Up (Cardi B song)
"Up" is a song by American rapper Cardi B. It was released on February 5, 2021, through Atlantic Records as the second single from her upcoming second studio album. "Up" is a rap and hip-hop song, written by Cardi B alongside Joshua Baker and Jordan Thorpe and produced by Yung Dza, DJ SwanQo, Sean Island and DJ Prince.
"Up"
February 5, 2021
2020
2:36
- Belcalis Almanzar
- Joshua Baker
- Jorden Thorpe
- Edis Selmani
- CEO Mark Savage
- James Steed
- Matthew Allen
- Yung Dza
- DJ SwanQo
- Sean Island
- DJ Prince
"Up" reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making Cardi B the only female rapper to top the chart with multiple solo singles, following "Bodak Yellow". It previously debuted at number two on the chart, which at the time marked the highest debut for a solo female rap song since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998, and became her second number-one debut on the Rolling Stone Top 100. It also reached the top ten in Canada, Greece, and Ireland, and became her second top five debut on the Billboard Global 200.
"Up" received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 2022 Grammys, extending Cardi B's record as the female rapper with the most nominations in that category. It won the American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Song, making Cardi B the first artist to win the category three times. The music video received nominations for the BET Award for Video of the Year and the American Music Award for Video of the Year. She performed the song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021.
Background[edit]
On August 7, 2020, Cardi B released the single "WAP", featuring American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.[2] The song achieved worldwide success, reaching number one in multiple countries, including Australia, Canada and the UK.[3][4] The single also spent a total of four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.[5] On October 1, 2020, it was revealed that she was already "plotting her next move". However, she also clarified that she does not desire to put out music too frequently in order not to succumb to the label's pressure, saying "I feel like I'm not gonna let that shit get to me to the point that I'm gonna put out a song that I'm not really in love with just 'cause".[6] On January 31, 2021, the rapper teased towards an announcement she was going to make the day after.[7] She revealed the song title alongside the cover art the following day, February 1.[8] The song was released on February 5.[9][10] In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, the rapper stated that "Up" is inspired by Chicago drill music, which also influenced her first mixtape Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1.[11] "If it's up then it's stuck" is colloquialism for "street beef."[12] In 2022, Cardi B confirmed that "Up" would appear on her upcoming second studio album.[13] When asked about the meaning of the song on The Tonight Show, she responded, with "nothing."[14]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, "Up" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the highest debut for a solo female rap song since Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in 1998.[22] It became Cardi B's ninth top-ten single on the Hot 100, and opened atop both Digital Song Sales and Streaming Songs charts, where it marked Cardi B's fifth and fourth leader, respectively. The single also started at number one on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts, which use the same methodology as the Hot 100, with Cardi B achieving her sixth and fifth leader, respectively. Cardi B has achieved at least one top 10 in each of the last five years, dating to her first number one single "Bodak Yellow" in 2017. Before reaching the summit, it spent four weeks in the top five, including three at number two.[23][24][25] The week after her Grammy Awards performance, "Up" reached number one on the Hot 100 rising six spots to number one, causing Cardi B to become the sole female rapper to top the chart several times with solo songs, after "Bodak Yellow", and furthered her record as the female rap artist with the most number-one hits on the Hot 100 as her fifth song to top the chart.[26] "Up" received 22.7 million U.S. streams and 18,000 digital song sales in the week ending March 18, according to MRC Data. It also attracted 34.9 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 7%) in that week. Dating to her first week atop the Hot 100 with "Bodak Yellow" in 2017, Cardi B ties for the second most number-one hits among all acts with Ariana Grande, Drake leads with six.[27]
Cardi B also tied Taylor Swift for the most number ones on the US Streaming Songs chart among women, with four each. She joined a three-way tie for the third most number-ones among all artists, Justin Bieber is second with five and Drake leading with ten.[28] "Up" debuted at number one on the Rolling Stone Top 100, becoming both Cardi B's second number-one single and second number-one debut on that chart, as well as the first time a female rapper debuts atop the chart with a solo song.[29] "Up" has spent two weeks at number one on that chart.[30] The single opened at number four on the Billboard Global 200, becoming her second top-five debut on the chart.[31] It was Billboard's top female rap song and top female R&B/hip-hop song of 2021.[32][33]
Live performances[edit]
Cardi B performed "Up" and "WAP" for the first time at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, airing on CBS on March 14, 2021. She appeared in a metallic armor ensemble while sporting a light purple pixie hairstyle. For the number, vibrant graphics appeared about the stage.[53][54]
In other media[edit]
"Up" was played in the TV series Abbott Elementary during the episode "Step Class", where characters danced to the song. The song was also played and referenced in the 2022 film A Madea Homecoming. The song also served as the theme song of SummerSlam (2021).