4:23 is the fourth studio album by American record producer Mike Dean. It was released on April 30, 2023 by Dean's label, M.W.A Music and Imperial Records. Dean and Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd served as executive producers, while production was handled by the two alongside American filmmaker Sam Levinson and record producer Tommy Rush. The Weeknd also makes several uncredited vocal performances throughout the album.[2][3]4:23 is the fourth installment of the 4:20 series, following 4:20 (2020), 4:22 (2021), and Smoke State 42222 (2022).
Background
Mike Dean first teased work on a follow up to his previous 4:20 installments in April 2023 on social media. During the 2023 Coachella festival, it was revealed that Mike Dean would work with the Weeknd on songs for the new installment. Shortly after it was revealed that the Weeknd would executive produce the album, titled 4:23.[3]
In a positive review for Variety, A.D. Amorosi highlights the coherence of 4:23 as "equal parts steely sci-fi epic soundtrack and spaced-out dream-pop", while describing the Weeknd's lyrical content matter as "(willingly thrilling) bummer of the summer".[3]
Reviewing 4:23 negatively for Pitchfork, Dylan Green draws similarities to the video game franchise Halo and the science fiction film Blade Runner, while describing 4:23 as generally "drab and soulless as a wall of code".[5]
Track listing
Credits adapted from Tidal.[6] All tracks written and produced by Mike Dean, except where noted.
