Crabs in a Bucket
Studio album by
Nines
Released28 August 2020
Recorded2019–2020
Genre
Length52:56
Label
Producer
  • Maestro
  • 1st Born
  • Da Beatfreakz
  • DopeBoyzMusic
  • EY
  • Harrijay
  • Jabari on the Beat
  • Josh King
  • Karlos
  • Kz
  • Lord Kimo
  • M.O. on the Beats
  • N2theA
  • Quincy Tellem
  • Rudimental
  • Ruby Retro
  • Sean Murdz
  • Show N Prove
  • Steel Banglez
  • Sxber Sounds
  • the Young Nav Michael
  • the Elements
Nines chronology
Crop Circle
(2018)		 Crabs in a Bucket
(2020)		 Crop Circle 2
(2023)
Singles from Crabs in a Bucket
  1. "Clout"
    Released: 10 August 2020
  2. "Airplane Mode"
    Released: 20 August 2020

Crabs in a Bucket is the third studio album by English rapper Nines, released on 28 August 2020 by Zino Records and Warner Records.[1] It is the follow-up to Nines' second album Crop Circle (2018). The album features guest appearances from Headie One, Roy Woods, Nafe Smallz, NorthSideBenji, NSG, Tiggs da Author, among others.[2][3] It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. Nines won the MOBO Awards for Album of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Act for the album.[4]

The album was supported by lead single "Clout", peaking at number 49 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Airplane Mode" featuring NSG.

Recording

The album was recorded in various locations, with Nines saying: "I was in different countries—Spain, Paris, Dubai—when I was making this album. That's why it took a bit of time. I would go sometimes three months without recording. But you know what they say: When you're uninspired, the best thing is to do other things."[5]

Promotion

The lead single, "Clout", was released on 10 August 2020 for digital download.[5] A music video was released on the same day directed by Charli Di Placido, recreating iconic album covers for various hip hop albums, such as Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg, Stillmatic by Nas and Get Rich or Die Tryin' by 50 Cent.[6] The second single, "Airplane Mode" featuring NSG, was released on 20 August 2020 alongside a music video.

The release of official merchandise for Crabs in a Bucket was also released alongside the CD copy on 28 August 2020 via Warner Music[7] & Nines' official site.[8]

A short film written and directed by Nines titled after the album was released on 27 August 2020.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[10]
Evening Standard[11]
Pitchfork7.0/10[12]

Crabs in a Bucket received positive reviews from critics. For Clash, Tochi Imo complimented Nines' consistency in his musical approach: "Whilst greater experimentation would've been met with appreciation, one of Nines' most notable characteristics is his ability to stay true to his experiences despite growing commercial success, so I can’t be disappointed with a tape that exudes such authenticity. Although the whole album has clear themes, each track tells a story of its own and here, Nines anchors himself as one of the UK's best storytellers."[10]

Commercial performance

In the chart week ending 4 September 2020, Crabs in a Bucket debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart. It was the most streamed and most downloaded album of the chart week, overtaking the midweek chart topper S&M2 by Metallica in the final day of sales by 2,000 units. The album was involved in a tight chart race that ended with 5,000 sale units between the top five. The peak consolidated Nines as one of the few UK rappers to achieve a number one album, alongside Tinie Tempah, Stormzy, Dave, Plan B, The Streets and J Hus.[13]

Track listing

Crabs in a Bucket track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
  • Jabari on the Beat
  • Stan Sono
  • V3ry Rich
  • Flow Clark
2:26
2."Energy" (featuring Skrapz)
  • Freckleton
  • Christopher Kyei
  • Jahmori Simmons
  • Obi Ebele
  • Uche Ebele
Da Beatfreakz3:16
3."Clout"
  • Freckleton
  • Reuben Wilford
1st Born2:36
4."Realist" (featuring Nafe Smallz and Funds)
  • Freckleton
  • Carlos Corrodus
  • Nathan Adans
  • Quincy Ferreira
Quincy Tellem2:42
5."Monster"
  • Freckleton
  • Wilford
1st Born2:44
6."Airplane Mode" (featuring NSG)
  • Freckleton
  • Amir Amor
  • Kwame Kwei-Armah
  • Leon Rolle
  • Piers Aggett
  • Kesi Dryden
3:58
7."NIC" (featuring Tiggs da Author)
Show N Prove3:41
8."Don't Change" (featuring NorthSideBenji)
  • Freckleton
  • Jadin Watson
  • Paul Oseh
Karlos2:50
9."Lights" (featuring Louis Rei)
  • Freckleton
  • Oseh
  • Louis-Rae Beadle
Karlos2:23
10."Monet Ain't a Thing" (featuring Roy Woods)
3:19
11."Ringaling" (featuring Headie One and Odeal)
  • Freckleton
  • Sandhu
  • Irving Adjei
  • Hillary Udanoh
  • Keven Wolfsohn
  • Paul Goller
  • Steel Banglez
  • The Elements
2:51
12."Flavours"
  • Freckleton
  • Giorgia Mullard
  • Henrique Carvalhal
  • Nana Agyemang)
N2theA3:01
13."Flex" (featuring NorthSideBenji and Reid B2WN)
  • Freckleton
  • Jadin Watson
  • Navayii Michael
  • Ruben Vilone
  • Sam Reid
  • Ruby Retro
  • The Young Nav Michael
3:44
14."Stalker Interlude" (featuring Cherrie)
EY3:07
15."Movie Knights"
  • Freckleton
  • Lord Camacho
  • Marlon Nicholas
  • Lord Kimo
  • M.O. on the Beats
2:57
16."All Stars 2" (featuring Clavish, Frosty, Q2T and Chappo CSB)
  • Freckleton
  • Asharn Williams
  • Cillian Wright
  • Harri Williams
  • Johnathan Barton
  • Reiss Williams
  • Theo Beckford
  • Harrijay
  • Sxber Sounds
4:11
17."Outro"
  • Freckleton
  • Alessandro Pinto
  • Tomasso Pinto
DopeBoyzMusic3:10
Total length:52:56

Sample credits

Personnel

  • Nines – vocals
  • Frank 'Maestro' Yamoah - Engineering (Dubai/Spain)
  • Adam Lunn – Engineering, mixing
  • Jay Reynolds – Mixing (all tracks except "Intro"), additional production ("Airplane Mode")
  • Christopher Hewitt – Mixing Assistant (all tracks except "Intro"), Vocal Engineer ("Ringaling")
  • Kevin Tuffy - Mastering

Charts

Chart performance for Crabs in a Bucket
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Irish Albums (OCC)[14] 26
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 76
UK Albums (OCC)[16] 1

Certifications

Certifications for Crabs in a Bucket
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Gold 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Various 28 August 2020
CD

References

  1. ↑ "Crop Circle by Nines". iTunes. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Nines Confirms New Album 'Crabs In A Bucket'". Mixmag. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  3. ↑ "Nines announces new album 'Crabs in a Bucket'". Clash. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  4. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (9 December 2020). "Nines and Mahalia top winners at 2020 Mobo awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Clout by Nines on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Nines Recreates Iconic Hip-Hop Album Covers In The Video For "Clout"". Complex. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Crabs In A Bucket T-Shirt Nines". eurostore.warnermusic.com. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Nines - Official Webstore". store.ninesofficial.com. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  9. ↑ "Crabs in a Bucket - A Film By Nines". 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020 – via YouTube.
  10. 1 2 Tochi Imo (28 August 2020). "Nines - Crabs in a Bucket". Clash. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  11. ↑ Harry Fletcher (28 August 2020). "Nines - Crabs in a Bucket review: London rapper mixes darkness in with the light on record rooted in the city". Evening Standard. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Will Pritchard (28 August 2020). "Nines: Crabs in a Bucket Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Nines lands first Official Albums Chart Number 1 with Crabs In A Bucket: "I still can't believe I'm Number 1"". Official Charts. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  14. ↑ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  15. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "British album certifications – Nines – Crabs in a Bucket". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
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