B. Inspired is the debut studio album by British rapper Bugzy Malone, released independently through B. Somebody on 17 August 2018. It features guest appearances from JP Cooper, Rag'n'Bone Man, Maverick Sabre, Not3s, and Laura White. It became certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry on 19 July 2019.
Synopsis[]
"This is a story that shows no matter where you come from, you can actually go to the top," Bugzy Malone tells Apple Music. Few UK MCs embody triumph over adversity like the Manchester native. Across a series of mixtapes and EPs, he's documented his journey from poverty, tragedy, prison, and depression to grime's premier league with unflinching honesty. His first full album continues to pick through that tale, capturing the aggression and bravado of Manchester's streets ("Warning") before delivering stinging truths to an absent father ("Street Life") and shaping childhood experiences into a portrait of fractured families and homelessness ("Run"). "Vulnerability doesn't make me any weaker than the next person," he says. "It shows security in yourself if you can demonstrate it. We all go through it. I think that's why a lot of people can relate to me."
Given those past struggles, Bugzy could have been excused for resting on his laurels after the success of 2017's King of the North. However, B. Inspired is his most ambitious work to date, showcasing pin-sharp wordplay and extending grime's musical horizons—the string-laden "Run" consciously draws on Moby and The Verve, while the guitar solo in "Drama" was inspired by the Eagles. "I think you owe that to the fans," he says of the stylistic variety. "You don't draw them in and say, 'Come and be a fan of what I'm doing,' and then get lazy and plateau. You have to push yourself the furthest you can go."
Critical reception[]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Guardian |   |
| The Observer | |
| Q Magazine | |
Ben Beaumont-Thomas of The Guardian penned, "He's at his best when telling piquant details of his struggle", though felt the lyricism to fall short regarding rhyme and wordplay. He added of the production being mixed, concluding, "overall there is a conservatism and prefab palette that prevents this from being a British street classic".[1] Damien Morris of The Observer assessed, "Problems come when he tries too hard, or not at all. […] Yet the Technicolor productions are often world class, with grownup arrangements and intelligent sampling".[2]
Track listing[]
| # | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "B. Inspired" | 2:48 |
| 2. | "Warning" | 3:42 |
| 3. | "Ordinary People" (featuring JP Cooper) | 4:30 |
| 4. | "Die by the Gun" | 4:08 |
| 5. | "Drama" | 4:20 |
| 6. | "Run" (featuring Rag'n'Bone Man) | 3:58 |
| 7. | "Done His Dance" | 3:16 |
| 8. | "Separation" (featuring Maverick Sabre) | 4:10 |
| 9. | "Heart" (featuring Not3s) | 3:35 |
| 10. | "Come Through" | 4:25 |
| 11. | "Death Do Us Part" | 4:25 |
| 12. | "Submarine" | 3:28 |
| 13. | "Street Life" (featuring Laura White) | 3:24 |
| 14. | "The End" | 3:40 |
| Total length: | 53:49 | |
Certifications[]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold (19 July 2019) | 100,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References[]
- ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (17 August 2018). "Bugzy Malone: B Inspired Review – Life Lessons from a Northern Grime Lord". The Guardian.
- ↑ Morris, Damien (19 August 2018). "Bugzy Malone: B Inspired Review – Beautiful, Articulate Rages". The Guardian.
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