Copy, Paste
"Copy, Paste" is a song by American rapper Diggy Simmons. It was written by Simmons, Warren "Oak" Felder, John Maultsby and Andrew "Pop" Wansel, who co-produced the song with producer Oak Felder. It was posted on Atlantic's SoundCloud page and released as the debut single on May 29, 2011. It was later included as a bonus track on the deluxe version of his debut album Unexpected Arrival (2012). Lyrically, it is a hip hop song about being true to one's self and telling off people trying to "copy and paste" them.
"Copy, Paste" | ||||
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Single by Diggy Simmons | ||||
from the album Unexpected Arrival | ||||
Released | May 29, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2011 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 2:55 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
Diggy Simmons singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Copy, Paste" on YouTube |
"Copy, Paste" peaked at numbers 21 and 24 on the US Hot Rap Songs and US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively. A music video, directed by Phil the God, was created for the single that features Diggy tied up as a laboratory experiment for scientists to clone.
Development and release
"Copy, Paste" was written by Simmons, Warren Felder, John Maultsby and Andrew "Pop" Wansel, who co-produced the song with producer Oak. In an interview with MTV, Diggy explained that the song was for people who stayed true to themselves: "'Copy, Paste' is just for people that are original, people that are innovators, people that just do their own thing," he said. "I feel as though that I’m a person like that myself, so just making a theme song or an anthem for people that are like that."[1]
On May 26, 2011, the artwork for the single premiered on the artist's official website.[2] The song premiered online via Atlantic Records' SoundCloud page on May 27, 2011.[3] It was then released as the debut single on May 29, 2011. It was later included as a bonus track on the deluxe version of his debut album Unexpected Arrival.[4]
Music video
A video was created for the single that took place in Los Angeles around mid-July 2011. The video was directed by Phil the God (also known as Phil Da God), a frequent collaborator that Diggy often worked with: "It just feels right: We have a great connection. We’ll hop on the phone and talk about ideas, the things I want to do, the things he wants to do, and just get hyped off of each other’s energy, and the best will come out of that."[1]
The video features Diggy tied up as a laboratory experiment (covered in electrodes and a large bandage around his stomach), being watched by scientists who want to make a clone of him.[5] The clone goes through an audio test that causes a short circuit in the laboratory. The video ends with Diggy backed up by dancers while the lights flicker around them. Intercut are close-ups of Diggy while an interface surrounds him. The video was first released on iTunes on July 15, 2011.[6] It was then uploaded on the artist's YouTube page on July 29, 2011.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Copy, Paste" | Diggy Simmons, Warren "Oak" Felder, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, John Maultsb | Pop & Oak | 2:55 |
Chart performance
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
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US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7] | 24 |
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[8] | 21 |
References
- Markman, Rob (June 28, 2011). "Diggy Simmons' 'Copy, Paste' Is 'Anthem' For Innovators". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ""Copy, Paste" [Single Artwork]". Diggyworld. May 26, 2011. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
- "Diggy - Copy, Paste by Atlantic Records". SoundCloud. May 27, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- "iTunes - Music - Unexpected Arrival (Deluxe Version) by Diggy". iTunes (CA). Apple. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- "Rap-Up TV: On Set of Diggy Simmons' 'Copy, Paste' Video". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. June 30, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- "iTunes - Music Videos - Copy, Paste by Diggy". iTunes (CA). Apple. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- "Diggy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- "Diggy Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2014.