Wow... That's Crazy was supported by five singles: "On Chill", "BGM", "Love & Loyalty", "Love... (Her Fault)" and "Sue Me".[6] The album received generally positive reviews from music critics and was a moderate commercial success. It debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 with 38,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.[7] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in November 2021.[8]
Background
In 2018, Wale announced that he parted ways with Atlantic Records, and released three EPs with Warner Records throughout the year: It's Complicated, Self Promotion, and Free Lunch.[9]
Cover art
The album's cover art is a reference to the art interventionLove is in the Bin by Banksy, when his painting of his mural Girl with Balloon was shredded by means of a self-destruction mechanism immediately after the painting's sale at auction. This is emulated in the cover art for Wow... That's Crazy, which shows the shredding of a portrait of Wale striking the same pose as on the cover art for his 2011 album Ambition.[10] The cover art for Wow... That's Crazy also features a red balloon, a notable element of Banksy's mural Girl with Balloon.[11][12]
Singles
Wale released "Black Bonnie" and "Poledancer" in 2018 as promotional singles.[13]
The first single from the album, "On Chill" featuring Jeremih, was released on July 12, 2019.[14] On August 26, the second single "BGM" was released.[15] He released the third single on October 1, titled "Loyalty & Love" featuring Mannywellz.[16]
"Love... (Her Fault)", featuring Bryson Tiller was released as a single in January 2020.
The album opener "Sue Me", featuring Kelly Price was released as a single in April 2020. "Sue Me" was performed as a medley with "Love... (Her Fault)", alongside Price on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah on February 11, 2020, in which Wale paid tribute to Kobe Bryant and Bryant's daughter Gianna.[17] A video, in the form of a short-film, was released for "Sue Me" on April 22, 2020.[18]Rap-Up described the video as "provocative and powerful", showcasing "an alternate reality where the black and white experience are reversed".[18]
Commercial performance
Wow... That's Crazy debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning 38,000 album-equivalent units (including 5,000 copies in pure album sales) in its first week.[7] This became Wale's fourth US top-ten debut on the chart.[7] On November 30, 2021, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.[8]
