Norf Norf Explained

Norf Norf
Type:single
Artist:Vince Staples
Album:Summertime '06
Genre:Hip hop
Length:3:03[1]
Producer:Clams Casino
Prev Title:Get Paid
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Smoke & Retribution
Next Year:2016

"Norf Norf" is a song recorded by American rapper Vince Staples for his debut double studio album, Summertime '06. It was produced by Clams Casino, and released on June 22, 2015 by ARTium Recordings and Def Jam Recordings. It did not peak in any major chart. It received widespread acclaim by critics and was placed on several year-end lists. In March 2023, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Composition

"Norf Norf" is a hip hop song. It was described as "sonically grim",[2] built over a "drone-like" section similar to a "monophonic guitar feedback".[3] [4]

Reception

Critical reception

The song received widespread acclaim by critics. The song was placed in several year-end lists, with Pitchfork placing it at number 19;[5] Complex, at number 46;[6] and The Fader, at number 20.[7] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone named it his 12th favorite song of 2015.[8] Paul Schrodt of Complex called it the best Vince Staples song.[9]

Controversy

The song received criticism from a woman, who heard the song on the radio with her 11-year-old daughter,[10] and released a viral 11-minute video on the internet criticizing the song.[11] [12] [13] In the video, she recited the song's lyrics,[14] called the song "crap" and "filth", and criticized the song's chorus, "I ain't never run from nothing but the police".[13] The video attracted backlash, which led Staples to defend the woman: "No person needs to be attacked for their opinion on what they see to be appropriate for their children";[11] [13] [15] he also said she was "clearly confused on the context of the song" and "emotionally unstable".[16]

Music video

The song's music video was released on July 17, 2015. It was filmed in black and white,[17] and shows Staples with "an unfazed expression as he's taken on a seemingly routine trip from the back of a cop car",[2] and "gets his mugshot taken, gets roughed up by cops, and gets thrown in a cell".[18]

Eric Ducker of Rolling Stone named it the second best music video of 2015,[19] and USA Today named it the seventh best.[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Norf Norf [Explicit]]. Amazon. July 12, 2017.
  2. Vince Staples Isn't Running From the Police in 'Norf Norf' Video: Watch. Paley. Martin. July 17, 2015. Billboard. July 12, 2017.
  3. Web site: Vince Staples Doesn’t Hold Back on Debut Album ‘Summertime 06′. Xxlmag.com. 30 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Review: Vince Staples' 'Summertime '06' Is No Picnic, And Gloriously So. 29 June 2015. Spin.com. 30 December 2021.
  5. Web site: The 100 Best Tracks of 2015. Evan. Rytlewski. Pitchfork. July 27, 2017.
  6. Web site: The Best Songs of 2015. Complex. Justin. Charity. July 27, 2017.
  7. Web site: The 107 Best Songs of 2015. The Fader. July 27, 2017.
  8. Web site: Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2015. Rolling Stone. Rob. Sheffield. July 27, 2017.
  9. Web site: "Norf Norf" - The Best Vince Staples Songs. Paul. Schrodt. Complex. June 22, 2017. July 27, 2017.
  10. Web site: Extremely Concerned White Woman Recites Vince Staples's "Norf Norf" Through Tears. Noisey. July 12, 2017.
  11. Web site: Vince Staples on viral 'Norf Norf Rant' video: 'No person needs to be attacked'. Entertainment Weekly. Jessica. Goodman. October 6, 2016. July 12, 2017.
  12. Web site: Vince Staples Is a Nice Guy, Defends Mother Upset Over "Norf Norf" Lyrics. Spin. Brian. Josephs. October 6, 2016. July 12, 2017.
  13. Web site: A Mother Criticizes Vince Staples, and the Rapper Defends Her. Jonah Engel. Bromwich. October 6, 2016. The New York Times. July 12, 2017.
  14. Web site: Vince Staples Defends Christian Mother From The Viral "Norf Norf Rant" Video. David. Renshaw. The Fader.
  15. Web site: Vince Staples Is Still Defending That Mom Who Went Off About 'Norf Norf'. Bansky. Gonzalez. April 3, 2017. July 12, 2017. Uproxx.
  16. Web site: Vince Staples Calls Out People Who Criticized Mother Behind "Norf Norf" Rant: 'You're Worse Than Her'. Complex. Gavin. Evans. April 3, 2017. July 12, 2017.
  17. Web site: Vince Staples Spends a Rough Night in Jail in 'Norf Norf' Video. July 17, 2015. July 12, 2017. Spin. Rachel. Brodsky.
  18. Web site: Vince Staples Gets Locked Up in His "Norf Norf" Video. Matthew. Strauss. Pitchfork. July 17, 2015. July 12, 2017.
  19. Web site: Vince Staples, "Norf Norf" - 10 Best Music Videos of 2015. Eric. Ducker. Rolling Stone. December 22, 2015. July 27, 2017.
  20. Web site: The 10 best music videos of 2015. Nate. Scott. Micah. Peters. USA Today. December 28, 2015. July 27, 2017.