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Swervo
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| Swervo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 27, 2018 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 46:42 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| G Herbo and Southside chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Swervo | ||||
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Swervo is a collaborative studio album by American rapper G Herbo and record producer Southside. It was released on July 27, 2018, by Machine Entertainment Group, Epic Records, Cinematic Music Group, 150 Dream Team and 808 Mafia. The production on the album was entirely handled by Southside, alongside Jake One and TM88, among others.[1] The album also features guest appearances from 21 Savage, Chief Keef, Juice WRLD and Young Thug.
Swervo was supported by four singles: "Who Run It", "Focused", "Swervo" and "Some Nights".[2][3] The album received positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 22,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.[4] Its sequel album, Still Swervin, was released on February 1, 2019.[5]
Background
[edit]On September 11, 2017, G Herbo was featured in an interview with XXL, in which he spoke about the project, he said:
As far as when I'm gonna drop that with Southside too, that's coming this year. So, as far as music, bro, I got a lot of good stuff in the pipeline. I just been making sure it's right with the timing. The Southside project...that's going to be one of my biggest projects, hands down. It's going to give me an entire different fan base. I feel like I'll be capturing the entire South with that project. It's all about timing and just strategizing, making sure we're hitting A, B, C and all the way on to Z. I don't want to skip no steps or force nothing. Everything got to be natural and organic."[6]
The album's tracklist, cover art and release date was revealed on July 20, 2018. The announcement comes a month after G Herbo and Southside released the music video for the title track.[1] G Herbo described Swervo as his "alter-ego" and the "opposite of G Herbo". He further commented on the project during an interview with Billboard detailing the concept of him "having fun and party records."[7] In an interview with Complex, G Herbo talked about how the project came about, by saying:
"Southside, who produced the whole album, came up with the name. We would hook up in Atlanta, Miami, or L.A. and just hop in $200K whips, swerv thru traffic—really just have fun and enjoy life—then go to the lab and capture that feeling. It's that vibe. I can't get that feeling in Chicago, because Chicago ain't a place you can relax and let your guard down. Not even for a second. Don't get me wrong, I still talk that street talk, because that who I am at my core, but on this album I'm still having fun with it at the same time."[8]
Artwork
[edit]The album's artwork features G Herbo and Southside wearing custom-made jackets, sitting on a top of a white Rolls-Royce Ghost.[1][2] It draws inspiration from Eric B. & Rakim's 1988 album Follow the Leader.[1]
Singles
[edit]The album lead single, "Who Run It" was released on April 12, 2018. The second single, "Focused" featuring Southside was released on May 24, 2018.[9] The third single, "Swervo" featuring Southside was released on June 21, 2018, accompanied by the JMP-directed music video.[8] The fourth single, "Some Nights" was released on June 26, 2018.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| HipHopDX | 3.5/5[10] |
| HotNewHipHop | 84%[11] |
| Pitchfork | 7.3/10[12] |
Narsimha Chintaluri of HipHopDX stated that "G Herbo's travels outside of Chicago and his comfort zone felt natural and necessary." "Unlike his debut, Herbo's content on Swervo is more compartmentalized; a majority of the tracks here are strictly meant for the young man to vent and talk his CEO boss shit." In addition, Chintaluri stated that "Humble Beast presented a stark look at survivor's guilt, Swervo mainly attempts to represent the flipside – leaving Herbo free to finally revel in success."[10] Trevor Smith of HotNewHipHop stated that "the 22-year-old rapper only continues to grow. Really, there's no limit."[11] Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork stated that "He delivers some of his starkest verses like a steamroller, almost completely desensitized. This daredevil approach to gunplay and cadences makes him seem unbreakable, but the longer the album goes on, the more it wears on you. Swervo is all velocity. He delivers high-powered, stampeding stanzas looking to bum-rush you before you even know what happened."[12]
Commercial performance
[edit]Swero debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 22,000 album-equivalent units (including 3,000 copies as pure album sales) in its first week.[4] The album also accumulated a total of 25.4 million on-demand streams from the set's tracks that week.[4]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks written by Herbert Wright III and Joshua Luellen, and produced by Southside, except where noted.[13][14][15]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Some Nights" |
| 3:18 | |
| 2. | "Swervo" |
| 3:12 | |
| 3. | "How I Grew Up" (featuring 21 Savage) |
| 3:40 | |
| 4. | "FoReal" |
| 2:38 | |
| 5. | "Catch Up" (featuring Chief Keef) | 3:10 | ||
| 6. | "Tweakin (Head)" | 3:01 | ||
| 7. | "Pac n Dre" |
|
| 3:14 |
| 8. | "Bonjour" |
| 3:32 | |
| 9. | "Huh" |
| 3:21 | |
| 10. | "100 Sticks" (featuring Young Thug) | 3:46 | ||
| 11. | "Honestly" (featuring Juice Wrld) |
|
| 3:34 |
| 12. | "Letter" |
| 4:45 | |
| 13. | "Focused" |
| 2:43 | |
| 14. | "Who Run It (Remix)" |
| 2:48 | |
| Total length: | 46:42 | |||
Notes
Sample credits
- "Who Run It (Remix)" contains a sample from "Who Run It", performed by Three 6 Mafia.[21]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from album's back cover.[22]
Technical
- Max Lord – recording, mixing
- Tony Wilson – editing
- Slavic Livins – Mastering engineer (for Chicago Audio Mastering)
Additional personnel
- Oscar "YT Designs" Galvan – art direction, design
- TeeJay Spencer – art direction, design
- Rowdee "TheManBehindCovers" – art direction, design
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[23] | 15 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[24] | 7 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[25] | 8 |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[26] | 8 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Wallace, Riley (July 20, 2018). "G Herbo & Southside Unveil More Details For "Swervo" Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Mojica, Nick (July 20, 2018). "G Herbo & Southside Enlist Juice Wrld & More for 'Swervo' Project". XXL. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Hussein, Wandera (July 26, 2018). "G Herbo shares new song "Some Nights"". The Fader. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ a b c Kyle Eustice (August 6, 2018). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Drake Keeps Hitting Milestones As "Scorpion" Stays At No. 1 for 5th Straight Week". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (January 31, 2019). "Stream G Herbo's 'Still Swervin' Project f/ Juice WRLD, Gunna, and More". Complex. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ^ India, Lindsey (September 11, 2017). "G Herbo Says His Upcoming Project With Southside May Be His Biggest Yet". XXL. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Saponara, Michael (June 14, 2018). "G Herbo Talks Inking First Partnership Deal With Luc Belaire & Sophomore Album 'Swervo'". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Skelton, Eric (June 21, 2018). "Premiere: G Herbo Drops Video for Title Track Off Upcoming Southside-Produced Album 'Swervo'". Complex. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Goddard, Kevin (May 24, 2018). "G Herbo Releases New Single & Accompanying Video "Focused"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ a b Chintaluri, Narsimha (August 13, 2018). "Review: G Herbo & Southside's "Swervo" Convincingly Warrants Future Collabos". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
- ^ a b Smith, Trevor (August 1, 2018). "G Herbo & Southside "SWERVO" Review". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ a b Pearce, Sheldon (August 1, 2018). "G Herbo & Southside: Swervo Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ "Swervo / G Herbo". Tidal. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search". Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ "SUPERFLY (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) / Future". Tidal. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ 🦅DJ🦅 (July 27, 2018). "🦅DJ🦅 on Instagram: "Out now. intro produced by Me and @808mafiaboss ..."". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ Tm88 (July 27, 2018). "Tm88 on Instagram: "#2 #7 #8 Co produced by 88 ..."". Instagram. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ @cubeatz (July 27, 2018). "@cubeatz on Instagram: "swervo out nw foreal and letter prod sizzle and us"". Instagram. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ Snare Jordan (July 27, 2018). "Snare Jordan on Instagram: "Go check that G Herbo x Southside Swervo album out. ..." Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ Max Lord 808MAFIA 🦅🐍 (July 27, 2018). "Max Lord 808MAFIA 🦅🐍 on Instagram: "SWERVO IS OUT! GO BLOW OUT YOUR CAR'S SPEAKERS ASAP ..." Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ HP Cheung (May 4, 2018). "Three 6 Mafia's Most-Sampled and Best-Remixed Songs". Hypebeast. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ SWERVO (June 20, 2018). "SWERVO on Twitter: "#SWERVO ALBUM WITH @SIZZLE808MAFIA OUT 7/27 ..." Twitter. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ "Billboard 200: August 11, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "G Herbo Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "G Herbo Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- ^ "G Herbo Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
Swervo
View on GrokipediaBackground and development
Concept and collaboration
G Herbo and Southside's partnership dates back to 2015, when Southside produced the track "I'm Rollin'" for G Herbo (then known as Lil Herb), marking one of their earliest collaborations and establishing a longstanding creative bond built on mutual respect and shared ambition in hip-hop.[9] This relationship continued to evolve, with Southside contributing production to "Everything" featuring Lil Uzi Vert on G Herbo's 2017 debut album Humble Beast, where his booming 808-driven beats began complementing Herbo's raw, drill-influenced delivery. Over the years, Southside has described Herbo as "my lil brother," emphasizing their brotherly dynamic that fostered experimentation and growth in the studio.[10] The Swervo project was first teased by G Herbo in an April 2017 interview, with formal announcements and updates shared via social media and press in early 2018, positioning it as a full collaborative album entirely produced by Southside.[11] Herbo framed Swervo as an exploration of his alter ego, "Swervo," a more energetic and boastful persona that contrasted his typically introspective and humble style seen in prior works like Humble Beast.[12] This conceptual shift allowed Herbo to embrace fun, lavish themes over street narratives, reflecting his evolving life as a maturing artist and new father.[5] Southside's inspiration for the collaboration stemmed from a desire to craft an entire project tailored to Herbo's flow, blending his signature trap beats—characterized by heavy 808s and ominous synths—with Herbo's Chicago drill roots to create a high-energy soundscape.[7] In interviews, Southside highlighted his role in pushing Herbo to experiment with melodic hooks and shorter structures, moving away from extended bars to suit the project's upbeat vibe, while drawing parallels to legendary producer-MC duos like Eric B. & Rakim for their cultural impact.[13] Herbo echoed this, noting Southside's challenges elevated his artistry, resulting in a cohesive album that showcased their synergy.[13] Guest features were selected organically to enhance the duo's vision, with artists chosen for their complementary energies and ties to Herbo's world. For instance, 21 Savage brought a gritty Southern edge to tracks like "How I Grew Up," aligning with the album's trap-drill fusion, while Chief Keef's inclusion honored Chicago's drill heritage and amplified the project's street authenticity.[13] Young Thug and Juice WRLD were brought in as close collaborators—Herbo called Juice WRLD his "little brother"—to inject melodic versatility and youthful flair, ensuring the features felt like natural extensions rather than forced additions.[12][13]Recording process
The recording of Swervo primarily took place between 2017 and 2018 across studios in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami, where G Herbo and Southside convened for collaborative sessions that captured the project's high-energy trap sound.[14] Southside, operating through his 808 Mafia collective, handled all production duties, crafting beats during intensive late-night studio marathons in Atlanta that emphasized booming 808s and relentless hi-hats.[15] These locations allowed the duo to blend Chicago drill influences with Atlanta trap aesthetics, fostering a workflow centered on spontaneous creation.[16] Sessions commenced shortly after the release of G Herbo's debut album Humble Beast in September 2017, extending over several months into early 2018 as the artists refined their vision. Southside produced a substantial volume of beats—resulting in over 60 completed songs—before the pair narrowed it down to 14 tracks for the final album, prioritizing those that best showcased G Herbo's evolving flow and the project's thematic cohesion.[10] This curation process involved freestyling in the studio without written lyrics, enabling G Herbo to deliver raw, immediate performances that highlighted his artistic growth.[15] G Herbo's vocal recording occurred in focused, isolated booth sessions, where he layered ad-libs extensively to amplify the tracks' intensity and match the confident, carefree vibe of his "Swervo" alter ego—a persona representing fun and extravagance distinct from his more introspective Humble Beast style.[12] He emphasized high-energy delivery, often completing verses effortlessly to reflect present-day success, as seen in the quick 20- to 30-minute recording of the intro track "Some Nights."[17] Certain tracks incorporated live instrumentation, such as the eerie piano melody driving "Some Nights," adding emotional depth to Southside's otherwise hard-hitting production.[18] The process faced logistical challenges, including G Herbo's legal troubles—such as his February 2018 arrest for illegal firearm possession in Chicago—which disrupted scheduling amid ongoing sessions.[19] Southside's demanding commitments, including production for other artists and performances, further required the duo to balance intensive work with travel between cities, yet these hurdles contributed to the album's polished, resilient final form.[15]Composition
Musical style and production
Swervo exemplifies a fusion of trap and drill genres, characterized by Southside's signature production that emphasizes heavy 808 bass lines, rapid hi-hat patterns, and sparse, atmospheric synths to create a high-energy, street-oriented sound.[7][20] This blend draws from Chicago drill's gritty percussion and Atlanta trap's booming low-end, resulting in beats that prioritize momentum and aggression over melodic complexity.[21][22] Southside, a key figure in the 808 Mafia collective, crafted the majority of the album's 14 tracks using FL Studio, incorporating custom plugins to engineer distorted, rumbling 808s that dominate the mix and drive the project's club-ready vibe.[20][22] The production maintains a consistent intensity across the album, with tempos often ranging from 70 to 140 BPM, allowing for versatile flows that shift between relentless drive and momentary restraint. Tracks like "Swervo" highlight Southside's technique through dynamic hi-hat rolls and punchy snares layered over a pulsating 808 foundation at 140 BPM, evoking a sense of urgent motion.[20][23] Similarly, "100 Sticks" employs minimalistic synth loops and relentless hi-hats to build a dark, off-kilter energy, enhanced by co-production elements that amplify the trap-drill hybrid.[7][21] "Catch Up," featuring Chief Keef, intensifies this style with staggered drum programming and escalating synth builds, nodding to drill's raw percussion while maintaining trap's spacious arrangement.[7][22] Compared to G Herbo's earlier work, such as his more introspective debut mixtape Welcome to Fazoland, Swervo marks a shift toward upbeat, extroverted tempos and less narrative depth in the instrumentation, aligning with Southside's bombastic aesthetic to produce a more celebratory, less brooding drill variant.[7][22] Guest appearances, like 21 Savage's on "How I Grew Up," briefly integrate Southern trap cadences that complement the beats' ferocity without altering the core production framework.[20] Overall, the album's sonic palette underscores Southside's influence, using economical sound design to amplify themes of resilience through auditory force.[21][22]Lyrical themes
The Swervo album introduces G Herbo's alter ego, Swervo, as an outgoing and party-oriented persona that contrasts with his typically street-hardened image, emphasizing boasts about newfound success, luxury, and nightlife escapades.[7] This character allows Herbo to explore a more celebratory side, rapping lines like “Your bitch wanna fuck 'cause I'm Swervo” to highlight material gains and social allure after years of struggle.[12] In interviews, Herbo describes Swervo as a way to present multiple facets of himself, inspiring listeners by depicting the transition from Chicago's hardships to triumphant living.[12] Recurring motifs throughout the lyrics include overcoming trauma rooted in Chicago's violent streets, unwavering loyalty to his crew, and the impermanence of relationships amid fame. Herbo frequently reflects on personal losses and resilience, as in “How I Grew Up,” where he and 21 Savage detail their maturation through drug dealing, police evasion, and mourning fallen friends, underscoring a journey from youthful recklessness to reflective adulthood.[21] Themes of remorse for past actions and survival's emotional toll appear prominently, with Herbo commemorating comrades while grappling with equanimity in the face of ongoing adversity.[4] Guest verses integrate seamlessly to amplify these narratives, with Chief Keef's raw, high-energy delivery on “Catch Up” intensifying tales of street survival and rival confrontations through staggered cadences that echo Herbo's bulldozing flows.[7] Similarly, Juice WRLD's melodic, droning hook on “Honestly” introduces emotional vulnerability, contrasting Herbo's assertive verses on authenticity and ambition to reveal layers of introspection beneath the bravado.[7][21] Herbo's language and delivery feature dense wordplay infused with Chicago slang, such as “foenem” for close allies, delivered in high-velocity stanzas that convey hype and unyielding resilience.[7] Ad-libs like repeated “Swervo” calls punctuate tracks, enhancing the energetic, desensitized tone while his slurred, stretched phrasing adds a raw, street-authentic edge to the boasts and reflections.[24]Release and promotion
Singles
The lead single from Swervo, "Who Run It", was released on April 12, 2018, as a remix of Three 6 Mafia's classic track, featuring Lil Uzi Vert and produced by Southside.[25][26] This high-energy freestyle, which originated from a viral radio session, helped generate initial buzz for the album by emphasizing G Herbo's rapid-fire delivery and trap beats, aligning with the project's playful, uptempo vibe.[7] Following that, "Focused" arrived as the second single on May 24, 2018, a solo effort from G Herbo with production by Southside, highlighting themes of perseverance and street life over a minimalistic, bass-heavy instrumental.[27][28] The track's music video, released concurrently, depicted urban scenes in Chicago, reinforcing Herbo's roots and contributing to the singles' role in teasing the album's raw, motivational energy.[29] The title track "Swervo" served as the third single, released on June 21, 2018, with an accompanying official music video directed by JMP and filmed in various Chicago locations to underscore the artist's hometown influence.[30] Produced by Southside and TM88, the song exemplifies the collaborative album's trap sound through its booming 808s and Herbo's confident flows, amassing over 22 million views on YouTube by late 2025 and aiding in building fan anticipation ahead of the full release.[31] "Some Nights", the fourth and final pre-album single, dropped on July 26, 2018, just one day before Swervo's launch, offering a reflective yet energetic closer that showcased the duo's chemistry and the project's blend of introspection with high-octane production. Collectively, these singles promoted the album's shift toward a more celebratory trap aesthetic compared to Herbo's earlier gritty work, driving streaming momentum and social media engagement to heighten hype for the July 27, 2018, debut.[7][32]Marketing and artwork
Swervo was released on July 27, 2018, through Machine Entertainment Group, Epic Records, Cinematic Music Group, 150 Dream Team, and 808 Mafia, primarily in digital download and streaming formats.[2] The promotional campaign featured teaser music videos shared on social media platforms, including the official video for the title track "Swervo," which showcased G Herbo flexing luxury fashion and vehicles to build anticipation.[30] The rollout also included behind-the-scenes interviews in publications like Billboard and XXL, where G Herbo and Southside highlighted their creative chemistry and the project's organic development over nearly two years.[17][20] The album's cover art adopts a minimalist design, depicting G Herbo and Southside seated atop a Rolls-Royce Dawn while wearing custom print jackets, symbolizing the opulent "swervo" lifestyle of swerving through success and excess.[1][2] This imagery serves as a homage to Eric B. & Rakim's 1988 album Follow the Leader, with art direction handled by Galvan, TeeJay Spencer, and Rowdee.[33] Packaging for the digital release emphasized high-resolution visuals and explicit/clean versions to accommodate different listener preferences.[34] Further marketing integrated the project into live performances, including the Swervo Tour—a North American run in October and November 2018 featuring Southside and Queen Key, where album tracks were performed alongside G Herbo's solo material.[35] Single releases such as "Swervo" and "Focused" contributed to the overall hype by previewing the collaboration's trap sound.[20]Reception
Critical response
Swervo received generally favorable reviews upon its release, with critics praising its high-energy trap sound while noting limitations in depth and originality. On the aggregate review site Album of the Year, the album earned a score of 74 out of 100, based on three professional reviews.[36] Pitchfork critic Alphonse Pierre awarded Swervo a 7.3 out of 10, highlighting the album's relentless velocity and Southside's exhilarating production, which repurposes booming, triumphant beats reminiscent of tracks like "Who Run It," but critiqued its lyrical shallowness, describing Herbo's verses as "almost completely desensitized" and lacking the narrative richness of his prior work.[7] Similarly, HipHopDX's Trent Clark rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars, lauding Southside's versatile arrangements and G Herbo's confident, multi-flow delivery—particularly on standouts like "Swervo" and "Pac n Dre," which offer strong replay value through their bombastic energy—but pointed out formulaic trap tropes and a lack of innovation relative to Herbo's rawer mixtapes such as Welcome to Fazoland. Critics offered mixed assessments of the guest features, with HipHopDX suggesting that more prominent contributions from Southside, who largely stuck to hooks like on "Pac n Dre," might have offset perceived gaps in substance from the collaborators including 21 Savage, Young Thug, and Juice WRLD. Overall, 2018 reviews framed the project as a hype-driven collaboration that solidified the duo's chemistry, positioning it as a fun, club-ready trap effort rather than a transformative statement.[7]Commercial performance
Swervo debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart in August 2018, earning 22,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, including 3,000 in pure album sales.[3] The album has no RIAA certification as of 2025. Streaming has contributed to its longevity, with the project accumulating approximately 127 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025.[37]Track listing and credits
Track listing
The standard edition of Swervo features 14 tracks, all produced by Southside, with a total runtime of 46:42. No deluxe or alternate editions were released.[34][2]| No. | Title | Featured artist(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Some Nights" | 3:18 | |
| 2 | "Swervo" | Southside | 3:12 |
| 3 | "That's How I Grew Up" | 21 Savage | 3:40 |
| 4 | "FoReal" | 2:38 | |
| 5 | "Catch Up" | Chief Keef | 3:10 |
| 6 | "Tweakin (Head)" | 3:01 | |
| 7 | "Pac n Dre" | Southside | 3:14¹ |
| 8 | "Bonjour" | 3:32 | |
| 9 | "Huh" | 3:21 | |
| 10 | "100 Sticks" | Young Thug | 3:46 |
| 11 | "Honestly" | Juice WRLD | 3:34 |
| 12 | "Letter" | 4:45 | |
| 13 | "Focused" | Southside | 2:43 |
| 14 | "Who Run It (Remix)" | 2:48² |
