Ben (Macklemore album)

2023 studio album by Macklemore

Ben

Studio album by

Macklemore

Released| March 3, 2023 (2023-03-03)
Recorded| 2020–2022
Genre| Hip hop
Length| 54:03
Label|

* Bendo
* Warner

Producer|

* Budo
* Brian Wall
* Daoud
* Kid Culture
* Macklemore
* Naz
* Ryan Lewis
* Sam Wish
* Tyler Dopps

Macklemore chronology
| Gemini
(2017)  | Ben
(2023)  |

|
|

Singles from  Ben

1. "Chant"
Released: July 22, 2022
2. "Maniac"
Released: August 19, 2022
3. "Faithful"
Released: October 28, 2022
4. "Heroes"
Released: January 20, 2023
5. "No Bad Days"
Released: March 14, 2023

Ben is the third solo studio album by American rapper Macklemore. It was released on March 3, 2023, by Bendo and Warner Music. It features guest appearances by charlieonnafriday, Collett, DJ Premier, Jackson Lee Morgan, Windser, Livingston, Morray, NLE Choppa, Sarah Barthel, Tones and I, and Vic Daggs II. It is his first album in 6 years since his 2017 album Gemini. The album was recorded between 2020 and 2022.

The album garnered positive reviews from critics. Ben debuted and peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and spawned five singles: "Chant", "Maniac", "Faithful", "Heroes" and "No Bad Days".

## Background and promotion

[edit]

Macklemore officially revealed the album's release date and cover art on November 7, 2022.[1] He has stated that much of the album's content was influenced by his relapse with alcohol addiction during the COVID-19 lockdowns: "I think that pain is a catalyst for great art," he said. "I don't want to inflict the pain on myself anymore to make art. It's not like I need to self-sabotage in order to create, but I think that it created some darker, more honest, and vulnerable moments on the album."[2]

On February 16, 2023, Macklemore and his seven-year-old daughter, Sloane, filmed part of their music video for "No Bad Days" at the Climate Pledge Arena during a Seattle Kraken hockey game. Sloane directed the entire music video, which was released March 3, 2023.[3]

### Singles

[edit]

The album was preceded by four singles. The first single, "Chant" with Tones and I, was released on July 22, 2022.[4] The second single, "Maniac" featuring Windser, was released on August 19, 2022.[5] The third single, "Faithful" featuring NLE Choppa, was released on October 28, 2022.[6] The fourth single, "Heroes" featuring DJ Premier, was released on January 20, 2023.[7] The fifth single, "No Bad Days" featuring Collett, was released to contemporary hit radio on March 14, 2023.[8]

## Ben Tour

[edit]

BenTour by Macklemore

Start date| April 3, 2023 (2023-04-03)
End date| July 11, 2024 (2024-07-11)
Legs| 6
No. of shows| 69

### Setlist

[edit]

1. "Chant"
2. "Thrift Shop"
3. "No Bad Days"
4. "Downtown"
5. "Same Love"
6. "White Walls"
7. "Maniac"
8. "Heroes"
9. "Wings"
10. "Otherside"
11. "These Days"
12. "Starting Over"
13. "1984"
14. "And We Danced"
15. "Dance Off"
16. "Glorious"
17. "Tail Lights"
18. "The Town"
19. "My Oh My"
20. "Good Old Days"
21. "Can't Hold Us"

### Tour dates

[edit]

List of concerts, showing date, city, country and venue  Date  | City  | Country  | Venue

|
|
|

2023
Europe
April 3  | Dublin | Ireland  | 3Arena
April 4
April 7  | Glasgow | Scotland  | O2 Academy
April 9  | Manchester | England  | Victoria Warehouse
April 11  | Birmingham | O2 Academy
April 12  | London | Brixton Academy
April 16  | Amsterdam | Netherlands  | AFAS Live
April 17  | Brussels | Belgium  | Forest National
April 18  | Paris | France  | Zénith Paris
April 19
April 21  | Cologne | Germany  | Lanxess Arena
April 22  | Berlin | Verti Music Hall
April 24  | Munich | Olympiahalle
April 25  | Offenbach | Stadthalle
April 27  | Hamburg | Edel-optics.de Arena
April 29  | Warsaw | Poland  | EXPO XXI
April 39  | Vienna | Austria  | Wiener Stadthalle
May 2  | Zürich | Switzerland  | The Hall
May 3  | Milan | Italy  | Alcatraz
May 4
May 6  | Stavanger | Norway  | Kongeparken
May 7  | Copenhagen | Denmark  | Vega
May 9  | Oslo | Norway  | Sentrum Scene
May 11  | Stockholm | Sweden  | Gröna Lund
June 29  | Marmande | France  | Plaine De La Filhole
July 1  | St. Gallen | Switzerland  | Open Air St. Gallen
July 2  | Arras | France  | Main Square Festival
July 22  | Ostrava | Czechia  | Colours of Ostrava
August 11  | Saalburg | Germany  | SonneMondSterne
August 16  | Esch-sur-Alzette | Luxembourg  | Rockhal
August 20  | Hasselt | Belgium  | Pukkelpop
September 10  | Berlin | Germany  | Lollapalooza
North America
September 17  | Nashville | United States  | Ryman Auditorium
September 19  | Washington, D.C. | The Anthem
September 21  | Boston | MGM Music Hall at Fenway
September 22  | New York City | The Rooftop at Pier 17
September 23  | Philadelphia | The Met
September 26  | Toronto | Canada  | Rebel
September 27  | Detroit | United States  | The Fillmore
September 29  | Chicago | Aragon Ballroom
September 30  | Milwaukee | The Rave/Eagles Club
October 1  | Minneapolis | Minneapolis Armory
October 3  | Denver | Mission Ballroom
October 5  | Salt Lake City | The Complex
October 7  | Portland | Roseland Theater
October 8
October 9
October 10  | Spokane | Spokane Arena
October 11  | Missoula | Adams Center
October 12  | Boise | Idaho Central Arena
October 14  | San Francisco | The Masonic
October 17  | Phoenix | Arizona Financial Theatre
October 18  | Los Angeles | Hollywood Palladium
Middle East
October 28  | Dubai | UAE  | Coca-Cola Arena
North America
December 21  | Seattle | United States  | Climate Pledge Arena
December 22
2024
Oceania
May 8  | Wellington | New Zealand  | TSB Arena
May 9  | Auckland | Spark Arena
May 11  | Sydney | Australia  | Hordern Pavilion
May 12
May 13
May 15  | Melbourne | Rod Laver Arena
May 17  | Brisbane | Riverstage
May 18  | Darwin | Bassinthegrass
May 20  | Perth | HBF Stadium
May 21
Europe
May 31  | Hanover | Germany  | EXPO Plaza
June 1  | Mönchengladbach | Warsteiner HockeyPark
July 11  | Nîmes | France  | Arena of Nîmes

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsAggregate scores

Source| Rating
Metacritic| 71/100[9]
Review scores
Source| Rating
AllMusic| [10]
HipHopDX| 2.4/5[11]
Pitchfork| 6.0/10[12]
Rolling Stone| [13]

Ben was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 71, based on four reviews.[9]

Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic wrote, "Altogether, Ben feels like the first time Macklemore has truly let listeners into his inner world, showcasing his underrated lyrical skills and enough varied production to keep the album moving forward toward a hopeful finish."[10] Clayton Purdom of Rolling Stone stated, "To be sure, Ben features plenty of catharsis and oversharing, but it also has no grand answers or conclusions, just apologies, acceptance, and ambiguity. Some of Ben's success must be attributed to the producer Budo, a longtime collaborator, here providing skillful texture to the album's broader arc, but the truth is that Macklemore, who on his last album rhymed 'porno' with 'DiGiorno,' has matured. Ben is handily his best album. It's a midcareer downshift from an artist who desperately needed it."[13]

In a mixed review, Matthew Ismael Ruiz of Pitchfork wrote, "These experiences, while certainly authentic, aren't particularly interesting. The struggle of the wealthy and talented white rapper was never especially sympathetic. And on Ben, his trials are mostly internal, the enduring struggle of man to find meaning and leave a legacy. This Macklemore is likely the most honest version we've seen to date."[12] Taylor Rubright of HipHopDX also gave a mixed review, stating "Macklemore is a dexterous rapper at his best, but the songs that showcase his talents are mostly confined to the middle of the album", additionally commenting that "despite some solid songwriting about addiction and mortality, Macklemore's comeback album still experiences the same struggles with corniness and over-sincerity that torpedoed him from a household name to an afterthought, leading to a mixed bag that's more admirable than actualized."[11]

## Track listing

[edit]

Ben track listingNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Chant" (featuring Tones and I)|

* Ben Haggerty
* Joshua Karp
* Tyler Andrews
* Tyler Dopps
* Andrew Joslyn
* Josephine Howell

* Budo
* Macklemore

| 4:30
2.| "No Bad Days" (featuring Collett)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews
* Chloe Gasparini
* Dave Dalton

| Budo| 2:53
3.| "1984"|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews
* Dopp
* Sam Wishkoski

* Budo
* Sam Wish
* Tyler Dopps

| 3:24
4.| "Maniac" (featuring Windser)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews
* Jordan Topf
* Brian Wall
* Ryan Lewis

* Budo
* Wall
* Lewis

| 3:00
5.| "Day You Die" (featuring Sarah Barthel)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Sarah Barthel

| Budo| 3:12
6.| "Heroes" (featuring DJ Premier)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Christopher Martin
* Joshua Rawlings
* Terrence B. Cole

* Budo
* Macklemore[c]

| 2:55
7.| "Grime"|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews

| Budo| 3:25
8.| "I Need"|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews
* Lewis
* Rawlings

| Budo| 3:39
9.| "Lost / Sun Comes Up" (featuring Jackson Lee Morgan)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews
* Jackson Morgan

| Budo| 5:51
10.| "Faithful" (featuring NLE Choppa)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews
* Dopps
* Bryson Lashun Potts

| Budo| 3:27
11.| "Tears"|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Dopps
* Naz

* Naz
* Dopps

| 3:13
12.| "Sorry" (featuring Livingston)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Drake Livingston
* Sasha Sloan

| Budo| 3:29
13.| "God's Will" (featuring Vic Daggs II)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Dopps
* Daoud Anthony
* Jacob Dutton

* Budo
* Daoud

| 3:13
14.| "I Know" (featuring Charlieonnafriday)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Sloan
* Charlie Finch
* Daniel Hackett

* Budo
* Kid Culture

| 2:53
15.| "Tail Lights" (featuring Morray)|

* Haggerty
* Karp
* Andrews
* Morae Ruffin

| Budo| 4:50
Total length:| 53:55

Note

* ^[c] signifies a co-producer

## Charts

[edit]

Chart performance for Ben Chart (2023)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] | 48
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] | 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] | 69
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[17] | 107
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[18] | 61
French Albums (SNEP)[19] | 80
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20] | 37
Scottish Albums (OCC)[21] | 44
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] | 17
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[23] | 18
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[24] | 9
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[25] | 3
US Billboard 200[26] | 18
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[27] | 4
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[28] | 6

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Krol, Charlotte (November 7, 2022). "Macklemore shares details of new album 'BEN' alongside 2023 UK and European tour". NME. Archived from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
2. ^ Gonzalez, Alex (February 10, 2023). "Macklemore Opened Up About How His Relapse During COVID Inspired His Upcoming Album". Uproxx. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
3. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli (February 20, 2023). "Macklemore recruits 7-year-old daughter Sloane to direct 'No Bad Days' music video". CNN. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
4. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (July 22, 2022). "Macklemore Shares Video for Latest Single "Chant"". Complex. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
5. ^ Callas, Brad (August 19, 2022). "Macklemore Releases New Single and Video for "Maniac"". Complex. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
6. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (November 2, 2022). "Macklemore Explains How His Sobriety Journey Inspired New Song 'Faithful': Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
7. ^ Elibert, Mark (January 20, 2023). "Macklemore Salutes 'Heroes' DJ Quik & N.W.A On New Preemo Collab". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
8. ^ "Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases". AllAccess. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
9. ^ a b "Ben by Macklemore Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
10. ^ a b Yeung, Neil Z. "Ben - Macklemore". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
11. ^ a b Rubright, Taylor (March 18, 2023). "Macklemore's Comeback Album 'Ben' Stumbles Down The Same Musical Pitfalls That Halted His Stardom". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
12. ^ a b Ruiz, Matthew (March 9, 2023). "Macklemore: Ben Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
13. ^ a b Purdom, Clayton (March 3, 2023). "Macklemore's 'Ben' is a Surprising Downshift From a Pathological Over-Sharer". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
14. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Macklemore – Ben". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Macklemore – Ben" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Macklemore – Ben" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Macklemore – Ben" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
18. ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
19. ^ "Lescharts.com – Macklemore – Ben". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Macklemore – Ben" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
21. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Macklemore – Ben". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
23. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
24. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
25. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
26. ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
27. ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
28. ^ "Macklemore Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Ben at Discogs (list of releases)
* Ben at MusicBrainz (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Macklemore

* Discography

Studio albums|

* Gemini (2017)
* Ben (2023)

Singles|

* "And We Danced"
* "Drug Dealer"
* "Glorious"
* "Marmalade"
* "Good Old Days"
* "I Don't Belong in This Club"
* "Chant"
* "Maniac"
* "Faithful"
* "Heroes"
* "No Bad Days"
* "Hind's Hall"

Featured singles|

* "These Days"
* "Summer Days"

Tours|

* The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore

Related articles|

* Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
* The Encampments

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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