Young Money: Rise of an Empire
Second studio album by the Young Money supergroup.
Young Money: Rise of an Empire, the second album from the American supergroup Young Money Entertainment, came out on March 11, 2014, through Young Money, Cash Money, and Republic Records. The record includes appearances from label members like Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga. It reached number seven on the Billboard 200, selling 32,000 copies in its first week in the United States.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Young Money
- Released
- 11 March 2014
- Recorded
- 2013–14
- Genre
- Hip hop
- Length
- 49:59
- Label
- Young Money
- Cash Money
- Republic
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | We Alright (featuring Euro, Birdman and Lil Wayne) | Eufradis Rodriguez, Bryan Williams, Dwayne Carter, Sam Gumbley | 5:12 |
| 2 | Trophies (featuring Drake) | Aubrey Graham, Chauncey Hollis, Marvin Thomas, Noah Shebib | 3:08 |
| 3 | Bang (featuring Lil Twist, Euro and Cory Gunz) | Christopher Lynn Moore, Rodriguez, Peter Cory Pankey, Sonny Uwaezuoke | 4:10 |
| 4 | Senile (featuring Tyga, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne) | Michael Stevenson, Onika Maraj, Carter, David Lewis Doman | |
| 5 | Induction Speech (featuring Euro) | Rodriguez, Michael Joshua Fonseca | 5:21 |
| 6 | One Time (featuring Lil Twist, Tyga and YG) | Moore, Stevenson, Keenon Jackson, Jess Jackson, Andrew Harr, Jermaine Jackson | 4:21 |
| 7 | Hittin Like (featuring Shanell and Chanel West Coast) | Shanell Woodgett, Chelsea Dudley, Aaron O'Brien | 2:42 |
| 8 | Lookin Ass (featuring Nicki Minaj) | Maraj, Noel Fisher, Kemion Johnel Cooks | 2:41 |
| 9 | Fresher Than Ever (featuring Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Flow, Mack Maine and Birdman) | Carl Lilly, Jarvis Mills, Widner DeGruy, Jermaine Preyan, B. Williams, B. Parker, D. Stokes, B. Wicker, A. Reid, J. Jame | 6:46 |
| 10 | Back It Up (featuring Lil Twist and Tyga) | Moore, Stevenson, Lexus Lewis | 3:34 |
| 11 | Moment (featuring Lil Wayne) | Carter, Anthony Norris | 4:39 |
| 12 | You Already Know (featuring PJ Morton, Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda and Mack Maine) | Paul Morton, Mills, Lilly, Preyan | 4:09 |
Track listing from the source article.
Background
On January 22, 2014, Young Money Entertainment's COO Cortez Bryant announced the album via press release, stating it would be released on March 11, 2014, and that Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Shanell, Drake, Tyga, Christina Milian, Gudda Gudda, Lil Twist, and Euro would appear. The release said the label was hungrier than ever and aimed to expand its empire with a next generation of artists. On January 26, 2014, Birdman told MTV News that every signed artist would be featured, including Lil Chuckee, Austin Mahone, and Paris Hilton. The cover artwork, showing a moon, clouds, and a castle, was revealed on February 15, 2014. The track listing announced on February 22, 2014, included appearances from Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Mack Maine, Tyga, Jae Millz, Cory Gunz, Christina Milian, Gudda Gudda, Lil Twist, Shanell, Chanel West Coast, PJ Morton, Euro, and Flow, plus guest appearances from YG, Meek Mill, Yo Gotti, and Birdman.
Singles
The first single, "We Alright" featuring Lil Wayne, Birdman, and Euro, was released on January 22, 2014, with a music video directed by Colin Tilley that premiered on February 15, 2014. "Senile" featuring Tyga, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne was originally intended as a single for Tyga's album but was released for the compilation; its cover art was revealed on February 10, 2014, and the song premiered online as a promotional single on February 24, 2014, with a music video released on April 13, 2014. On February 27, 2014, "Trophies" featuring Drake and "Lookin Ass" featuring Nicki Minaj were released as the second and third official singles; "Trophies" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio on March 4, 2014, and "Lookin Ass" to urban contemporary radio on March 11, 2014.
Critical reception
The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, it scored 55 out of 100 based on 8 reviews, indicating mixed reception. Melanie Sims of the Associated Press wrote that Lil Wayne anchored the compilation and made up for his lackluster previous album, and that while Wayne, Drake, and Minaj were the star players, the bench-warmers kept it hot. David Jeffries of AllMusic called it a wobbly-quality roster-promoting label compilation with an EP's worth of fire. Sheldon Pearce of XXL said the album was muddled by mid-level talent, with the stars shining only sporadically, and that it felt like an album pitching stand-ins as the next wave of MCs to no avail; he praised the appearances of Lil Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, and the Lil Twist, Tyga, and YG collaboration "One Time".
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