Released on November 30, 2018, Championships marked one of the most important moments in Meek Mill’s career. Arriving shortly after his release from prison, the album wasn’t simply another studio project—it was a statement of resilience, redemption and personal growth. Through hard-hitting street records, introspective storytelling and an impressive lineup of guest appearances, Meek Mill reminded listeners why he remains one of hip-hop’s most respected voices.

This page explores everything you need to know about Championships, including the album overview, featured artists, production, commercial success, standout songs, critical reception and official streaming options. Whether you’re discovering the album for the first time or revisiting one of Meek Mill’s defining projects, Aswehiphop has compiled a complete guide below.

Serving as Meek Mill’s fourth studio album, Championships features appearances from Jay-Z, Drake, Future, Young Thug, Rick Ross, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Fabolous and Ella Mai, while production came from Hit-Boy, Cardo, Wheezy, Tay Keith, Bangladesh, Boi-1da and several other acclaimed producers.

Championships Tracklist

Championships contains 19 tracks and blends motivational street records, reflective storytelling and mainstream collaborations. The album captures Meek Mill’s journey following his legal battles while showcasing some of the strongest lyricism of his career.

• Intro
• Trauma
• Uptown Vibes (feat. Fabolous & Anuel AA)
• On Me (feat. Cardi B)
• What’s Free (feat. Rick Ross & Jay-Z)
• Respect the Game
• Splash Warning
• Championships
• Going Bad (feat. Drake)
• Almost Slipped
• Tic Tac Toe (feat. Kodak Black)
• 24/7 (feat. Ella Mai)
• Oodles O’Noodles Babies
• Pay You Back (feat. 21 Savage)
• 100 Summers
• Wit the Shits (WTTS) (feat. Melii)
• Stuck in My Ways
• Dangerous (feat. Jeremih & PnB Rock)
• Cold Hearted II

About Championships

Championships is Meek Mill’s fourth studio album, released on November 30, 2018, through Maybach Music Group and Atlantic Records. More than just another studio album, Championships represented a turning point in Meek Mill’s career following his highly publicized legal battles and eventual release from prison earlier that year.

Rather than focusing solely on street anthems, Meek Mill used Championships to reflect on freedom, success, loyalty, injustice and personal growth. Throughout the album, he balances motivational storytelling with hard-hitting rap records, creating one of the strongest and most mature projects of his career.

The album also reunited Meek Mill with several of hip-hop’s biggest names. Guest appearances from Jay-Z, Drake, Rick Ross, Future, Kodak Black, 21 Savage, Fabolous, Ella Mai, Jeremih, PnB Rock and others helped make the project one of the most star-studded hip-hop albums released in 2018.

One of the album’s biggest talking points was the reunion between Meek Mill and Drake. After years of public disagreements and diss records, the two rappers put their differences aside to record Going Bad, a collaboration that quickly became one of the album’s biggest commercial successes and remains one of Meek Mill’s most-streamed songs.

Beyond its commercial appeal, Championships was praised for its honesty and emotional depth. Tracks like Trauma, What’s Free, Oodles O’Noodles Babies and Cold Hearted II explore themes of survival, systemic injustice and the realities of life beyond fame, giving listeners one of the most personal albums in Meek Mill’s catalogue.

Upon release, Championships received widespread critical acclaim and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, further cementing Meek Mill’s position among the leading voices of modern hip-hop. Years later, the album continues to be regarded as one of the defining rap releases of the late 2010s and one of the strongest projects in Meek Mill’s career.

Standout Songs From Championships

While Championships delivers a cohesive listening experience from beginning to end, several records have stood the test of time and remain fan favourites. These songs not only helped define the album but also showcased Meek Mill’s versatility as both a storyteller and hitmaker.

Going Bad (feat. Drake)

Going Bad quickly emerged as the biggest commercial record on Championships. The collaboration reunited Meek Mill and Drake after years of public tension, symbolising one of hip-hop’s most talked-about reconciliations. Their chemistry helped the song become a multi-platinum hit and one of Meek Mill’s most successful singles to date.

What’s Free (feat. Rick Ross & Jay-Z)

Widely regarded as one of the album’s strongest lyrical moments, What’s Free pairs Meek Mill with Rick Ross and Jay-Z over soulful production. The song explores themes of freedom, race, justice and success, with each rapper delivering memorable verses that continue to be praised years after the album’s release.

Trauma

Trauma offers one of the album’s most emotional performances as Meek Mill reflects on the psychological impact of his incarceration and the challenges he faced growing up. The deeply personal record highlights his growth as a songwriter while giving listeners an honest look into the experiences that shaped his career.

24/7 (feat. Ella Mai)

Balancing the album’s heavier themes, 24/7 features a melodic hook from Ella Mai and showcases Meek Mill’s ability to create radio-friendly records without losing his authentic style. The collaboration became one of the smoother moments on Championships and broadened the album’s appeal.

Oodles O’Noodles Babies

One of the most personal records on the project, Oodles O’Noodles Babies finds Meek Mill reflecting on poverty, survival and the realities of growing up in Philadelphia. The storytelling throughout the song has earned widespread praise from both fans and critics, making it one of the emotional centrepieces of the album.

Production & Overall Sound

Production across Championships blends soulful samples, cinematic instrumentation and modern trap influences without ever overshadowing Meek Mill’s energetic delivery. Producers including Hit-Boy, Cardo, Boi-1da, Wheezy, Tay Keith, Bangladesh and several others helped create an album that feels both polished and deeply personal.

Unlike some of Meek Mill’s earlier projects, Championships places greater emphasis on storytelling and reflection. The production frequently shifts between motivational anthems, introspective records and mainstream collaborations, giving the album a balanced listening experience while allowing each featured artist to contribute naturally.

From start to finish, Championships captures both the hunger and maturity of an artist returning from adversity. The result is an album that successfully balances commercial success with lyrical substance, making it one of the strongest hip-hop releases of 2018.

Commercial Performance & Critical Reception

Upon its release, Championships received widespread acclaim from both music critics and hip-hop fans. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning Meek Mill his second chart-topping studio album in the United States. Its strong first-week performance demonstrated the overwhelming support he received following his release from prison and reaffirmed his position as one of rap’s leading voices.

Several publications praised the album for its honesty, lyrical maturity and well-balanced production. Rather than relying solely on commercial hits, Meek Mill delivered a project that explored social justice, perseverance, personal struggles and triumph. The album’s message resonated with listeners, helping Championships become one of the most respected hip-hop releases of 2018.

Commercially, the project also produced several successful singles, including Going Bad featuring Drake, which went on to become one of Meek Mill’s biggest records. Songs such as What’s Free, 24/7 and Dangerous also received significant streaming numbers and radio support, extending the album’s success well beyond its release week.

The project further demonstrated Meek Mill’s growth as both an artist and songwriter. Instead of simply celebrating success, he used Championships to discuss freedom, loyalty, family, systemic injustice and the realities of life after incarceration, making it one of the most personal albums of his career.

Aswehiphop Review

At Aswehiphop, we consider Championships to be one of Meek Mill’s finest bodies of work. While previous projects like Wins & Losses showcased his lyrical aggression and street storytelling, Championships elevated his artistry by adding vulnerability, maturity and purpose to his music.

What makes this album stand out isn’t simply its impressive guest list. Instead, it’s the way every collaboration serves the album’s overall message. Whether it’s the triumphant reunion with Drake on Going Bad, Jay-Z’s thought-provoking verse on What’s Free, or Ella Mai’s smooth contribution to 24/7, each feature feels intentional rather than commercial.

Production throughout the album remains consistent, moving effortlessly between soulful instrumentals, hard-hitting street records and emotionally driven storytelling. Meek Mill never loses focus, delivering passionate performances that remind listeners why he continues to rank among hip-hop’s elite lyricists.

More importantly, Championships captures a defining chapter in Meek Mill’s life. Instead of allowing legal battles and public controversy to overshadow his career, he transformed those experiences into powerful music that continues to resonate years later.

Aswehiphop Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5)

For fans of motivational hip-hop, lyrical storytelling and championship-level collaborations, Championships remains one of the essential rap albums of the late 2010s.