Houdini (KSI song)

"Houdini" is a song by British YouTuber and rapper KSI, featuring British rappers Swarmz and Tion Wayne. It was released on 24 April 2020 through RBC Records. It is the fourth single from KSI's debut studio album Dissimulation (2020). The song charted at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart and it has received a Silver certification from the BPI.

"Houdini"
Single by KSI featuring Swarmz and Tion Wayne
from the album Dissimulation
Released24 April 2020 (2020-04-24)
Recorded2020
Genre
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
KSI singles chronology
"Poppin"
(2020)		 "Houdini"
(2020)		 "Cap"
(2020)
Swarmz singles chronology
"Mojo Jojo"
(2019)		 "Houdini"
(2020)		 "Freaky"
(2020)
Tion Wayne singles chronology
"4AM"
(2020)		 "Houdini"
(2020)		 "Moncler"
(2020)
Music video
"Houdini" on YouTube

Background

Swarmz recorded the chorus, along with a verse, and sent it to KSI, who listened to it, but "wasn't too sure about it". After playing it to his girlfriend, who "thought otherwise" and "said it would be a banger", KSI decided to go ahead and work on the song, recording his own verse. KSI "wasn't too keen on" Swarmz's verse, so he decided to not include it on the song and instead include a verse from another artist, which resulted in the addition of Tion Wayne's verse. KSI has said that when deciding which other artist to feature on the song, the decision was between Tion Wayne and British rapper Jay1.[1][2][3]

Promotion and release

On 17 April 2020, KSI announced via social media that he would be releasing a new single in the next week titled "Houdini", which will feature Swarmz and Tion Wayne, saying "we about to drop the biggest U.K. banger of 2020". The song was made available for pre-order on the same day.[4] "Houdini" was released worldwide for digital download and streaming via all platforms on 24 April 2020 through RBC Records, under BMG Rights Management.[5]

"Houdini" appeared on the UK compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 106, which was released on 24 July 2020.[6]

Critical reception

GRM Daily said, ""Houdini" is a polished-sounding single dominated by a fun-filled vibe. Swarmz jumps in first with an infectious hook which is followed by confident lyrics and energetic flows from both KSI and Tion Wayne".[7] Thomas Gillespie of Earmilk said, ""Houdini" is a change of pace from the more American style singles that have come before from KSI. The track is an afro-centric hip-hop club banger that will bar sitting on the charts for weeks to come. UK titans Tion Wayne and Swarmz join JJ on this one and the chemistry is abundant. From the bouncy production and infectious drum pockets to the catchy flows produced by both KSI and Tion Wayne respectively are fantastic. Not to mention, the chorus is by far one of the catchiest and stickiest I have heard in a long time".[8]

Commercial performance

The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number 6, making it KSI's fourth UK top 40 single, and his second to reach the top ten.[9][10] It dropped to numbers 13, 16, and 23 over the following three weeks, before climbing back up to number 15 after the release of KSI's debut album Dissimulation.[10] The song spent a further four weeks in the top 40, before dropping out and spending one more week in the top 100.[10] "Houdini" is currently KSI's highest-charting single in the UK as a lead artist.[10] The song spent a total of eleven weeks on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart, peaking at number 5.[11] KSI reacted to the commercial success of "Houdini" on Twitter, saying "thank you everyone for your support. We're consistently breaking boundaries. They're slowly understanding the power of a youtuber. Too gassed right now!!!".[12][13] On 9 July 2020, Music Week reported that 165,314 copies of "Houdini" had been sold in the UK, making it the UK's 49th-best-selling song of the first half of 2020.[14] On 31 July 2020, "Houdini" received a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for exceeding UK sales of 200,000 units.[15]

Music videos

The song's music video was filmed in London in March 2020 and was uploaded to KSI's YouTube channel on the same day as the release of the song.[16] It has 18 million views.[17] The video is directed by British director Kaylum and stars all three artists.[7]

A lyric video, created by BWGRX, was uploaded to KSI's YouTube channel on 8 May 2020, two weeks after the release of the song. It has 1.5 million views.[18]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[19]

  • KSI – vocals, songwriting
  • Swarmz – vocals, songwriting
  • Tion Wayne – vocals, songwriting
  • AJ – production, songwriting
  • Jacob Manson – production, songwriting
  • Eight9FLY – songwriting
  • Henkka Niemistö – engineering
  • Michalis Michael – engineering

Remix
"Houdini (Pink Panda Remix)"
Remix by KSI featuring Swarmz and Tion Wayne
Released23 June 2020 (2020-06-23)
Recorded2020
Length2:54
Label

A remix of the song by DJ group Pink Panda was released on 23 June 2020.[20] An audio visualiser video for the remix was uploaded to KSI's YouTube channel and it has over 1 millions views.[21]

Charts
Weekly chart performance for "Houdini"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia Urban Singles (ARIA)[22] 36
Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[23] 10
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 11
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[25] 3
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[26] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[27] 6
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[28] 5
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[29] 1

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "Houdini"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Houdini"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various 24 April 2020
Original
[30]
23 June 2020 Pink Panda Remix [20]
gollark: Do not attempt to resist.
gollark: In summary, you are being orbitally lased.
gollark: Personal attacks are interpreted by GTech™ defense systems as personal attacks, which will initiate an orbital-laser response.
gollark: Well, I interpret any criticism of length-terminated strings as a personal attack.
gollark: I should rewrite it.

See also

References
  1. "Dissimulation by KSI / Editors' notes". Apple Music. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. "KSI opens up about next boxing fight & debut album 'Dissimulation'". Capital XTRA. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  3. "KSI Breaks Down 'Dissimulation' With Robert Bruce". GRM Daily. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  4. @KSIOlajidebt (17 April 2020). "WE ABOUT TO DROP THE BIGGEST U.K. BANGER OF 2020. Houdini out next Friday. Pre order here" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 April 2020 – via Twitter.
  5. "KSI Releases New Single, "Houdini" Featuring Swarmz, Tion Wayne". EIN News. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  6. "Now That's What I Call Music! 106 tracklisting revealed". Official Charts Company. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  7. "KSI, Swarmz & Tion Wayne Join Forces For Huge Single "Houdini"". GRM Daily. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  8. Gillespie, Thomas (28 April 2020). "KSI makes any doubt disappear on "Houdini"". Earmilk. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  9. "Times Like These: BBC Radio 1's Stay Home Live Lounge charity single claims Number 1". Official Charts Company. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  10. "KSI | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  11. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 (10 July 2020 ‒ 16 July 2020)". Official Charts Company. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. KSI [@KSI] (1 May 2020). "6th!!!! HOLY FUCK. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE'RE CONSISTENTLY BREAKING BOUNDARIES. THEYRE SLOWLY UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF A YOUTUBER. TOO GASSED RIGHT NOW!!" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 May 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. "KSI's New Single 'Houdini' Reaches Number 6 In UK Official Chart". TenEighty. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  14. "How KSI scored the biggest breakthrough of 2020 so far". Music Week. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  15. "British single certifications – Ksi/Swarmz/Tion Wayne – Houdini". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 31 July 2020. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Houdini in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  16. "KSI hangs out with Swarmz in stripped down music video for new single Houdini as he gears up for 'personal' new album". Metro. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  17. "KSI – Houdini (feat. Swarmz & Tion Wayne) [Official Music Video]". 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  18. "KSI – Houdini (feat. Swarmz & Tion Wayne) [Official Lyric Video]". 8 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020 – via YouTube.
  19. "KSI / Houdini (feat. Swarmz & Tion Wayne) / Credits". Tidal. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  20. "Houdini (feat. Swarmz & Tion Wayne) [Pink Panda Remix] by KSI". Apple Music. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  21. "KSI – Houdini (feat. Swarmz & Tion Wayne) [Pink Panda Remix]". 23 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020 – via YouTube.
  22. "ARIA Urban Singles Chart" (PDF). ARIA. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  23. "Euro Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  24. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  25. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  26. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  28. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  29. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  30. "Houdini (feat. Swarmz & Tion Wayne) by KSI". Apple Music. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
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