Set It Off (stylized in all caps) is the second solo studio album by American rapper Offset. It was released through Motown on October 13, 2023. The album contains guest appearances from Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Future, Cardi B, Mango Foo, Latto, Young Nudy, and Chlöe. Production was handled by a variety of record producers, including Offset himself, Southside, Vinylz, FnZ, Nick Papz, Daoud, Teddy Walton, Tay Keith, Oz, Ojivolta, Boi-1da, Metro Boomin, Wheezy, Doughboy Beatz, and Jahaan Sweet, among others. The album serves as the follow-up to Offset's previous album Father of 4 (2019), and is also his first project to not be released under Quality Control Music after ending his contract with the label due to its heads allegedly not giving him publishing rights for his music.
| Set It Off | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 13, 2023 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 60:11 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producer |
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| Offset chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Set It Off | ||||
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Background and promotion edit
The album was originally speculated to be Blame It on Set until Offset later said that it never was and was originally scheduled to be released on November 11, 2022, but it was postponed due to the passing of his cousin, late fellow American rapper Takeoff, who was shot and killed in late 2022, and the two were both a part of the hip hop trio Migos.[3] In May 2023, in an interview with Variety, Offset played the songs from the album that are collaborations with Travis Scott, Future, Chlöe, Latto, and Cardi B, and spoke about the album:
This is me going full-fledged into my solo career. The objective is to do it fully and smash shit and fuck the game up as a solo artist. I'm coming through, bustin' through the door. It's all set, my next chapter. It's my time.[4]
The lead single of the album, "Jealousy", a collaboration with Offset's wife, Cardi B, was released on July 28, 2023.[5] Offset revealed the new title, cover art, and release date of the album along with a pre-order on September 14, 2023.[6] The second single, "Fan", was released the following day.[7] The tracklist was revealed in collaboration with Spotify hip hop playlist RapCaviar on October 4, 2023.[8] The third single, "Worth It", a collaboration with American rapper and singer Don Toliver, was released on October 12, 2023, one day before the album was released.[9] The fourth single, "Say My Grace", which features Travis Scott, was released along with the album the following day.[10]
Artwork edit
The artwork for Set It Off depicts an image of a burning city with Offset falling out of it, suggesting that he stands out in the burning rap industry. Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves compared the cover art to American record producer Metro Boomin's (a producer on the album) debut studio album, Not All Heroes Wear Capes, in which Offset was a feature on.[1]
Critical reception edit
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 67/100[11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [12] |
| Clash | 8/10[13] |
| Financial Times | [14] |
| The Guardian | [15] |
| HipHopDX | 2.8/5[16] |
| MusicOMH | [17] |
| NME | [18] |
| Pitchfork | 6.3/10[19] |
Set It Off received a score of 67 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eight critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[11] Robin Murray from Clash felt that the album is a "21-track blockbuster" and is a "spark by love and grief". He noted that the album is "fuelled by braggadocio and a desire to set things right," stating that the album is Offset's "testament, and it's the closest we've come to the real Offset". Concluding the review, he stated that the album "underlines Offset's status as one of American rap's MVPs" and that "very often the finest moments on this album are its most humble".[13] Financial Times' Ludovic Hunter-Tilney noted that the album "demonstrates the musicality of today’s rappers".[14]
Writing for MusicOMH, Ben Devlin noted that "Set It Off is the work of a talented rapper with an interesting taste in production", but however, "Offset just needs a bit more consistency to stick the landing".[17] Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves stated that on the album, "Offset tries to shift the spotlight back to the music" following the drama of the split up of the Migos alongside Cardi B cheating rumors. Comparing it to Offset's debut studio album, Father of 4 (2019), Reeves wrote that "Set It Off is a much more confident solo project," noting that Offset "sounds hungry and driven to prove his relevance beyond Migos and Cardi B". Reeves concludes his review by noting that throughout the project, Offset "seems conflicted about where his current path may lead," stating that Set It Off "achieves a modest goal of being erratic yet diverting" and that "it may even establish Offset as a solo star instead of just a former Migo".[1]
Variety's Todd Gilchrist stated that Set It Off "shows major artistic growth for the Atlanta rapper and sets a new course for him as a solo artist" while writing that "not every track is a classic, but the best moments find this fiery artist at the absolute top of his game". He concludes his review by noting that "Offset takes a lot of big swings here and while not all of them connect" while also stating that it is "exactly the place where an artist carving a new path for themselves should be".[20]
NME's Kyann-Sian Williams called Set It Off an "melancholic-tinged turn-up", where "a more mature, reflective Offset was what was expected." They wrote, at first, the record was "tinged with dejection where lyrical maturity is scarce compared to the supercilious rhymes of the 31-year-old," and that Set It Off "doesn't reflect the legacy" the rapper has as a trap pioneer. In the conclusion, Williams referred to Offset and Metro Boomin's six-time platinum-selling 2017 single ‘Ric Flair Drip’, writing "Offset alludes that he’s in the same league as the 16-time wrestling champion – perhaps he’s more like Jeff Hardy; a beloved solo figure, but at his best with his brothers" – suggesting that the album doesn't touch his prior work with Migos.
Commercial Performance edit
Set It Off debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 70,000 units (including 25,000 in pure sales). The album accumulated 59.1 million on-demand streams.[21]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "On the River" | Southside | 1:36 | |
| 2. | "Say My Grace" (featuring Travis Scott) |
| 2:53 | |
| 3. | "Worth It" (with Don Toliver) |
|
| 3:08 |
| 4. | "Broad Day" (with Future) | 2:48 | ||
| 5. | "Fan" |
|
| 2:36 |
| 6. | "Freaky" (with Cardi B) | Tay Keith | 3:19 | |
| 7. | "Hop Out the Van" |
| Oz | 2:00 |
| 8. | "Don't You Lie" |
|
| 3:11 |
| 9. | "I'm On" |
|
| 3:25 |
| 10. | "Big Dawg" |
| Oz | 1:45 |
| 11. | "Night Vision" | 3:12 | ||
| 12. | "Skyami" (featuring Mango Foo) |
| Boi-1da | 3:33 |
| 13. | "Dissolve" |
|
| 3:07 |
| 14. | "Fine as Can Be" (with Latto) |
| Kutta Beats | 3:32 |
| 15. | "Buss My Watch" |
| Wheezy | 1:57 |
| 16. | "Dope Boy" (with Young Nudy) |
|
| 2:43 |
| 17. | "Princess Cut" (with Chlöe) |
| BBP | 4:10 |
| 18. | "Jealousy" (with Cardi B) |
|
| 2:54 |
| 19. | "Blame It on Set" |
| 3:58 | |
| 20. | "Upside Down" |
|
| 2:11 |
| 21. | "Healthy" |
|
| 2:13 |
| Total length: | 60:11 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Say My Grace" (featuring Travis Scott) |
|
| 2:53 |
| 2. | "Say My Grace" (featuring Travis Scott) (sped up) |
|
| 2:17 |
| 3. | "Say My Grace" (featuring Travis Scott) (slowed) |
|
| 3:23 |
| 4. | "Worth It" (with Don Toliver) |
|
| 3:08 |
| 5. | "Worth It" (with Don Toliver) (sped up) |
|
| 2:50 |
| 6. | "Worth It" (with Don Toliver) (slowed) |
|
| 3:40 |
| 7. | "Freaky" (with Cardi B) |
| Tay Keith | 3:19 |
| 8. | "Freaky" (with Cardi B) (sped up) |
| Tay Keith | 2:52 |
| 9. | "Freaky" (with Cardi B) (slowed) |
| Tay Keith | 3:42 |
| 10. | "Fan" |
|
| 2:36 |
| 11. | "Fan" (sped up) |
|
| 2:19 |
| 12. | "Fan" (slowed) |
|
| 2:57 |
| 13. | "Broad Day" (with Future) |
|
| 2:48 |
| 14. | "Broad Day" (featuring Future) (sped up) |
|
| 2:33 |
| 15. | "Broad Day" (featuring Future) (slowed) |
|
| 3:50 |
| Total length: | 45:14 | |||
Notes
Charts edit
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] | 58 |
| Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums (ARIA)[24] | 12 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25] | 22 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] | 58 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[27] | 49 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] | 10 |
| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[29] | 22 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[30] | 24 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[31] | 24 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] | 35 |
| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[33] | 18 |
| Icelandic Albums (Plötutíðindi)[34] | 24 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)[35] | 21 |
| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[36] | 31 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[37] | 17 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[38] | 4 |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV)[39] | 82 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[40] | 6 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[41] | 62 |
| US Billboard 200[42] | 5 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[43] | 2 |
References edit
- ^ a b c Reeves, Mosi (October 13, 2023). "Offset Tries to Downplay Celebrity Drama and Return to Making Great Music on 'Set It Off'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ Spencer, Tallie (October 13, 2023). "Offset Drops Off Sophomore Album "Set It Off"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (November 10, 2022). "Is Offset's New Solo Album Blame It On Set Releasing Tonight". XXL. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Bolden, Janee; Aswad, Jem (May 24, 2023). "Offset's Reset: The Rapper on Remembering Takeoff, Moving on From Migos and Launching His Next Era". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Denis, Kyle (July 26, 2023). "Offset Enlists Wife Cardi B for New Single 'Jealousy'". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (September 14, 2023). "Offset Announces New Album 'Set It Off': Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Callas, Brad (September 15, 2023). "Offset Honors Iconic Michael Jackson Eras in Visual for New Single "Fan"". Complex. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ Alexandria, Lavender (October 4, 2023). "Offset Shares The Feature-Packed Tracklist For His New Album "Set It Off"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (October 12, 2023). "Offset & Don Toliver Deliver A Moody Fall Weather Jam With "Worth It"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ Cingrana, Joe (October 13, 2023). "Offset packs 'Set It Off' album with Cardi B, Future, Travis Scott, and more". Audacy. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
- ^ a b "Set It Off by Offset Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Thomas, Fred. "Offset - Set It Off". AllMusic. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Mrray, Robin. "Offset – Set It Off". Clash. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic. "Offset: Set It Off review — album demonstrates the musicality of today's rappers". Financial Times. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ Morris, Damien (October 15, 2023). "Offset: Set It Off review – freaky sex, pricey cars and fancy clothes". The Guardian. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ Fontes, Isaac (October 21, 2023). "Offset Struggles to Separate Himself from His Past on 'Set It Off'". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ a b Devlin, Ben (October 13, 2023). "Offset – Set It Off". MusicOMH. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Kyann-Sian. "Offset – 'Set It Off' review: a melancholic-tinged turn-up". NME. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ Kearse, Stephen (October 23, 2023). "Offset: Set It Off Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ Gilchrist, Todd (October 13, 2023). "Offset Plots a Powerful New Course, Post-Migos, With 'Set It Off': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ "Offsets 'Set It Off Debuts Top 5". Billboard. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "Honored to work on @OffsetYRN's NEW album 'Set It Off' alongside my brother @MetroBoomin! Offset - "NIGHT VISION" • (Prod. Metro Boomin & Doughboy) OUT NOW!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥". October 13, 2023. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Doughboy (@doughboybeatz) on Instagram.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 23 October 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1755. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 23, 2023. p. 6.
- ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Offset – Set It Off" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Offset – Set It Off" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Offset – Set It Off" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ "Offset Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Offset – Set It Off". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Offset – Set It Off" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Offset – Set It Off". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Offset – Set It Off" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 42. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 42 – 2023" [The Music – Albums – Week 42 – 2023] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Offset – Set It Off". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "2023 42-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 20, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Offset – Set It Off". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Offset – Set It Off". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 13.10.2023–19.10.2023 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved October 26, 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Offset – Set It Off". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "Offset Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "Offset Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2023.