Bryson Tiller is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Bryson Tiller, released on April 5, 2024, via TrapSoul and RCA Records. It is his first full-length album in almost four years, following the release of Anniversary in October 2020. Production was primarily handled by Charlie Heat, alongside HeyMicki, Vinylz, Jeia, Scotty Lavell Coleman, Poo Bear, and Sasha Sirota, among others. It features guest appearances from Victoria Monét and Clara La San.[1]
Background and promotion
Prior to the release of Anniversary, Tiller was working on a since-scrapped album titled Serenity, for which he was waiting on sample clearances in 2019.[2]Serenity was teased a few more times then shelved.[1]
On October 31, 2021, Tiller released a mixtape, Killer Instinct 2: The Nightmare Before, on a private link that he texted to his fans using the community number he had made earlier in 2020. The mixtape featured a variety of freestyles over current beats at the time, including Normani's "Wild Side", Brent Faiyaz's "Gravity" and Busta Rhymes' "New York Shit". This was followed almost three weeks later by his first Christmas EP, A Different Christmas released on November 19. Tiller said the project was inspired by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, the latter of whom featured in the song "Lonely Christmas". Tiller's daughter Halo also appears on the closing track.[3]
On August 19, 2023, the mixtape Slum Tiller, Volume One was released exclusively on SoundCloud. This was the first in a series inspired by Detroit rap and the group Slum Village, and was also a way for him to put out new music without the restrictions of sample clearances. Volume 2 was released four months later on November 9, and featured the song "Whatever She Wants". On January 2, 2024, Tiller announced the weekly music program Tiller Tuesdays, which saw him release music on SoundCloud every Tuesday from January 9 to March 12, 2024.[4] Within the program, the third volume of Slum Tiller was also released, on January 23.[5]
On March 19, 2024, the album Bryson Tiller was officially announced with a trailer.[6]
Singles
"Outside" was released as the album's lead single on September 8, 2022, the song sampling the Ying Yang Twins' 2005 single "Wait (The Whisper Song)". Its music video was released a month later on October 18, and featured an appearance from the Ying Yang Twins themselves.[7] A batch of singles were initially planned for the album after the release of "Outside", but due to sample clearances, the songs were scrapped and removed from the album.[1]
"Whatever She Wants" was released as the album's second single on February 13, 2024. Originally taken from Slum Tiller, Volume 2, the song was released on all streaming platforms after gaining popularity on TikTok,[8] and featured a new second verse, unlike the original SoundCloud version.
"Calypso" was the album's third single, released on March 19, 2024, along with the album's preorder.[9]
Bryson Tiller was met with positive reviews from music critics. Writing for AllMusic, Andy Kellman described the project as a "coherent LP of contemporary R&B ballads full of sweet nothings, boasts, grievances, and ultimatums".[10]Clash's Jessica Rogers wrote that the exclusivity of features on the album "pays off" as it allows Tiller to "shine a light on his incredible versatility". Rogers described the LP as a "sonic rollercoaster that leaves you feeling overwhelmed in a good way" before she concluded her review, noting that the album is a "soundtrack for every mood possible".[11] Will Schube for HipHopDX wrote that Tiller "[relies] on the power of his voice" which allows him to "[recontextualize] the genre", however, at times he "grows complacent", resulting in several filler tracks.[12]
Writing for Billboard, Kyle Denis stated that the LP honors Tiller's roots, "while also showcasing how wide-ranging his versatility can be". Denis stated that the record could have "benefited from some trimming" as some tracks lack substance and add nothing to the record. Concluding his review, Denis wrote that "Bryson Tiller is built to last through any season" and is a project for "lovers".[13]
Commercial performance
Bryson Tiller debuted at number twelve on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 39,000 album-equivalent units, (including 1,000 copies as pure album sales) in its first week.[14]
