Ignatius is the fifth studio album by American rapper Jadakiss. It was released through Def Jam Recordings on March 6, 2020, making it Jadakiss's first solo release since 2015's Top 5 Dead or Alive.[8] The album features guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Chayse, DeJ Loaf, Emanny, John Legend, Millyz, Nino Man, Pusha T, Rick Ross and Ty Dolla Sign. It was preceded by the release of the singles "Me" in 2019, "Kisses to the Sky" in January 2020, and "Hunting Season" in February 2020. It was A&R'd by Steven "Steve-O" Carless and executive produced by Ignatius "IcepicJay" Jackson. The album received positive reviews from critics, getting general rating of 82 on Metacritic, becoming his best rated album.[9][8]

Ignatius
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
GenreHip hop
Length46:00
Label
Producer
Jadakiss chronology
Friday on Elm Street
(2017)
Ignatius
(2020)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Albumism[2]
AllMusic[3]
CLASH8/10[4]
Earmilk[5]
HipHopDX3.7/5[6]
RapReviews8/10[7]

Background

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The album is named for the Ruff Ryders Entertainment A&R and record producer Ignatius "IcepickJay" Jackson, who died in 2017 from cancer.[10] He is featured on the center of the album's cover art.

Release

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Initially planned for a February 28, 2020 release date, the album was released on March 6, 2020.[9][10] Jadakiss delayed the album's release out of respect due to the death of Pop Smoke,[10][11] a 20-year-old American rapper who was murdered on February 19 by masked gunmen during a home invasion in the Hollywood Hills.[12][11]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Pearly Gates"
  • Jason Phillips
  • Shaun Thomas
  • Daniel Garcia
  • Francis Ubiera
  • Jimmy Dukes
  • Matthew Morales
  • Eric Marrell Smith
  • Jim Tyree Salter III
  • S. Dot
  • Buda and Grandz
  • Jimmy Dukes
  • Money-Matt
  • Smiley's People
3:16
2."Huntin Season" (featuring Pusha T)
  • S. Dot
  • Buda and Grandz
  • Khardier Da God
  • Shroom
4:38
3."Keep It 100"
  • Phillips
  • Thomas
  • Garcia
  • Ubiera
  • Christopher Diaz
  • Jesus Fernandez
  • Leo Graham
  • Raphael Oliveira
  • S. Dot
  • Buda and Grandz
  • Poobs
  • Noc
4:11
4."Catch & Release"
  • S. Dot
  • Buda and Grandz
  • Poobs
  • Loshendrix
4:35
5."Me"
Bryan-Michael Cox3:45
6."Anna Mae Skit"  0:28
7."NYB (Need Your Best)" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)
3:19
8."Angel's Getting Pedicured" (featuring 2 Chainz)
  • Phillips
  • Tauheed Epps
  • Thomas
  • Garcia
  • Ubiera
  • Diaz
  • Fernandez
  • Anthony Graham
  • S. Dot
  • Buda and Grandz
  • Poobs
  • POSTA
4:11
9."Kisses to the Sky" (featuring Rick Ross and Emanny)
  • Phillips
  • William Roberts
  • Emanny Salgado
  • Thomas
  • Garcia
  • Ubiera
  • Brian Bennett
  • Ronnie Young Jr.
  • S. Dot
  • Buda and Grandz
  • BlameRonnie
  • E Major
5:08
10."My Condolences Skit"
  • Phillips
  • Thomas
S. Dot0:42
11."Gov't Cheese" (featuring DeJ Loaf, Nino Man and Millyz)
5:18
12."I Know" (featuring John Legend)4:03
13."Closure" (featuring Chayse)
  • Phillips
  • Lauren Seymour
  • Garcia
  • Ubiera
  • Fernandez
  • Mads Moeller
  • Thor Noergaard
  • S. Dot
  • Buda and Grandz
  • Poobs
  • Pitchshifters
2:56
Notes

Charts

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Chart performance for Ignatius
Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[15] 31
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 19

References

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  1. ^ "Critic Reviews for Ignatius - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  2. ^ McIntosh, Daryl (March 11, 2020). "Fueled by Experience & Emotion, Jadakiss Delivers His Career Magnum Opus 'Ignatius' | Album Review". Albumism. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  3. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Ignatius - Jadakiss | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  4. ^ Abou-Setta, Ramy (March 9, 2020). "Jadakiss - Ignatius". CLASH. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  5. ^ Camaj, Margaritë "Magi" (April 4, 2020). "Album Review: Jadakiss - Ignatius". Earmilk. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  6. ^ Wallace, Riley (March 23, 2020). "Review: Jadakiss Balances Heartfelt Tribute With Forgettable Bops On 'Ignatius'". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  7. ^ Jones, Grant (May 5, 2020). "Jadakiss :: Ignatius – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Sam (February 24, 2020). "Jadakiss Set to Drop New Album 'Ignatius' This Friday". The Source. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Mahadevan, Tara C. (March 6, 2020). "Listen to Jadakiss' New Album 'Ignatius'". Complex. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Ivey, Justin (March 5, 2020). "Jadakiss Returns With 'Ignatius' Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  11. ^ a b B, Mira (March 3, 2020). "Jadakiss Says He Delayed His Album to Respect Pop Smoke". The Source. Retrieved March 6, 2020. Pusha shared that the two would not be moving forward with the release of the single in the wake of Pop Smoke's murder, as it didn't seem appropriate being that the song's lyrics talk about hunting fellow rappers.
  12. ^ Fry, Hannah; Brown, August; Winton, Richard (February 19, 2020). "Rapper Pop Smoke gunned down in Hollywood Hills home". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  13. ^ Caraan, Sophie (March 6, 2020). "Jadakiss Honors Fallen Friends on New Album 'Ignatius'". Hypebeast. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  14. ^ Marie, Erika (October 9, 2019). "Jadakiss Is The Center Of Attention On "Me"". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  15. ^ "Jadakiss Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "Jadakiss Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2020.