King Push - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude
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King Push - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude Image
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 184 Ratings

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  • Summary: The second full-length studio release for the rapper features guest appearances from Ab-Liva, A$AP Rocky, Kehlani, Jill Scott, Beanie Sigel, The-Dream, and Kanye West.
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Top Track

M.P.A.
I see the strangest things The evil that money brings It's like a disease That goes round and round and round like sirens And they wanna bury me Why?... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. The A.V. Club
    Dec 18, 2015
    91
    If Darkest Before Dawn really is a prelude to the record King Push to come, you have to wonder where Pusha T will choose to take his music next. Making it deeper, angrier, darker, and more foreboding doesn’t seem possible.
  2. The Quietus
    Dec 18, 2015
    90
    Timbaland, Kanye and Diddy are among the big names on the boards here, battling it out with lesser known producers, all gleefully playing to Pusha's style.... If Pusha T can keep this up throughout King Push proper, the forthcoming main event, he'll have the hip hop album of next year too.
  3. The 405
    Dec 17, 2015
    85
    While MNIMN's faults lie in its sequencing and filler, Darkest Before Dawn is concentrated and trimmed. And Pusha T, strengthened.
  4. Exclaim
    Dec 22, 2015
    80
    The weight of Darkest Before Dawn doesn't simply rest on Pusha T's lyrical weight (literal and figuratively), but also his ability to tap into the strengths of his producers, like Boi-1da's thunderous drums, Kanye West's soulful grandeur or Timbaland's unorthodox layering.
  5. The Guardian
    Jan 7, 2016
    80
    Pusha T takes a tour through the violence of the past 18 months, from Freddie Gray’s death in Baltimore to the shocking phone videos that document death in damning detail but rarely lead to convictions. With Darkest Before Dawn, Pusha T has created his own hip-hop Trojan horse.
  6. AllMusic
    Jan 4, 2016
    80
    The album just doesn't flow as well as his monolithic 2013 effort My Name Is My Name, but as a mere "prelude" to the next LP, it's miles above "throwaway" and comes with the quality control that would put it in the top tiers of both the mixtape and street release formats.
  7. Rolling Stone
    Dec 17, 2015
    70
    Though hip-hop gets more melodic and vocally expressive every year, Pusha keeps his cadences steely and his bars hitting like haymakers, maintaining that ice-cold Nineties feel even when he’s taking on modern troubles.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. adeworldpeace
    Dec 18, 2015
    10
    Push is doing his best rapping since Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury. Raw flow, disgusting lyricism, boosted by fire beats. King Push is thePush is doing his best rapping since Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury. Raw flow, disgusting lyricism, boosted by fire beats. King Push is the perfect album coming at the perfect time.… Expand
  2. israelvg49
    Feb 14, 2016
    10
    This is only the beginning for a new chapter for Pusha T. Outstanding production was shown in this project, sends a powerful of being 3 peopleThis is only the beginning for a new chapter for Pusha T. Outstanding production was shown in this project, sends a powerful of being 3 people at a time, perfect flow and awesome features. Can not wait for King Push this year.… Expand
  4. Emaduldeen1
    May 27, 2019
    10
    One of the beat albums of the decade pusha’s rapping is impeccable with amazing flows and not so special subject matter but with alot of greatOne of the beat albums of the decade pusha’s rapping is impeccable with amazing flows and not so special subject matter but with alot of great punchlines and amazing production by timbo especially on got em coverd… Expand
  5. ben_zo77
    Dec 19, 2015
    9
    Wow. If this is the prelude, I can hardly imagine how incredible the real King Push album is going to be. Darkest Before Dawn is a masterfulWow. If this is the prelude, I can hardly imagine how incredible the real King Push album is going to be. Darkest Before Dawn is a masterful composition of what I assume are the throwaways from King Push. DBD isn't perfect, but every song contributes something important. Pusha T's tight flow, impressive lyricism, and incredible production make this album stand out from everything that's been released in 2015. Arguments could be made for several other albums being better, such as Kendrick Lamar's classic 'To Pimp A Butterfly' and Vince Staples's 'Summertime '06'; but DBD is without a doubt in the conversation for being a top 5 rap album of 2015. Fresh off being named the president of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label, Pusha further shows a similarity to his boss in that they both take perfectionism to a crazy level when it comes to their studio albums. I, and the rest of the hip hop world, will now be waiting anxiously to see how good King Push is.
    ~ 8.6/10
    Best track: "M.P.A."
    Other notable tracks: "Untouchable" & "Crutches, Crosses, Caskets"    … Expand
  6. brockcheese
    Jun 4, 2018
    9
    This album is the epitome of Pusha's style. His witty lyricism is on full display here as he shows the good and bad of fame and how itThis album is the epitome of Pusha's style. His witty lyricism is on full display here as he shows the good and bad of fame and how it compares to his crack rap roots.… Expand
  7. lisiak
    Dec 19, 2015
    7
    I really regret that this album is so short. Thirty minutes of great music. 'Sunshine', 'Keep Dealing' and track with West are mu favourite.I really regret that this album is so short. Thirty minutes of great music. 'Sunshine', 'Keep Dealing' and track with West are mu favourite. I'm waiting for nex year's King Push :)… Expand
  8. bhooks
    Dec 29, 2015
    0
    This album is average, random raps, hes following a clichê formula, on oversatured trap beats, hes eating on te Kanye West appeal. Other thanThis album is average, random raps, hes following a clichê formula, on oversatured trap beats, hes eating on te Kanye West appeal. Other than that this album is boring, an ugly face of hip hop.… Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2015
57
#57 Most Discussed Album of 2015
34
#34 Most Shared Album of 2015

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