Traktor (song)

"Traktor" is a song by Tottenham-born rapper Wretch 32, featuring vocals from British singer L Marshall (credited as "L" on the release).[1] It was released as the lead single from his second studio album, Black and White, on 16 January 2011. A 12" vinyl was released the following day. On 23 January 2011, the single debuted at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart;[2] also managing to reach number 2 on both the R&B chart and the independent releases chart.[3][4] The song title refers to Traktor, the Native Instruments DJ software of the same name.

"Traktor"
Single by Wretch 32 featuring L Marshall
from the album Black and White
Released	16 January 2011
Recorded	2010
Genre	British hip hop R&B
Length	3:38
Label	Ministry of Sound
Songwriter(s)	Jermaine Scott Yogi Tulsiani Thomas Christopher Temilaye Rosiki-Griffith
Producer(s)	Yogi
Wretch 32 singles chronology
"Traktor" (2011) "Unorthodox" (2011)
L singles chronology
"Traktor" (2011) "The Wait" (2012)

"Traktor" was selected by Reggie Yates as The Weekend Anthem on BBC Radio 1 for 18 – 19 December 2010.[5]

Background

Speaking to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis – assistant editor of Blues & Soul – in December 2010 Wretch stated: "'Traktor' is actually about a dad talking to his child. Like on the intro the dad is saying 'Hey, go get a job' and basically telling his son to get outta the house. Then the chorus is actually the son explaining what's going on in his life. Like he's quit school; he hasn't got a job yet; his girl's upset 'cause she's pregnant and – though his daughter's on the way – he keeps on clubbing and raving... But yet through it all he knows that he rides the beat like a TRACTOR – that he's a great RAPPER! You know, though everything is so wild in his life he literally does know that he has got a talent and he wants to stick with it... So yeah, it's basically all about having a gift and taking a risk with the music and BELIEVING in it. Which is pretty much how it is for ME!".[6]

Critical reception

Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review stating: "Though he sounds like a mere number from the Dickensian workhouse, there's nothing anonymous about this debut single."[7]

Chart performance

"Traktor" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 23 January 2011 at number 5;[2] marking the week's third highest new entry behind Diddy-Dirty Money and Adele. The following week, the single fell two places to number 7; falling out of the top ten to number 12 on 6 February. The single spent a total of six weeks within the top 40, falling to number 44 on its seventh week on 6 March. The single also debuted at number 2 on the R&B singles chart[3] behind Diddy-Dirty Money and Skylar Grey's "Coming Home" and at number two on the independent releases chart[4] behind Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". The single also debuted in Ireland and Scotland at number 45 on 28 January[8]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of the single "Traktor" was first released on YouTube on 9 November 2010, directed by Ben Newman. The video lasts 3 minutes and 47 seconds long. The video opens with the digits '32' forming out of ice; before the song begins, in which Wretch 32, L and FKA Twigs are all show in between the flashing of lights. The video takes place in an underground and empty car park and features Wretch 32 and L performing alongside with the song, while FKA Twigs mimics the song by playing the drums; also dancing. Rapper Chipmunk makes a cameo appearance at the end of the video.[9]

Track listing

Digital download

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Traktor" (radio edit – clean)	3:38
2.	"Traktor" (Dawood & Preston remix – clean)	4:04
3.	"Traktor" (Brookes Brothers remix – clean)	4:25
4.	"Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project remix – clean)	4:42
5.	"Traktor" (Friction remix – clean)	4:38
6.	"Traktor" (explicit edit)	3:37
7.	"Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project Go Harder dub – clean)	4:42

CD single[10]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Traktor" (radio edit)	3:38
2.	"Traktor" (Dawood & Preston remix)	4:04
3.	"Traktor" (Brookes Brothers remix)	4:25
4.	"Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project remix)	4:42
5.	"Traktor" (Friction remix)	4:38
6.	"Traktor" (explicit edit)	3:37
7.	"Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project Go Harder dub)	4:42
8.	"Traktor" (instrumental edit)	3:38

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	45
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[11]	8
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[4]	2
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[3]	2
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[2]	5

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[12]	Gold	400,000
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format
Ireland[13]	16 January 2011	Digital download
United Kingdom[14]	16 January 2011
	17 January 2011	Vinyl

References

1. L Marshall Music
2. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
3. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
4. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
5. BBC Radio 1 - Switch - 20 December 2010 - Tracklisting, Retrieved 2011-01-15.
6. Stephen Clark - Design. "Wretch 32: Ploughing on through". bluesandsoul.com.
7. Music – Singles Review – Wretch 32: 'Traktor'. Digital Spy (2011-01-16). Retrieved on 2011-01-23.
8. "Chart Track: Week 04, 2011". Irish Singles Chart.
9. Wretch 32 - Traktor - Music Video, YouTube, Retrieved 2010-11-09.
10. http://www.discogs.com/Wretch-32-Traktor/release/2709913
11. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
12. "British single certifications – Wretch 32 ft L – Traktor". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 July 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Traktor in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
13. "iTunes - Music - Traktor (Remixes) [feat. L] by Wretch 32". iTunes.
14. "iTunes - Music - Traktor (Remixes) [feat. L] by Wretch 32". iTunes.