red pill blues is the sixth studio album by american band maroon 5. it was released on november 3, 2017, by 222 records and interscope records. this is the band's first release to feature multi-instrumentalist sam farrar, as an official member after he became a touring member in 2012. the title of the album refers to the science fiction term of taking the red pill or the blue pill, which originated from the 1999 sci-fi film "the matrix". the album is the follow-up to their fifth studio album "v" (pronounced: "five") (2014) and features guest appearances from kendrick lamar, julia michaels, sza, asap rocky, lunchmoney lewis and future.