F.N.F. (Let's Go) Explained

F.N.F. (Let's Go)
Cover:Hitkidd & Glorilla - F.N.F. (Let's Go).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Hitkidd and GloRilla
Ep:Anyways, Life's Great
Released:April 29, 2022
Recorded:2022
Genre:Crunk
Length:2:17
Label:
Producer:Hitkidd
Chronology:Hitkidd
Prev Title:Set the Tone
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Shabooya
Next Year:2022

"F.N.F. (Let's Go)" is a song by American record producer Hitkidd and American rapper GloRilla. It was released on April 29, 2022 as the first single from her debut EP, Anyways, Life's Great (2022). The song went viral through the video-sharing app TikTok and is considered the breakout hit for both artists.

Background

Hitkidd produced the instrumental of the song for a project he began working on in April 2022. He sent the beat to rapper Megan Thee Stallion, but when he did not receive a response, Hitkidd sent it to GloRilla instead. According to GloRilla, at the time he called, she "was on the toilet and gonna get my lashes done". Hitkidd requested that they create a summer anthem that the "girls can chant". They soon met at the studio. GloRilla requested to step out to smoke some Backwoods, and then came up with the lyrics, "I'm F-R-E-E, fuck nigga free". Within 30 minutes, they recorded the song that became "F.N.F. (Let's Go)".

GloRilla recorded a since-deleted Triller video of her lighting a Backwood in the bathroom and playing the song. Through Hitkidd's advice on increasing the song's exposure, GloRilla changed her explicit second verse to boost radio play, and shot a music video for it. The video was shot by Ricco, who finished editing it that same night. The song was released the next day.

Two days later, Blac Noize! Recordings and Big Machine Label Group approached Hitkidd to re-release "F.N.F." on streaming platforms through their hip hop label venture. Soon after the song was made available on streaming platforms, it quickly gained recognition and popularity on TikTok. The song was also remixed by other artists.[1]

Composition

"F.N.F. (Let's Go)" is a crunk song, in which GloRilla raps about her freedom after ending her relationship with a womanizer[2] [3] and embracing spending time with her girlfriends instead.[4] The beat has been described as having a "menacing key loop and propulsive drums".

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. Music critics have considered it a summer anthem. Brandon Callender described the production as "catchy enough to keep your ears perked". C.G. of XXL wrote, "From the spelling on the hook—'I'm F-R-E-E, fuck-n***a-free'—to her witty insults—'He say, "Y'all be living fast," nah, pussy boy, you slow', Big Glo's got the bars to match the charisma, and there's a whole lot of it. Hitkidd's pulsing production lends itself to the carefree nature of the rap newcomer's rhymes as well."

Year-end lists

PublicationListRankRef.
Los Angeles Times100 Best Songs of 202235[5]
NPR1[6]
Pitchfork3[7]
Time10 Best Songs of 20224[8]

Music video

The music video was released alongside the single. It sees GloRilla and her friends "wilding out" and drinking.

Remixes

Several artists have released freestyles to the song, including Renni Rucci, Kaliii and Erica Banks.[9] On September 9, 2022, an official remix featuring rappers Latto and JT (of City Girls) was released.[10] Originally, American rapper Saweetie was supposed to be featured on said remix. However Hitkidd confirmed Saweetie was replaced on the remix due to paperwork issues.

Chart performance

The song debuted at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first charting song for both Hitkidd and GloRilla. The song peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[11] [12]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 29

Awards and nominations

AwardsYearCategoryResultRef.
BET Hip Hop Awards2022Song of the Year[14]
Grammy Awards2023Best Rap Performance[15]

Notes and References

  1. Mamo . Heran . Chartbreaker: How GloRilla Created a Summer Anthem in a Matter of Days — And Rode Its Momentum to a Label Deal . . August 19, 2022 . July 15, 2022.
  2. Callender . Brandon . Song You Need: Hitkidd and Glorilla's "FNF (Let's Go)" is a serious Song of the Summer contender . . August 20, 2022 . May 13, 2022.
  3. Seabrook III . Robby . These Are the Best Hip-Hop Songs of Summer 2022 . . August 20, 2022 . August 17, 2022.
  4. Web site: Breihan . Tom . Glorilla And The Art Of The Underground Rap Hit . . August 20, 2022 . May 25, 2022.
  5. Web site: Brown . August . Draughorne . Kenan . Exposito . Suzy . Wood . Mikael . December 4, 2022 . The 100 best songs of 2022 (complete with playlist!) . Los Angeles Times.
  6. Web site: 100 Best Songs of 2022 . NPR.
  7. Web site: December 5, 2022 . The 100 Best Songs of 2022 . Pitchfork.
  8. Chow . Andrew . Lang . Cady . Mendez II . Moises . November 22, 2022 . The 10 Best Songs of 2022 . Time.
  9. Web site: Sadler . Aaron . The Best New Hip-Hop This Week . . August 20, 2022 . June 10, 2022.
  10. Web site: Callas . Brad . Latto and JT Hop on GloRilla and Hitkidd's "F.N.F (Let's Go)" Remix . . September 10, 2022 . September 9, 2022.
  11. Billboard Hot 100: September 24, 2022. Billboard. September 20, 2022.
  12. Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart: Week of August 20, 2022. Billboard. August 20, 2022.
  13. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022. Billboard. December 2, 2022.
  14. Web site: Pierre . Mekishana . September 14, 2022 . BET Hip Hop Awards 2022: See the Complete List of Nominees . ET.
  15. News: 2022-11-15 . Grammy Awards 2023: The Full List of Nominees . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-11-15 . 0362-4331.