Survival (Dave East album)

Survival is the debut studio album by American rapper Dave East. It was released on November 8, 2019, through Def Jam Recordings, Mass Appeal Records, and From the Dirt. The album features guest appearances from Teyana Taylor, Rick Ross, Nas, The-Dream, Fabolous, Gunna, Jacquees, Lil Baby, and Ty Dolla Sign, among others.[2] It was supported by one single: "Alone" featuring Jacquees.

Survival
Studio album by Dave East
Released	November 8, 2019
Length	78:07
Label	Mass Appeal Def Jam From the Dirt
Producer	Nas (exec.)[1] Alist Fame AraabMuzik Ash Beat Butcha BoogzDaBeast Buda & Grandz Coop the Truth CT DJ Green Lantern Dylan Graham iLL Wayno Justin Zim King BNJMN Major Seven Mike & Keys Mike Kuz Motif Alumni Murda Beatz Nascent S. Dot Shucati Sool Got Hits Street Symphony Swizz Beatz The Mekanix Timbaland V Don Wisponer
Dave East chronology
Beloved (2018) Survival (2019) Karma 3 (2020)
Singles from Survival
"Alone" Released: October 4, 2019

Background

In anticipation of the album, Dave East released a 5-part eponymous titled documentary showing the recording process of the album.

On November 27, 2018, Dave East announced his debut album's title and projected release date, however, it was ultimately delayed.[3]

Commercial performance

Survival debuted at number 11 on the US Billboard 200 chart, earning a total of 24,000 album-equivalent units in its first week of release.[4] The album also debuted at number eight on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming his third top-ten album on this chart.[5]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"They Wanna Kill You" (featuring DJ Premier)	David Brewster, Jr. Kasseem Dean Christopher Martin Kejuan Muchita Albert Johnson Steven Duboff Arthur Kornfeld	Swizz Beatz	2:34
2.	"Penthouse" (featuring J. Black)	Brewster, Jr. John Groover, Jr. Michael Cox, Jr. Jeret Griffin-Black	Mike & Keys	3:39
3.	"Godfather 4" (featuring Nas)	Brewster, Jr. Nasir Jones James D'Agostino Tom Brock	DJ Green Lantern	4:11
4.	"Need a Sign" (featuring Teyana Taylor)	Brewster, Jr. Teyana Taylor Sidney Selby Shaun Thomas Corey Thompson Jahmal Gwin Dorothy Fields Jimmy McHugh	AraabMuzik CT^[a] S. Dot^[b] BoogzDaBeast^[b]	6:23
5.	"On My Way 2 School"	Brewster, Jr. Francis Ubiera Daniel Garcia Loran Noel Cooper McGill Efrain Rodriguez Jariuce Banks	Buda & Grandz Coop the Truth Wisponer Alist Fame^[a] Justin Zim^[b]	3:33
6.	"Seventeen"	Brewster, Jr. Timothy Mosley Michael Kuzoian Tim Friedrich Justin Mosley Jordan Mosley	Timbaland Shucati Mike Kuz^[b]	3:06
7.	"Mama I Made It"	Brewster, Jr. Abraham Orellana Gwin Jeffrey Allen Ricky Kinchen Keirston Lewis Homer O'Dell Lawrence Waddell Stokley Williams	AraabMuzik BoogzDaBeast^[a]	4:37
8.	"OG" (featuring Rick Ross and The-Dream)	Brewster, Jr. Alex Petit Dwayne Shippy Terius Nash William Roberts	Cashmoney AP iLL Wayno BoogzDaBeast^[a]	3:41
9.	"What's Going On" (featuring Fabolous)	Brewster, Jr. Kuzoian Ubiera Garcia John Jackson Rahni Harris, Jr.	Mike Kuz Buda & Grandz	3:07
10.	"Baby"	Brewster, Jr. Kuzoian Gwin Anna Gaye Marvin Gaye Elgie Stover Lewis Bethea Ashley Middleton	BoogzDaBeast Mike Kuz Ash^[b]	3:17
11.	"Alone" (featuring Jacquees)	Brewster Jr. Rodriguez Broadnax Omar Walker Benjamin Singh-Reynolds Dylan Graham Donald DeGrate, Jr. Roger Troutman Terry Troutman Gwin	Major Seven King BNJMN Graham BoogzDaBeast^[a]	4:20
12.	"Everyday" (featuring Gunna)	Brewster, Jr. Sergio Kitchens Torrance Esmond Steven Carless Askia Fountain	Street Symphony D.O. Speaks^[b] Mike Kuz^[b] S. Dot^[b] Buda & Grandz^[b]	3:21
13.	"Devil Eyes" (featuring Mozzy and E-40)	Brewster, Jr. Earl Stevens Timothy Patterson Kuzoian Dontrell Mayfield Kenny Tullis, Jr.	The Mekanix Mike Kuz	5:21
14.	"Night Shift" (featuring Lil Baby)	Brewster, Jr. Shane Lindstrom Rasool Diaz Dominique Jones Steven Carless Fountain	Murda Beatz Sool Got Hits	3:42
15.	"Wanna Be a G" (featuring Max B)	Brewster, Jr. Charley Wingate Eliot Dubock	Beat Butcha	4:17
16.	"Me & Mines" (featuring DJ Clue)	Brewster, Jr. Tivon Key	V Don	4:05
17.	"Daddy Knows" (featuring Ash Leone)	Brewster, Jr. Christopher Ruelas Jessie Reyez Thomas Gwin	Nascent S. Dot^[b] BoogzDaBeast^[b]	3:21
18.	"What You Mad At"	Brewster, Jr. Ubiera Garcia Darius Woodley Kuzoian Thomas Middleton Max Schrager Deric Angelettie	S. Dot Buda & Grandz^[a] Woodley^[b] Mike Kuz^[b] Ash^[b]	4:55
19.	"On Sight" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign (bonus)	Brewster, Jr. Abraham Orellana Tyrone Griffin, Jr.	AraabMuzik	2:42
20.	"The Marathon Continues" (Nipsey tribute)	Brewster, Jr. Orellana Marcus Rucker	AraabMuzik Motif Alumni^[a]	3:45
Total length:				78:07

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer
• "Everyday", and "Wanna Be a G" were originally from Dave East's Survival Pacc EP.
• "They Wanna Kill You" features additional vocals by Mike Kuz, Cousin Chet, Hood, and Melvin Brown
• "Penthouse" features additional vocals by Nipsey Hussle
• "Godfather 4" features background vocals by The Soul Rebels
• "Need a Sign" features additional vocals by Dave East's father David Brewster, Sr., and Cousin Chet, and background vocals by Desiigner
• "On My Way 2 School" features additional vocals by Jariuce Banks, Faye, and AJ and background vocals by Desiigner
• "Mama I Made It" features additional vocals by Faye
• "What's Goin On" features background vocals by Kali Pop, and additional vocals by Cousin Chet
• "Baby" features additional vocals by Marjorie Aristilde
• "What You Mad At" features additional vocals by Madd Rapper
• "Devil Eyes" features additional vocals by King Drew and Melvin Brown
• "Wanna Be A G" features background vocals by Bibi Bourelly
• "Daddy Knows" features additional vocals by Dave East's daughter Kairi Brewster
• "The Marathon Continues (Nipsey Tribute)" features additional vocals by Snoop Dogg

Sample credits

• "They Wanna Kill You" contains a sample of "Survival of the Fittest", written by Kejuan Muchita and Albert Johnson, and performed by Mobb Deep, and a sample of "The Rain, the Park, and Other Things" written by Steven Duboff and Arthur Kornfeld, and performed by The Cowsills.
• "Godfather 4" contains elements of "I Just Couldn't Take a Goodbye", written by Tom Brock, and performed by Gloria Scott.
• "Mama I Made It" contains a sample of "U Send Me Swingin'" written by Jeffrey Allen, Ricky Kinchen, Keirston Lewis, Homer O'Dell, Lawrence Waddell, and Stokely Williams, and performed by Mint Condition.
• "Baby" contains elements of "Just To Keep You Satisfied" written by Marvin Gaye, Anna Gaye, and Elgie Stover, and performed by Marvin Gaye.
• "Alone" contains an interpolation of "Feenin'", written by Donald DeGrate, Jr., and performed by Jodeci.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[6]

Performers

• Dave East - primary artist
• Nas - featured artist
• Nipsey Hussle - posthumously featured artist
• Teyana Taylor - featured artist
• Jacquees - featured artist

Musicians

• Maki Athanasiou – electric guitar (tracks 3, 4, 5)
• Keyon Harrold – trumpet (track 3)
• Shaun Thomas – keyboards (tracks 4, 5, 12), guitar (tracks 4, 5), bass guitar, organ, strings (track 4)
• Abraham Orellana – arranger, orchestrator (track 4)
• Timbaland – drums (track 6)
• Luca Starz – keyboards (track 6)
• Tim Friedrich – flute (track 6)
• Jordan Mosley – flute (track 6)
• Justin Mosley – flute (track 6)
• Dwayne Shippy – keyboard (track 8)

Technical

• Michael Kuzoian – recording (all tracks), mixing (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6–14, 16–20)
• Garnett Flynn – recording (track 2)
• Dwayne "iLL Wayno" Shippy – recording (track 3)
• Mike Snell – recording (track 4)
• Todd Hurtt – recording (track 15)
• Najee "Sonny" Lane – recording (track 17)
• Mark "Exit" Goodchild – mixing (track 3)
• Chris Gehringer – mastering (tracks 3, 11, 16)

Charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[7]	50
US Billboard 200[8]	11
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9]	8
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[10]	7

References

1. Espinoza, Joshua (October 5, 2019). "Dave East Shares Release Date for Debut Album 'Survival'". Complex. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
2. "Dave East Reveals 'Survival' Tracklisting". Rap-Up. October 4, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
3. Eustice, Kyle (November 28, 2018). "Dave East Reveals Title Of Forthcoming Album". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
4. Erika Marie (November 20, 2019). "Dave East & Teyana Taylor Perform "Need A Sign," He Blasts False Sales Reports". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
5. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - November 23, 2019". November 23, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
6. "Survival / Dave East". Tidal. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
7. "Dave East Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
8. "Dave East Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
9. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - November 23, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
10. "Top Rap Albums - November 23, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2020.