Street Sermons is the debut commercial mixtape by American rapper and singer Morray. It was released on April 28, 2021, by Pick Six Records and Interscope Records.[1] The tape peaked at number 41 on the Billboard 200.

Street Sermons
Mixtape by
ReleasedApril 28, 2021
Recorded2020–2021
Genre
Length36:28
Label
Producer
  • Andyr
  • Ant Chamberlain
  • Boston
  • Callari
  • Danny Couture
  • DatBoiGetro
  • DJ Chose
  • Dystinkt Beats
  • Dzimi
  • ForeignGotEm
  • Hagan
  • Jimmie Gutch
  • KC Supreme
  • LayZBeats
  • Mike Woods
  • P Crisco
  • Pat McManus
  • Poly Boy
  • SephGotTheWaves
  • Taz Taylor
  • The Beat Menace
Singles from Street Sermons
  1. "Quicksand"
    Released: October 30, 2020
  2. "Switched Up"
    Released: November 20, 2020
  3. "Big Decisions"
    Released: January 7, 2021
  4. "Kingdom"
    Released: February 5, 2021
  5. "Trenches"
    Released: April 21, 2021

Background

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On April 16, 2021, Morray announced that he signed to Interscope, in a joint venture with Pick Six Records.[2][3] His manager, Moe Shalizi spoke about the partnership, saying "there was so much synergy between our side and Interscope that it just felt right, we are really excited to be working with John Janick and the rest of the team."[4] In an interview, Morray described the album, saying "I really want it to show more of my story and for people to get to know me more. I want it to be like, 'I listened to this and I understand why he does this.' This is supposed to be my reference to who I really am."[5]

Singles

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On October 30, 2020, he released his first single "Quicksand", which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and received co-signs from fellow North Carolina rappers J. Cole and DaBaby.[6] The single amassed millions of streams and he was named on Billboard's Emerging Artists Spotlight.[7] On November 20, 2020, he released the second single "Switched Up". In 2021, the third and fourth singles, "Big Decisions" and "Kingdom", were released.[8][9]

On April 21, 2021, Morray released the fifth single "Trenches", a week ahead of the mixtape.[10] The music video for "Can't Use Me" was released on April 28.[11] On May 18, Morray made his television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live.[12] On May 24, he released the music video for "Nothing Now".[13]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork6.9/10[14]

In a positive review, Dylan Green of Pitchfork wrote "What makes Street Sermons largely so engaging is Morray's voice. It's a gritty tone that doesn't sound strained as he leaps from mid to high range with frightening ease. It even energizes the handful of otherwise rote songs peppered throughout the project. Street Sermons only stumbles when Morray drifts from the personal touch of his best songs into message-mongering."[14]

Track listing

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Street Sermons track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Mistakes"
  • Dystinkt Beats
  • SephGotTheWaves
3:01
2."Trenches"
3:13
3."Quicksand"
  • Ruffin
  • Hagan Lange
  • Anthony Phillips
  • Hagan
  • Ant Chamberlain
3:44
4."That's On God"
  • Ruffin
  • Gregory Hein
  • James Gutch
Jimmie Gutch2:18
5."Nothing Now"
  • Ruffin
  • Michael Woods
  • Patrick McManus
  • Michael McCall
Poly Boy3:08
6."Reflections"
  • Ruffin
  • Thomas Horton
  • David McDowell
  • Carter Bryson
  • Angelo Callari
  • Mike Woods
  • Pat McManus
  • Boston
  • Callari
2:17
7."Big Decisions"
  • Ruffin
  • Daniel Couture
Danny Couture3:00
8."Can't Use Me"
  • Ruffin
  • Vid Vucenovic
  • Nikola Pejović
  • ForeignGotEm
  • Dzimi
2:50
9."Kingdom"
  • Ruffin
  • Vucenovic
  • Pejović
  • ForeignGotEm
  • Dzimi
2:26
10."Switched Up"
  • Ruffin
  • Andrej Marko
  • Peter Gogola
  • Andyr
  • DatBoiGetro
2:49
11."Facade"
  • Ruffin
  • Chrïstopher Fränk
  • Norman Payne
  • P Crisco
  • DJ Chose
2:23
12."Real Ones"
  • Ruffin
  • Payne
DJ Chose2:18
13."Bigger Things"
  • Ruffin
  • Marko
  • Peter Gogola
  • Benjamin Hubble
  • Andyr
  • DatBoiGetro
  • LayZBeats
2:56
Total length:36:28

Charts

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Chart performance for Street Sermons
Chart (2021) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[15] 41
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 20

References

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  1. ^ a b Rose, Jordan. "Stream Morray's Debut Project 'Street Sermons'". Complex.
  2. ^ "Morray Signs to Interscope in Partnership With Pick Six Records". Billboard.
  3. ^ Walker, Joe. "Morray Drops Debut 'Street Sermons' Project After Signing to Interscope Records". HipHopDX.
  4. ^ Powell, Jon. "Morray unveils new mixtape 'Street Sermons'". Revolt.
  5. ^ McKinney, Jessica. "Morray Is the Realest". Complex.
  6. ^ "Morray's 'Quicksand' Cracks Billboard 100, Cementing the 'Out the Mud' Narrative". HipHopDX.
  7. ^ Mamo, Heran. "North Carolina Rapper Morray Shines Light on Life in the Hood With 'Quicksand': Emerging Artists Spotlight". Billboard.
  8. ^ Cho, Regina. "The Ones: Morray's "Big Decisions"". Pitchfork.
  9. ^ Mahadevan, Tara C. "Watch Morray's New Video "Kingdom"". Complex.
  10. ^ "Morray Pays Homage to His Hometown in 'Trenches' Video". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Morray Shines On New Single "Can't Use Me"". Hotnewhiphop.
  12. ^ Cho, Regina. "Morray shares new live performance of "Quicksand" and "Can't Use Me"". Revolt.
  13. ^ "Morray Moves on From a Break-Up in "Nothing Now" Video". Complex.
  14. ^ a b Green, Dylan (May 12, 2021). "Morray: Street Sermons Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  15. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart: Week of May 15, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart: Week of May 15, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.