333 (Bladee album)

333 is the fourth studio album by the Swedish rapper Bladee. A surprise album, it was released by Year0001 on 16 July 2020. It is Bladee's second release of 2020, following April's Exeter. It was produced by Whitearmor with contributions from a variety of record producers, including Gud and Joakim Benon. Its title is a reference to the holy number 3, which is a recurring theme in Drain Gang's music. 333 is a cloud rap album that explores themes of introspection and love, and contains upbeat instrumentals. It charted in Scotland and the United Kingdom, and received a lukewarm review from Anthony Fantano, who considered it an improvement over Bladee's previous work.

333
Studio album by Bladee
Released	16 July 2020
Genre	Cloud rap
Length	37:16
Label	Year0001
Producer	Gud Joakim Benon Lusi Mechatok Whitearmor
Bladee chronology
Exeter (2020) 333 (2020) Good Luck (2020)

Background and composition

Bladee released his third studio album Exeter on 8 April 2020,^[1] to positive reviews from Pitchfork and laut.de.^[2][3] It contained two guest appearances from longtime collaborator Ecco2K, though 333 contains no guest appearances.^[4] 333 was executive produced by fellow Drain Gang member Whitearmor.^[5] It was also produced by Whitearmor with contributions from Gud, Joakim Benon, Lusi, and Mechatok.^[6] The album's title is a reference to the holy number 3, which is a recurring theme in Drain Gang's music.^[7]

333 was classified as cloud rap by Jordan Darville from The Fader^[5] and Anthony Fantano.^[8] Fantano said it also pulls from ambient pop and art pop.^[9] Ben Vassar of The Michigan Daily called it "hyperpop-adjacent".^[10] It explores themes of introspection and the depths of toxic love, and contains moments of melancholy that are hidden by upbeat instrumentals.^[11][12] The album also builds a soundscape of toxic love with a state of self-hatred.^[11] Darville wrote that "Bladee sounds simultaneously dazed and effervescent with his rambling raver flow".^[5] Fantano said the album "sounds like the next step in a stylistic shift for Bladee".^[13] The Boar's Max Gentleman described "Keys to the City" and "100s" as containing "Microsoft error noise style bass" and a "haunting delivery". He also described "Innocent of All Things" as having a catchy hook, "Reality Surf" having "druggy meditations", and the "percussive hits contrasting the emotional resignation" of "Oh Well".^[14]

Release and reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Needle Drop	6/10[15][a]

333 was released as a surprise album on 16 July 2020, by Year0001.^[4] Its album cover was created by the English artist Claire Barrow.^[4][10] "Reality Surf" received an Animal Crossing-like music video that was directed by Bladee and animated by Nam Mac.^[17][18] "Only One" also received a music video.^[12] Fantano felt that the production on 333 was less experimental compared to the production on Exeter,^[19] but that 333 accomplished Bladee's core blissful sound more effectively compared to his other records.^[20] Li thought that "Innocent of All Things", "It Girl", and "Valerie" were standout tracks.^[12]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Wings in Motion"	Reichwald Rosenberg Joakim Benon		2:24
2.	"Don't Worry"			2:19
3.	"Keys to the City"			2:27
4.	"Hero of My Story 3style3"			1:59
5.	"100s"			2:27
6.	"Mean Girls"			2:27
7.	"Innocent of All Things"			2:09
8.	"Reality Surf"	Reichwald Rosenberg Carl-Mikael Berlander	Whitearmor Gud	2:04
9.	"Noblest Strive"	Reichwald Rosenberg Timur Tokdemir	Whitearmor Mechatok	2:15
10.	"It Girl"			2:16
11.	"Oh Well"	Reichwald Rosenberg Luis Cano	Whitearmor Lusi	2:28
12.	"Valerie"			2:40
13.	"Finder"			1:44
14.	"Extasia"			2:21
15.	"Only One"	Reichwald Rosenberg Benon	Whitearmor Benon	2:29
16.	"Swan Lake"			2:57
Total length:				37:26

All tracks are written by Benjamin Reichwald and Ludwig Rosenberg, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Whitearmor, except where noted.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the Year0001 website.^[21]

• Whitearmor – executive production, production, mixing
• Lusi – production
• Gud – production
• Mechatok – production
• Joakim Benon – production
• Claire Barrow – cover art
• Zak Arogundade – photography

Charts

Chart performance for 333

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[22]	89
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23]	28

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Edition	Ref.
Sweden	16 July 2020	Streaming	Year0001	Original	[24]
United Kingdom Europe United States	1 September 2023	LP		Reissue	[25]

Notes

1. Specifically, Fantano rated the album a "strong 5 to a light 6".^[16]