Professional Rapper

{{For|the song of the same name from the album|Professional Rapper (song)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Professional Rapper | type = studio | artist = Lil Dicky | cover = Professional Rapper by Lil Dicky Album Cover.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2015|7|31}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|comedy hip hop}} | length = {{Duration|m=89}} | label = {{hlist|Commission|Dirty Burd|ADA/Elektra}} | producer = {{hlist|Lil Dicky {{small|(also exec.)}}|Battleroy|Jim Cummings|Roger Goodman|Money Alwayz|Stan Lane}} | prev_title = So Hard | prev_year = 2013 | next_title = | next_year = | misc = {{Singles | name = Professional Rapper | type = studio | single1 = Lemme Freak | single1date = September 17, 2014 | single2 = White Crime | single2date = December 10, 2014 | single3 = Save Dat Money | single3date = June 10, 2015 | single4 = Professional Rapper | single4date = July 31, 2015 }} }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/professional-rapper-mw0002853715 |title=Professional Rapper – Lil Dicky |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=January 20, 2016 |last=Jeffries |first=David}}</ref> | rev2 = ''HipHopDX'' | rev2Score = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.2523/title.lil-dicky-professional-rapper |title=Lil Dicky – Professional Rapper |work=HipHopDX |date=September 3, 2015 |accessdate=January 20, 2016 |last=Fairfax |first=Jesse}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Vice'' | rev3Score = A−<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/expert-witness-lil-dicky-childbirth/ |title=Music Meets Comedy: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau |work=Vice |date=January 15, 2016 |access-date=January 20, 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> }}

'''''Professional Rapper''''' is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil Dicky. It was released on July 31, 2015, by Commission Records, Dirty Burd Music and Alternative Distribution Alliance.<ref name="kickstarter">{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/232550405/lil-dickys-kickstarter-album-videos-touring/posts/1309301 |title=Lil Dicky's Kickstarter - Album, Videos, Touring by Lil Dicky — Kickstarter |website=Kickstarter.com |date=2015-07-30 |accessdate=2016-01-16}}</ref> The album features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Rich Homie Quan, Fetty Wap, Jace, Viper, Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco, and T-Pain, alongside narrations from Hannibal Buress and Lil Dicky's parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/professional-rapper/id1005202711|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811190301/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/professional-rapper/id1005202711|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2015|title=Professional Rapper by Lil Dicky on Apple Music|work=iTunes|accessdate=January 27, 2017}}</ref>

The album debuted at number seven on the US ''Billboard'' 200, with first-week sales of 22,000 copies, created a total of 26,000 equivalent album units in the United States.<ref name=billboard200>{{Cite magazine|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|title='Descendants' Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/descendants-soundtrack-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-albums-chart/|magazine=Billboard|date=2015-08-09|access-date=2015-08-09}}</ref>

==Background== On May 22, 2013, Lil Dicky self-released his first official mixtape, titled ''So Hard''. Following the release of the mixtape, Dicky began using the Kickstarter website, to create a goal of raising $70,000 for him to release his upcoming first studio album, with accompanying music videos and tours. On November 20, 2013, Kickstarter projected a month-long for a crowdfunding period of reaching a fundraising goal within a week. The fundraising was dramatically successful, raising it at a total of $113,017.<ref name="kickstarter-updates">{{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/232550405/lil-dickys-kickstarter-album-videos-touring/updates |title=Lil Dicky's Kickstarter - Album, Videos, Touring by Lil Dicky — Kickstarter |website=Kickstarter.com |date= |accessdate=2016-01-16}}</ref>

==Singles== The album's lead single, "Lemme Freak", was released on September 17, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lemme-freak-single/id919624040|title=iTunes – Music – Lemme Freak – Single by Lil Dicky|work=iTunes Store|date=June 30, 2016|accessdate=January 23, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630232125/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lemme-freak-single/id919624040|archivedate=June 30, 2016}}</ref> The song was produced by Jim Cummings. The music video received over 90 million views as of May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocGiulPm3IU|title=Lil Dicky - Lemme Freak (Official Video)|date=17 September 2014 |publisher=Vevo|accessdate=June 8, 2017}}</ref>

The album's second single, "White Crime", was released on December 10, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/white-crime-single/id945468384|title=iTunes – Music – White Crime – Single by Lil Dicky|work=iTunes Store|date=June 30, 2016|accessdate=January 23, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630213456/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/white-crime-single/id945468384|archivedate=June 30, 2016}}</ref> The song was produced by Roger Goodman. The music video received over 21 million views as of May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7eA_TyogeU|title=Lil Dicky - White Crime (Official Video)|date=10 December 2014 |publisher=Vevo|accessdate=June 8, 2017}}</ref>

The album's third single, "Save Dat Money", was released on June 10, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/$ave-dat-money-feat.-fetty/id1059898699|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418234245/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/$ave-dat-money-feat.-fetty/id1059898699|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2016|title=$ave Dat Money (feat. Fetty Wap & Rich Homie Quan) – Single by Lil Dicky on Apple Music|work=iTunes|accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref> The song features guest appearances from American rappers Fetty Wap and Rich Homie Quan, with production by Money Alwayz. The song peaked at number 71 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Lil Dicky - Chart History: Billboard Hot 100|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/6656889/lil-dicky/chart|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=January 23, 2017}}</ref> The music video received over 165 million views as of May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvHYWD29ZNY|title=Lil Dicky - $ave Dat Money feat. Fetty Wap and Rich Homie Quan (Official Music Video)|website=YouTube |date=17 September 2015 |accessdate=June 8, 2017}}</ref>

The album's title track, "Professional Rapper", was released as the album's fourth and final single on July 31, 2015. The song features a guest appearance from American rapper Snoop Dogg, with production by Stan Lane. The music video received over 207 million views as of May 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlU4FuIJT2k|title=Lil Dicky - Professional Rapper (Feat. Snoop Dogg)|website=YouTube |date=31 July 2015 |accessdate=June 8, 2017}}</ref>

===Other songs=== The music video for "Molly" was released on June 9, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/06/09/lil-dicky-molly-video|title=Lil Dicky Hits A Wedding In His "Molly" Video _ The FADER|accessdate=May 18, 2017}}</ref> The music video features Lil Dicky as a dejected wedding guest as he watches his lost love (portrayed by Isabelle Loeb) get married. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco is also featured in the music video as a wedding singer.

The music video for "Pillow Talking" was released on April 12, 2017. The music video's high use of special effects reportedly cost $700,000 to create, making it the 49th most expensive music video of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2017/04/lil-dickys-new-pillow-talking-video-cost-700000-to-make-totally-worth-every-penny-watch/|title=Lil Dicky's new "Pillow Talking" video cost $700,000 to make, totally worth every penny — watch _ Consequence of Sound|date=13 April 2017 |access-date=May 18, 2017}}</ref>

==Commercial performance== ''Professional Rapper'' debuted at number seven on the ''Billboard'' 200, with first-week sales of 22,000 copies, created a total of 26,000 equivalent album units in the United States.<ref name=billboard200/> The album debuted at number one consecutively on Comedy Albums, Rap Albums and Independent Albums charts.

==Track listing== Credits adapted from BMI.<ref>{{cite web|title=BMI - Repertoire Search|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&fromrow=1&torow=25&affiliation=BMI&cae=709463529&keyID=550294565&keyname=LIL%20DICKY&querytype=WriterID&detail=Y&affCD=21&term=|work=BMI|accessdate=January 27, 2017}}</ref><ref name="album-info">{{cite web|url=http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/lil-dicky-professional-rapper/CNRS94933CD/ |title=Lil Dicky - Professional Rapper - album stream, cover art, buy |website=Undergroundhiphop.com |date= |accessdate=2016-01-16}}</ref>

{{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length =

| title1 = Meet the Burds (Interlude) | writer1 = David Burd | length1 = 1:03

| title2 = Professional Rapper | note2 = featuring Snoop Dogg | writer2 = {{hlist|Burd|Davey Miramontez|Calvin Broadus, Jr.}} | extra2 = Stan Lane | length2 = 5:54

| title3 = Who Knew | writer3 = {{hlist|Burd|Latrell James|Tedd Boyd}} | extra3 = {{hlist|James|Boyd}} | length3 = 3:32

| title4 = Lemme Freak | writer4 = {{hlist|Burd|Teddy Pena}} | extra4 = Jim Cummings | length4 = 4:46

| title5 = Lemme Freak for Real Tho (Outro) | writer5 = {{hlist|Burd|Roy Battle}} | extra5 = Battleroy | length5 = 4:17

| title6 = White Crime | writer6 = {{hlist|Burd|Roger Goodman}} | extra6 = Goodman | length6 = 3:40

| title7 = Molly | note7 = featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco | writer7 = {{hlist|Burd|Nicholas Warwar|Vincent Venditto|Brendon Urie|William Rybak}} | extra7 = StreetRunner | length7 = 4:04

| title8 = Bruh... | writer8 = {{hlist|Burd|Ryan Vojtesak}} | extra8 = Charlie Handsome | length8 = 4:23

| title9 = Hannibal Interlude | note9 = featuring Hannibal Buress | writer9 = {{hlist|Burd|Ruben Pinto|Hannibal Buress}} | extra9 = BlvckVmish Music | length9 = 2:01

| title10 = Save Dat Money | note10 = featuring Fetty Wap and Rich Homie Quan | writer10 = {{hlist|Burd|Anton Matsulevich|Matthew Washington|Willie Maxwell|Dequantes Lamar}} | extra10 = Money Alwayz | length10 = 4:51

| title11 = Oh Well | note11 = featuring Jace | writer11 = {{hlist|Burd|Zachary Burwell|Jason Harris}} | extra11 = Burwell | length11 = 3:29

| title12 = Personality | note12 = featuring T-Pain | writer12 = {{hlist|Burd|Pinto|Faheem Najm}} | extra12 = BlvckVmish Music | length12 = 4:19

| title13 = Pillow Talking | note13 = featuring Brain | writer13 = {{hlist|Burd|Vojtesak|Jamil Chammas}} | extra13 = {{hlist|Charlie Handsome|Digi}} | length13 = 10:46

| title14 = Parental Advisory (Interlude) | writer14 = Burd | length14 = 1:22

| title15 = Classic Male Pregame | writer15 = {{hlist|Burd|Battle}} | extra15 = Battleroy | length15 = 4:03

| title16 = The Antagonist | writer16 = {{hlist|Burd|Miramontez}} | extra16 = Stan Lane | length16 = 6:03

| title17 = The Antagonist II | writer17 = {{hlist|Burd|Deniro Elliott}} | extra17 = Elliott | length17 = 3:53

| title18 = Parents Still Don't Understand (Interlude) | writer18 = Burd | length18 = 1:39

| title19 = Work (Paid for That?) | writer19 = {{hlist|Burd|Jason Pounds}} | extra19 = Pounds | length19 = 4:56

| title20 = Truman | writer20 = {{hlist|Burd|Pounds}} | extra20 = Pounds | length20 = 10:15 }}

==Charts and certifications== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2015) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- {{album chart|Billboard200|7|artist=Lil Dicky|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 27, 2017}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=Lil Dicky|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 27, 2017}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRap|1|artist=Lil Dicky|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 27, 2017}} |- ! scope="row"| US Top Comedy Albums (''Billboard'')<ref name="Charts">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/descendants-soundtrack-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-albums-chart/|title='Descendants' Soundtrack Debuts At No. 1 on Billboard 200|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|magazine=Billboard |date=August 10, 2015|access-date=August 10, 2015}}</ref> | 1 |- {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|1|artist=Lil Dicky|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 27, 2017}} |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2018) ! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2018-03-30|title=NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=April 2, 2018|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> | 6 |}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2015) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row" | US Independent Albums (''Billboard'')<ref name="Independent Albums 2015">{{cite magazine|url= http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/independent-albums| title= ''Billboard'' Independent Albums- Year-end Chart|magazine=Billboard |date= |accessdate=December 9, 2015}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | 37 |- ! scope="row" | US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums| title= ''Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums- Year-end Chart|magazine=Billboard |date= |accessdate=December 9, 2015}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | 72 |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}</ref> | 176 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}</ref> | 54 |}

===Certifications=== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Professional Rapper|artist=Lil Dicky|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2015|certyear=2023|access-date=November 30, 2023}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}} {{col-end}}

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Lil Dicky}}

Category:2015 debut albums Category:Lil Dicky albums Category:Self-released albums