"Knock Knock" is a song by American rapper SoFaygo, released on August 4, 2019 and produced by Lil Tecca. A sleeper hit, it gained traction on the video-sharing app TikTok in late 2020 and became SoFaygo's breakthrough song. It is also the lead single from his mixtape Angelic 7 (2020).
| "Knock Knock" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by SoFaygo | ||||
| from the album Angelic 7 | ||||
| Released | August 4, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Length | 2:19 | |||
| Label | Cactus Jack | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Lil Tecca | |||
| SoFaygo singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Knock Knock" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editIn 2019, SoFaygo recorded the song on his computer via GarageBand in 50 minutes.[1][2] Lil Tecca, who produced the beat, had connected with him on the Internet.[3] In regard to composing the song, SoFaygo stated:
Writing-wise, production-wise, we just killed that shit. I didn't really realize how good of a song it was like at the time until it really aged and I really paid attention to how people reacted to it. A lot of people sleep on that song; it's my old sound.[2]
Composition
editA piano-driven song,[2] "Knock Knock" serves as a warning of SoFaygo entering the music industry,[3] with lyrics about catching his enemies off guard.[2]
Release and promotion
editAfter the song was released on August 4, 2019,[4] it was teased on Triller and Twitter, leading to 50,000 views. Over the next two years, the song became widely used in videos on TikTok, leading to SoFaygo's rise to fame.[3] It also garnered over 16 million streams on SoundCloud and 32 million streams on Spotify.[5][6]
Critical reception
editDJ Booth commented on the song, "Faygo sings every line of 'Knock Knock' with the confidence and clarity of a pop star, but, like so many of the scene's creations, his vocals feel stitched together, rough around the edges. The beat, too, has that handmade quality—a see-sawing MIDI orchestra courtesy of Lil Tecca, an underrated producer whose credits run rampant through Faygo's corner of online rap."[1] Natalie Maher of Elle included the song in her list "The Best Songs on Tiktok to Listen to in Full".[7]
Music video
editThe official music video was directed by Cole Bennett and premiered on May 3, 2021.[6] It was inspired by the film Beetlejuice.[3]
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[8] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ a b "Rising Up From the Internet's Underground". DJBooth. May 25, 2021. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Seabrook III, Robby (June 9, 2021). "The Break Presents: SoFaygo". XXL. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b c d High, Kemet (October 27, 2021). "SoFaygo Knocks on the Door of Success With a Hit Song and Cactus Jack Deal". XXL. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Knock Knock - Single". Apple Music. August 4, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Robinson, Joshua (July 22, 2021). "Rise & Grind: SoFaygo Talks Signing With Travis Scott's Cactus Jack, Debut Album & More". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Blanchet, Brenton (May 4, 2021). "Is SoFaygo Next Up? He's Ready to Live Up to the Hype". Complex. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Maher, Natalie (August 31, 2021). "The Best Songs on Tiktok to Listen to in Full". Elle. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – SoFaygo – Knock Knock". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 20, 2023.