"223's" is a song by American rapper YNW Melly featuring fellow American rapper 9lokkNine, released as the lead single from the former's debut studio album Melly vs. Melvin on August 9, 2019. Written by the artists alongside Rocco Did It Again!, who produced it with the latter, it reached the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as in New Zealand, Canada, and Latvia.

"223's"
Single by YNW Melly featuring 9lokkNine
from the album Melly vs. Melvin
ReleasedAugust 9, 2019 (2019-08-09)
Recorded2018
GenreGangsta rap
Length2:56
Label300
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
YNW Melly singles chronology
"100 Shells"
(2019)
"223's"
(2019)
"Suicidal"
(2020)
9lokkNine singles chronology
"Beef"
(2019)
"223's"
(2019)
"Moods"
(2020)
Music video
"223's" on YouTube

Background

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The track, originally by 9lokknine and released on his December 2018 mixtape Lil Glokk That Stole Khristmas, was "rebranded" as a collaboration with YNW Melly, who has been in jail since February 2019 after turning himself in on double murder charges and possession of marijuana. After being pulled over for a broken tail light, YNW Melly led a one-hour police chase through the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico ending with Melly fleeing; the track references this incident.[1] It was released as a single in August 2019 after going viral on the video app TikTok.[2]

Lyrics

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The lyric refers to gang violence, with the title referring to semi-automatic rifles that fire .223 cartridges.[3]

Music video

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An official music video was released on YNW Melly's official YouTube channel on November 2, 2019.

The video featured the now-rapper Lil Mabu as a cameo.

Charts

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Weekly charts

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Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[4] 56
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[5] 27
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 53
Latvia (LAIPA)[7] 15
Lithuania (AGATA)[8] 41
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 94
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 69
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 34
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 17
US Rolling Stone Top 100[14] 16

Year-end charts

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Chart (2019) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 81
Chart (2020) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 97

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[18] 2× Platinum 2,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Zidel, Alex (September 23, 2019). "YNW Melly Kicks Off "223s" Challenge With Cringe-Worthy Dance Videos". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  2. ^ "In Search Of: Orlando Rapper 9LOKKNINE's YNW Melly Collab "223's" Is Taking Him To The Next Level". Genius. October 3, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  3. ^ Mamo, Heran (September 25, 2019). "Here Are the Lyrics to YNW Melly & 9lokknine's '223's'". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  4. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #548". auspOp. October 26, 2019. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  5. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: October 12, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  6. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography YNW Melly". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 41. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 14, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  9. ^ "YNW Melly & 9lokknine – 223's". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  10. ^ "YNW Melly & 9lokknine – 223's". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  12. ^ "Chart Search: YNW Melly". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  13. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: November 16, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. September 20, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  16. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  17. ^ "British single certifications – Ynw Melly Ft 9Lokknine – 223's". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  18. ^ "American single certifications – YNW Melly – 223's". Recording Industry Association of America. July 9, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.