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While the World Was Burning

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While the World Was Burning is the third studio album by American rapper Saint Jhn. It was released on November 20, 2020 by Gødd Complexx under Hitco, and marketed digitally via ADA division of Warner Music Group. It features guest appearances from Kanye West, Lil Uzi Vert, Future, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, DaBaby, JID, 6Lack and Kehlani.

While the World Was Burning
Studio album by
Saint Jhn
ReleasedNovember 20, 2020
Recorded2020
GenreHip hop
Length43:49
Label
Producer
Saint Jhn chronology
Ghetto Lenny's Love Songs
(2019) 		While the World Was Burning
(2020)
Singles from While the World Was Burning
  1. "Roses"
    Released: September 18, 2019
  2. "Gorgeous"
    Released: October 9, 2020
  3. "Sucks to Be You"
    Released: October 26, 2020
  4. "Smack Dvd"
    Released: November 27, 2020
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork5.7/10[1]

Background

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Originally Saint Jhn had no plans to release another album in 2020, but throughout the year he managed to connect with fellow artists Kanye West, Lil Uzi Vert, Future, JID, A Boogie wit da Hoodie. and Kehlani. His single "Roses" also gained massive attention over the summer and reached the top 5 on the Billboard and other charts. Because of this, he felt "it would be irresponsible to not put out another collection".[2] The title While the World Was Burning was inspired by the events that unfolded in 2020 such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the George Floyd protests, the 2020 US election, etc. Saint Jhn calls the album a capsule collection.[3][4][2]

In late September, Saint Jhn visited Kanye West in Wyoming.[5] In several interviews after the release of the collection, Saint Jhn said that West had gotten a hold of his number after having heard his song "Roses" 20 times in a row on a jet plane. West wanted him to come to Wyoming and record with him there and threw out the idea that he could executive produce While the World Was Burning with Rick Rubin.[6] Saint Jhn and West later flew down to Jamaica to record with Buju Banton.[6][7]

The songs "High School Reunion" and "Monica Lewinsky, Election Year" are reworked versions of songs from his 2019 album Ghetto Lenny's Love Songs.[2]

Release and promotion

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After getting massive success with the remix of his single "Roses" over the summer of 2020, Saint Jhn teased on August 25 on a (now deleted) Instagram post that he would release a collection of songs in October. In mid September, Saint Jhn announced that his album While The World Was Burning would release on October 16.[8] On October 9, Saint Jhn would release the lead single "Gorgeous". The day after, he went to Twitter to announce that he had delayed the album to November 20.[9] On October 26, Saint Jhn released the single "Sucks to Be You",[10] and two days later the cover art, release date and track listing for the album.[11][12]

On November 21, a day after the release, Saint Jhn said on Twitter that the album would be updated with some tweaks and changes and a song with Kanye West that did not make the cut.[13] The missing track titled "Smack DVD" featuring Kanye West was released a week later, however it did not get added onto the track listing of the album. Saint Jhn posted a track listing of a different version of the album to his Twitter with "Smack DVD" after "Pray 4 Me", among other track listing differences.[14] The album was updated on streaming services to have the new track order with "Smack DVD" in the track listing a week later.

Track listing

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Track listing and credits adapted from Tidal.[15]

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Sucks to Be You"Fallen3:42
2."Switching Sides"
3:36
3."Freedom Is Priceless"
  • Ghostrage
  • Fallen
1:59
4."Roses Remix" (featuring Future)
  • Quay Global
  • Fallen
3:07
5."Monica Lewinsky, Election Year" (featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie and DaBaby)Fallen3:30
6."High School Reunion, Prom" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert)
3:24
7."Pray 4 Me" (featuring Kanye West)Fallen2:53
8."Smack DVD" (featuring Kanye West)
2:55
9."Time for Demons"Fallen2:16
10."Gorgeous"Fallen3:05
11."Quarantine Wifey" (featuring JID)Fallen3:54
12."Ransom" (featuring 6lack and Kehlani)Fallen3:23
13."Back on the Ledge"
  • Johan Lenox
  • Fallen
3:05
14."Roses" (Imanbek Remix)Imanbek2:51
Total length:43:49

Personnel

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  • Colin Leonard – master engineering (all tracks)
  • Roark Bailey – mix engineering (tracks 1– 4, 6–12)
  • Lee Stashenko – mix engineering (track 4)
  • Erik Madrid – mix engineering (track 5)
  • Giaks – vocals (track 9)

Charts

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Chart performance of While the World Was Burning
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[16] 24
US Billboard 200[17] 34
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 16

References

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  1. ^ Blum, Dani (November 23, 2020). "SAINt JHN: While the World Was Burning Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Mench, Chris (November 25, 2020). "Interview: SAINt JHN On "Roses," Legacy, And Making Music While The World Was Burning". Genius. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "Saint Jhn on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved November 29, 2020. Collection One – full collection Ghetto Lennys Love Songs – seasonal collection WTWWB – capsule collection
  4. ^ "Excerpt of interview at MTV Fresh Out with Kevan Kenney". Instagram. November 25, 2020. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Zidel, Alex (September 22, 2020). "SAINt JHN Pulls Up On Kanye West, Comments On His 100-Foot TV Screen". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Skelton, Eric (November 17, 2020). "The World Is Finally Ready For SAINt JHN". Complex. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Mallick, Dani (September 18, 2020). "Kanye West Is In Jamaica, Links With Buju Banton In Studio". DancehallMag. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Findlay, Mitch. "SAINt JHN Confirms New Album "WTWWB" Release Date". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "SAINt JHN on Twitter". Retrieved November 29, 2020 – via Twitter. Date change from October 16 to November... ✝️ don't trip. It's otw!! 😘🤘🏾
  10. ^ "Sucks To Be You – Saint Jhn". Tidal. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "Saint Jhn On Twitter". Retrieved November 29, 2020 – via Twitter. While The World Was Burning. November 20th. My 3rd Collection. Pre Order available now!
  12. ^ Cowen, Truce William (October 23, 2020). "SAINt JHN Unveils Star-Studded Feature List for Upcoming Album (UPDATE)". Complex. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  13. ^ Martinez, Jose. "SAINt JHN Reconnects With Kanye West on "Smack DVD"". Complex. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "SAInt JHN on Twitter". Retrieved November 29, 2020 – via Twitter. #Imagine this being the track listing Imagine somebody might get fired over this.
  15. ^ "While The World Was Burning". Tidal. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "Saint Jhn Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  17. ^ "Saint Jhn Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  18. ^ "Saint Jhn Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
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