Jump Around (KSI song)

"Jump Around" is a song by British YouTuber and recording artist KSI featuring American rapper Waka Flocka Flame. It was released on 16 September 2016 by Island Records as the third and final single from KSI's second extended play (EP) of the same name (2016). The song is a remake of "Jump Around" (1992) by House of Pain.

"Jump Around"
The title "Jump Around" appears in large white font in the centre of a purple and blue gradient background, with the artists' names in light purple font below.
Single by KSI featuring Waka Flocka Flame
from the EP Jump Around
Released16 September 2016
GenreHip hop
Length3:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Sway
  • DJ Turkish
  • Charles Cook
KSI singles chronology
"Friends with Benefits"
(2016)
"Jump Around"
(2016)
"Creature"
(2017)
Waka Flocka Flame singles chronology
"Scars On My Feet"
(2016)
"Jump Around"
(2016)
"Was My Dawg"
(2017)
Music video
"Jump Around" on YouTube

"Jump Around" was met with mixed reviews from music critics, although some praised the song's high-octane energy. The song debuted at number 73 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart. The song's music video was released on 3 October 2016 and stars KSI and Waka Flocka Flame among a crowd of people, taking to the streets to cause carnage and jumping around and dancing.

Writing and production

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I wasn’t in [England] when it came about. I was in Italy when it happened. Waka’s manager knows DJ Turkish quite well so they came through to the Dcypha Studio while they were in England. Sway and DJ Turkish played Waka a few of my new songs and he enjoyed them all until he heard "Jump Around". He was going crazy [over] it and asked if anyone was on the third verse. Once Sway said it was vacant, Waka immediately thought of lyrics and did a verse on the same day. I was so gassed when I heard the news.

—KSI speaking on Waka Flocka Flame's involvement in the song[1]

In early 2016, KSI recorded a remake of the song "Jump Around" (1992) by American hip hop group House of Pain.[2][3] It was not intended to be released as a single or have a featured artist. KSI explained, "I didn’t want to release it as a single. I wanted to just quietly release it on [the] EP."[4]

During a recording studio session in England with Sway and DJ Turkish, the producer's of "Jump Around", American rapper Waka Flocka Flame was played some of KSI's unreleased songs including "Jump Around". Waka Flocka Flame liked the song and asked if he could feature on it, recording his verse on the same day.[1] The addition of Waka Flocka Flame to "Jump Around" resulted in the decision to released it as a single.[5]

Speaking about his remake of "Jump Around", KSI affirmed, "I feel like I’ve done well with my take on it."[4] He continued, "The song just makes you wanna go crazy, especially the chorus.”[1]

Release and promotion

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"Jump Around" was first teased on 5 August 2016 when a 15 seconds-long teaser of the song and its music video appeared at the end of the music video for KSI's previous single "Friends with Benefits" (2016).[6] The cover art and release date for "Jump Around" were also shared on the same day, with the song was made available to pre-order on digital download services and pre-save on streaming services. "Jump Around" was eventually released for digital download and streaming on 16 September 2016 by Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group.[7][8]

Critical reception

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KSI's remake of "Jump Around" was met with mixed reviews from music critics. Andrew Trendell of NME called it a "feel-good anthem" and "a high octane take on the House Of Pain classic".[1] Liam Luangrathrajasombat of Playback Society praised KSI and Waka Flocka Flame for "[bringing] a fresh 2016 flow to an aged classic" and acclaimed that the song has "a banging beat that would light up the club."[9] In his review for Lost In The Manor, Tim Hakki wrote that although KSI's "flippant take on hip hop isn’t really for everyone", "Jump Around" is "definitely the most immediate highlight of his [music] career so far". Hakki continued, "KSI’s flow sets a great vibe, before Waka [Flocka Flame] arrives and completely slays with his beastly delivery." Hakki remarked that the song is "jump-hop of the highest calibre" and the listener will be "pinging off the walls by the end of it".[10]

On the other hand, in their review of "Jump Around", the staff of String Buzz claimed, "There is no innovation, variation or imagination with this track. It is a beat-for-beat remake with some shoddy lyrics." They said that "the delivery [and] vocal performance [are] a saving grace" because the lyrics are "belted out with enthusiasm", but they found that "the tone of [KSI's] voice [does] become grating by the final chorus". Nonetheless, they concluded that "decent production keeps this song from being a car crash". They said, "The beat sounds thick and wholesome, the instrumentation sounds well mixed and the vocals fit in to the overall sound very well."[11]

Music video

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The music video for "Jump Around" was filmed in the United States in the summer of 2016.[5] A trailer was released on 19 September 2016.[12] The music video was eventually released to KSI's Vevo channel on YouTube on 3 October 2016 and has received 15 million views.[13] In the music video, KSI wreaks havoc in a convenience store, before taking to the streets to cause carnage. KSI then heads down to Waka Flocka Flame's court, where they are accompanied by a large crowd of people, including police officers, jumping around and dancing.[1][9] When asked about his favourite element of the music video shoot, KSI responded, "Just the energy. Literally, it was mad. I was out of breath after every shot.[1]

Use in other media

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KSI's remake of "Jump Around" was used in the trailer for the animated film Playmobil: The Movie (2019).[14] "Jump Around" was also used in the trailer for the animated film DC League of Super-Pets (2022), which stars actors Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart.[15]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[16]

  • KSI – songwriting, vocals
  • Waka Flocka Flame – songwriting, vocals
  • Sway – production, songwriting, recording engineering, vocal arranging
  • DJ Turkish – production, mixing, mastering, recording engineering
  • Charles Cook – production
  • Dave Appell – songwriting
  • Kal Mann – songwriting
  • DJ Muggs – songwriting

Charts

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Chart performance for "Jump Around"
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[17] 77
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[18] 73

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Jump Around"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 16 September 2016 [8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Trendell, Andrew (3 October 2016). "KSI unveils video for 'Jump Around' featuring Waka Flocka Flame". NME. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. ^ Weiss, Geoff (21 October 2016). "YouTube Megastar KSI Unveils New Single And Tour, Announces Plans For Music Career". Tubefilter. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Ten Amazing Covers of House of Pain's 'Jump Around'". Academy Music Group. 21 April 2017. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b Gunn, Charlotte (27 November 2016). "YouTube star KSI on his ultimate food for a FIFA marathon". NME. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. ^ a b Haffenden, Dayna (11 December 2019). "Waka Flocka Flame Flew To England To Record Verse For KSI Collab But KSI Wasn't There". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  6. ^ "KSI & MNDM - Friends with Benefits (FWB) Official Music Video". 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Nordin, Kiersten (4 October 2016). "KSI Unveils New Music Video Featuring Waka Flocka Flame". TenEighty. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Global YouTube star KSI releases new single 'Jump Around' feat. Waka Flocka Flame". Pop Scoop!. 16 September 2016. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  9. ^ a b Luangrathrajasombat, Liam (14 October 2016). "Listen: KSI and Waka Flocka Flame 'Jump Around' With Cops In Club Ready Rap MV". Playback Society. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  10. ^ Hakki, Tim (6 October 2016). "Listen/review: KSI ft. Waka Flocka Flame - Jump Around". Lost In The Manor. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  11. ^ "KSI ft. Waka Flocka Flame 'Jump Around' Song Review". String Buzz. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  12. ^ "KSI - Jump Around (Trailer) ft. Waka Flocka Flame". 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ "KSI - Jump Around ft. Waka Flocka Flame". 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Playmobil: The Movie | Official Trailer [HD] | Now Playing in Theaters". 23 July 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ "DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS – Official Trailer". 23 November 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ "KSI / Jump Around (feat. Waka Flocka Flame) / Credits". Tidal. 16 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  17. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
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