333 (Tinashe album)

333
Standard cover
Studio album by Tinashe
Released	August 6, 2021 (2021-08-06)
Recorded	2020
Studio	Tinashe's home studio (Los Angeles)
Genres	Pop R&B
Length	47:16
Label	Tinashe Music
Producers	Kingston Callaway Iiinfinite Sdtroy Hitmaka Chrishan Mari Beatz Dwilly Kaytranada Nxghts Neenyo Sean Momberger Lee Major ABsolutely John Hill John Blanda Du'Lanci Vallie Wax Motif Ely Rise Sam Sparro Tido Stargate Todd Pritchard Big Kidd Kito Jonas Karlsson Christian Blue Alex Lustig Beat Billionaire Da Boom Squad
Tinashe chronology
Comfort & Joy (2020) 333 (2021) BB/Ang3l (2023)
Singles from 333
"Pasadena" Released: June 4, 2021 "Bouncin'" Released: July 9, 2021 "X" Released: January 21, 2022
Singles from 333 (Deluxe)
"Naturally" Released: February 14, 2022

333 is the fifth studio album by American singer Tinashe. It was released independently through her own label on August 6, 2021. Largely self-produced and written by Tinashe, the album was primarily recorded independently following her departure from RCA Records in 2019. 333 features collaborations with artists including Buddy, Kaytranada, Wax Motif, Jeremih, Kaash Paige, Quiet Child, and Kudazi. A pop and R&B album, 333 includes electro-pop and house elements, while it explores independence, self-empowerment, love, and emotional vulnerability. Its title references the angel number "333", which signifies guidance and optimism, while the cover art depicts a sci-fi-inspired image of Tinashe with three eyes amid tranquil scenery.

333 was promoted with overall four singles, "Pasadena", "Bouncin'", "X", and "Naturally". Promotion for the album included the 333 Tour as well as a deluxe edition with additional tracks. 333 received critical acclaim, with reviewers praising its cohesive production, Tinashe's versatile vocals, and genre-spanning approach. It also appeared on multiple year-end best-of lists, including Uproxx, Vibe, Spin, and Pitchfork. Commercially, the album debuted and peaked at number 175 on the US Billboard 200.

Background

Following her departure from RCA Records in 2019, Tinashe returned to independent music-making with her fourth studio album, Songs for You (2019). According to Tinashe, independence allowed her to reassess her purpose in the music industry and refine a more self-directed, "DIY" approach; she described her period of earlier career as "very much like DIY" and noted that she was filming her own music videos and recording in her room. This early period shaped her creative approach, and returning to it with her new music made her feel "so, like, in alignment and just like everything falls into place", according to her. During 2020, the COVID-19 lockdowns, she became increasingly focused on spirituality and self-empowerment. Tinashe intended the album to convey a sense of protection and optimism to listeners; much of 333 was shaped by self-reflection—including meditation and extended periods of introspection—which she said gave the album "a thread of connectivity".

Tinashe emphasized that producing and recording her own material remained central to the album's creation. She described this approach as foundational to 333, particularly as she sought to strengthen her confidence as a creator and advocate for women producers and engineers. She also acknowledged some challenges in this independent process, noting that there was "a lot of uncertainty" about how people would respond to her music and how she would fund and organize her projects. During Billboard magazine's 2022 Women in Music event, Tinashe explained that releasing the deluxe edition of 333 "[gave] the album a little bit more life", and it allowed her to create more videos as well as performances and continue[d] the era while keeping fans engaged with additional content. She expressed hope that her longtime listeners would recognize her artistic and personal growth compared to earlier projects such as Aquarius and her mixtapes, while describing the album as representative of her mindset at the time of its creation.

Its title is an allusion to the angel number, associated with messages from the divine of protection, love, and destiny. According to Uproxx, the number "333" is a "reassuring sign" that indicates one is on the correct path, acknowledging fears and anxieties while emphasizing optimism. Regarding the title selection, Tinashe commented: "I named it 333 because I really felt like I was on the right path, in alignment with what I was meant to do. I just wanted to acknowledge that." The cover artwork depicts a "sci-fi-themed" image of Tinashe crouched amid peaceful scenery, featuring three eyes.

Release and promotion

Composition

Tinashe collaborated with Buddy (left), Kaytranada (center), and Jeremih (right) on tracks from 333, among others.

333 is a pop and R&B album that traverses variety of genres such as electro-pop and house in a way that made "the act of listening into a game of Duck, Duck, Goose". It continues Tinashe's movement away from the conventional "pop princess" image associated with her former label. According to Clash, 333 is "a kaleidoscope of R&B versatility" that prioritizes eclecticism within contemporary narratives of "hot girl summers, freedom, and occasional heartbreak". Beyond these, the record "continues to build a catalogue of diverse, listenable R&B" and incorporates "a speedy and atmospheric drum'n'bass interlude" carried by Tinashe's falsetto.

Throughout the album, Tinashe collaborated with various artists like Buddy, Kaytranada, Wax Motif, Jeremih, Kaash Paige, Quiet Child and Kudazi. She then moves across "an eclectic landscape of sounds", centered on "fluttery impressionistic R&B" but extending to "neon arena anthems" like the Stargate-produced "The Chase", "undulating synth-pop" on "Undo (Back to My Heart)" with Motif, "breathless dance-adjacent hip-hop" on the Buddy collaboration "Pasadena", and "darkly spacious slow jams" on the Paige duet "Angels". Later songs move through "changes in tempo, style, and mood", with high-tension beats dropping out and returning in altered form as transitions are handled either by Tinashe herself or by featured artists.

Music and lyrics

"Pasadena"

The 12-second sample of "Pasadena" highlights Oliver Malcolm's frenetic, "Hey Ya!"-sampling production.

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333 opens with "Let Go", described by Financial Times as "a track about finding release after a break-up", pairing its theme with contrasting elements such as birdsong and bass. "I Can See the Future" is a bassy R&B song which features Tinashe's more percussive and "rap-like cadences". "X" is a "bouncy" song that conveys "erotic energy" with a balance of nimbleness and intensity, presenting both artists' liberated musical approach. "Shy Guy" briefly experiments with a jungle beat for just over a minute before moving on. "Bouncin'" is noted as an "irresistibly catchy" track designed to embed itself in the listener's mind. A dance track "Unconditional" opens with "uptempo, dance-ready production" before easing into a slower second half, a shift that Uproxx noted aligns with Tinashe's request for "love without restriction" as she offers the same in return. "Angels" captures a moment that is simultaneously sad and sensual. The title track adopts no chorus and a more rapturous tone, offering "an account of sunrise in the arms of another". "Undo (Back to My Heart)" is a "crowd-friendly dance" and "pop-leaning" song that accelerates into a "1980s pop reminiscent of the Weeknd". "Let Me Down Slowly" is presented as a moodier track, where Tinashe appears "heartbroken and in denial". The following track, "Last Call", is "rich with detail" that makes collective standout moment on the album. "The Chase" is a pop-rock song and "Rihanna-esque power ballad" that presents a narrator who has moved on and refuses to seek a past lover's return. "Pasadena" is structured around a sample from OutKast's "Hey Ya!" (2003). According to Clash, the song favors "ambience over substance" with its razor-sharp synths. At four and a half minutes, "Small Reminders" is the album's longest track, which evolves from "smoldering jazz" into "doobie-lighting funk". Following the club-ready charm of "Bouncin'", "Bouncin' Pt. II" presents a darker and cavernous atmosphere.

"Naturally"

The 23-second sample of "Naturally". It features twang-tinged guitar and a lightly disco-styled rhythm section.

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The deluxe edition opener "Something Like a Heartbreak" combines layered vocal melodies and "twitchy electronic rhythms" over a steady bass line. It also presents a narrator who concludes, "You didn't deserve my love", and later adds that she is "thankful that you cracked me open". "HMU for a Good Time" is noted as an "electrifying house-infused pop record", whose music video presents an energetic party setting that indicates the track's title. Stereogum depicted "Naturally" as a "smooth and effortless bop", while The Fader described it as a tribute to "the most sensual kind of muscle memory", saying that Tinashe's performance over "twangy guitar" and a "gently disco-fied rhythm section" aimed at drawing a specific person to the dancefloor. Rated R&B found that "Woke Up Blessed" stands out as the closing song, among the new tracks.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	84/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Clash	7/10
Financial Times
NME
Pitchfork	7.8/10
Rhythmer
Stereoboard

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, 333 received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.

Clash called the album "a sparkling display of personal evolution" and despite not being a radically innovative record, it is coherent with "artful production", and "never having a dull moment". They also praised Tinashe's vocals as "faultless as ever" with "rap-like cadences." Giving four out of five stars, NME said 333 "furthers the 28-year-old's narrative of being whatever she wants to be musically". They said the album also "gives off the same energy as Tinashe's early mixtapes such as Black Water (2013) and In Case We Die (2012), reminding us of the singular artist that [she] is and always has been." Pitchfork named 333 her best work to date, stating it was a "showcase for her omnivorous tastes and supremely light touch". They concluded that the "breezy, impish spirit" is what most distinguishes 333 and its predecessor from her previous RCA albums. Stereoboard described 333 as adding to Tinashe's "catalogue of diverse, listenable R&B", but wrote that the album "levels out at mediocre", as remarking that this was "surprising given the promise of the first half". The review suggested that this outcome may reflect "not enough risks having been taken, nor freedom deployed". EastMojo described the album as "catchy" but criticized its lyrics as "mediocre."

AllMusic claimed that 333 sees Tinashe truly settling into independence. They noted that the album features a near surplus of "breathy slow jams" and "midtempo cuts" and praised how she uniquely tweaked the approach of each track to ensure a fresh sound. Stereogum praised the cohesiveness of the album in comparison to her previous works. Uproxx noted that while the COVID-19 pandemic may appear to be a primary influence, the album's inspiration runs much deeper for Tinashe.

Tour

To promote the album, Tinashe announced the 333 Tour, with Rei Ami as the supporting act. Tickets went on sale on July 16, with pre-sale and VIP packages available from July 13, through Tinashe's official website. After several dates were sold out, new dates were added to the tour. The tour was set to conclude with a "worldwide digital experience", described as "a full-length creative production specially crafted for at-home fans around the world", in partnership with Moment House.

The tour was divided in two segments, the 2021 Tour and the 'Summer '22 Tour' and had four legs, of which the first began on September 16, 2021 and the fourth concluded on August 28, 2022. The tour visited Europe and North America. The tour was Tinashe's first independent headlining tour, after having to postpone the 2020 tour Tour For You due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding the accompanying tour, Tinashe described performing live again after an extended absence from audiences as an important experience that allowed her to reconnect with listeners and share the album's music directly.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits were adapted from Tidal.

• Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe – composer, lyricist (all tracks)
• Jeremih – featured artist (3)
• Kaash Paige – featured artist (7)
• Absolutely – featured artist (8)
• Wax Motif – featured artist (9)
• Buddy – featured artist (13)
• Kudzai – featured artist (16)
• Quiet Child – featured artist (16)
• Channel Tres – featured artist (18)

Charts

Release history

References