Raf (song) explained

Raf
Cover:File:ASAP Mob - RAF.png
Type:single
Artist:ASAP Mob featuring ASAP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert and Frank Ocean
Released:May 15, 2017
Genre:
Length:4:15
Chronology:ASAP Mob
Prev Title:Wrong
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Feels So Good
Next Year:2017

"Raf" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American hip hop collective ASAP Mob, featuring collective member ASAP Rocky alongside Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert and Frank Ocean. It was released on May 15, 2017, and is the lead single from ASAP Mob's second studio album (2017). The song pays tribute to Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons.

Background

ASAP Rocky posted a snippet of the song on Twitter in January 2017, and previewed the song again at the 2017 Rolling Loud festival.[1] [2] The song premiered on Frank Ocean's Blonded Radio on May 15, 2017 in two versions.[3] It is named after fashion designer Raf Simons, whom Rocky is a longtime admirer of. When Simons was selected to be on the Time 100, Rocky wrote for Time:

I feel like Raf Simons is important for the culture based on the fact that he built a whole new religion around fashion. It's to the point where kids, male and female alike, will get in full arguments over why he's the greatest. And it's amazing how his prior work, his archive, is more important and relevant than anything that's out today.[4]

Content

In the song, ASAP Rocky sends warnings to not touch his designer clothing, notably Raf Simons-designed ones. Throughout Rocky's verse, Playboi Carti provides background vocals with ad-libs. The other artists each rap about owning designer clothes, also warning not to get close to their expensive garment.[5]

The two versions of the song that were originally released featured different verses from Frank Ocean.[6] One version features a hook from Rocky, on which he raps, "Please don't touch my Raf."[7]

Music video

The music video was released on July 24, 2017. Directed by Alec Eskander, it finds ASAP Rocky, Playboi Carti and Quavo modeling clothes from Raf Simon's archive. Simon's Fall/Winter 1995-1996 and Spring/Summer 2002 collections are referenced in the clip. The video uses a shortened version of the song which excludes Lil Uzi Vert and Frank Ocean's verses.[8] [9]

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[10] 5
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)[11] 10

Notes and References

  1. Gonzales. Erica. 2017-05-15. A$AP Rocky Wrote a Song About Raf Simons. Harper's Bazaar. en-US.
  2. Penrose. Nerisha. 2017-05-15. A$AP Rocky Taps Playboi Carti, Quavo, Frank Ocean and Lil Uzi Vert for 'Raf'. Billboard. en-US.
  3. Web site: Davey. Jacob. 2017-05-23. Hear Frank Ocean Rap on A$AP Rocky's New Song "Raf". Highsnobiety. en.
  4. Rocky. ASAP. Raf Simons: The World's 100 Most Influential People. Time. en-us.
  5. Web site: May 15, 2017. New Music: A$AP Mob feat. A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert, & Frank Ocean – 'RAF'. Rap-Up. en-US.
  6. Web site: May 15, 2017. New Music: A$AP Mob feat. A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert, & Frank Ocean – 'RAF'. Rap-Up. en-US.
  7. Web site: Davey. Jacob. 2017-05-23. Hear Frank Ocean Rap on A$AP Rocky's New Song "Raf". Highsnobiety. en.
  8. Web site: DeStefano. Mike. July 25, 2017. ASAP Mob's "RAF" Video Was Inspired by a Visual Lookbook for Raf Simons' Debut Collection. Complex. en.
  9. Blistein. Jon. 2017-07-26. A$AP Rocky Plots Too Cozy Tour With A$AP Mob, Unveils 'RAF' Video. Rolling Stone. en-US.
  10. Web site: June 5, 2017. NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ.
  11. ASAP Rocky - Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. January 11, 2021.

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