 5 finish for debut mixtape. Music Week. 18 January 2023. 23 October 2023.