Wunna (album) explained

Wunna
Type:studio
Artist:Gunna
Cover:Gunna - Wunna.png
Caption:Standard cover
Recorded:2019–2020[1]
Genre:Hip hop
Length:50:06
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Drip or Drown 2
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Slime Language 2
Next Year:2021

Wunna (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album by American rapper Gunna. It was released on May 22, 2020, by YSL Records and 300 Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Young Thug, Nechie, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, and Travis Scott. The deluxe edition was released on July 24, 2020. It features additional guest appearances from Yak Gotti, Future, Nav, and Lil Uzi Vert.

Wunna received generally favorable reviews from critics and debuted atop the US Billboard 200, earning 111,000 album-equivalent units of which 4,000 were pure sales, becoming Gunna's first number-one album. It was supported by three singles: "Skybox", "Wunna", and "Dollaz on My Head".

Background

In September 2019, Gunna first announced that he would be dropping new music "very, very soon".[2] Throughout January and February 2020, the rapper kept hinting at the release of new music which was eventually followed up by the single release "Skybox".[3] [4] On March 17, 2020, he explained on his Twitter that the album title stands for "Wealthy Unapologetic Nigga Naturally Authentic".[5] In April 2020, the rapper revealed that the album was supposed to be out already by that date but the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with his plans.[6] He announced the release date on April 30.[7] On May 18, a video for the title track "Wunna" was released.[8] The video was shot in Jamaica and serves as the first part of an upcoming album documentary.[8] [9] Gunna previously teased the song in March 2020.[10]

Singles

The album's first single, "Skybox", was released on March 6, 2020, as well an accompanying music video.[11] The song peaked at number 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[12]

The album's second single, "Wunna", was released on May 18, 2020,[13] while the music video was released the next day.[9] The song peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12]

The album's third single, "Dollaz on My Head" featuring Young Thug, was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on July 6, 2020.[14] The song peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12]

Critical reception

Wunna was met with generally favorable reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 67, based on six reviews.

Pitchforks reviewer Alphonse Pierre gave the album a positive review, stating that "Gunna has the heart and is the most engaged he's sounded since his 2018 breakthrough, Drip Season 3". While calling the album monotonous at times, Pierre commended Gunna's performances, saying that "it's hard to not have fun when Gunna is telling posh tales in a rushed melody over Wheezy and Turbo beats that sound like an elevator ride up to a penthouse". Reviewing the album for HipHopDX, Mimi Kenny stated "Gunna received invaluable support on his way to fame, but with Wunna, it looks like he may be able to take it from here". Danny Schwartz of Rolling Stone praised the album, stating, "While some of his writing is of the Fisher-Price variety—one verse in "Met Gala" employs a AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA rhyme scheme—and his lyrics aren't always well thought out ("Say the wrong word, and I'mma shoot him in his shit"), Wunna remains a transportive listening experience, due in large part to its production, which exists in almost perfect harmony with Gunna's soothing vocals". Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant Magazine said, "The album represents an evolution from trap easy-listening to big-canvas rap artistry".

In a mixed review, AllMusic critic David Crone wrote the following: "While WUNNA deserves points for its cohesiveness and impressive highs, its padding proves its downfall: the album's closing run means it remains a pick-and-mix affair, rather than a definitive statement." In a negative review, Beats Per Minutes Chase McMullen stated: "Should you desire to be kind, you can call the album mood music. In theory, it's an astrology themed LP, with Wunna representing an alter-ego, but none of that comes across. ... Even his voice lacks any distinction, a hushed, fatigued monotone that could belong to anyone, with so little presence that it hardly registers over the beats."

Year-end lists

Publication! scope="col" class="unsortable"
ListRank
BillboardThe 20 Best Rap Albums of 2020
ComplexThe Best Albums of 2020
HighsnobietyThe 20 Albums That Saved 2020
UproxxThe Best Albums of 2020
VultureThe Best Albums of 2020

Commercial performance

Wunna debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 111,000 album-equivalent units, (of which 4,000 were in pure album sales) in its first week.[15] This became Gunna's first US number one debut.[15] The album also accumulated a total of 143.6 million on-demand streams of the set's tracks in the week ending May 28.[15] In its second week, the album dropped to number four on the chart, earning an additional 49,000 units.[16]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes and Tidal.[17] [18]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Position
US Billboard 200[21] 46
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[22] 28
Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
US Billboard 200[23] 108
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[24] 66

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateLabel(s)Format(s)EditionRef.
VariousMay 22, 2020Standard[25]
July 24, 2020Deluxe[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gunna Play New Songs From Album On IG Live . YouTube. April 22, 2020. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200604020341/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73UxpZsIl1E. June 4, 2020.
  2. Web site: Gunna announces new music dropping next week. Revolt. Moorwood. Victoria. February 10, 2020. June 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614080544/https://www.revolt.tv/news/2020/2/10/21131441/gunna-teases-new-music. June 14, 2020. live.
  3. Web site: Gunna Says He's Dropping New Music Next Week. XXL. Centeno. Tony M.. February 10, 2020. June 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200614080536/https://www.xxlmag.com/gunna-new-music-2020/. June 14, 2020. live.
  4. Web site: The Ones: Gunna's "Skybox". Pitchfork. Pearce. Sheldon. March 12, 2020. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200526171111/https://pitchfork.com/levels/gunna-skybox-new-song-listen/. May 26, 2020. live.
  5. Web site: WUNNA– Wealthy Unapologetic Nigga Naturally Authentic ‼️. Twitter. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200525004747/https://twitter.com/1GunnaGunna/status/1239808976742645760. May 25, 2020. live.
  6. Web site: Gunna Reveals Plans For New Album Amid Coronavirus Crisis. HotNewHipHop. Cole. Alexander. April 2, 2020. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200502205220/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/gunna-reveals-plans-for-new-album-amid-coronavirus-crisis-news.107739.html. May 2, 2020. live.
  7. Web site: Everything We Know About Gunna's New Album WUNNA. Highsnobiety. Sawyer. Jonathan. May 14, 2020. May 20, 2020.
  8. Web site: Gunna 'WUNNA' Documentary for New Album Part 1. Hypebeast. Johnson. Patrick. May 18, 2020. June 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200604010958/https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/gunna-wunna-album-documentary-part-1. June 4, 2020. live.
  9. Web site: Gunna Heads to Jamaica for New "WUNNA" Music Video. Hypebeast. Johnson. Patrick. May 19, 2020. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200526185946/https://hypebeast.com/2020/5/gunna-wunna-new-music-video. May 26, 2020. live.
  10. Web site: Gunna Hints at New Project on the Way With "Wunna" Teaser. Hypebeast. Johnson. Patrick. March 4, 2020. May 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200521090941/https://hypebeast.com/2020/3/gunna-wunna-music-video-teaser-watch. May 21, 2020. live.
  11. Web site: Gunna Turns Up In The Desert In Visual For "Skybox". HotNewHipHop. Marie. Erika. March 6, 2020. June 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615032258/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/gunna-turns-up-in-the-desert-in-visual-for-skybox-new-song.1986421.html. June 15, 2020. live.
  12. Gunna Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. June 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20191214003205/https://www.billboard.com/music/Gunna/chart-history/HSI. December 14, 2019. live.
  13. Web site: Gunna's "Wunna" Title Track Is Here. HotNewHipHop. Lilah. Rose. May 18, 2020. June 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200529003641/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/gunnas-wunna-title-track-is-here-new-song.1987255.html. May 29, 2020. live.
  14. Web site: Top 40 Rhythmic Crossover Radio Music News, Charts, Top Songs, Stations. All Access. July 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200714055630/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic. July 14, 2020.
  15. 'Wunna' Wins: Gunna Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. May 31, 2020. May 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200601001624/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9394056/wunna-wins-gunna-earns-first-no-1-album-on-billboard-200-chart. June 1, 2020. live.
  16. Lady Gaga Scores Sixth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Chromatica'. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. June 7, 2020. June 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200607191211/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9397503/lady-gaga-chromatica-sixth-number-1-album-billboard-200. June 7, 2020. live.
  17. Wunna. CD liner notes. Gunna. 300 Entertainment. 2020.
  18. Web site: Credits / WUNNA (Deluxe) / Gunna. Tidal. June 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724052735/https://listen.tidal.com/album/149708283/credits. July 24, 2020. live.
  19. Web site: Do What Sounds Good NYC on Instagram: "We haven't reopened for sessions yet but here are the releases mixed at our studio this week! Mixed by @alextumay. Assisted by @onlyxchild…". Instagram. dowhatsoundsgood. May 18, 2020. December 26, 2020. https://archive.today/20201226071821/https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVdkPBjYMY/. December 26, 2020. live.
  20. Web site: Do What Sounds Good NYC's Instagram post: "New releases this week mixed at our studio! New @gunna @deadboylife @heavysteppers and @trashtalkhc. Mixed by @alextumay. Assisted by…". Instagram. dowhatsoundsgood. May 22, 2020. December 26, 2020. https://archive.today/20201226073256/https://www.instagram.com/p/CAfwzqjDhjv/. December 26, 2020. live.
  21. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 4, 2020. December 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201207204455/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/top-billboard-200-albums. live.
  22. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2020. Billboard. December 16, 2020. December 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201207204435/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums. live.
  23. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 3, 2021.
  24. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 3, 2021.
  25. Web site: Gunna Releases Wunna Album: Listen. XXL. Johnson. Zoe. May 22, 2020. July 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200712132252/https://www.xxlmag.com/gunna-wunna-album/. July 12, 2020. live.
  26. Web site: Gunna Releases 'Wunna (Deluxe)' With 8 New Tracks: Listen. Stereogum. DeVille. Chris. July 24, 2020. July 24, 2020. January 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210103023432/https://www.stereogum.com/2092628/gunna-wunna-deluxe/music/. live.

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