Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian
Pitchfork6.9/10
Exclaim!7/10

Ransom 2 is the debut studio album by American record producer Mike Will Made It. It is the sequel to his 2014 mixtape Ransom and was released on March 24, 2017. The album features guest appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Rae Sremmurd, Big Sean, Lil Wayne, YG, Pharrell Williams, 2 Chainz, Young Thug, Chief Keef, and others.

Background

On January 4, 2016, Mike Will Made It revealed the cover art for the project while also releasing the first song from the mixtape, titled "By Chance", featuring artists Rae Sremmurd. On January 15, 2016, Mike Will announced on his Twitter account that he would be releasing a song the next day. The following day, "Al Sharpton", featuring American rapper Future was released. On January 23, 2016, Mike Will took to Twitter once again to announce to his fans that Ransom 2 would be dropping the following Friday on January 29. However come Friday, Mike Will then announced that he had delayed the project in order to obtain a guest feature from long time collaborator Gucci Mane, and also have him host the tape. At that point, Gucci Mane was still serving a three-month prison sentence and the police wouldn't allow him to host the mixtape. This meant working with Gucci Mane wouldn't be possible until he was released from prison on May 26, 2016.

On November 15, 2016, Nicki Minaj released her own remix of the Mike Will-produced song "Black Beatles" via her SoundCloud titled "Black Barbies", which was also released commercially. The song peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also awarded the 49th spot on Rolling Stone editor Rob Sheffield's 50 best songs of the year.

On February 22, 2017, Mike Will revealed on his Twitter account that he was working on finalizing the album before announcing the release date although he teased it would be released in March 2017. Doing so, he also partially revealed the track listing with the previously released songs being absent from it.

Singles

The first single from the project, "Nothing Is Promised", with Barbadian singer Rihanna, was released on June 3, 2016. The song peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 On March 3, 2017, Mike Will released the second official single from the project titled "Gucci on My". The song features guest appearances from 21 Savage, YG and Migos.

Track listing

Album credits adapted from album's liner notes.

Ransom 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."On the Come Up" (featuring Big Sean)Michael Williams IIMarquel MiddlebrooksBraylin BowmanSean AndersonOsvaldo GolijovMike Will Made ItMarzResource[a]3:55
2."W Y O (What You On)" (featuring Young Thug)Williams IIBowmanJeffery WilliamsMike Will Made ItResource4:22
3."Hasselhoff" (featuring Lil Yachty)Williams IIMiles McCollumMike Will Made It2:10
4."Gucci on My" (featuring 21 Savage, YG and Migos)Williams IIShayaa Abraham-JosephKeenon JacksonQuavious MarshallKirsnick BallKiari CephusBowmanMike Will Made ItResource4:34
5."Oh Hi Hater (Hiatus)" (featuring Fortune)Williams IIDarrie WilliamsMike Will Made It3:05
6."Perfect Pint" (featuring Kendrick Lamar, Gucci Mane and Rae Sremmurd)Williams IIMatthew DayKendrick DuckworthRadric DavisAaquil BrownKhalif BrownMike Will Made ItDJ Fu4:00
7."Razzle Dazzle" (featuring Future)Williams IIMiddlebrooksLarry Griffin, Jr.Nayvadius WilburnMike Will Made ItMarzS13:36
8."Bars of Soap" (featuring Swae Lee)Williams IIK. BrownMike Will Made It4:19
9."Burnin" (featuring Andrea)Williams IIAndrea LanierMicah SmithMike Will Made ItMicah Weston2:13
10."Y'all Ain't Ready" (featuring 2 Chainz)Williams IITauheed EppsMiddlebrooksMike Will Made ItMarz3:42
11."Aries (YuGo)" (featuring Pharrell and Station Wagon P)Williams IIPharrell WilliamsMike Will Made It4:31
12."Emotions Unlocked" (featuring Eearz)Williams IIChristopher LeeSamuel GloadeLamont PorterMike Will Made It30 RocEz Elpee3:59
13."Big God" (featuring Trouble and Problem)Williams IICharles SingletonMariel OrrJason MartinMike Will Made ItDucko McFli4:11
14."Faith" (featuring Lil Wayne and HoodyBaby)Williams IIGarren HerronDwayne CarterOmololu AkinloluMike Will Made ItGT4:44
15."Come Down" (featuring Chief Keef and Rae Sremmurd)Williams IIA. BrownK. BrownAsheton HoganKeith CozartMike Will Made ItPluss3:38
16."Outro"Williams IIMike Will Made It0:27
17."Nothing Is Promised" (with Rihanna)Williams IIHoganWilburnRobyn FentyMike Will Made ItPlussKuk Harrell[b]2:50
Total length:60:16

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[b] signifies a vocal producer
  • "Gucci on My" features additional vocals from Reese Laflare and Kamaiyah
  • "Outro" features additional vocals by Tyrina Lee

Sample credits

  • "On the Come Up" contains an interpolation from "Night of The Flying Horses", written and performed by Osvaldo Golijov
  • "Burnin" contains a sample from "Marijuana", written by Richell Bonner and Devon Wheatley and performed by Richie Spice

Personnel

Performers Big Sean – featured artist (track 1) Young Thug – featured artist (track 2) Lil Yachty – featured artist (track 3) 21 Savage – featured artist (track 4) YG – featured artist (track 4) Migos – featured artist (track 4) Fortune – featured artist (track 5) Kendrick Lamar – featured artist (track 6) Gucci Mane – featured artist (track 6) Rae Sremmurd – featured artist (tracks 6, 15) Future – featured artist (track 7) Swae Lee – featured artist (track 8) Andrea – featured artist (track 9) 2 Chainz – featured artist (track 10) Pharrell Williams – featured artist (track 11) Eearz – featured artist (track 12) Trouble – featured artist (track 13) Problem – featured artist (track 13) Lil Wayne – featured artist (track 14) HoodyBaby – featured artist (track 14) Chief Keef – featured artist (track 15) Rihanna – featured artist (track 17) Technical Gregg Rominiecki – recording engineer (track 1) Maximilian – recording engineer (track 1) Jaycen Joshua – mixing engineer (tracks 1, 6, 7) Dave Kutch – mastering engineer (all tracks) Matheis "Staffa" Carter – recording engineer (track 2) Steve Hybicki – mixing engineer (tracks 2–4, 5, 8, 11–13, 15–17), recording engineer (tracks 3, 16) Cyrus "Nois" Taghipour – recording engineer (track 4) Mark "Mrii" Rudd – recording engineer (track 5) Swae Lee – recording engineer (tracks 6, 8) Randy Lanphear – recording engineer (track 6) Jay Sremm – recording engineer (track 6) Sean Payne – recording engineer (track 6) Matt Schaeffer – recording engineer (track 6) Seth Firkins – recording engineer (track 7) Desmond Barner – recording engineer (track 9) BJ Burton – mixing engineer (tracks 9, 10, 14) Finis "KY" White – recording engineer (track 10) Mike Larson – recording engineer (track 11) 30 Roc – recording engineer (track 12) Shawty Fresh – recording engineer (track 13) Stephen McDowell – recording engineer (track 14) Jeff Edwards – recording engineer (track 14) Brandon Wood – recording engineer (track 15) Marcos – recording engineer (track 17) Jasiah "Spydasmix" Posey – assistance mixing engineer (track 17)Production Mike Will Made It – producer (all tracks) Marz – producer (tracks 1, 7, 10) Resource – additional producer (track 1), producer (tracks 2, 4) DJ Fu – producer (track 6) S1 – producer (track 7) Micah Weston – producer (track 9) 30 Roc – producer (track 12) Ez Elpee – producer (track 12) Ducko McFli – producer (track 13) GT – producer (track 14) Pluss – producer (tracks 15, 17) Kuk Harrell – vocal producer (track 17) Managerial Mike Will Made It – executive producer Steve "The Sauce" Hybicki – executive producer The Eardrummers – executive producer DJ Mormile – management Jeremey "Migo The Plug" Ellis – management Vinny Kumar – legal Aubrey "Aubz" Potter – A&R Asheton "Pluss" Hogan – A&R Joey "F1JO" Antney – A&R, marketing Rashad "Shoddy" Brown – A&R Brian "Bwrightous" Wright – marketing, creative director Nabil Elderkin – creative director, photography Markeidric Walker – art & design Irwan Awalludin – art & design Manny Smith – A&R Gabrielle Graham – A&R coordinator Nicole Bilzerian – marketing Archie Davis – marketing Alicia Graham – A&R admin Kam Sangha – production Michelle An – creative Mark Bridges – creative Gary Kelly – revenue Tracy Kies – business affairs Todd "The Big Dance" Douglas – business affairs Ray Alba – publicity Aura Harewood – digital marketing

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)77
French Albums (SNEP)152
US Billboard 20024
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)15