Tap In

"Tap In"
Single by Saweetie
from the album Pretty Bitch Music
ReleasedJune 17, 2020 (2020-06-17)
GenreCrunk
Length2:19
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dr. Luke
Saweetie singles chronology
"Sway with Me"
(2020) 		"Tap In"
(2020) 		"Bussin 2.0"
(2020)
Music video
"Tap In" on YouTube

"Tap In" is a song by American rapper Saweetie, released on June 17, 2020, as the lead single from her upcoming debut studio album Pretty Bitch Music. The song samples rapper Too Short's signature 2006 single "Blow the Whistle", produced by Lil Jon. Too Short provides the intro on "Tap In". Produced and co-written by Dr. Luke, it marked Saweetie's second song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was also featured in a scene of Black Mirror Season 6, Episode 1 "Joan Is Awful".[1]

Background

[edit]

"Tap In" marks Saweetie's first release without a feature since 2019's "My Type"; she explained she had to focus on her artist development because it was something she struggled with.[2] Saweetie stated that Too Short is one of her favorite rappers,[3] and she was concerned that he would not like the song, however she got his blessing for the sample.[2] With both artists being from California's Bay Area, Saweetie explained: "If you listen to Bay Area hip-hop, it's very fly. It's not necessarily punchlines, but like a fly way of describing what's happening to us or how we're feeling. It's super conversational and very relatable".[3] The song was first previewed on Saweetie's Instagram,[4] and debuted two days later on Apple Music's Beats 1 Radio with Zane Lowe.[5]

Saweetie has become known for sampling classic hip hop tracks; she also sampled Khia's "My Neck, My Back" on her debut single "Icy Girl".[6] She explained her frequent use of samples: "My specialty is able to have an ear for a beat that would sound good if I flipped it or if I sampled it. Hip-hop is built on samples".[7]

"Tap In" continued the resurgence of producer Dr. Luke, whose career came to standstill after singer Kesha accused him of sexual assault. Earlier in 2020, he produced Doja Cat's US number-one single "Say So".[6] He also worked with Kim Petras and produced Juice Wrld's top ten single "Wishing Well".[8]

Composition

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"Tap In" flips the beat and the signature whistle sounds of "Blow the Whistle", with Too Short delivering the intro: "Don't ever stop if you want to be on top, bitch". Over a bouncy beat[9] and "funky" bass and percussion,[10] Saweetie raps about her wealth, dancing and her physical features.[6]

Critical reception

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Aaron Williams of Uproxx called the song an "energetic, party-ready bop" and said Saweetie sounds rejuvenated on the song.[5] In a positive review, HotNewHipHop's Mitch Findlay stated: "Taking to the infectious bass-driven groove, Saweetie breaks it down with a slick flow, revealing plenty of character as she slides into new and increasingly playful rhyme schemes", and concluded that "her confidence and infectious energy" is seemingly boundless.[9] Travis Grier of Def Pen said the song highlights Saweetie's assets "straight from the beginning" and noted that she lacks no confidence "in any capacity".[11] Vibe called it a "fresh new spin on an old classic".[12] Conversely, Earmilk's Hayley Tharp questioned whether Saweetie relies "on already established beats to resonate with listeners, or could this be a careful tactic to build her brand?" Tharp further said Saweetie's verses in the song "leave much to be desired" and "while the hook is memorable, the repetitiveness makes up most of the song. This track's brevity mirrors her previous singles rapping about rich men, a slim waist, and a full derriere".[13]

Music video

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The song's official video was released along with the song, on June 17, 2020. Saweetie noted "There's choreo, the looks are crazy. My glam is just real cute" and said her image in the video is how she dressed in high school; baggy pants and a loose t-shirt. She sports claw-like red nails, long hair and bamboo earrings in the visual,[14] which features high-energy dance choreography on an iced-out basketball court.[15]

Remix

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A remix featuring fellow American rappers Post Malone, DaBaby, and Jack Harlow was released on August 28, 2020.[16] It was teased by Saweetie on social media ten days prior, on August 18, in which there was one featured artist for fans to guess, which was Post Malone.

Awards and nominations

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Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2020 MTV Video Music Awards Song of Summer Nominated [17]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Tap In"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[36] Platinum 80,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[37] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[39] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release history of "Tap In"
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various June 17, 2020
[40]
United States August 11, 2020 Contemporary hit radio [41]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Q.V. HOUGH (June 16, 2023). "Soundtracks of Television: 'Black Mirror'". Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Price, Joe (June 17, 2020). "Saweetie Flips Too Short's "Blow the Whistle" for New Track "Tap In"". Complex. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Hicks, Leslie (June 16, 2020). "California rapper Saweetie to drop the single 'Tap In' and explains her new project title". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Patel, Bhavika (June 23, 2020). "Saweetie Is Ready to "Tap In" Your Brain With Her Infectious Raps". Soundigest. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Williams, Aaron (June 17, 2020). "Saweetie Samples A Bay Area Classic On Her Energetic New Single, 'Tap In'". Uproxx. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Mech, Chris (June 18, 2020). "Saweetie Addresses Her Frequent Use Of Samples Following The Release Of "Tap In"". Genius. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  7. ^ Ifeanyi, KC (June 23, 2020). "Viral rapper Saweetie is ready to show you who she really is". Fast Company. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  8. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (July 16, 2020). "Dr. Luke rebounds, thanks to Saweetie, Doja Cat, Juice WRLD". ABC News. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Findlay, Mitch (June 17, 2020). "Saweetie Returns With New Smash "Tap In"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  10. ^ Peay, Malik (June 18, 2020). "'Tap In' to Saweetie". Paper. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  11. ^ Grier, Travis (June 17, 2020). "Saweetie Samples A Too Short Classic For Her New 'Tap In' Single". Def Pen. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  12. ^ Vibe Staff (June 17, 2020). "Saweetie Samples A Too Short Classic On "Tap In"". Vibe. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Tharp, Hayley (June 23, 2020). "Is Saweetie's success with samples hindering originality?". Earmilk. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  14. ^ Aniftos, Rania (June 17, 2020). "Saweetie Talks 'Tap In,' 'Pretty B*tch Music' & Shows Off Her Favorite Music Video Looks". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  15. ^ George, Rachel (June 18, 2020). "Saweetie wants pretty girls to "Tap In" to her new single". ABC News Radio. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  16. ^ Kiefer, Halle (August 28, 2020). "Post Malone, DaBaby, and Jack Harlow 'Tap In' for Saweetie's Poppin' New Remix". Vulture. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  17. ^ "Vote Now – Nominees for 2021 MTV Video Music Awards". MTV.
  18. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  19. ^ "Saweetie – Tap In" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  20. ^ "Saweetie, CAN". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  21. ^ "Billboard Global 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  22. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  23. ^ "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  24. ^ "Saweetie – Tap In". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  25. ^ Arvunescu, Victor (September 14, 2020). "Top Airplay 100 - Piesa asta dă ritmul toamnei" [Top Airplay 100 - This song tunes up the autumn] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  26. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 36, 2020" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  28. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  29. ^ "Saweetie, HSI". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  30. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: September 12, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  31. ^ "Pop Songs: October 24, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  32. ^ "Rhythmic Songs: October 3, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Songs, August 28, 2020 - September 3, 2020". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  34. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  35. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  36. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Saweetie – Tap In". Music Canada. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  37. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  38. ^ "British single certifications – Saweetie – Tap In". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  39. ^ "American single certifications – Saweetie – Tap In". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  40. ^ "Saweetie - Tap In [Official Music Video] - YouTube". Retrieved August 16, 2020 – via YouTube.
  41. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates". All Access. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
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