"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).
| "Waddup" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by PGF Nuk | ||||
| from the album Switch Music | ||||
| Released | October 26, 2021[1] | |||
| Genre | Drill | |||
| Length | 2:01 | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Fatman Beatzz | |||
| PGF Nuk singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Waddup" on YouTube | ||||
| "Waddup (Remix)" on YouTube | ||||
| Remix cover | ||||
 Cover art of the official remix featuring Polo G | ||||
Background
editThe 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
edit"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".[4]
Remixes
editIn 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.[2] 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.[3][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."[3] 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)".[4]
Charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[8] | 20 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9] | 44 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "Waddup - Single". October 26, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Apple Music.
- ^ a b Seabrook III, Robby (August 16, 2022). "The Break Presents: PGF Nuk". XXL.
- ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (May 25, 2022). "Glorilla And The Art Of The Underground Rap Hit". Stereogum. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c Galil, Leor (August 4, 2022). "Chicago drill upstart PGF Nuk hits where it hurts on Switch Music". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Waddup (feat. Polo G) - Single". April 2, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Apple Music.
- ^ Seabrook III, Robby (August 1, 2022). "These Are the 10 Drill Rappers to Listen to Right Now". XXL. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ Seabrook III, Robby (August 17, 2022). "These Are the Best Hip-Hop Songs of Summer 2022". XXL. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Polo G Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Polo G Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "American single certifications – PGF Nuk – Waddup". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 31, 2023.