War (Pop Smoke song)

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"War"
Single by Pop Smoke featuring Lil Tjay
from the album Meet the Woo 2 (Deluxe)
ReleasedOctober 4, 2019
Genre
Length3:43
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • 808Melo
  • Swirv[1]
Pop Smoke singles chronology
"Flexin"
(2019) 		"War"
(2019) 		"Fire in the Booth, Pt. 1"
(2019)
Lil Tjay singles chronology
"Hold On"
(2019) 		"War"
(2019) 		"Go In"
(2020)

"War" is a song by American rapper

bonus track on Pop Smoke's second mixtape, Meet the Woo 2
(2020).

A drill and hip hop track, "War" sees Pop Smoke and Lil Tjay rap about intimidating people in the streets of New York. The song received positive reviews from music critics, with a number of them praising the lyrics. It peaked at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100. A music video for the song was released on October 28, 2019, and was directed by JLShotThat. It features Pop Smoke and Lil Tjay rapping in a big mansion, riding on street bikes, performing live, and interrupting a show.

Background and composition

The song was written by Pop Smoke, known as Bashar Jackson, alongside Lil Tjay, known as Tione Merritt, Ellis Newton, known as Swirv, and

bonus track on Pop Smoke's second mixtape Meet the Woo 2 on February 7, 2020.[4][5][6]

Musically, "War" is a drill and hip hop song.[7] Writing for Billboard magazine, Michael Saponara stated that the song has Pop Smoke rap with "croaky rhymes", that are mixed with Lil Tjay's "high-pitched croon". He continued, saying Pop Smoke "stays intimidating to his detractors by calmly saying one call can have them disposed of".[8] Naimah Archibald-Powell of GRM Daily commented that the song "houses Pop Smoke's unique ad-libs, a catchy chorus and assertive bars".[7] Kemet High of XXL magazine stated that "on the sub side of the beat, Lil Tjay uses his voice to coat the foundation with an intoxicating hum. And on the surface, the timing of his bars is supreme and broken just enough to allow himself to come up for air before he dives back in".[9]

Reception

"War" has been met with mainly positive reviews from

Vulture opined Lil Tjay's "trajectory has been nothing short or an astronomical climb" because of the song.[13] After Pop Smoke was murdered at the age of 20, "War" debuted at number 100 on the Canadian Hot 100 for the issue dated March 6, 2020, and lasted one week on the chart.[14]

Music video

A

black and white, with it featuring Pop Smoke and Lil Tjay rapping their verses in a huge mansion, as scenes switch between them on street bikes, performing live, and shutting down a show.[7][15] Torsten Ingvaldsen of Hypebeast mentioned the visual is "lightly edited", and commented that its "only hint of color are the various flame details that mark transitions throughout".[15] Archibald-Powell opined that the video is "sweet and simple".[7]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[2]

  • Bashar Jackson – vocals, songwriter
  • Tione Merritt – vocals, songwriter
  • Andre Loblack – producer, songwriter, programming
  • Ellis Newton – songwriter
  • Colin Leonard – mastering engineer
  • Fabian Marasciullo – mixing engineer
  • Thomas McLaren – assistant mixing engineer

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "War"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 100

Certifications

Certifications for "War"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "@liltjay x @realpopsmoke – Prod By Me x @sswirv 🚀". 808Melo. September 13, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Credits / War / Pop Smoke". Tidal. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b A., Aron (October 4, 2019). "Pop Smoke & Lil Tjay Team Up For New Banger 'War'". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  4. Pitchfork. Archived
    from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  5. ^ Breihan, Tom (February 7, 2020). "Stream Pop Smoke's New Mixtape Meet The Woo 2". Stereogum. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Renshaw, David (February 7, 2020). "Pop Smoke drops Meet The Woo, Vol. 2". The Fader. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Archibald-Powell, Naimah (October 29, 2019). "Pop Smoke And Lil Tjay Ready For 'War' In New Visuals". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (February 19, 2020). "Meet the Woo: 8 Songs to Remember Pop Smoke By". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  9. ^ High, Kemet (September 22, 2020). "A Look Into The Best Flows From Rappers Who Usually Don't Do Drill Music". XXL. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  10. ^ Tan, Emily (February 19, 2020). "Pop Smoke Dies at 20". Spin. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "How Pop Smoke Went From Hoop Dreams To Becoming One Of New York's Hottest Rappers". XXL. February 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  12. ^ Balram, Dhruva (February 20, 2020). "Pay tribute to the late, great Pop Smoke with his 10 best tracks". NME. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  13. Vulture
    . Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Pop Smoke Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c Ingvaldsen, Torsten (October 29, 2019). "Pop Smoke & Lil Tjay Reconnect for Official 'War' Music Video". Hypebeast. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  16. ^ "Latest English Song 'War' Sung By Pop Smoke". The Times of India. March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  17. ^ "British single certifications – Pop Smoke Ft Lil Tjay – War". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
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