Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge

Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge
A photograph of the musician sitting on a horse, lit by an intense yellow hue, with a red star positioned in the centre.
Studio album by
Genesis Owusu
Released15 May 2026 (2026-05-15)
Studios
Length50:25
LabelOurness
ProducerDann Hume
Genesis Owusu chronology
Struggler
(2023)		 Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge
(2026)
Singles from Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge
  1. "Pirate Radio"
    Released: 12 September 2025
  2. "Death Cult Zombie"
    Released: 31 October 2025
  3. "Stampede"
    Released: 20 February 2026
  4. "Life Keeps Going"
    Released: 24 April 2026[1]

Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge (stylised in all caps) is the third studio album by Australian rapper Genesis Owusu. It was released via Ourness on 15 May 2026. The album was preceded by four singles: "Pirate Radio", "Death Cult Zombie", "Stampede" and "Life Keeps Going".

Composition

Upon the album's announcement, Genesis Owusu explained: "I started writing this album because I was seeing so much of the world and watching what was happening."[2] Press material called the writing a "piercing reflection on the political, social and economic flames engulfing many parts of contemporary society."[3] The music blends neo soul with alt-pop, synth-punk, deep funk and Brit rock stylings.[3]

Release

The album's lead single, "Pirate Radio", issued on 12 September 2025, was the artist's first new song in two years.[4] While not released as a single, "Most Normal American Voter:" saw an early release through the video game Skate as part of the game's Early Access soundtrack.[5]

Two more singles followed: "Death Cult Zombie" on 31 October 2025,[6] and "Stampede" on 20 February 2026,[7] before the album's title, cover artwork and track listing was officially announced on 18 March 2026.[2] The album's fourth single, "Life Keeps Going" was released on 24 April 2026.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.2/10[8]
Metacritic88/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
DIYStarStarStarStarHalf star[10]
DorkStarStarStarStar[11]
The GuardianStarStarStarStarStar[12]
NMEStarStarStarStar[13]
Pitchfork7.5/10[14]
The Needle Drop8/10[15]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 88 out of 100 from ten critic scores.[9] The review aggregator Any Decent Music gave the album a weighted average score of 8.2 out of 10 from eight critic scores.[8]

Track listing

Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge track listing[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Pirate Radio"
2:54
2."Stampede"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
3:09
3."Hellstar" (with Duckwrth)
3:52
4."Falling Both Ways" (with Ladyhawke)
3:13
5."The Worldwide Scourge"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
4:50
6."Blessed Are the Meek"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
3:50
7."Life Keeps Going"
3:39
8."Most Normal American Voter:"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
2:36
9."Death Cult Zombie"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
3:36
10."Situations"
3:34
11."4Life"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
4:10
12."Runnin Outta Time"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
3:34
13."Big Dog"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
3:36
14."One4All"
  • Owusu-Ansah
  • Hume
3:45
Total length:50:25

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] 3
UK Album Downloads (Official Charts)[18]69

References

  1. 1 2 Mawunyo Gbogbo (24 April 2026). "Genesis Owusu's latest single Life Keeps Going is out today". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 Murray, Robin (18 March 2026). "Genesis Owusu Details New Album Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge". Clash. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Genesis Owusu". WME Group. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Lochrie, Conor (11 September 2025). "Genesis Owusu's First Single in Two Years Holds Nothing Back". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  5. ↑ Pashalidis, Bobby (4 September 2025). "Skate. Reveals Soundtrack Coming To Early Access This Month". Console Creatures. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Mcnamara, Lauren (31 October 2025). "Genesis Owusu Shares New Single "Death Cult Zombie"". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  7. ↑ Carter, Daisy (23 February 2026). "Genesis Owusu drops propulsive new single "Stampede"". DIY. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge by Genesis Owusu reviews". Any Decent Music. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge by Genesis Owusu". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Jamieson, Sarah (13 May 2026). "Genesis Owusu - REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE". DIY. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Harrison, Dan (14 May 2026). "Genesis Owusu - REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE". Dork. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  12. ↑ Tregoning, Jack (14 May 2026). "Genesis Owusu: Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge review – political fury and propulsive fun". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  13. ↑ Wright, Lisa (13 May 2026). "Genesis Owusu – 'Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge' review: a maximalist takedown of a world in turmoil". NME. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  14. ↑ Berman, Stuart (19 May 2026). "Genesis Owusu: REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  15. ↑ Fantano, Anthony (29 May 2026). "Genesis Owusu - Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge". The Needle Drop. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge / Genesisu Owusu / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 25 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 22/5/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.