Struggle Before Glory is the lone studio album by Canadian rapper Smoke Dawg. The album received an 8/10 rating by Exclaim!.

Struggle Before Glory
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 30, 2018
Recorded2016–2018
Genre
Length33:00
Producer
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!8/10[1]
HNHH[2]

Background

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Smoke Dawg announced that his debut studio album Struggle Before Glory is due to be released later in the year. However, before the album was officially released, he was shot and killed on June 30, 2018 in front of a nightclub in downtown Toronto.[3] The lead single of the album "No Discussion" featured AJ Tracey and was produced by Murda Beatz. It was released a month after his death on August 13, 2018.[4] Smoke Dawg's posthumous album Struggle Before Glory was released on November 29, 2018.[5] The album features from the likes of Toronto artists Puffy L'z, Jimmy Prime, Jay Whiss and Safe, as well as UK artists Fredo, AJ Tracey and Giggs.[6] Smoke Dawg's younger brother, Young Smoke, provided a tribute on the outro of the album.[7]

Critical reception

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The album was rated 8/10 by Exclaim!.[8] The album was described as a "sum up of the late rapper's legacy".[9][10][11] Aron A. of HotNewHipHop described the album as a sum up of the legacy of one of the hottest rappers who was emerging from Toronto in the past few years.[2]

Track listing

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  1. LLSD 2:01
  2. Automatic 3:28
  3. Three of a Kind (featuring Fredo & Jay Critch) 3:57
  4. Fountain 1:53
  5. Bricks (featuring Giggs) 3:03
  6. Snow 2:51
  7. No Discussion (featuring AJ Tracey) 3:01
  8. These Games (featuring Jay Whiss & Safe) 2:41
  9. SB4G Interlude 1:09
  10. YND (featuring Safe & Jimmy Prime) 4:13
  11. That's a Lot (featuring Puffy L'z) 2:44
  12. Dead to Me 3:22
  13. Smokey World (Bonus Track) Young Smoke 2:06

References

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  1. ^ "Smoke Dawg Struggle Before Glory | Exclaim!".
  2. ^ a b "Stream Smoke Dawg's Posthumous Project "Struggle Before Glory" Ft. Giggs, Jay Critch & More". HNHH. 30 November 2018.
  3. ^ The Canadian Press (3 July 2018). "Toronto police identify rapper Smoke Dawg as one of two killed in shooting". National Observer. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Smoke Dawg Releases Posthumous Single "No Discussion" Video Featuring AJ Tracey". HYPEBEAST. 14 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Stream Smoke Dawg's Posthumous Project "Struggle Before Glory" Ft. Giggs, Jay Critch & More". HotNewHipHop. 30 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Hear Smoke Dawg's Posthumous 'Struggle Before Glory' LP".
  7. ^ "Young Smoke Proves It's "Smokey World" in New Video". Complex.
  8. ^ "Smoke Dawg Struggle Before Glory". exclaim.ca.
  9. ^ "Smoke Dawg Struggle Before Glory".
  10. ^ "Music News Digest, Aug. 20, 2018". FYIMusicNews. August 20, 2018.
  11. ^ Taylor, Sharine (December 3, 2018). "Listen to Smoke Dawg's Posthumous Album 'Struggle Before Glory'".