Yikes (Kanye West song)
Lead single from Kanye West's 2018 album Ye.
"Yikes" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his eighth studio album, Ye (2018). It was released as the lead single from the album in June 2018 through GOOD Music and Def Jam. The track samples "Kothbiro" by Black Savage and features production by West, Mike Dean, Pi'erre Bourne, and Apex Martin.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Kanye West
- Released
- 8 June 2018
- Recorded
- 2018
- Studio
- West Lake Ranch
- Jackson Hole
- Wyoming
- Genre
- Hip hop; trap
- Label
- GOOD; Def Jam
Facts from the source article.
Background and recording
Canadian musician Drake had previously worked with West on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) and The Life of Pablo (2016). For Ye, Drake flew to Wyoming while West was recording. Radio host Peter Rosenberg reported that Drake contributed songwriting to "Yikes", initially uncredited due to GOOD Music leaving his credit off the album; his contribution was later revealed as writing the chorus. American producer Pi'erre Bourne also claimed involvement with the production, though credits were not updated until days after release. On June 13, 2018, the digital credits were updated to include Drake's name under his real name Aubrey Graham, as well as Pi'erre Bourne and Apex Martin as producers. West produced the track with co-production from Mike Dean and additional production from Bourne and Martin. Kenyan musicians Ayub Ogada and James Mbarack Achieng received writing credits for their work on "Kothbiro" (1976) by Black Savage, which the song samples. In a June 25, 2018 interview with The New York Times, West stated that Drake wrote a first verse that did not make the final cut.
Composition and lyrics
"Yikes" is an aggressive track resembling West's "Wolves" from The Life of Pablo. Its production has been described as sparse and horror film-esque, with a tropical-style, meandering beat that veers between moods. The song samples vocal parts and melodies from "Kothbiro" by Black Savage. West raps in a flow compared to Juvenile over echoing voices and a chilling bass. The instrumentation features a humid bloom of bass, drunken drums, and MPC hiccups. The chorus was noted as reminiscent of a Linkin Park song, and after the chorus, the instrumentation is chopped-up. Lyrically, West raps about tweaking on drugs, referencing experiences with 2C-B and DMT, and embracing his prescriptions. Multiple references to #MeToo appear, including a line where West prays for Russell Simmons because the mogul "got #MeToo'd." West shouts out Wiz Khalifa, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Mahatma Gandhi. The outro consists of spoken word in which West describes his bipolar disorder as a "superpower."
Critical reception
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, with most commending its production. Critics drew comparisons between the song and West's previous works, such as "FML" and "Famous." The production was viewed as an example of West relying on musical flairs that once brought fans awe. The Black Savage sample was seen as reminiscent of West's album Yeezus (2013) and a perfect sonic companion to drug-induced paranoia. The chorus was praised for being melodically and emotionally similar to Linkin Park. Some critics highlighted the honesty of the lyrical content, noting that West's reference to #MeToo was not surprising given his history of expressing strong honesty about verbally abusive past relationships and promiscuity. The song was ranked by Billboard as the eighth best track from the five albums West produced in 2018, with praise directed at West's personal style of lyricism and the instrumental.
Commercial performance
"Yikes" debuted at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 following the release of Ye, making it the highest-charting track from the album and the only one to reach the top 10. This marked West's first track to debut in the top 10 since "Forever" (2009) and his first solo track to enter the top 10 since "Heartless" (2008). It was West's 16th Hot 100 top 10, tying him with Nicki Minaj for the sixth-most top 10 hits among rappers. The song entered the US Streaming Songs chart at number three with 34.2 million streams, giving West his second highest debut on that chart. It debuted at number seven on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, giving West his 25th top 10 entry. In its second week, the song fell 32 places to number 40 on the Hot 100, spending five weeks on the chart total. On August 14, 2019, "Yikes" was certified platinum by the RIAA for 1,000,000 certified units in the US.
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