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Who Want the Smoke?

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"Who Want the Smoke?"
Single by Lil Yachty featuring Cardi B and Offset
from the album Nuthin' 2 Prove
ReleasedJuly 6, 2018
GenreTrap
Length3:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tay Keith
Lil Yachty singles chronology
"Pretender"
(2018)
"Who Want the Smoke?"
(2018)
"Go Krazy, Go Stupid Freestyle"
(2019)

"Who Want the Smoke?" is a song by American rapper Lil Yachty featuring married fellow American rappers Cardi B and Offset. Written alongside producer Tay Keith, it was released on July 6, 2018, as the lead single from Yachty's third studio album Nuthin' 2 Prove. The track was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Background and release

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The track was teased on March 29, 2018, by Lil Yachty. It was speculated that BlocBoy JB had a verse on the song, but he turned out only supplying the adlibs on the track.[1][2][3] Yachty announced the single the day before its release in the United States.[4] The track was released on July 5, 2018, in select international markets, and was released in the US on July 6.[5][6][7]

Yachty previously collaborated with Offset on the tracks "Mickey", "Baby Daddy", and more, with the first two being tracks on Yachty's second studio album Lil Boat 2.

Production

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The track was produced by Tay Keith.[8][9] He did a video for HotNewHipHop breaking down the beat, which was released on July 20, 2018.[10] Jackson Howard of Pitchfork called the instrumental "spooky and crisp".[11]

Composition and lyrics

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The track runs at three minutes and eighteen seconds long, and features background vocals from BlocBoy JB.[12] In the song, Cardi B declares herself "the king of New York", allegedly directed at fellow New York rapper 6ix9ine.[13][14][15]

Critical reception

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The track received mixed-to-positive reviews. Jackson Howard of Pitchfork said that the track "isn’t so much a flop as it is a wasted opportunity for a lost-in-the-woods Yachty to prove himself again" and called his verse and chorus "monotone" and "uninspired". He stated it as "a far cry from the irreverent melodies and charm that made him a burgeoning SoundCloud sensation in 2016, and further proof that his recent switch toward being a hard-hitting rhymeslinger needs serious fine tuning". However, he stated that the song was "saved by the brought-in assistance". He also called Cardi B's verse "one of her most memorable guest appearances in months", and called BlocBoy JB's adlibs "great".[11] Alex Robert Ross of Vice said that Cardi B and Offset "dominated proceedings" while Yachty "continues to misfire", and called him "the fifth-most important musician" on the track.[16] C. Vernon Coleman II of XXL called the song a "banger" and "trap-infused slapper".[17]

Commercial performance

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The track debuted and peaked at number nine on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, and fell off the next week. It did not re-enter the charts following the release of Yachty's third studio album Nuthin' 2 Prove, which the track was featured on.[18]

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 22
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[20] 9

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Lil Yachty previews two new songs, one featuring BlocBoy JB". The Fader. 28 May 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  2. ^ "Preview Lil Yachty's Upcoming Track with Blocboy JB, "Who Want Da Smoke"". Hypebeast. 29 May 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Lil Yachty Links Up With Cardi B and Offset on New Track "Who Want the Smoke?"". Complex. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "Lil Yachty announces new song "Who Want The Smoke?" with Cardi B and Offset". The Fader. 5 July 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "Lil Yachty Teams Up With Cardi B & Offset for 'Who Want the Smoke?': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  6. ^ "Lil Yachty, Cardi B & Offset Blaze Up in "Who Want the Smoke?"". Highsnobiety. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "Lil Yachty Recruits Cardi B & Offset For "Who Want The Smoke?"". HipHopDX. 5 July 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "Cardi B and Offset Join Lil Yachty on "Who Want the Smoke?"". Exclaim. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  9. ^ "Lil Yachty – "Who Want the Smoke?" (ft. Cardi B & Offset)". Spin. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  10. ^ "Tay Keith Breaks Down Creating Lil Yachty's "Who Want The Smoke"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  11. ^ a b ""Who Want the Smoke?" by Lil Yachty Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "Hear Cardi B, Offset Join Lil Yachty on Takedown Song 'Who Want the Smoke?'". Rolling Stone. 6 July 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Cardi B and Offset join Lil Yachty on new song "Who Want the Smoke?": Stream". Consequence of Sound. 6 July 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  14. ^ "Lil Yachty, Cardi B & Offset Connect for "Who Want the Smoke?"". Hypebeast. 5 July 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  15. ^ "Lil Yachty, Cardi B & Offset Are Asking "Who Want The Smoke?"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  16. ^ "Cardi B and Offset Take the Spotlight on Lil Yachty's "Who Want the Smoke?"". Vice. 6 July 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "Lil Yachty, Cardi B and Offset Drop New Song "Who Want Smoke?"". XXL. 6 July 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  18. ^ "Lil Yachty Debuts 'Nuthin' 2 Prove' Album Featuring Juice WRLD, Cardi B, Kevin Gates". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  19. ^ "Hot Singles Chart | The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  20. ^ "Lil Yachty Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  21. ^ "American single certifications – Lil Yatchy – Who Want the Smoke?". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 2, 2022.