Godfather | ||||
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Studio album by Wiley | ||||
Released | 13 January 2017 | |||
Recorded | 2015–September 2016 | |||
Genre | Grime | |||
Length | 57:45 | |||
Label | CTA Records | |||
Producer |
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Wiley chronology | ||||
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Singles from Godfather | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 8.0/10 |
Metacritic | 84/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
The 405 | |
Clash Music | 8/10 |
The Guardian | |
NME | |
Pitchfork | 7.4/10 |
Q | 8/10 |
Godfather is the eleventh studio album by English grime MC Wiley. It was released on 13 January 2017 through CTA Records, a record label venture between Wiley and Logan Sama and is distributed by Warner Music Group. It succeeds the album Snakes & Ladders (2014), originally announced as Wiley's final album. The album features guest appearances from numerous MCs, including Skepta, Devlin, Jme, Ghetts, Chip, P Money, Lethal Bizzle, among others. Production derives from Wiley himself, Preditah, Swifta Beater, Rude Kid, Darq E Freaker and Teeza. It is slated to be Wiley's last solo album to be released.
The album was supported by four singles: "Can't Go Wrong", "Bring Them All / Holy Grime" featuring Devlin, "U Were Always, Pt. 2" featuring Skepta and Belly, and "Speakerbox".
The album received critical acclaim from critics, while peaking at number 9 on the UK Albums Chart. It became Wiley's highest-charting album of his career after succeeding the peak of The Ascent (2013).
The album was announced in March 2016 via Twitter, along with a release date of September 2. However, the album was delayed to early 2017 after being cancelled altogether. The album name is a reference to the media title of Wiley as the "Godfather of Grime", a title that he has been reluctant to adopt until Godfather: "I was battling [the title of Godfather] for ages. I didn't want to take it on. But you know what, one day I woke up and I said: 'this title actually means a lot and I need to actually put some respect on its name, stop trying to push it away.'" The album drew inspiration from the young, upcoming grime MCs along the resurgence of grime in popular music.