Poppin

"Poppin" is a song by British YouTuber and rapper KSI, featuring American rappers Lil Pump and Smokepurpp. It was released on 27 March 2020 through RBC Records. It is the third single from KSI's debut studio album Dissimulation (2020). The song charted at number 43 on the UK Singles Chart.

Not to be confused with Poppin' (song).

"Poppin"
Single by KSI featuring Lil Pump and Smokepurpp
from the album Dissimulation
Released27 March 2020 (2020-03-27)
Recorded2019–2020
GenreHip hop
Length3:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Diego Ave
  • Go Grizzly
  • Mally Mall
  • OG Tint
KSI singles chronology
"Wake Up Call"
(2020)		 "Poppin"
(2020)		 "Houdini"
(2020)
Lil Pump singles chronology
"You Know You Lit"
(2020)		 "Poppin"
(2020)		 "Illuminati"
(2020)
Smokepurpp singles chronology
"RR"
(2020)		 "Poppin"
(2020)		 "Off My Chest"
(2020)
Music video
"Poppin" on YouTube

Background

The song's instrumental was produced by American producers Go Grizzly and Diego Ave, and it features a sample from producer OG Tint. Smokepurpp recorded a hook to the instrumental, but "left it because he didn't really know where he was doing with it". KSI was played the instrumental with Smokepurpp's hook during a studio session with the song's producers in Los Angeles. He thought it was "sick" and asked if he could "do something with it". KSI recorded a hook and a verse for the song, which Smokepurpp "liked a lot". KSI and his team thought about having an additional artist feature on the song in order to "make it even bigger", resulting in the addition of Lil Pump's verse, since they "wanted something playful" and "it made sense to have him on the track".[1]

Promotion and release

On 18 March 2020, KSI announced via social media that he would be releasing a new single in the next week, and on the same day, he posted the song's cover art to his social media pages, revealing that the song is titled "Poppin" and that it features Lil Pump and Smokepurpp. The song was made available for pre-order on the same day.[2][3] "Poppin" was released worldwide for digital download and streaming via all platforms on 27 March 2020 through American independent record label RBC Records, under BMG Rights Management.[4]

KSI explained the song's lyrics and meaning as part of a Genius Verified video interview, which was released on 8 May 2020.[5]

"Poppin challenge"

On 30 March 2020, KSI announced via social media that he would be hosting a competition called the "#PoppinChallenge". He asked people to record their own verses for "Poppin", and the best verse, decided by public vote, would replace Lil Pump's verse on a remix of the song which would appear on the deluxe edition of KSI's upcoming album Dissimulation, which was later released on 25 May 2020.[6][7] On 17 April 2020, American YouTube rapper Crypt was announced as the winner of the competition.[7]

Critical reception

Mitch Findlay of HotNewHipHop called the song "gaudy", and said, "Lil Pump sets things off on an energetic note. His flow is in fine form, outlandish in its disregard to etiquette yet all the better for it". He continued, "KSI has already proven himself to be a capable emcee, and he does it once more on this go-around, boasting the most dexterous flow on the track".[8] Grungecake called "Poppin" "a bouncy record" and noted that there are "stellar lyrical deliveries from all artists".[9] GRM Daily said that the song "carries a punchy vibe as a result of the bass-heavy production and the sharp delivery from KSI, Lil Pump and Smokepurpp".[10] Luke Morgan Britton of NME described "Poppin" as "hyperactive mumble rap", with Insider's Kat Tenbarge summarising the song as "all about flexing, mostly money and expensive jewellery".[11][7] Nick Duerden of i concluded that "Poppin" is "a curiously convincing slice of hyperactive Californian hip-hop for someone who was born and raised in Watford".[12]

Commercial performance

"Poppin" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 43.[13] The song dropped to number 56 the following week, before dropping out of the top 100.[13] The song spent a total of three weeks on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart, peaking at number 23.[14] On 10 July 2020, the Official Charts Company reported that "Poppin" is the 23rd-best-selling single to not reach the UK top 40 of the first half of 2020.[15]

Music videos

An audio visualiser video for the song was uploaded to KSI's YouTube channel on 27 March 2020. It has 7.5 million views.[16]

A trailer for the song's music video was released on 1 April 2020.[17] The music video was filmed in Los Angeles on 16 March 2020 and was uploaded to KSI's YouTube channel on 3 April 2020, one week after the release of the song.[18] It has 12 million views.[19] The video is directed by American director TajvsTaj and stars all three artists.[9] The video is set in "an underground club scene" and is "filled with dancing".[9] It features cameo appearances from Asian street dancer Bailey Sok, American actor and comedian King Bach, and two of the song's producers, Mally Mall and Diego Ave.[9] A behind-the-scenes video of the filming of the music video was uploaded to KSI's YouTube channel on 10 April 2020.[20]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[21]

  • KSI – vocals, songwriting
  • Lil Pump – vocals, songwriting
  • Smokepurpp – vocals, songwriting
  • Diego Ave – production, songwriting
  • Go Grizzly – production, songwriting
  • Mally Mall – production, songwriting
  • OG Tint – production
  • Henkka Niemistö – engineering
  • Michalis Michael – engineering

Charts
Weekly chart performance for "Poppin"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 52
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 13
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[24] 25
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[25] 43
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[26] 23
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[27] 4

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Poppin"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 27 March 2020
[28]

References
  1. Murray, Robin (24 July 2020). ""I'm Able To Give People What They Want!" Clash Meets KSI". Clash. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. KSI [@KSI] (18 March 2020). "New single coming out next week. Clue of the song name and feature here" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. KSI [@KSI] (18 March 2020). "Out next week lmao. Pre order/pre save now" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. "KSI to Release New Single, "Poppin" Featuring Lil Pump, Smokepurpp on March 27th". EIN News. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  5. "KSI Breaks Down The Meaning Of "Poppin"". Genius. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  6. KSI [@KSI] (30 March 2020). "Got a big one for you #poppinchallenge" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 March 2020 – via Twitter.
  7. Tenbarge, Kat (22 April 2020). "KSI conquered YouTube and boxing. Now, he wants to break the mold of 'YouTuber music,' and blow 'trash' musicians like the Paul brothers out of the water". Insider. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  8. Findlay, Mitch (27 March 2020). "KSI Unites With Lil Pump & Smokepurpp On Gaudy "Poppin"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  9. "English rapper KSI enlists Lil Pump and Smokepurpp for 'Poppin': Watch". GRUNGECAKE. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  10. "KSI Gives Visual Treatment To "Poppin" Featuring Lil Pump & Smokepurpp". GRM Daily. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  11. Britton, Luke Morgan (1 June 2020). "KSI: "A YouTuber doing music leaves a sour taste in people's mouths. They despise it"". NME. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  12. Duerden, Nick (15 April 2020). "KSI: 'My motto is this: prove people wrong'". i. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  13. "KSI | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  14. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 (29 May 2020 ‒ 04 June 2020)". Official Charts Company. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  15. "40 songs you slept on in the first half of 2020, including Celeste, Tom Grennan and Madison Beer". Official Charts Company. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  16. "KSI – Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp)". 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020 – via YouTube.
  17. "Poppin Music Video Trailer". 1 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  18. "KSI Releases New Music Video for Single, "Poppin" Featuring Lil Pump, Smokepurpp". EIN News. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  19. "KSI – Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp) [Official Music Video]". 3 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  20. "KSI – Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp) [Behind The Scenes]". 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  21. "KSI / Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp) / Credits". Tidal. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  22. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  23. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  26. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  27. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  28. "Poppin (feat. Lil Pump & Smokepurpp) ‒ Single by KSI". Apple Music. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
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