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Wunna (album)

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Wunna
Standard cover; deluxe edition features a green ambience and Gunna is smiling
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)
Recorded2019–2020[1]
GenreHip hop
Length50:06
Label
Producer
Gunna chronology
Drip or Drown 2
(2019)
Wunna
(2020)
Slime Language 2
(2021)
Singles from Wunna
  1. "Skybox"
    Released: March 6, 2020
  2. "Wunna"
    Released: May 18, 2020
  3. "Dollaz on My Head"
    Released: July 6, 2020

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. A deluxe edition was released on July 24, 2020, featuring 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", its title track, "Wunna", and "Dollaz on My Head".

Background

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic67/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
Beats Per Minute24%[17]
HipHopDX3.7/5[18]
Pitchfork7.2/10[19]
Rolling Stone[20]
Slant Magazine[21]

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.[15]

Pitchfork's 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".[19] 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".[18] 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".[20] Charles Lyons-Burt of Slant Magazine said, "The album represents an evolution from trap easy-listening to big-canvas rap artistry".[21]

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."[16] In a negative review, Beats Per Minute's 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."[17]

Year-end lists

[edit]
Select year-end rankings of Wunna
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2020
19
Complex The Best Albums of 2020
14
Highsnobiety The 20 Albums That Saved 2020
20
Uproxx The Best Albums of 2020
34
Vulture The Best Albums of 2020
9

Commercial performance

[edit]

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.[27] This became Gunna's first US number one debut.[27] The album also accumulated a total of 143.6 million on-demand streams of the set's tracks in the week ending May 28.[27] In its second week, the album dropped to number four on the chart, earning an additional 49,000 units.[28]

Track listing

[edit]
Wunna track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Argentina"
2:29
2."Gimmick"
  • Kitchens
  • Glass
  • Gilmore
  • Wheezy
  • Aviator Keyyz
  • Millz
2:09
3."MOTW"
  • Kitchens
  • Glass
  • Wheezy
  • Outtatown
2:33
4."Feigning"
2:46
5."Dollaz on My Head" (featuring Young Thug)3:18
6."Addys" (featuring Nechie)
2:59
7."Skybox"
Taurus2:58
8."Wunna"
  • Kitchens
  • Durham
Turbo2:38
9."Blindfold" (featuring Lil Baby)
Wheezy2:35
10."Rockstar Bikers & Chains"
  • Kitchens
  • J. Williams
  • Glass
Wheezy2:09
11."Met Gala"
2:29
12."Nasty Girl / On Camera"
  • Kitchens
  • Glass
  • Currie
  • Wheezy
  • Taurus
  • Fizzle
3:51
13."Cooler Than a Bitch" (featuring Roddy Ricch)
3:17
14."I'm on Some"
  • Wheezy
  • Turbo
2:23
15."Top Floor" (featuring Travis Scott)
  • Turbo
  • Wheezy
2:49
16."Don't Play Around"
  • Kitchens
  • Gilmore
  • Tobias Dekker
  • Aviator Keyyz
  • Outtatown
3:11
17."Do Better"
2:32
18."Far" (featuring Young Thug)
  • Kitchens
  • J. Williams
  • Durham
Turbo2:59
Total length:50:05
Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
19."200 for Lunch"
  • Kitchens
  • Currie
Taurus2:29
20."Wunna Flo" (featuring Yak Gotti)
  • Kitchens
  • Deamonte Kendrick
  • Demba Faye
Young Twix2:57
21."Street Sweeper" (featuring Future)
  • Kenny Stuntin
  • Turbo
3:12
22."One Watch" (featuring Young Thug)
Pi'erre Bourne3:56
23."Sun Came Out"
  • Kitchens
  • Currie
Taurus2:17
24."Dirty Diana"
  • Kitchens
  • Currie
  • Gilmore
  • Alexander Lustig
  • Taurus
  • Aviator Keyyz
  • Alex Lustig
2:10
25."Nothing 4 Free" (featuring Nav)
  • Pro Logic
  • Rex Kudo
  • Heavy Mellow
2:45
26."Relentless" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert)
  • Wheezy
  • Oz
  • Nik D
2:48
Total length:72:40

Notes

  • All tracks are stylized in all caps, for example, "Skybox" is stylized as "SKYBOX".

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from album's liner notes and Tidal.[29][30]

  • Flo Ongonga – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 13, 18, 20–25), mixing (track 26)
  • Turbo – engineering (track 3)
  • A. Bainz – engineering (tracks 9–16, 19, 23), mixing (tracks 22, 26)
  • Alejandro "Aleo" Neira – engineering (track 12), engineering assistant (tracks 9, 12, 13, 16)
  • Shaan Singh – engineering (track 15)
  • AJ – engineering (track 17)
  • MarQuell Randolph – engineering (track 20)
  • Bryan Anzel – engineering (track 21)
  • Armani Mitchell – engineering assistant (track 4)
  • E Town 100 – engineering assistant (track 6)
  • Patrizio Pigliapoco – mixing (tracks 1–7, 9, 13, 15, 19–21, 24, 25)
  • Alex Tumay – mixing (tracks 8, 10–12, 14, 16–18)
  • Mixed by Ali – mixing for Roddy Ricch (track 13)
  • Mike Dean – mixing for Travis Scott (track 15)
  • Ashley Jackson – mixing assistant (tracks 1–7, 9, 13)
  • Harry Taylor – mixing assistant (tracks 19, 20, 23, 25)
  • Aresh Banaji – mixing assistant (tracks 21, 24)
  • Nathan Miller – uncredited mixing assistant (tracks 8, 10–12, 14, 16–18)[31][32]
  • Christal Jerez – uncredited mixing assistant (tracks 8, 10–12, 14, 16–18)[31][32]
  • Joe LaPorta – mastering (all tracks)

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Wunna
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Silver 60,000
United States (RIAA)[56] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for Wunna
Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Edition Ref.
Various May 22, 2020 Standard [57]
July 24, 2020 Deluxe [58]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ Moorwood, Victoria (February 10, 2020). "Gunna announces new music dropping next week". Revolt. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Centeno, Tony M. (February 10, 2020). "Gunna Says He's Dropping New Music Next Week". XXL. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  4. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (March 12, 2020). "The Ones: Gunna's "Skybox"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "WUNNA– Wealthy Unapologetic Nigga Naturally Authentic ‼️". Twitter. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  6. ^ Cole, Alexander (April 2, 2020). "Gunna Reveals Plans For New Album Amid Coronavirus Crisis". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Sawyer, Jonathan (May 14, 2020). "Everything We Know About Gunna's New Album WUNNA". Highsnobiety. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
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  9. ^ a b Johnson, Patrick (May 19, 2020). "Gunna Heads to Jamaica for New "WUNNA" Music Video". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
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  25. ^ Gee, Andre (December 1, 2020). "The Best Albums of 2020". Uproxx. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
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  27. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (May 31, 2020). "'Wunna' Wins: Gunna Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 1, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
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  29. ^ Wunna (CD liner notes). Gunna. 300 Entertainment. 2020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  32. ^ a b dowhatsoundsgood (May 22, 2020). "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. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
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  34. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Gunna – Wunna" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
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  44. ^ "Charts.nz – Gunna – Wunna". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  45. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Gunna – Wunna". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  46. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Gunna – Wunna". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  47. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Gunna – Wunna". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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  50. ^ "Gunna Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
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  54. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  55. ^ "British album certifications – Gunna – Wunna". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  56. ^ "American album certifications – Gunna – Wunna". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  57. ^ Johnson, Zoe (May 22, 2020). "Gunna Releases Wunna Album: Listen". XXL. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  58. ^ DeVille, Chris (July 24, 2020). "Gunna Releases 'Wunna (Deluxe)' With 8 New Tracks: Listen". Stereogum. Archived from the original on January 3, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2020.