New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Multi-platinum, 12-time GRAMMY Award-winner
John Legend today released "Dope," the first song from his forthcoming new album.
"Dope," produced by Ian Kirkpatrick and Ryan Tedder, is co-written by Legend, Charlie Puth, Ryan Tedder, Ian Kirkpatrick and rapper J.I.D, who is also featured on the track. The moving and infectious song sets the tone for getting summer started with its block-party vibes and sensual lyrics about everything you find dope about that someone special.
"I'm so thrilled to be releasing new music," says John Legend. "The past year or so has been so exciting for me creatively. I have been writing and collaborating with some of the most talented people in music, and we have some great new material to share with the world. 'Dope' is one of my favorites. I love the energy of the song. I loved collaborating with my gifted co-writers and producers, and J.I.D is one of my favorite emerging artists in hip-hop. I hope the song can be a part of people's soundtrack for this summer."
The EGOT artist has been teasing "Dope" during his critically acclaimed, sold-out first run of his new
Vegas Residency, "Love in Las Vegas." Billboard raves about the show, saying "...Legend held the full house in his hands as they danced, screamed and aah-ed their way through a generous set encompassing the multiple Grammy winner's seven-album catalog of hits and fan faves." Upcoming dates of the residency are August 5-20 and October 14-29 and you can get tickets now.
Legend first shared part of "Dope" on the iHeart Awards, where he did a special fan-favorite dueling piano performance with the song's co-writer, Charlie Puth. The track is the first release from Legend's forthcoming album, his first with new label partner Republic Records, following the release of his latest GRAMMY Award winner for Best R&B Album, Bigger Love.
Multiplatinum artist
John Legend has garnered twelve Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden
Globe Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award, making Legend the first African-American man to earn an EGOT. Legend has released seven celebrated albums over the course of his career, including, Get Lifted (2004), Once Again (2006), Evolver (2008), Love in the
Future (2013),
Darkness and Light (2016), A Legendary Christmas Deluxe (2019), and most recently, Bigger Love (2020). Recently, Legend launched his critically-acclaimed Las
Vegas Residency entitled, "Love In Las Vegas" which began on April 22, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Legend starred in NBC's "Jesus Christ
Superstar Live in Concert" in 2018, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special and nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor (Limited Series). Legend joined the Emmy-nominated show, The Voice, for Season 16 (2019) and most recently wrapped Season 21 as coach. John is also a partner in Get Lifted Film Co., serving as an Executive Producer for Giving Voice, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Atlanta's Missing And Murdered: The Lost Children, Sherman's Showcase And Sherman's Showcase:
Black History Month Spectacular, Rhythm + Flow And La La Land. As a philanthropist, Legend initiated the #FREEAMERICA campaign in 2015 and most recently, founded the initiative, HUMANLEVEL, which is igniting systematic change and building racial equity across American cities and communities.
