Up (Cardi B song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Up"
Cardi B - Up.png
Single by Cardi B
ReleasedFebruary 5, 2021 (2021-02-05)
GenreHip hop[1]
Length2:37
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Yung Dza
  • DJ SwanQo
  • Sean Island
  • DJ Prince
Cardi B singles chronology
"Me Gusta"
(2020) 		"Up"
(2021) 		"Wild Side"
(2021)
Music video
"Up" on YouTube

"Up" is a song by American rapper Cardi B. It was released on February 5, 2021, through Atlantic Records as the second single from her upcoming second studio album.[2][3][4] "Up" is a hip hop song with drill influences, written by Cardi B alongside Joshua Baker and Jordan Thorpe and produced by Yung Dza, DJ SwanQo, Sean Island and DJ Prince.

"Up" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making Cardi B the only female rapper to top the chart with multiple solo singles, following "Bodak Yellow", and extended her record as the female rapper with the most number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 as her fifth chart-topper.[5] It previously debuted at number two on the chart, marking the highest debut for a solo female rap song since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998, and became her second number-one debut on the Rolling Stone Top 100. It also reached the top ten in Canada, Greece, and Ireland, and became her second top five debut on the Billboard Global 200. The music video was nominated for the BET Award for Video of the Year. She performed the song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021.

Background[]

On August 7, 2020, Cardi B released the single "WAP", featuring American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.[6] The song achieved worldwide success, reaching number one in multiple countries, including Australia, Canada and the UK.[7][8] The single also spent a total of four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.[9] On October 1, 2020, it was revealed that she was already "plotting her next move". However, she also clarified that she does not desire to put out music too frequently in order not to succumb to the label's pressure, saying "I feel like I'm not gonna let that shit get to me to the point that I'm gonna put out a song that I'm not really in love with just 'cause".[10] On January 31, 2021, the rapper teased towards an announcement she was going to make the day after.[11] She revealed the song title alongside the cover art the following day, February 1.[12] The song was released on February 5. In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, the rapper stated that "Up" is inspired by Chicago drill music, which also influenced her first mixtape Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1.[13] "If it's up then it's stuck" is colloquialism for "street beef."[14]

Critical reception[]

In Pitchfork, Cat Zhang stated that "Up" has "Cardi's characteristic self-assurance and instantly quotable one-liners", praising it as "a solid showing." Zhang also added that Cardi B "is skilled at these types of brusque taunts" as "her taut delivery drives the song."[15] Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times declared that Cardi B's "preferred method of annihilating the haters is oxygen deprivation" considering that "her flow is so relentless that for nearly three minutes she doesn't offer listeners a single moment to catch their breath." Zoladz also wrote that Cardi B "raps with rapturous alliteration, before running that tongue twister back again, in case you didn't catch it all the first time," and commented that her tone is a bit more cheerful "than the drill influence would suggest", featuring "some classically comedic Cardi punch lines, but the ravenous way she digs into this beat is serious business."[16] Kyann-Sian Williams of NME opined that "Cardi's lyricism stands up many of her peers" while "proving that she still has plenty of fresh bars," further adding that the rapper "created a new power anthem with this one."[14]

Commercial performance[]

In the United States, "Up" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the highest debut for a solo female rap song since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.[17] It became Cardi B's ninth top-ten single on the Hot 100, and opened atop both Digital Song Sales and Streaming Songs charts, where it marked Cardi B's fifth and fourth leader, respectively. The single also started at number one on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, which use the same methodology as the Hot 100, with Cardi B achieving her sixth and fifth leader, respectively. Cardi B has achieved at least one top 10 in each of the last five years, dating to her first number one single "Bodak Yellow" in 2017. Before reaching the summit, it spent four weeks in the top five, including three at number two.[18][19][20] The week after her Grammy Awards performance, "Up" reached number one on the Hot 100 rising 6–1, making Cardi B the only female rapper to top the chart multiple times with solo songs, following "Bodak Yellow", and extended her record as the female rapper with the most number-one songs on the Hot 100 as her fifth chart-topper.[5] "Up" drew 22.7 million U.S. streams and 18,000 downloads sold (up 96%, earning the Hot 100's top Sales Gainer award) in the week ending March 18, according to MRC Data. It also attracted 34.9 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 7%) in the debut week. Dating to her first week atop the Hot 100 with "Bodak Yellow" in 2017, Cardi B ties for the second most No. 1s among all acts in the span since, matching the five earned in that stretch by Ariana Grande, with Drake in the lead with six.[21]

With her singles "WAP" and "Up", Cardi B became the first female artist and first lead artist with consecutive number-one debuts on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and second overall performer following Drake, whose consecutive number-ones came from a feature credit on Rihanna's "Work" and his own single "Summer Sixteen" in 2016.[22] "Up" is the first song by a solo female and no accompanying artists to top the Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs since Lizzo's "Truth Hurts" in 2019, and before that, Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow".[5]

Cardi B also tied Taylor Swift for the most number ones on the US Streaming Songs chart among women, with four each. She joined a three-way tie for the third most number-ones among all artists, Justin Bieber is second with five and Drake leading with ten.[23] "Up" debuted at number one on the Rolling Stone Top 100, becoming both Cardi B's second number-one single and second number-one debut on that chart, as well as the first time a female rapper debuts atop the chart with a solo song.[24] "Up" has spent two weeks at number one on that chart.[25] The single opened at number four on the Billboard Global 200, becoming her second top-five debut on the chart.[26] "Up" also became the fastest solo female rap song to reach 300 million Spotify streams.[27]

Music video[]

To resemble "water flowing across her body", the rapper wears a "transparent ensemble" on top of a glass table in one of the scenes, custom made with thermoplastic by Amsterdam-based designer Esmay Wagemans.[28]

The official music video directed by Tanu Muino was released to YouTube alongside the song on February 5, 2021.[29] The official lyric video and the first part of the behind-the-scenes video series were released on February 9.[30][31] The rapper mainly worked with independent fashion designers and custom-made brands for statement pieces depicted in the music video.[32]

Synopsis[]

The music video opens with the rapper wearing a black ensemble as she stands on top of a coffin with a headstone that reads, "RIP 2020."[33] Considered by Harper's Bazaar a reference to Patrick Magaud's book Exhibition in Paris, the graveyard look features Louboutin shoes with back seam stockings, a crystal corset, and a custom black roses hat. Her "fishtail braid" is decorated with cross appliques and black roses.[34] The next scene sees the rapper in an "angelic" white ball gown with nail gloves and a crystal neckpiece while posing on the hood of a supersized car portraying The Spirit of Ecstasy. For the dance routine, Cardi wears a custom powder blue velour outfit and spray-painted sneakers, combining elements of Jean Paul Gaultier's 1984 design and vintage sportswear clothing.[35][36]

Attached to her hair, a number of doll heads speak the line "I know that's right". For the scene where she appears inside a giant clam, the rapper's mermaid-esque bodysuit features a baroque porcelain-finish corset, hip piece, leg pieces, matching handpieces and stripper heels in the same porcelain. The clear look in the champagne scene is a custom transparent plastic aquatic piece, while she sits on a see-through chair held up by a naked guy. For the closing scene, she leads a troupe of dancers and sports a black leather bondage bodysuit and fringe-trimmed arm warmers.[32][37] In this scene, she wears a "sculptural hairstyle" inspired by Left Eye.[34] In the music video Cardi B has a kiss with two women.

Reception[]

The video was acclaimed by critics. In Harper's Bazaar, Bianca Betancourt stated that the rapper "raises the bar again" with the "bold" music video, "showing off a number of showstopping, high-fashion looks."[35] Kalleigh Fasanella of Allure wrote about Cardi B's "willingness to experiment with boundary-pushing beauty looks."[34] Mario Abad of Paper commented that the fashion "captured Cardi's provocative style approach and penchant for statement pieces."[32] Eric Torres of Pitchfork stated that "if there's one thing Cardi B will absolutely do, it's turn a music video into a playground for orgiastic visuals dripping in high fashion" adding that "Cardi keeps the high-femme, playful imagery at an all-time high." Torres considered the rapper in a transparent bodysuit sitting in a chair held up by a naked man the best visual, deeming it "a consummate snapshot of Cardi: so confidently in control that it looks like an honor just to be her furniture."[38]

TikTok[]

The dance routine in the music video, choreographed by Sean Bankhead, inspired a dance challenge on the video-sharing app TikTok, with users performing the moves. Posts by other celebrities and courier employees received media coverage.[39]

Awards[]

Awards and nominations for "UP"
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2021 BET Awards Video of the Year Nominated [40]

Live performances[]

Cardi B performed "Up" and "WAP" for the first time at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, airing on CBS on March 14, 2021. She appeared in a metallic armor ensemble while sporting a light purple pixie hairstyle. For the number, vibrant graphics appeared about the stage.[41][42]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[43]

  • Cardi B – vocals, songwriting
  • Yung Dza – production, songwriting
  • Sean Island – production, songwriting
  • DJ SwanQo – production, songwriting
  • Joshua Baker – songwriting
  • Jordan Thorpe – songwriting
  • Evan LaRay – engineering
  • Colin Leonard – mastering
  • Leslie Brathwaite – mixing

Charts[]

Chart performance for "Up"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[44] 11
Australia Urban (ARIA)[45] 4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[46] 69
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[47] 1
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[48] 7
CIS (Tophit)[49] 483
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[50] 76
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[51] 17
France (SNEP)[52] 169
Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 99
Global 200 (Billboard)[54] 4
Greece (IFPI)[55] 5
Hungary (Single Top 40)[56] 17
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[57] 24
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[58] 30
Ireland (IRMA)[59] 10
Lithuania (AGATA)[60] 17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[61] 94
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[62] 14
Portugal (AFP)[63] 36
Romania (Airplay 100)[64] 44
Singapore (RIAS)[65] 29
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[66] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[67] 97
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[68] 47
UK Singles (OCC)[69] 16
UK R&B (OCC)[70] 7
US Billboard Hot 100[71] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[72] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[73] 20
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[74] 1
US Rolling Stone Top 100[24] 1

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[75] Platinum 70,000double-dagger
Canada (Music Canada)[76] Platinum 80,000double-dagger
New Zealand (RMNZ)[77] Gold 15,000double-dagger
Poland (ZPAV)[78] Gold 10,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[79] Silver 200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[80] 2× Platinum 2,000,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for "Up"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various February 5, 2021
Atlantic [43][81]
Russia February 13, 2021 Contemporary hit radio [49]
United States March 2, 2021 [82]

References[]

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External links[]

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