"Run Up" is a song by American electronic band Major Lazer. The song features Canadian musician PartyNextDoor, and American rapper Nicki Minaj. The song was released on YouTube on January 26, 2017, by Mad Decent and Because Music, intended to be the second single from Lazerism (then titled Music Is the Weapon). But it was then confirmed as the second single from Major Lazer Essentials. The song was written by primary Major Lazer member Diplo, Stargate, PartyNextDoor, Minaj, and Phillip Meckseper, while the song's production was handled by Major Lazer, Stargate, and Jr Blender.[1][2][3]
"Run Up" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Reviewing the song, Ryan Reed from Rolling Stone described it as "a suave blend of high-pitched vocal samples, warped guitar chords and a signature Caribbean music groove."[1] Him praised the presence of Minaj and PartyNextDoor on the song, "PartyNextDoor croons smooth come-ons throughout the track, but Minaj amps up the intensity with a reliably boastful verse." Kat Being of Billboard call it as "a great follow-up to "Cold Water" (2016).[3] Bianca Gracie from Fuse gave a positive review to the song, writing, "Minaj and Party bring their Trinidadian and Jamaican roots to the track, as the rapstress drops boastful verses laced with swagger, sex appeal and patois." The written also praised the vocal of the singer PartyNextDoor on the song, she wrote: "PartyNextDoor adds his crooning vocals to the opening and hook, which is backed by Major Lazer's island-tinged production."[7]
Spin's Brian Josephs commented that the song used "dancehall-inspired production that Drake pimped and Tory Lanez bit." He also praised the feature vocalist on the song writing that "PartyNextDoor and Minaj are charismatic enough to make his a summer banger that’s dropped a couple of months early."[5] Dani Schwartz of the site HotNewHipHop also gave a positive review to the song praising the choice of the singers in the song, she describing its as a "only natural, then, they enlist PartyNextDoor and Nicki Minaj, two artists with Caribbean roots."[8]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201706 into search. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201711 into search. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201707 into search. Retrieved March 7, 2017.