Don Toliver has worked to get where he is. The Houston artist broke through in a big way on Travis Scott‘s 2018 album Astroworld, and since then, he’s continued to refine his sound. Toliver has gotten better and better, and his commercial success has followed suit. He scored his first top ten hit in 2020, and his last two albums have debuted within the top 10 of the Billboard 200. His new album, Hardstone Psycho, is garnering stellar reviews from critics. Furthermore, it’s already proven to be the artist’s most successful release yet.
Hardstone Psycho debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. Technically, this is a spot lower than his second album, Life of a Don. The album sales are second to none, however. Hardstone Psycho sold 77K copies in its first week. This makes it the best-selling debut of any Don Toliver album to date. For a point of comparison, Life of a Don sold 68K first week. Love Sick, his third album, sold only 40K during its first week. Don Toliver is inching closer and closer to superstardom. It may seem like a long process, but the artist is in it for the long haul.
Don Toliver’s Hardstone Psycho Is His Boldest Album Yet
Don Toliver talked about his musical journey during a 2023 GQ profile. He credited his eclectic taste to his parents, and admitted that he was initially pigeonholed by comparisons to other artists. “People say I sound like Akon, or like T-Pain,” he recalled. “But I feel like I sound like myself.” The artist went on explain how a gradual increase in popularity has actually given him time to make mistakes and hone his musical craft. Now, he’s more confident than ever. “I know how to do everything,” Toliver boasted. “I can literally hear any beat and know how I should sound, or somebody else should sound.”
Hardstone Psycho is a testament to this confidence. The album sees Don Toliver try out sounds as varied as sample-heavy hip-hop, dance-centric party songs, and rock-laced anthems. The artist wants to break down genre frameworks because the icons he idolizes did the same thing. “I want people to listen to my music and think it’s timeless,” he told GQ in 2022. “To think about Marvin Gaye, Sade, Jay-Z, and just listen again. All I strive for is to be in the conversation with some of the greatest of all time.” He’s clearly on his way.
About The Author
Danilo is a writer based out of San Diego. He graduated from the Art Institute of Tucson with a B.A. in digital media, and has since forged a career as a pop culture journalist. He covered hip-hop for Heavy.com, Rhyme Junkies and PopMatters prior to joining HotNewHipHop.com. Danilo’s top five is constantly changing, but Biggie and Slug from Atmosphere remain permanent fixtures. His favorite rap album of all time is “Late Registration” by Kanye West, and that stays the same.
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