Gooba
"Gooba" | ||||
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Single by 6ix9ine | ||||
Released | May 8, 2020 | |||
Recorded | April 2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:12 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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6ix9ine singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Gooba" on YouTube |
"Gooba" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper 6ix9ine. It was released on May 8, 2020, 6ix9ine's birthday, as the first single after his prison release on April 2, 2020.[4] It is the lead single to his upcoming second studio album, to be released in August 2020.[5] The song and its accompanying video were recorded under house arrest, stemming from the trial of the Nine Trey Gangsters, which 6ix9ine references in the song. He also targets his detractors.
Background and promotion
On November 18, 2018, Hernandez was arrested on racketeering, weapons, and drugs charges.[6] After pleading guilty to nine charges, such as armed robbery and conspiracy to murder, he was sentenced to 2 years in prison in December 2019.[7] However, he was released earlier in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] On May 7, 2020, he announced that he would celebrate his 24th birthday the following day, by releasing a new single.[9]
Promotion
The song was promoted via a large billboard in Times Square that read "The King Is Back". 6ix9ine also hosted an Instagram Live session on the day of the song's release, which received a record 2 million simultaneous views.[10][11][12]
Composition and lyrics
"Gooba" contains a simplistic trap beat,[1] and finds 6ix9ine employing his signature "aggressive" style. Lyrically, as noted by Rap-Up, he "unleashes his wrath on the haters and clout chasers". In the chorus, 6ix9ine raps "Are you dumb, stupid, or dumb?", rehashing a line from Brooklyn rapper Ronny Godz's song "Are You Dumb", a line which 6ix9ine previously utilized on his 2018 song "Stoopid".[2] He also addresses testifying in court against members of the Nine Trey Bloods Gang in return for a reduced sentence: "Tell me how I ratted, came home to a big bag".[13] The track also includes a reference to the COVID-19 pandemic ("Basic, been hot, way before coronavirus").[4] Brendan Klinkenberg of Rolling Stone described the song as "punishingly blunt and seemingly designed to provoke".[1]
Critical reception
"Gooba" received negative reviews from most critics. Complex's Shawn Setaro gave the song a negative review, and criticized 6ix9ine and the rapper's approach to his comeback, claiming he is "not the repentant, quiet young man we saw in the courtroom". Setaro further remarked: "Instead, we saw a 24-year-old man obsessed with money, popularity, haters, and getting even. 6ix9ine fell right back into his favorite role: the upstart who doesn't conform to street codes, and wins anyway". He lambasted 6ix9ine for his lack of apologies toward those he wronged, saying he "only lists [...] the wrongs done to him, and why those wrongs render him blameless".[14] Vulture's Craig Jenkins had a similar notion, regarding the song as "a long diatribe about how everyone's jealous because he's doing better than them". Jenkins went on to criticize the rapper, stating: "It's jarring having a rapper tell you his entire persona was really just a money-making shtick and then step right back into the character, to hear and see a hip-hop artist make a joke out of the fact that he sang on the stand in court", but concluded, "we can't stop him because we must know what happens next; our curiosity is his source of power".[2] Justin Tinsley of The Undefeated labelled 6ix9ine a "stain on hip-hop", questioning his artistry: "Look at the conversation around 'GOOBA'; it's the theater around who he is that's the draw, not the lyrics. Again, I'd rather focus whatever energy I do have on art that matters. Art that's abundantly significant and rich in cultural sanity".[15]
Chart performance and controversy
Following "Gooba"'s debut at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, 6ix9ine uploaded a video accusing Billboard of rigging and chart manipulation. He stated, "I want the world to know, that Billboard is a lie", while adding: "You can buy No. 1s on Billboard". He also went on to accuse pop singers Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber's management of buying downloads for their song "Stuck with U", which debuted at number 1 ahead of "Gooba".[16] He alleged that "they purchased 30K copies with six credit cards". 6ix9ine claimed "It's all manipulated, it's all fabricated", showing the streams "Gooba" had accumulated in its first week, accusing Billboard of "disqualifying" 20 million or so streams.[17] A few days prior to this, 6ix9ine had posted a video to Instagram showing an unidentified Hot 100 chart forecast where "Stuck With U" was placed at number 5. Later he posted another video, where, in his words, the song "went from being fifth place to first place out of nowhere", suggesting that Billboard was manipulating the Hot 100 and "playing favorites".[18] In a lengthy online post, Grande indirectly responded to 6ix9ine, writing: "I didn't have a number one for the first five years of my career and it didn't upset me at all because from the bottom of my heart, my music is everything to me [...]". She went on to deny 6ix9ine's accusation that her and Bieber's team bought digital song downloads for the track: "Our fans bought this song (never more than four copies each, AS THE RULES STATE). Sales count for more than streams. U can not discredit this as hard as u try". Bieber also responded, pointing out that 6ix9ine counted global streams instead of just US streams and addressed his claims further, saying "Nielsen company checks this and found all out sales were legit because our fans are amazing and bought them". Scooter Braun, Grande and Bieber's manager, also responded, denying 6ix9ine's claims.[19][20]
Billboard's response
Billboard responded later the same day, and "in the interest of transparency", denied any chart manipulation, explaining its chart methodology for the Hot 100. The magazine went on to address and detail every accusation made by 6ix9ine, including the 24-hour sales spike that "Stuck with U" received, noting that "singles were put up for sale in Grande and Bieber's webstores" on the final day of chart-tracking; 6ix9ine's claims that Billboard would not "disclose" information about data when asked, stating that they [Billboard and Nielsen] cannot "provide granular detail on a title to anyone but its content owner" and further stressed that "data partners recognize excessive bulk purchases and remove those units from the final sales total. All titles this week, as in every week, were put under the same scrutiny". Regarding 6ix9ine's video of an unidentified chart forecast, Billboard said it "does not distribute any Hot 100 ranking forecast to labels, management or artists", and concluded that "Overall, Stuck With U drew 28.1 million U.S. streams, 26.3 million in radio airplay audience and 108,000 sold in the tracking week, which is why it got to number one whereas Gooba had 55.3 million U.S. streams, 172,000 in radio airplay audience and 24,000 sold", which is why it got to number three."[21]
Music video
The music video was released alongside the official single release on May 8, 2020, and was shot in April 2020.[22] Hernandez had previously asked a judge for permission to film the video in his backyard during home confinement.[23] Upon release, the music video reached over 41 million views in its first 24 hours,[24] breaking the record for the biggest debut for a hip-hop song on YouTube previously held by Eminem's "Killshot".[25][26] On May 31, 2020, the music video was temporarily removed from YouTube due to a copyright complaint by Kenyan producer Magix Enga; he claimed that "Gooba" sampled one of his songs without permission.[27]
Background and concept
The video was shot and directed by 6ix9ine himself,[28] while under home confinement, stemming from 6ix9ine's supervised release from prison on April 2, 2020. It was directed by CanonF8, David Wept, and 6ix9ine himself and was shot less than two weeks before its release, with the rapper only being allowed to shoot for two hours per week, per a judge's order.[11]
The video features 6ix9ine's girlfriend Rachel "Jade" Wattley and a "rainbow of big booty models" twerking, while covered in paint. In one scene, the video cuts to 6ix9ine transforming himself into an animated rat (a reference to him ratting out his former gang members). He also shows off his ankle monitor.[13] The rapper's security guards are also seen in the video.[11]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal, BMI and YouTube.[29][30][31]
- 6ix9ine – lead artist, songwriting
- Jahnei Clarke – arrangement, songwriting, production
- Harald Sorebo – arrangement, songwriting, production
- Wizard Lee - mixing, mastering
- Alex Solis - art direction, design
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[32] | 72 |
Australia (ARIA)[33] | 14 |
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] | 3 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[35] | 39 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[36] | 39 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[37] | 2 |
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38] | 1 |
Denmark (Tracklisten)[39] | 9 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[40] | 1 |
France (SNEP)[41] | 7 |
Greece (IFPI)[42] | 1 |
Hungary (Single Top 40)[43] | 1 |
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[44] | 1 |
Ireland (IRMA)[45] | 4 |
Italy (FIMI)[46] | 10 |
Lithuania (AGATA)[47] | 7 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[48] | 13 |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] | 13 |
Norway (VG-lista)[50] | 5 |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] | 76 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[52] | 5 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[53] | 2 |
UK Singles (OCC)[54] | 6 |
US Billboard Hot 100[55] | 3 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[56] | 2 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[57] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b c Klinkenberg, Brendan (May 8, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine Releases First Song Since Release From Prison". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c Jenkins, Craig (May 8, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine Is a Black Hole". Vulture. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ Scott, Katie. "6ix9ine, out of prison for over a month, breaks YouTube record, addresses being called a 'rat'". Global News. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
- ^ a b Bloom, Madison (May 8, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine Shares "GOOBA," First New Song Since Prison Release". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "Untitled Album – 6ix9ine". 6ix9ine Store. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Monroe, Jazz; Minsker, Evan (November 20, 2018). "Tekashi 6ix9ine Arrested on Federal Crime Charges, Faces Potential Life Sentence". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Watkins, Ali; Weiser, Benjamin (December 18, 2019). "Tekashi69 Sentenced to 2 Years After Testifying Against Nine Trey Gang". The New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Klinkenberg, Brendan (April 3, 2020). "How Tekashi 6ix9ine Got Released Early". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (May 8, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine Is Dropping New Single This Week". Complex. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Dadalica, Jade (May 8, 2020). "6ix9ine Releases Brand-New Track & Breaks Instagram Live Viewing Record". GRM Daily. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c Shamsian, Jacob (May 8, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine says he has no regrets about snitching on his former gang: 'I'm supposed to be loyal?'". Insider. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ C. Mahadevan, Tara (May 8, 2020). "6ix9ine Shares Video for "Gooba", His First Post-Prison Song Release". Complex. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "6ix9ine Returns with New Single 'GOOBA'". Rap-Up. May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Setaro, Shawn (May 8, 2020). "6ix9ine Hasn't Changed at All". Complex. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Tinsley, Justin (May 13, 2020). "Why Tekashi 6ix9ine is a stain on hip-hop". The Undefeated. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ Madani, Doha (May 18, 2020). "Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber respond to Tekashi 6ix9ine saying they stole top chart spot". NBCNews. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ Price, Joe (May 18, 2020). "6ix9ine Doubles Down on Billboard Cheating Claims, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber Respond". Complex. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (May 16, 2020). "6ix9ine Claims Billboard Is Manipulating Hot 100 Chart Results: 'You Guys Play Favorites'". Complex. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (May 19, 2020). "Billboard Responds to Tekashi 6ix9ine's Corruption Claim After New Song Debuts at No. 3". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ Respers France, Lisa (May 19, 2020). "Tekashi 6ix9ine accuses Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber of buying No.1 spot. Billboard explains why that's not true". CNN. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ "How Billboard Came to Its Calculations in This Week's Race For the Hot 100 No. 1". Billboard. May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Haylock, Zoe (May 8, 2020). "Tekashi69 Returns With Single 'Gooba,' Music Video [WATCH]". Vulture. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Woods, Aleia (April 23, 2020). "6ix9ine Asks Judge for Permission to Film Music Video". XXL. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "Report: 6ix9ine's "GOOBA" Breaks 24-Hour YouTube Viewership Record For Hip-Hop Video". Headline Planet. 2020-05-09. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
- ^ "Tekashi 6ix9ine Breaks Records On YouTube And Instagram In Comeback". Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- ^ "Tekashi 6ix9ine's 'GOOBA' breaks YouTube record for biggest 24-hour debut in hip-hop". Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ C. Vernon Coleman II (May 31, 2020). "6i9ine's "Gooba" Music Video Removed Due to Copyright Claim". XXL. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- ^ Lamarre, Carl (May 8, 2020). "6ix9ine Takes Shots at His Haters in New Comeback Video 'Gooba': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Credits / GOOBA / 6ix9ine – TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ "BMI | Repertoire Search". BMI. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search". Retrieved June 1, 2020.
- ^ Tekashi 6ix9ine (May 8, 2020). "6IX9INE- GOOBA (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "6ix9ine – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for 6ix9ine. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine – Gooba" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine – Gooba" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine – Gooba" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 20. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 19, 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine: Gooba" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ "Top Singles (Week 20, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- ^ "IFPI Charts". ifpi.gr. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 20" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- ^ "2020 20-os SAVAITĖS (gegužės 8-14 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine – Gooba" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
- ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 21, 2020". VG-lista. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Canciones: Semana 20". Productores de Música de España. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine – Gooba". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "6ix9ine Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ "American single certifications – 6ix9ine – Gooba". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 26, 2020.