Poppin (KSI song)
"Poppin" | ||||
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Single by KSI featuring Lil Pump and Smokepurpp | ||||
from the album Dissimulation | ||||
Released | 27 March 2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:33 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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KSI singles chronology | ||||
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Lil Pump singles chronology | ||||
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Smokepurpp singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Poppin" on YouTube |
"Poppin" is a song by British YouTuber and rapper KSI featuring American rappers Lil Pump and Smokepurpp. Produced by Diego Ave, Go Grizzly, Mally Mall, and OG Tint, it was released for digital download and streaming by RBC Records and BMG on 27 March 2020 as the third single from KSI's debut studio album, Dissimulation (2020). "Poppin" is a hyperactive hip hop & trap with mumble rap elements, with a bouncy and bass-heavy production. The song's lyrics centre around flexing, mostly money and expensive jewellery. KSI admitted that "it's not a super serious song" and the aim was to "just have some fun with it".
"Poppin" received positive reviews from music critics, with many praising its bounciness and fast-paced flow. The song debuted at number 43 on the
Writing and production
"Poppin" was produced by American record producers Diego Ave, Go Grizzly, Mally Mall and OG Tint.
Music and lyrics
"Poppin" is a hyperactive hip hop track with elements of trap and mumble rap.[4][5][6] The song uses a bouncy and bass-heavy instrumental.[7][8] Lil Pump raps the first verse, KSI raps both the second verse and the pre-chorus, and Smokepurpp raps both the third verse and the chorus.[9] The song's lyrics centre around flexing, mostly money and expensive jewellery, with the three rappers making their expensive tastes the topic du jour.[9][10] Speaking about "Poppin", KSI said, "We really just wanted to drop a bunch of cool flows on this [song]... have [us] turn up on here and just have some fun with it."[11] KSI admitted, "[It's] not a super serious song, but that doesn't mean it can't also be a banger."[10]
In his verse, Lil Pump makes references to both the COVID-19 pandemic and the Western African Ebola virus epidemic, with the lyrics, "Look at my wrist, corona / My neck got Ebola".[10] Speaking on Lil Pump's choice of lyrics, KSI recalled, "When I got the verse, I was like, 'Oh my God!'"[12] He continued, "I just burst out laughing when I heard it. I was like, 'Of course Lil Pump did a corona line. Of course.'"[10] KSI said, "[Lil Pump's lyrics] can be wild, but I don't think [that] anyone would find them offensive. I mean, it's Lil Pump. No one's going to be like, 'I can't believe he just said that!' Because it's Lil Pump, it's not really that deep."[11]
Release and promotion
On 18 March 2020, KSI announced via Twitter that he would be releasing a new single in the next week.[13] Shortly after, he posted the song's cover art to his social media pages, revealing that the song is titled "Poppin" and features Lil Pump and Smokepurpp, and the song was made available to pre-order on digital download platforms and pre-save on streaming platforms.[14][15][16] The song's cover art depicts the three rappers as cartoon characters, dressed in green clothing and equipped with swords, in front of a blue background.[15] "Poppin" was released for digital download and streaming by RBC Records and BMG on 27 March 2020 as the third single from KSI's upcoming debut studio album.[17][18] An audio video was released to KSI's YouTube channel on the same day.[19]
On 30 March 2020, KSI announced via social media that he would be hosting a competition called the "Poppin Challenge".[20] He asked fans to record their own verse for "Poppin" and the best verse, decided by a public poll, would replace Lil Pump's verse on a remix of the song on the deluxe edition of the album.[10] KSI reacted to competition entries in two reaction videos, released to YouTube on 4 April and 9 April 2020, respectively.[21][22] KSI shortlisted his 13 favourite entries for the public poll, which received 854,435 votes.[23] On 17 April 2020, KSI announced that American YouTuber Crypt was the winner of the competition with 235,096 votes.[10][24] Explaining the decision to host the competition, KSI said, "The fans got me to the point [where] I'm at today. I thought [that the competition] was a good way to give back [to them]."[10]
Critical reception
"Poppin" was met with positive reviews from music critics. In his review for HotNewHipHop, Mitch Findlay called the song "gaudy". He wrote that "Lil Pump sets things off on an energetic note". Findlay continued, "His flow is in fine form, outlandish in its disregard to etiquette yet all the better for it." Findlay praised KSI for "proving himself to be a capable emcee once more" and "boasting the most dexterous flow on the track". Commenting on the choice of featured artists, Finday wrote, "Though one might be tempted to cry out, 'liability', don't underestimate their crafty, albeit base, nature."[9] Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop similarly admitted that "a feature from [Lil Pump and Smokepurpp] is a bit dated". Fantano observed that their performances are "no where near as raw as [their] SoundCloud [releases] that put [them] on the map", but recognised that "Poppin" has a "similar energy" to them, which KSI "plays off of with his performance on the track pretty well". Fantano further praised KSI for having "a decent sense of what makes for a good song" and concluded that "Poppin" is a "pretty grimy banger with irie production".[25]
Writing for
Music video
The
Commercial performance
In the United Kingdom, "Poppin" debuted at number 43 on the
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[1]
- KSI – songwriting, vocals
- Lil Pump – songwriting, vocals
- Smokepurpp – songwriting, vocals
- Diego Ave – production, songwriting
- Go Grizzly – production, songwriting
- Mally Mall – production, songwriting
- OG Tint – production
- Mica Levi – songwriting[a]
- Peter Raeburn – songwriting[a]
- Michalis Michael – mixing
- Henkka Niemistö – mastering
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
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Ireland (IRMA)[35] | 52 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[36] | 13 |
Scotland (OCC)[37] | 25 |
43 | |
23 | |
UK Indie (OCC)[39] | 4 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 27 March 2020 | Original | [17] | ||
30 March 2020 | Instrumental | ||||
25 May 2020 | Remix | [40] |
Notes
- ^ Under the Skin (2013), for which Levi and the track's producer Peter Raeburn are credited as songwriters on "Poppin".[1]
References
- ^ a b c "KSI / Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp) / Credits". Tidal. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- Genius. 8 May 2020. Archivedfrom the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ Murray, Robin (24 July 2020). "'I'm Able To Give People What They Want!' Clash Meets KSI". Clash. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ a b Duerden, Nick (15 April 2020). "KSI: 'My motto is this: prove people wrong'". i. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (1 June 2020). "KSI: 'A YouTuber doing music leaves a sour taste in people's mouths. They despise it'". NME. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ Coombs, Charlie (28 May 2020). "KSI's Dissimulation brings YouTube trap to the mainstream". Thred. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "English rapper KSI enlists Lil Pump and Smokepurpp for 'Poppin': Watch". Grungecake. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 7 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ a b Wynter, Courtney (3 April 2020). "KSI Gives Visual Treatment To 'Poppin' Featuring Lil Pump & Smokepurpp". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Findlay, Mitch (27 March 2020). "KSI Unites With Lil Pump & Smokepurpp On Gaudy 'Poppin'". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ Insider. Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Dissimulation by KSI / Editors' notes". Apple Music. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ "KSI wants to prove that 'YouTubers can do more' with debut album". Music News. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ KSI [@KSI] (18 March 2020). "New single coming out next week. Clue of the song name and feature here" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ KSI [@KSI] (18 March 2020). "Out next week lmao. Pre order/pre save now" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b KSI (18 March 2020). "Popping ft @lilpump and @smokepurpp Link in bio". Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ "KSI to Release New Single, 'Poppin' Featuring Lil Pump, Smokepurpp on March 27th". EIN News. 23 March 2020. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ a b RBC Records [@RBCRecords] (27 March 2020). "Get you quarantine #Poppin and listen to the new single from @KSIOlajidebt, @lilpumpjetskiho & @smokepurpp. #Poppin is now available on @AppleMusic, @Spotify & all other streaming platforms. https://ksi.ffm.to/poppin" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "US: KSI releases new single 'Poppin' featuring Lil Pump and Smokepurpp". BMG. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
- ^ "KSI – Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp)". 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ KSI [@KSI] (30 March 2020). "Got a big one for you #poppinchallenge" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 March 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "This Challenge Is Hilarious..." 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Who's Winning The Poppin Challenge?". 9 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Campbell, Joel (2 May 2020). "KSI ready to drop his album". The Voice. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "The Winner Of The Poppin Challenge Is..." 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Fantano, Anthony (29 May 2020). "KSI - Dissimulation Album Review". The Needle Drop. Retrieved 29 May 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Randrup, Jeremy (9 June 2020). "Review: KSI's Dissimulation marks a serious leap forward for the London rapper". Inlander. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- ^ a b "KSI Releases New Music Video for Single, 'Poppin' Featuring Lil Pump, Smokepurpp". EIN News. 3 April 2020. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "Poppin Music Video Trailer". 1 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "KSI – Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp) [Official Music Video]". 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "KSI – Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp) [Behind The Scenes]". 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "KSI | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "40 songs you slept on in the first half of 2020, including Celeste, Tom Grennan and Madison Beer". Official Charts Company. 10 July 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Irish-charts.com – Discography KSI". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Murray, Robin (27 May 2020). "KSI Shares 'Dissimulation' Extended Edition". Clash. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
External links
- Audio video on YouTube