"Calling My Phone" is a song by American rapper Lil Tjay, featuring American singer 6lack from the former's second studio Destined 2 Win (2021). It was released on February 10, 2021, through Columbia and Sony.[1]

"Calling My Phone"
Single by Lil Tjay featuring 6lack
from the album Destined 2 Win
ReleasedFebruary 10, 2021
GenreR&B
Length3:25
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Bordeaux
  • G. Ry
  • Non Native
Lil Tjay singles chronology
"None of Your Love"
(2020)
"Calling My Phone"
(2021)
"Headshot"
(2021)
6lack singles chronology
"You Ain't Worth It"
(2020)
"Calling My Phone"
(2021)
"VIP *-*"
(2021)
Music video
"Calling My Phone" on YouTube

Background

edit

The song was steadily teased by Tjay on Twitter and TikTok among other social media accounts starting in December 2020.[2] Intended as a Valentine's Day gift to his fans, the artist announced the release of the single on February 4, 2021.[3] A teaser for the song was released on February 5 revealing its title and release date and that an unknown feature will appear on the song. Speculations on the feature for the song began to spread and was eventually confirmed on February 8 on a Twitter post that the feature would be 6lack.[4] Originally, American singer-songwriter SZA was going to be on "Calling My Phone", but she scrapped her verse because she thought she would not add anything valuable to the song; this became public knowledge years later in June 2023, when her verse leaked online and all three artists acknowledged it.[5][6]

Composition

edit

Generally, the "lovelorn" song talks about trying to escape "the grasp of a former lover, who can't seem to understand that the relationship has ended"[7] while "Tjay wrestles with the demise of a relationship" and 6lack "holds down the hook".[8] It was furthermore described as "introspective", with Tjay reflecting "on a relationship coming to an end over a slowed piano sample and moody bass, settling perfectly in that particular tone that Atlanta crooner 6lack thrives in."[9]

Music video

edit

The music video was released on February 12, 2021, and was directed by Cam Busby. It mainly features the rappers going through different situations while trying to move on from past relationships.[10] It has more than 138 million views as of April 2022.

Commercial performance

edit

In the United States, "Calling My Phone" debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, number two on the Global 200, and number one on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming both Lil Tjay and 6lack's highest-charting single and first top 10 on all charts.[11]

Credits and personnel

edit

Credits adapted from Tidal.[12]

  • Lil Tjay – vocals, songwriting, composition
  • 6lack – vocals, songwriting, composition
  • Brendan Walsh – songwriting, composition, production
  • Luis Campozano – songwriting, composition, production
  • Ryan Martínez – songwriting, composition, production
  • Eric Lagg – master engineering
  • Barrington Hall – recording engineering
  • JT Gagarin – recording engineering
  • Henock Siyoum – composition, melody

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certifications for "Calling My Phone"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[49] Platinum 70,000
Canada (Music Canada)[50] 4× Platinum 320,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[51] Gold 45,000
France (SNEP)[52] Gold 100,000
Italy (FIMI)[53] Gold 50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] Gold 15,000
Portugal (AFP)[55] Platinum 10,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[57] 5× Platinum 5,000,000
Streaming
Sweden (GLF)[58] Gold 4,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^ Bloom, Madison (February 12, 2021). "Lil Tjay and 6LACK Share New Song "Calling My Phone": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Cho, Regina (February 12, 2021). "Lil Tjay enlists 6lack for "Calling My Phone"". Revolt. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Shaking shit back up 🔥🔥🥰 LOL I got a nice Valentines Day gift for ya #CallingMyPhone ft (****?) dropping 2/12 ! 💖💖". Retrieved February 12, 2021 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ "Sometimes u gotta switch it up... hit emm with something they never expected ✍️🔥🔥 TJAY X @6LACK 2/12 make sure ya hit the link to presave 🤞🏽✅ #callingmyphone liltjay.lnk.to/CallingMyPhone". February 9, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Galindo, Thomas (2023-06-14). "Did You Know? SZA Was Supposed to Be Featured on Lil Tjay's "Calling My Phone"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  6. ^ "SZA Slams People Who Leak Her Music and Says She'll Take Legal Action Against Them: 'Leaking My Music Is Stealing'". People.com. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  7. ^ Okon, Wongo (February 12, 2021). "6lack And Lil Tjay Deal With A Persistent Ex On The Honest 'Calling My Phone'". Uproxx. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Marie, Erika (February 12, 2021). "Lil Tjay Is Done With Love On "Calling My Phone" Ft. 6LACK". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  9. ^ Price, Joe (February 12, 2021). "Lil Tjay Taps 6lack for Introspective New Song and Video "Calling My Phone"". Complex. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  10. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (February 12, 2021). "Lil Tjay and 6LACK move on from past relationships on new cut "Calling My Phone"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  11. ^ Trust, Gary (22 Feb 2021). "Olivia Rodrigo's 'Drivers License' Leads Hot 100 For 6th Week, Lil Tjay's 'Calling My Phone' Dials Up No. 3 Debut". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2021-02-22. Retrieved 27 Feb 2021.
  12. ^ "Calling My Phone / Lil Tjay, 6lack". Tidal. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  13. ^ "Lil Tjay feat. 6lack – Calling My Phone". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lil Tjay feat. 6lack – Calling My Phone" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  15. ^ "Lil Tjay feat. 6lack – Calling My Phone" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  16. ^ "Lil Tjay Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 8. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  18. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 7, 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "Lil Tjay,6lack: Calling My Phone" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  20. ^ "Top 100 Singles" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  21. ^ "Lil Tjay & 6lack – Calling My Phone" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  22. ^ "Lil Tjay Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  24. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  25. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  26. ^ "2021 7-os SAVAITĖS (vasario 12-18 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  27. ^ "Lil Tjay feat. 6lack – Calling My Phone" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  28. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  29. ^ "Singel 2021-W07". VG-lista. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  30. ^ "Lil Tjay feat. 6lack – Calling My Phone". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  31. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 20218 into search. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 7" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  33. ^ "Lil Tjay feat. 6lack – Calling My Phone". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  35. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  36. ^ "Lil Tjay Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  37. ^ "Lil Tjay Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  38. ^ "Lil Tjay Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  39. ^ "Lil Tjay Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  40. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  41. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  42. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  43. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög – 2021" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  44. ^ "Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  45. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2021". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  46. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  47. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  48. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  49. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  50. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Lil Tjay – Calling My Phone (ft. 6lack)". Music Canada. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  51. ^ "Danish single certifications – Lil Tjay & 6lack – Calling My Phone". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  52. ^ "French single certifications – Lil Tjay – Calling My Phone" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  53. ^ "Italian single certifications – Lil Tjay & 6lack – Calling My Phone" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  54. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Lil Tjay feat. 6lack – Calling My Phone". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved October 11, 2022.[dead link]
  55. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Lil Tjay & 6lack – Calling My Phone" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – Lil Tjay & 6lack – Calling My Phone". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  57. ^ "American single certifications – Lil Tjay & 6lack – Calling My Phone". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  58. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Lil Tjay & 6lack" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 11, 2022.