Mr. Crawford was supported by five singles: "Vaccine", "Vaccine (Falling Star)", "I'll Be Here", "Shackles to Diamonds", and "Save the Day". The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 29,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
Background
The album's title relates to NoCap's birth name, Kobe Vidal Crawford.[2]
On March 16, 2022, via Facebook, Cap changed his profile picture to an alternate cover art.[3] NoCap announced the official release of the album via social media on March 28, 2022, while leaving a message for his supporters:[4]
"I'm probably more excited about this album than y'all , I keep making changes last minute switching songs cause I make new music everyday and I want this bitch perfect I come from ZERO I put my heart & soul into this shit can't nothing stop me but the judge or the grave yard & not these bitch ass industry niggaz I'll forever stay true to myself cause dats how slim raised me 🦈 niggaz I will give my last talk about me behind my back & I still wish them the best on life cause deep down inside they know who I really am MR.CRAWFORD. 4/29"
Singles
The album's first two singles, "Vaccine" and "Vaccine (Falling Star)", were released on August 8, 2021, exclusively on YouTube;[5] it was released to streaming services on August 19, 2021.[6] The album's third single, "I'll Be Here", was released on February 24, 2022, also exclusively on YouTube; it was released on all digital platforms on March 15, 2022.[7] The album's fourth single "Shackles to Diamonds" was released on March 16, 2022.[8] The album's fifth and final single "Save The Day" featuring Kodak Black was released on April 21, 2022.[9]
Mr. Crawford received positive reviews by music critics. AllMusic compares the album to NoCap's 2020 mixtape Steel Human as they share the same "Auto-Tuned melodies and fluid, quick-switching flows." The review notes that after sampling Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, NoCap "takes enormous steps forward with this debut as he presents more depth and personality than ever before."[10]
Commercial performance
Mr. Crawford debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 29,000 album-equivalent units (including 300 copies in pure album sales) in its first week.[11] The album also accumulated a total of 40.07 million on-demand streams of the album's songs.[11]