Pusha T says all G.O.O.D. Music albums will have seven songs: Why EPs are the new wave
The President has spoken!
Yesterday (May 23rd), G.O.O.D. music president Pusha T held a listening party for his upcoming album, Daytona, which is expected to drop this Friday (May 25th).
During what looks to be a packed out club, Pusha revealed that the length of his upcoming album is only seven tracks long.
“Seven, you know, definitely the God number,” he said. The rapper went on to say that G.O.O.D. Music likes to do things differently, and if other artists are dropping lengthy albums, the label would do less.
“All the projects coming out is seven. That’s what we going for,” Pusha continued. “You know G.O.O.D. Music anti-everything. If everybody doing 18 tracks, we doing seven.”
Being that Pusha’s last album was three years ago, he has had the opportunity to survey the state of the culture. The question is, does he have a point? Are EPs the preferred way to listen to albums?
For one, it’s definitely counter-culture. The current top three selling albums, Post Malone’s Beerbongs & Bentleys, Playboi Carti’s Die Lit, and J. Cole’s K.O.D. are all significantly long, with Cole’s 12-track offering being the shortest. However, it is consistent with what G.O.O.D. has already put out this year.
G.O.O.D. Music’s newest signee, Valee’s, mixtape GOOD Job, You Found Me was only six tracks long and long-time signee Desiigner’s debut studio album L.O.D. was only seven songs in length.
Maybe Kanye’s choice for label head was drawing the curtains back too far because Pusha might be on to something. In an era where our intention spans are shorter than ever and where new music is consumed at alarming rates, EP’s make sense. If you go the route of releasing EPs rather than albums this can result in you actually releasing more music more often.
EPs also work well because they’re more concentrated. Because the project is shorter it means no song can be wasted — leaving no room for fillers. Additionally, artists who only release six songs can spend more recording time (and money) focusing on those six songs. If this involves studio time, it translates to money saved or more attention paid to getting top-notch tracks.
Clearly, G.O.O.D. music has a strategy they’re implementing for the label, and, quite frankly, I’m here for it.
Daytona is already receiving quite the buzz despite no official promo, especially after unveiling the full tracklist which features songs such as “If You Know You Know,” “Santeria” and “What Would Meek Do.”
— Elliott Wilson (@ElliottWilson) May 23, 2018
Adding to the anticipation of Pusha’s album is his claim that the album is flawless, according to a leaked text message by Def Jam executive Steven Victor. “My album is soooooooooooo good Rico,” Push wrote. “I’m scared to say it, but I think it’s flawless.”
Of course, until the album drops all the surrounds it is hype. Until then, we’ll be ready.