Proud (2 Chainz song) explained

Proud
Type:single
Artist:2 Chainz featuring YG and Offset
Ep:The Play Don't Care Who Makes It
Released:March 6, 2018
Length:3:54
Chronology:2 Chainz
Prev Title:Flirt
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:Hardaway (Remix)
Next Year:2018

"Proud" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper 2 Chainz featuring American rappers YG and Offset. It was sent to urban contemporary radio on March 6, 2018 as the lead single from 2 Chainz's EP The Play Don't Care Who Makes It (2018).[1] The song was produced by T-Minus and Vaiyeh.

Composition

The production contains "a few plaintive synth squiggles" with a snare and hi-hat beat,[2] while lyrically the rappers reflect on their separate upbringings and relationships with their mothers.[3] 2 Chainz details spending his childhood in a crime-ridden neighborhood with his mother in the first verse. It is respectively followed by verses from YG and Offset, the latter of whom performs in melodic, Auto-Tuned vocals and praises his mother for teaching him how to make money. The three rappers interpolate lyrics from the chorus of the song "My Momma" by Future featuring Wiz Khalifa, especially the line "My momma ain't raise no ho".

Critical reception

Aron A. of HotNewHipHop gave a positive review, writing "YG and Offset bring some fire verses through for the highlight of 2 Chainz latest project. On 'PROUD,' 2 Chainz brings T-Minus to handle the sleek production. The three emcees come through with fire and completely demolish their verses. While the project might only be four songs, 'PROUD' defintely [''sic''] stands out on the tracklist."[4] Mehan Jayasuriya of Pitchfork wrote that "2 Chainz's guests never get the best of him on 'Proud,' a song that balances toughness, humor, street savvy, and genuine affection. It's hard to imagine another rapper landing the kind of trap song you could bring home to mom."

Music video

An official music video was filmed on March 9, 2018[5] and released on March 27, 2018. Directed by 2 Chainz and Howard Ross and filmed in Atlanta,[6] [7] it features appearances from the rappers' mothers, who dress like them, lip-sync their verses and dance along with them in various neighborhoods.[8] [9] [10] [11] 2 Chainz's mother wears Gucci sneakers,[12] a gold "Tru" necklace, gold-tinted Tom Ford Olivier shades[13] and a bandana,[14] as she poses next to a classic muscle car. YG's mother wears a red jacket, red bandana around her neck, high black socks, black loafers and dark red lipstick. Offset's mother appears inside a trap house, wearing tinted glasses and a heavy gold "Offset" chain and counting stacks of cash. The clip also shows people holding up signs with the song's lyrics, like "My Momma Ain't Raise No Ho" and "I'm Just Tryna Make My Momma Proud." The rappers and their mothers come together in the ending in front of the burned down house.

Live performances

On May 10, 2018, 2 Chainz and YG performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, with their mothers appearing onstage alongside them.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Urban/UAC Future Releases. All Access. March 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20180302221506/https://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases . March 2, 2018.
  2. Web site: Jayasuriya . Mehan . "Proud" [ft. YG & Offset] ]. . 17 March 2024 . February 12, 2018.
  3. Web site: Fu . Eddie . 2 Chainz's New Song "PROUD" Interpolates A Track From Future's Album 'Honest' . . 17 March 2024 . February 10, 2018.
  4. Web site: A. . Aron . 2 Chainz Comes Together With YG & Offset On "PROUD" . HOT . 17 March 2024 . February 8, 2018.
  5. Web site: 2 Chainz, YG, & Offset Shoot 'Proud' Video With Their Moms . . 17 March 2024 . March 9, 2018.
  6. Web site: Maicki . Salvatore . 2 Chainz shares new video for "Proud" . . 17 March 2024 . March 28, 2018.
  7. Web site: Daramola . Israel . Video: 2 Chainz – "Proud" (ft. YG & Offset) . . 17 March 2024 . March 28, 2018.
  8. Web site: Goddard . Kevin . 2 Chainz, YG & Offset's Mothers Star In New Video "Proud" . HotNewHipHop . 17 March 2024 . March 27, 2018.
  9. Web site: Breihan . Tom . 2 Chainz – "Proud" (Feat. YG & Offset) Video . . 17 March 2024 . March 28, 2018.
  10. Web site: Video: 2 Chainz feat. YG & Offset - 'Proud' . . 17 March 2024 . March 27, 2018.
  11. 2 Chainz, YG, Offset Recruit Their Moms for 'Proud' Video . . 17 March 2024 . March 28, 2018.
  12. Web site: Michael . Michael Love . 2 Chainz's Mom Rapping In His New Video 'Proud' Has Us Beaming . . 17 March 2024 . March 28, 2018.
  13. Cummings-Grady . Mackenzie . 2 Chainz, YG and Offset Transform Their Moms Into Rappers in Epic 'Proud' Video: Watch . . 17 March 2024 . March 28, 2018.
  14. Web site: Mojica . Nick . 2 Chainz, Offset and YG Make Their Mommas "Proud" in New Video . . 17 March 2024 . March 28, 2018.
  15. Web site: 2 Chainz - Proud ft. YG (Live From Jimmy Kimmel Live!) . . 17 March 2024 . May 10, 2018.