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Sanctified (song)

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This article is about the Rick Ross song. For other songs with the same title, seeSanctified.

"Sanctified"
SongbyRick RossfeaturingKanye WestandBig Sean
from the albumMastermind
Recorded2014
GenreHip hop
Length4:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Sanctified"is a song by Americanhip hoprecording artistRick Ross,taken from his sixth studio albumMastermind(2014). The song,producedbyKanye West,Mike Dean,andDJ Mustard,featuring guest appearances by rappers Kanye West andBig Sean.It was written by the aforementioned rappers and producers andBetty Wrightsang the hook. "Sanctified" garnered critical acclaim frommusic critics,with most praising the production and Kanye West's appearance. Despite not being released as a single, it is the highest-charting song onMastermindto date, debuting at number 25 on theUK R&B Chart,number 78 on the USBillboardHot 100and number 99 on theCanadian Hot 100upon the album's release.

Background and development

[edit]
Kanye Westwas the song's primaryproducerand he also makes a guest appearance.

In February 2014, a short preview of the song was released featuring the chorus, performed byKanye WestandBig Sean.[1]Following the track list reveal for the album, on February 7, 2014, producerDJ Mustardrevealed that he co-produced"Sanctified" withKanye West.[2]The song was also produced byMike Dean,along with being written byWilliam Roberts,Sean Anderson,Kanye West, andDijon McFarlane.Betty Wright lent her vocal talent to the song during a late night studio session she did as a favor to DJ Khaled in order for him to meet a deadline. She recorded the hook in fifteen minutes while sitting on a sofa[3]In the song, West raps about how he feels about people playing up his earlier works and dismiss who he is now, before saying that he's not going to worry about it. Then later he says, "Wipe my forehead with a handkerchief and wash my sins in the blood of Jesus, People sayin', 'Ye, we need anotherYeezus."This being a reference to his experimental sixth studio album.[4]

Rick Ross stated that the song was one of his favorites featured onMastermind.He said, "'Sanctified' was most definitely one of the favorites. It's because how much time—Just watching Kanye put into this because it actually started as a sample. We did the sample maybe 10 different ways and then we ultimately went with a beautiful lady out of Miami, Ms.Betty Wright.She blessed us. So, just hearing that chorus. Just hearing the way it came out. All the time we put in it. It most definitely was dope. "[5]Then after Ross' sixth studio albumMastermindwas released for free streaming oniTunes,the full version of "Sanctified" was released.[4]

On March 6, 2014, Big Sean released his verse for the song that was cut from the album version of the song.[6]Detailing the song's recording process toMTV,Big Sean said, "Me and [Kanye West] was in the studio working on a whole bunch of ideas and [Ross] came in the conversation. And everybody know Rick Ross albums is events. So Ye pulled a track up, and I was telling him I think it's a banger, it's a smash, and he thought we should give it to Rozay. Me and him wrote our verses on the spot and we sent it to [Ross] and he did what he did to it."[6]

Critical reception

[edit]

"Sanctified" was met with critical acclaim frommusic critics,with most of them favoring West's guest appearance over Ross himself. Mikael Wood ofThe Los Angeles Timescalled it the album's best song.[7]Kevin Ritchie ofNownamed it the album's best song, praised Betty Wright's performance singing the hook and Kanye West's production.[8]Nick Catucci ofEntertainment Weeklyand Michael Madden ofConsequence of Soundboth considered the song one of the album's best.[9][10]Kellin Miller ofAllHipHopstated that it "has a strong case for an early song of the year nomination."[11]Dan Rys ofXXLpraised the song's production and called West's appearance as show stealing.[12]Jesse Cataldo ofSlant Magazinesaid, "The album revives when Kanye West shows up to produce and guest on" Sanctified, "a revival song that pairs religious rebirth with monetary excess in a sort of frenzied ritual."[13]

Peter Cashmore ofNMEstated that it "is a glorious snail’s-pace gush of braggadocio. In fact, if the album had wrapped up after" Sanctified ", rather than dribbling to a close with the weedy" Walkin’ On Air "and" Thug Cry ", thenMastermindwould be pretty much wall-to-wall bangers. "[14]Craig Jenkins ofPitchforkgave this song the tag of "Best New Track" and stated, "'Sanctified' is an outstanding entry into Ross and Kanye’s catalogue of stunners, but it never feels like Ross' song."[15]Christopher Weingarten ofRolling Stonesaid, the song "shines with guest singer Betty Wright's powerful gospel rasp and Kanye West confessing his sins on a featured verse. Ross, meanwhile, ends up talking designer clothes and fellatio."[16]Ken Capobianco of theBoston Globesaid that "Kanye West turns his host into an afterthought on the fine, gospel-influenced" Sanctified ".[17]

Sheldon Pearce ofHipHopDXstated, "While Kanye is transposing himself withMuhammad Aliand washing his sins in the blood of Jesus and boldly second guessing God’s direct message the most grandiose thing Ross can muster is an ill-fated (and perhaps uninformed) comparison to fallen Waco cult leaderDavid Koresh.It feels tired and uninspired. "[18]Nathan Slavik of DJBooth praised the song's depth and said it featured "a rewind-worthy verse from Kanye and a completely superfluous Big Sean."[19]Jesal Padania ofRapReviewscalled the song riotously enjoyable, but said that Ross' contribution did not add anything to the song.[20]

Complexnamed it the second best song of the first half of 2014. Writer Justin Charity commented saying, "While hardly their strongest verses of even the past couple years, Ross, Kanye, and Sean all come correct with the quotables here, from Sean's opening mantra to Kanye's aggressive confessional to post-sex grilled cheese. The song's weary gospel build-up makes way for the minimal, rarefied ecstasy of that spaceship hangover melody. An arena confession I need to be shouting at the livest of live shows by year's end:" All I wanted was a hundred million dollars and a bad bitch! "Verdict: We need anotherYeezus."[21]MySpacealso named the song one of the 50 best songs of the same time period. A writer for them said, "'Sanctified' is a behemoth of a track, replete with an original vocal line from Bettye LaVette that plays like a gospel sample and an impeccable verse from 'Ye that makes up for Ross rapping," Fellatio's amazin', make grilled cheese for you, the best. "It's simply the best gospel song masquerading as a rap jam this year."[22]

Live performance

[edit]

On March 6, 2014, Rick Ross, Big Sean and Kanye West performed "Sanctified" onThe Arsenio Hall Showbacked by a live band.[23][7]This was the first live performance of the song with all three rappers.[24]West's surprise appearance received a very large response from the audience.[25][26]

Credits and personnel

[edit]
Rick Rossperformed lead vocals and did songwriting on "Sanctified".

Credits adapted from the liner notes ofMastermind.[27]

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart (2014) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[28] 99
Mexico Ingles Airplay(Billboard)[29] 32
UK Hip Hop/R&B(OCC)[30] 25
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[31] 133
USBillboardHot 100[32] 78
USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs(Billboard)[33] 23
USHot Rap Songs(Billboard)[34] 11

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Rick Ross featuring Kanye West & Big Sean – Sanctified (Snippet)".Hypetrak.February 12, 2014.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  2. ^Tardio, Andres (February 8, 2014)."Kanye West & DJ Mustard Co-Produce" Sanctified "On Rick Ross'" Mastermind "".HipHopDX.Cheri Media Group. Archived fromthe originalon April 9, 2014.RetrievedMarch 2,2014.
  3. ^Neyfakh, Leon (April 16, 2014)."The Woman Who Put the Soul in" Sanctified "".The New Yorker.ISSN0028-792X.RetrievedApril 23,2016.
  4. ^abGrow, Kory (February 26, 2014)."Stream Rick Ross's 'Mastermind' and Kanye West's Guest Spot on 'Sanctified' | Music News".Rolling Stone.Wenner Media.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  5. ^Harling, Danielle (March 5, 2014)."Rick Ross Says The Notorious B.I.G. Sample On" Nobody "Was Approved By D-Roc".HipHopDX.Cheri Media Group. Archived fromthe originalon October 4, 2014.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  6. ^abAlexis, Nadeska (March 6, 2014)."Big Sean Dubs Himself The 'Black Brad Pitt' On 'Sanctified' Remix: Listen Now".MTV.Viacom.Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2014.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  7. ^abWood, Mikael (March 7, 2014)."Watch Rick Ross and Kanye West perform 'Sanctified' on 'Arsenio'".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  8. ^Ritchie, Kevin (March 6, 2014)."Rick Ross".Now.Now Communications.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  9. ^Catucci, Nick (February 28, 2014)."Mastermind Review".Entertainment Weekly.Time Inc.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  10. ^Madden, Michael (March 7, 2014)."Album Review: Rick Ross – Mastermind".Consequence of Sound.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  11. ^Miller, Kellin (February 28, 2014)."AHH Album Review: Rick Ross' Mastermind".AllHipHop.AHH Holdings LLC.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  12. ^Rys, Dan (March 4, 2014)."Rick Ross Delivers A Winning Formula On 'Mastermind'".XXL.Townsquare Media.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  13. ^Cataldo, Jesse (March 3, 2014)."Rick Ross: Mastermind | Music Review".Slant Magazine.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  14. ^Cashmore, Peter (March 3, 2014)."Rick Ross - 'Mastermind'".NME.IPC Media.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  15. ^Jenkins, Craig (March 6, 2014)."Rick Ross: Mastermind".Pitchfork.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  16. ^Weingarten, Christopher R. (March 5, 2014)."Rick Ross 'Mastermind' Album Review".Rolling Stone.Wenner Media.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  17. ^Capobianco, Ken (March 4, 2014)."ALBUM REVIEW: Rick Ross, 'Mastermind'".Boston Globe.John W. Henry.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  18. ^Pearce, Sheldon (March 4, 2014)."Rick Ross - Mastermind".HipHopDX.Cheri Media Group. Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2014.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  19. ^Slavik, Nathan (March 3, 2014)."Rick Ross - Mastermind".DJBooth.The DJBooth LLC. Archived fromthe originalon November 4, 2016.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  20. ^Padania, Jesal (March 4, 2014)."Feature for March 4, 2014 - Rick Ross'" Mastermind "".RapReviews.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
  21. ^Charity, Justin (June 30, 2014)."2. Rick Ross f/ Kanye West & Big Sean" Sanctified "— The Best Songs of 2014 (So Far)".Complex.Complex Media.RetrievedJuly 17,2014.
  22. ^"50 Best Songs of 2014 So Far".Myspace.June 17, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon June 18, 2014.RetrievedJune 18,2014.
  23. ^Kaufman, Gil (March 7, 2014)."Kanye West Sanctifies Rick Ross' 'Arsenio Hall' Performance".MTV.Viacom. Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2014.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  24. ^Young, Alex (March 6, 2014)."Video: Kanye West, Rick Ross perform" Sanctified "on Arsenio Hall Show".Consequence of Sound.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  25. ^Kristobak, Ryan (March 7, 2014)."Kanye West, Rick Ross & Big Sean Perform 'Sanctified' On 'The Arsenio Hall Show'".The Huffington Post.AOL.Archived fromthe originalon October 7, 2016.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  26. ^Brandle, Lars (March 7, 2014)."Kanye West & Big Sean Team With Rick Ross For 'Arsenio Hall Show' Surprise: Watch".Billboard.Prometheus Global Media.RetrievedMarch 12,2014.
  27. ^Mastermind(Media notes).Rick Ross.Def Jam Recordings.2014.{{cite AV media notes}}:CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  28. ^"Rick Ross Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)".Billboard.
  29. ^"Kanye West Chart History (Mexico Ingles Airplay)".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2024.RetrievedOctober 22,2024.
  30. ^"Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40".Official Charts Company.
  31. ^Zywietz, Tobias."Chart Log UK".Zobbel.de.Tobias Zywietz.RetrievedMarch 15,2014.
  32. ^"Rick Ross Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.
  33. ^"Rick Ross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".Billboard.
  34. ^"Rick Ross Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)".Billboard.
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