Rockstar (DaBaby song)

"Rockstar" is a song by American rapper DaBaby, featuring guest vocals from American rapper Roddy Ricch. The song was released on April 17, 2020 as the second single from DaBaby's third studio album Blame It on Baby (2020). It was written by the two rappers and its producer SethInTheKitchen. "Rockstar" has spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1] The song also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Its music video is set in a zombie apocalypse.

"Rockstar"
BLM remix artwork
Single by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
from the album Blame It on Baby
ReleasedApril 24, 2020
GenreHip hop
Length3:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)SethInTheKitchen
DaBaby singles chronology
"Find My Way"
(2020)		 "Rockstar"
(2020)		 "Buss It Down"
(2020)
Roddy Ricch singles chronology
"Numbers"
(2020)		 "Rockstar"
(2020)		 "High Fashion"
(2020)
Music video
"Rockstar" on YouTube

On June 12, 2020, DaBaby released a BLM (Black Lives Matter) remix of "Rockstar" featuring an extra verse from him before the rest of the song, regarding the George Floyd protests that started in May 2020, and his own experience with police abuse.[2]

Critical reception

Reviewing the song's predecessor album for Entertainment Weekly, Sam Hockley-Smith found "Rockstar" and "Find My Way" "catchy and brooding", "allowing him [DaBaby] to rehash harrowing moments of violence, inner turmoil, and PTSD."[3] In Pitchfork, Dani Blum noticed DaBaby "doesn't imitate Roddy Ricch as much as adjust his tone to complement the feature," thus, "his voice becomes softer, as close as DaBaby gets to tender, as he talks about the physical jolt of PTSD."[4]

Commercial performance

"Rockstar" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in its seventh week, for the chart issue dated June 13, 2020. It became DaBaby's first chart-topper and Roddy Ricch's second. It also became DaBaby's first number one and Ricch's second on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts. Along with "The Box", Ricch became the first artist to achieve his first two number one singles in the same year since Ed Sheeran did it in 2017.[5] Topping the chart for a second week, it became the first single to spent multiple weeks on top after a run in which five songs each spent a first and only week at the summit.[6] It has spent spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the chart so far. "Rockstar" has also spent six weeks at number one in both Australia and the UK,[7][8] and eight weeks atop the Irish chart.[9]

Music video

DaBaby teased a music video for "Rockstar" a week before its release, posting pictures on Instagram of the filming location.[10] The Reel Goats-directed video was premiered on June 26, 2020, starring the two rappers hunting zombies in an open field.[11] The seven-minute video also features a scene set to DaBaby's "Amazing Grace", following by the credits playing his verse from the remix.[12]

In Rolling Stone, Jon Blistein noted the video "boasts a distinctly cinematic feel" as the two rappers are heavily armed shooting a horde of zombies with "plenty of over-the-top action," that is "balanced by a refreshingly self-aware sequence" in which the two perform the song backed by a group of zombies dancing and playing instruments.[12]

Remix

On June 12, 2020, a remix of the song, titled "Rockstar Black Lives Matter Remix", was released. It joined many other protest songs that spoke out against police brutality in the wake of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd's murders. Jessica McKinney of Complex explained how on this version, DaBaby "discusses his multiple run-ins with the police, saying, 'Cops wanna pull me over, embarrass me/Abusin' power, you never knew me, thought I was arrogant/As a juvenile, police pulled their guns like they scared of me'", while Roddy Ricch "shares a similar experience, recalling a time the police stopped him at a gas station".[13] It later ended up on the deluxe version.

Live performance

DaBaby and Ricch performed the song live at the 2020 BET Awards. The performance opened in a close-up shot of DaBaby on the ground with the knee of a police officer sitting on his neck—a recreation of George Floyd's murder. He then appeared surrounded by protesters—channeling the nationwide protests against police brutality—and performing in front of burning police cars. Ricch joined him for his verse, standing atop a cop car.[14]

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 11
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 1
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[20] 86
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[21] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[22] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[23] 4
France (SNEP)[24] 6
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 3
Greece (IFPI)[26] 1
Hungary (Single Top 40)[27] 10
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[28] 4
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 1
Italy (FIMI)[30] 8
Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)[31] 13
Lithuania (AGATA)[32] 16
Malaysia (RIM)[33] 15
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[34] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[35] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[36] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[37] 2
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[38] 50
Portugal (AFP)[39] 1
Romania (Airplay 100)[40] 83
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[41] 4
Singapore (RIAS)[42] 8
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[43] 41
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[44] 2
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45] 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[48] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[49] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[50] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 7
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[52] 1
US Rolling Stone Top 100[53] 1

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[54] Gold 35,000
Belgium (BEA)[55] Gold 20,000*
France (SNEP)[56] Gold 100,000
Italy (FIMI)[57] Platinum 70,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[58] Platinum 30,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Platinum 600,000

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

Release history
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various April 17, 2020
Original
[60]
Italy April 24, 2020 Contemporary hit radio Universal [61]
United Kingdom [62]
Urban contemporary radio [63]
Various June 12, 2020
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Remix
  • Interscope
  • South Coast Music Group
 [2]
United States June 23, 2020 Contemporary hit radio Original [64]

References
  1. "DaBaby's "Rockstar" Tops Hot 100 For 3rd Week". Billboard. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-06-29.
  2. "DaBaby Releases "Rockstar (BLM Remix)" Featuring Roddy Ricch". Complex. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  3. Hockley-Smith, Sam (April 20, 2020). "DaBaby charts a new path forward on Blame It on Baby". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  4. Blum, Dani (April 21, 2020). "DaBaby Blame It on Baby". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  5. Trust, Gary (June 8, 2020). "DaBaby & Roddy Ricch's 'Rockstar' Rises to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  6. Trust, Gary (June 15, 2020). "DaBaby & Roddy Ricch's 'Rockstar' Rules Hot 100 for 2nd Week, Justin Bieber & Quavo's 'Intentions' Hits Top 5". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  7. "Six Weeks at Number One for DaBaby's Rockstar". ARIA Charts.
  8. "DaBaby's Rockstar claims sixth week at Number 1 on Official Singles Chart". Official Charts.
  9. "DaBaby's Rockstar rocks up at Number 1 on the Official Irish Singles Chart for an eighth week". Official Charts.
  10. "DaBaby Teases "Rockstar" Music Video With Roddy Ricch: "You Ready?"". HotNewHipHop.
  11. "Watch DaBaby and Roddy Ricch's New "Rockstar" Video". Complex.
  12. "DaBaby, Roddy Ricch Take on the Zombie Apocalypse in 'Rockstar' Video". Rolling Stone.
  13. McKinney, Jessica (June 12, 2020). "Best New Music This Week: Pop Smoke, Lil Baby, RMR, and More". Complex. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  14. "DaBaby Channels George Floyd for Powerful 'Rockstar' Performance at BET Awards". Rolling Stone.
  15. "Australian-charts.com – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  16. "Austriancharts.at – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  17. "Ultratop.be – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  18. "Ultratop.be – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
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  20. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 202032 into search. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  21. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202027 into search. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
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  27. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  28. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  29. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  30. "Italiancharts.com – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar". Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  31. "Latvijas Top 40". Latvijas Radio. June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  32. "2020 20-os SAVAITĖS (gegužės 8-14 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  33. "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  34. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 30, 2020" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved August 10, 2020.
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  38. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  39. "Portuguesecharts.com – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  40. "Airplay 100 – 7 iunie 2020" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. June 7, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  41. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  42. "RIAS International Top Charts Week 28". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on July 14, 2020.
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  44. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202027 into search. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  45. "Top 100 Canciones: Semana 30". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
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  51. "Roddy Ricch Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  52. "Roddy Ricch Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  53. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. May 15, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  54. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  55. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2020". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  56. "French single certifications – Dababy feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  57. "Italian single certifications – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 11, 2020. Select "2020" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Rockstar" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  58. "New Zealand single certifications – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch – Rockstar". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  59. "British single certifications – Dababy Ft Roddy Ricch – Rockstar". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 17, 2020. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Rockstar in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  60. "ROCKSTAR (feat. Roddy Ricch)". Spotify. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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  63. "The 1Xtra Playlist". BBC. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  64. "Top 40/M: Future Releases". All Access. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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