E3 (album)

For the Dizzee Rascal album, see E3 AF.

E3 is the debut studio album by American rapper and singer Midwxst, released on September 1, 2023, by Geffen Records. The album consists of pop-trap, notably softer than Midwxst's previous work. It was preceded by two singles, "Pretty Girls" and "Warning".

E3
Studio album by Midwxst
Released	September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01)
Genre	Pop-trap
Length	34:14
Label	Geffen
Producer	Aaron Shadrow Alex Goldblatt Austin Corona Charlie Heat Dejuan Cross Drew Drucker Drew Dvorsky Elxnce Hunter Madrid Isaac Rose Jeff Hazin Psymun Roark Bailey Romil Hemnani Sophie Gray Wyatt Bernard Zachary Cassell Zuko
Midwxst chronology
Back in Action 3.0 (2022) E3 (2023) Back in Action 4.0 (2024)
Singles from E3
"Pretty Girls" Released: July 7, 2023 "Warning" Released: August 4, 2023

Most of the album was co-written and produced by Drew Drucker and Sophie Belle Grajcer, among other collaborators. Other producers include Charlie Heat, Psymun, and Romil Hemnani.

Background

Midwxst said that the album had "been in my head since I was 17", with him having kept "a full notepad in my phone with the script for the interludes on the project and the ideas that eventually became E3."^[1] He called the album an "emotional journey through the mistakes I've made as a person and that 'E3', the protagonist of the story, is constantly facing and having to finally come to terms with."^[1]

Release

The album's name was first announced on July 7, 2023, with the release of lead single "Pretty Girls".^[2][3] The single came with a music video directed by Ari Nissenbaum which features Midwxst and different women in various highly saturated scenarios.^[2][3] Midwxst revealed the album's release date and cover art on July 12.^[4] On August 4, Midwxst released the second single, "Warning".^[5] The album was released on September 1 by Geffen Records.^[6][7]

Composition

E3 consists of a "nimbly eclectic mode of pop-trap",^[6] with layers of rock^[6] and gospel,^[6][7] and softer melodies than his previous hyperpop and rage rap work.^[6] The album is also said to be "a rollercoaster that takes you through the sounds of hip-hop, pop, rock, hyperpop, and emo rap."^[1] Midwxst is said to have a "pop-punkesque vocal quality".^[7]

Reception

E3 ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash	6/10[8]
Pitchfork	6.5/10[6]

Clash's Robin Murray said the album gives "a feeling of tentative step forward, rather than radical leaps."^[8] Pitchfork's Hattie Lindert wrote that the album "positions Midwxst not as a Playboi Carti heir, but a pop star in his own right."^[6] HotNewHipHop's Zachary Horvath said that Midwxst "really tries so many different things" with the album, and that "it is one thing to try, but he succeeds here."^[1] The Fader's Arielle Lana LeJarde said the album "hooks you from the beginning with gospel-infused 'Lost' and keeps you engaged with a variety of genres throughout its entirety."^[7]

Track listing

E3 track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producers	Length
1.	"Lost"	Aaron Shadrow Alex Goldblatt Simon Edward Christensen	Shadrow Goldblatt Psymun Zuko	3:22
2.	"Pretty Girls"	Austin Corona Wyatt Bernard Zachary Cassell	Corona Bernard Zuko	3:00
3.	"Warning"	Cassell Elxnce	Zuko Elxnce	2:52
4.	"Lights Out"	Drew Dvorsky Steve Cheung Cassell	Dvorsky Zuko	2:32
5.	"Heartache Blues"	Shadrow Dejuan Cross Isaac Rose Roark Bailey Cheung Bernard Cassell	Shadrow Cross Hunter Madrid Rose Bailey Bernard Zuko	3:46
6.	"Ball & Chain"	Shadrow Cross Bailey Cheung Cassell	Shadrow Cross Bailey Zuko	2:54
7.	"Grandpas Interlude"			1:13
8.	"Old Me"	Corona Dvorsky Ernest Brown III Romil Hemnani Bernard Cassell	Corona Charlie Heat Dvorsky Hemnani Bernard Zuko	3:13
9.	"S.F.B."	Shadrow Corona Denzel Curry Bernard Cassell	Shadrow Corona Bernard Zuko	2:48
10.	"Like Nah"	Corona Bernard	Corona Bernard	2:32
11.	"Hate How Much"	Dvorsky Jeff Hazin Jesse Fink	Dvorsky Hazin Gray	2:42
12.	"Ready for You"	Shadrow Cassell	Shadrow Zuko	3:20
Total length:				34:14

All tracks are written by Edgar Nathaniel Sarratt III, Drew Drucker, and Sophie Belle Grajcer (except track 7 written solely by Sarratt), with others noted. All tracks except 7 produced by Drucker and Sophie Gray with others noted.

Personnel

Musicians

• Midwxst – vocals
• Aaron Shadrow – guitar (1), bass guitar (1), drums (1), synthesizer (5, 6, 12)
• Psymun – guitar (1), bass guitar (1)
• Anthony "Jawan" McEastland, Nikki Grier, and Naarai Jacobs – choir (1)
• Sophie Gray – synthesizer (4, 10), additional vocals (5, 6, 9–12)
• Drew Dvorsky – guitar (4–6, 8, 10, 12), bass guitar (5, 8, 11)
• Aaron Leibowitz – flute (5, 8), saxophone (8, 9, 12)
• Kim Vi – piano (5, 12)
• Roark Bailey – synthesizer (6)
• Austin Corona – guitar (8, 10), bass guitar (9, 10)
• Romil Hemnani – piano (8)
• Wyatt Bernard – piano (9), synthesizer (10)
• Denzel Curry – additional vocals (9)
• Ericdoa – additional vocals (9)
• Drew Drucker – guitar (11), additional vocals (11)

Technical

• Drew Drucker – audio engineer, mixing engineer
• Mike Tucci – mastering engineer
• John Armstrong – additional engineer (1, 2, 4, 5)

References

1. Horvath, Zachary (September 3, 2023). "Midwxst Brings All Sorts of Sounds to His Debut Album E3". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
2. Renshaw, David (July 7, 2023). "Midwxst shares "Pretty Girls" video, announces debut album title". The Fader. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
3. Gregory, Allie (July 7, 2023). "Midwxst Announces Debut Album E3, Shares "Pretty Girls"". Exclaim!. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
4. Midwxst [@midwxst] (July 12, 2023). "E3 is here. 9/1. vinyl pre-order + new merch in bio". Retrieved September 28, 2023 – via Instagram.
5. ""Warning" / Midwxst". Tidal. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
6. Lindert, Hattie (September 7, 2023). "Midwxst: E3 Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
7. LeJarde, Arielle Lana (September 1, 2023). "New Music Friday: This week's essential new projects". The Fader. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
8. Murray, Robin (September 1, 2023). "Midwxst – E3". Clash. Retrieved September 28, 2023.