The Jackie Explained

The Jackie
Cover:	Bas and J. Cole - The Jackie.png
Type:	single
Artist:	Bas and J. Cole featuring Lil Tjay
Ep:	[BUMP] Pick Me Up
Released:	July 9, 2021
Genre:	Trap
Length:	3:24
Label:	Dreamville Interscope
Producer:	T-Minus
Chronology:	Bas
Prev Title:	Romeo
Prev Year:	2021
Next Title:	Spill
Next Year:	2021

"The Jackie" is a song by American rappers Bas and J. Cole featuring fellow American rapper Lil Tjay. It was released on July 9, 2021, with an accompanying music video, and was produced by T-Minus.

Background

Dreamville Records teased the song on July 6, 2021 on social media, calling it a "summer anthem".^[1] "The Jackie" refers to Jackie Robinson Parkway.^[2]

Composition

The melodic song features a "bouncy" beat produced by T-Minus. It begins with a chorus from J. Cole, with the lyrics "You see the drop top, bitch / Stop playing with me / She say she wanna let the waves splash down on me".^{[3] [4] [5]} Bas then sings the first verse, starting with "I'm on the way, send me the addy, I'm on the Jackie / Five on the belt, ten on the jacket, you gotta have me / It's been a day, I don't wanna wait no more".^[6] Lil Tjay handles the next verse, and Cole sings the last verse with eight lines.^[7]

Critical reception

Abby Jones of Consequence called the song "a caffeinated, heavy-hitting trap song that acts as an ode of sorts to New York summer nights". Brad Callas of Complex wrote that Bas' "sing-song opening verse pairs well with Tjay's signature melodic approach". Sophie Caraan called the chorus "catchy", and wrote that the "imposing" verses from Bas and Lil Tjay "sound like they're currently at the top of their game". Wongo Okon of Uproxx described the track as "extremely confident".^[8]

Music video

The music video, directed by John Tashiro, shows J. Cole as an Uber driver equipped with snacks and drinks. He picks up Bas and his girlfriend in an old school convertible and cruises around New York City before going to a party. Mark Phillips of RDCWorld, a content-creating group, appears in the video, in which he recreates a viral meme of J. Cole: he approaches Cole and calls him by his real name, then asks for an autograph before Cole drives away.^{[9] [10]}

Charts

Chart (2021)	Peak position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)^[11]	7
US Rolling Stone Top 100^[12]	55

Notes and References

1. Web site: Caraan. Sophie. 2021-07-06. J. Cole, Bas and Lil Tjay Announce New Collab "The Jackie". HYPEBEAST.
2. Web site: Jones. Abby. 2021-07-09. J. Cole and Bas team up for new single "The Jackie": Stream. Consequence.
3. Web site: Saponara. Michael. 2021-07-09. J. Cole Plays A Janky Uber Driver In Bas' 'The Jackie' Video w/ Lil Tjay & Mark Phillips. HipHopDX.
4. Web site: Callas. Brad. July 9, 2021. Bas Links With J. Cole and Lil Tjay for New Track and Video "The Jackie". Complex. en.
5. Web site: Caraan. Sophie. 2021-07-09. Bas Enlists J. Cole and Lil Tjay for New Single "The Jackie". HYPEBEAST.
6. Web site: Cho. Regina. 2021-07-09. Bas, J.Cole, and Lil TJay join forces for "The Jackie". REVOLT. en.
7. Zemler. Emily. 2021-07-09. Hear J. Cole and Lil Tjay Team Up With Bas on 'The Jackie'. Rolling Stone. en-US.
8. Web site: Okon. Wongo. 2021-07-09. Bas, J. Cole, And Lil Tjay's 'The Jackie' Is A Very Confident Collab. UPROXX. en-US.
9. Web site: July 9, 2021. Bas Drops 'The Jackie' Video with J. Cole and Lil Tjay. Rap-Up. en-US.
10. Web site: Rose. Jordan. July 9, 2021. J. Cole Meets RDCWorld's Mark Phillips and Recreates Viral Meme. Complex. en.
11. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. July 19, 2021. Recorded Music NZ. July 19, 2021.
12. Top 100 Songs. Rolling Stone. July 15, 2021. July 15, 2021. July 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210719170702/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2021-07-15/. dead.