Waddup Explained

Waddup
Cover:PGF Nuk - Waddup.jpg
Type:single
Artist:PGF Nuk
Album:Switch Music
Released:October 26, 2021[1]
Genre:Drill
Length:2:01
Producer:Fatman Beatzz
Prev Title:Skeet off the Lot
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Glock with a Switch
Next Year:2021

"Waddup" is a song by American rapper PGF Nuk. It was released on October 26, 2021, and produced by Fatman Beatzz. It is considered his breakout single. In April 2022, the song received a remix featuring American rapper Polo G which served as the lead single from Nuk's debut studio album Switch Music (2022).

Background

The song began as a freestyle that PGF Nuk was rapping to a beat while making bacon. His girlfriend recorded it unbeknownst to him, aware that he likes to keep track of his freestyles. In October 2021, the song was released alongside a music video. Upon its release, the song went viral, leading to PGF Nuk's rise to prominence.[2] [3]

Composition and reception

"Waddup" is a drill song. It features "terse verses in a wrought-iron flow, lean percussion, a sparse synth melody as chilly as a dusty pipe organ".[4] Leor Galil of Chicago Reader praised the song, commenting that "superficially it sounds like a pretty standard drill track", but "Nuk puts it over the top with his style".

Remixes

In January 2022, Chicago rapper and PGF Nuk's cousin by marriage Polo G posted a video of himself rapping along to the song in his car. He was featured on the official remix of the song, released on April 2, 2022.[5] This version became more popular than the original, propelling Nuk to further recognition, and served as the lead single from his debut studio album Switch Music. A music video for the remix was also released and has amassed over 30 million views on YouTube.[6]

The remix featuring Polo G received generally positive reviews. Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote, "Polo's verse on the remix is strong; it gives him a chance to show that he can do primordial drill shit as well as the sad singsong stuff that made him famous. But Polo doesn't leave as much of an impression as Nuk, whose snarling charisma somehow comes through even more strongly when he's got an actual star on the track with him." Joey Echevarria of XXL wrote that the beat "provides the perfect undertone for the fierce bars both Chicago drill rhymers laid down, putting any and all opps on notice all through the summer."[7]

A second remix of the song was released as a track from Switch Music; it features American rapper G Herbo and is titled "Waddup (Swervo Mix)".

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Waddup - Single. . August 21, 2022 . October 26, 2021.
  2. Seabrook III . Robby . The Break Presents: PGF Nuk . . August 16, 2022.
  3. Web site: Breihan . Tom . Glorilla And The Art Of The Underground Rap Hit . . August 21, 2022 . May 25, 2022.
  4. News: Galil . Leor . Chicago drill upstart PGF Nuk hits where it hurts on Switch Music . . August 21, 2022 . August 4, 2022.
  5. Web site: Waddup (feat. Polo G) - Single. Apple Music . August 21, 2022 . April 2, 2022.
  6. Seabrook III . Robby . These Are the 10 Drill Rappers to Listen to Right Now . XXL . August 21, 2022 . August 1, 2022.
  7. Seabrook III . Robby . These Are the Best Hip-Hop Songs of Summer 2022 . XXL . August 21, 2022 . August 17, 2022.