U Made Me a St4r is the debut mixtape[1][2] by American R&B singer 4Batz. It was released on May 3, 2024, by Gamma, and received a mixed response from critics.
| U Made Me a St4r | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mixtape by | |
| Released | May 3, 2024 |
| Genre | R&B |
| Length | 23:36 |
| Label | Gamma |
| Producer |
|
Release
editU Made Me a St4r was released on May 3, 2024, by Gamma.[3][4] The mixtape was originally set for release on April 5, but was delayed the day before.[5] It was also going to be released by OVO Sound[5] after 4Batz signed a one-EP deal with the label in March.[6] The mixtape's name is in reference to 4Batz's ex-partner Jada, whose relationship makes up the subject matter of the entire project.[7]
Style
editBillboard's Angel Diaz compared the mixtape's sound to R&B from the 1990s such as Jodeci which blended in an influence of hip hop.[8]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Rap Reviews | 6.5/10[9] |
The mixtape received a mixed response from critics. AllMusic's review said that "4batz already experienced more attention and interest in the lead-up to U Made Me a St4r than most artists will in their entire careers, but regardless of the buzz and celebrity endorsements surrounding him, his music at this point is lifeless and without much personality."[2] Rap Reviews's Steve "Flash" Juon called the mixtape "an interesting debut", but criticized parts including the pitched up and pitch corrected vocals and Kanye West's feature on the remix of "On God (She Like)", the second version of the song included on the tape.[9] HotNewHipHop's Teejay Small noted 4Batz taking on subject matter he was noticeably too young and inexperienced to handle properly, including the "painfully awkward sex ballad" "Act IV: Fckin U (18 )" and "domestic violence anthem" "Act V: There Goes Another Vase".[10] Rolling Stone's Jeff Ihaza said there was "no reason for [the mixtape] to exist" and that "'undercooked' doesn't even begin to describe" it.[11]
More positively, both Billboard and Complex included the mixtape in their lists of the best albums of the first half of 2024.[8][7] Complex's Jordan Rose wrote that 4Batz "still has room to grow", but that the mixtape "is compelling enough to make you want to keep reading."[7]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Neko Bennett with others noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "UMadeMeAStar.mp3" | 0:40 | ||
| 2. | "Act I: Stickerz '99'" | Nic Dreams | 1:44 | |
| 3. | "Act II: Date @ 8" | Sanni Ireoluwakitan | Ireoluwakitan | 1:54 |
| 4. | "Act III: On God? (She Like)" |
| 2:50 | |
| 5. | "Get Out Yo Feelings Ho" | 4Batz | 0:25 | |
| 6. | "Act IV: Fckin U (18 )" | Dreams | 2:10 | |
| 7. | "Act V: There Goes Another Vase" | Nicolás Marcelo Rodriguez Saavedra | Dreams | 2:55 |
| 8. | "Act VI: Mad Man" |
| 2:39 | |
| 9. | "Act VII: All We Do Is Argue, Argue" | Saavedra |
| 2:21 |
| 10. | "Act VIII: I Hate to Be Alone" | Shineboys Beats | 2:48 | |
| 11. | "Act III: On God? (She Like) (Remix)" (featuring Kanye West) | West |
| 3:10 |
| Total length: | 23:36 | |||
Personnel
editMusicians
edit- 4Batz – vocals, keyboards (5)
- Nic Dreams – keyboards (2, 6, 7, 9)
- Sanni Ireoluwakitan – keyboards (3)
- SamX – keyboards (4, 8, 11)
- Seva – keyboards (4, 11)
- Shineboys Beats – keyboards (10)
- Kanye West – vocals (11)
Technical
edit- 4Batz – recording engineer, mixing engineer (2–4, 6–11), mastering engineer (1–5, 7), programming (5)
- Tod Bergman – mixing engineer (1, 5)
- Sing Mastering – mastering engineer (6, 8–11)
- Nic Dreams – programming (2, 6, 7, 9)
- Sanni Ireoluwakitan – programming (3)
- SamX – programming (4, 8, 11)
- Seva – programming (4, 11)
- Shineboys Beats – programming (10)
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] | 87 |
| US Billboard 200[13] | 30 |
References
edit- ^ Alexandria, Lavender (May 6, 2024). "4batz Shuts Down Rumors of Feud with Drake After Signing to OVO". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c "U Made Me a St4r - 4batz". AllMusic. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Cowen, Trace William (May 3, 2024). "4batz's Ye-Featuring Debut Project u made me a st4r Is Here". Complex. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (May 3, 2024). "4batz Drops Debut Mixtape U Made Me a St4r". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Gonzalez, Alex (April 4, 2024). "4Batz Is Pushing Back His Mixtape U Made Me a St4r to Finish Making "The Best Sh*t" of His Life". Uproxx. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Leight, Elias (March 8, 2024). "4Batz Signs EP Deal With Drake's OVO Label After Bidding War". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c Rose, Jordan (June 5, 2024). "The Best Albums of 2024 (So Far)". Complex. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Diaz, Angel (June 17, 2024). "The 50 Best Albums of 2024 (So Far): Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ a b Juon, Steve "Flash" (July 9, 2024). "4batz :: U Made Me a St4r". Rap Reviews. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Small, Teejay (May 29, 2024). "4Batz u made me a st4r Review". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Ihaza, Jeff (May 8, 2024). "There's No Reason for This 4Batz Mixtape to Exist". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of May 18, 2024". Billboard. May 18, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard 200 (Week of May 18, 2024)". Billboard. May 18, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.