"Mamushi" is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion featuring Japanese rapper Yuki Chiba from the former's third studio album Megan (2024). After going viral on the video-sharing platform TikTok, the song was released to urban radio as the album's fourth single on July 30, 2024. Produced by Koshy, the bilingual track sees Megan and Chiba rapping in English and Japanese.
"Mamushi" | ||||
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![]() Promotional picture for "Mamushi" | ||||
Single by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Yuki Chiba | ||||
from the album Megan | ||||
Language |
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Released | July 30, 2024 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 2:36 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Koshy | |||
Megan Thee Stallion singles chronology | ||||
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Yuki Chiba singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Mamushi" on YouTube |
Background and release
edit"Mamushi" was initially released as an album track on Megan Thee Stallion's third studio album, Megan, which was released on June 28, 2024. The song gained fame due to a viral TikTok dance trend created by user @mona712_official, with 157,000 videos made with the song by July 9, 2024.[1][2] In response, Megan posted several TikToks of herself following the dance trend, including one of her cosplaying as the anime series Sailor Moon's lead character Usagi Tsukino.[3][4] On July 30, the song was released as a single to urban radio, becoming the number-one most added song on the format.[5]
Composition
editProduced by Koshy and written by Megan, Chiba, and Koshiro Ota, "Mamushi" sees both Megan and Chiba rapping in English and Japanese.[6] Its title refers to a mamushi, a type of snake mainly found in Japan, which continues the snake-related imagery and metaphors in Megan's previous singles "Cobra", "Hiss", and "Boa". Lyrically, "Mamushi" has been interpreted as depicting Megan "regaining her past and letting go of it in order to represent the fame and prosperity she’s now achieving." The first half of the chorus is spoken by Chiba in Japanese; the romanized version reads "Okane kasegu, orera wa sutā" (お金稼ぐ俺らはスター), which is translated as "We make money, we are stars." Chiba uses the word "ore", an informal way of referring to oneself in Japanese used by younger males. Megan then raps the phrase "Watashi wa sutā" (私はスター) in the second half of the chorus, which translates to "I’m a star." She uses the word "watashi", the feminine way to refer to oneself in Japanese.[7]
Music video
editThe music video for "Mamushi", directed by Kevin "Onda" Leyva premiered on August 9, 2024 and was filmed in part at both Tsurumaki Onsen Jinya and Engaku-ji Temple. The video takes place at a bathhouse where Megan lures male gangsters into her den before transforming into a gigantic mamushi snake and killing them. Yuki Chiba who is seen working at the bathhouse then cleans up and paints her victims blue, before they are then revived into an army of the dead that follow Megan's every word. The scene with the blue-faced group of men standing behind Megan is a nod to the 1990 film, "Dreams" by Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. Multiple scenes from the music video also take inspiration from other films such as the 2001 film Rush Hour 2,[8] as well as feature multiple Japanese actors, most notably Shô Kasamatsu who is the first of the men to be killed by Megan.[9][10]
Critical reception
editThe song received generally positive reviews. Music critics have compared the song to "Otaku Hot Girl", another track from Megan. Karen Gwee of NME wrote "Though not as effortless, 'Mamushi' is a change of pace for Megan, who over an icy, skeletal beat follows the swaggering lead of Yuki Chiba".[11] Mankaprr Conteh of Rolling Stone commented "Though 'Mamushi,' with its simple beat, repetitive hook, and choppy cadence, isn't as exciting as its counterpart, it may be an important signal to her international fans and sign of her passions (plus, it has a pretty cute TikTok dance routine taking off)." She additionally stated "it's easy to imagine the album as stronger" without the "elementary palate of 'Mamushi.'"[12] Aron A. of HotNewHipHop commented the artists "share fantastic chemistry" on the song.[6] Some critics had a more favorable view of "Mamushi" than "Otaku Hot Girl"; Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork wrote "The better song that leans into her fondness for Japanese culture is the multilingual 'Mamushi,' which pulls off the theme without flattening her personality."[13] Lucas Martins of BPM stated "The mid-tempo 'Mamushi' executes the idea much better, as the off-kilter approach to the hook and her interplay with guest rapper Yuki Chiba allow her to make what would otherwise be a rather stiff song really come alive."[14]
Commercial performance
edit"Mamushi" debuted at number 68 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with 7.3 million streams and 1,000 downloads sold in its opening week, later peaking at number 36. It also debuted at number 18 on Hot Rap Songs and number 21 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song marked Chiba's first-ever entry on the Billboard Hot 100.[15] The following week, it also became both Megan and Chiba's first-ever number 1 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.[16]
Charts
editChart (2024) | Peak position |
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Australia (ARIA)[17] | 87 |
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[18] | 14 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] | 56 |
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] | 29 |
Greece International (IFPI)[21] | 23 |
India International (IMI)[22] | 14 |
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[23] | 4 |
Malaysia (Billboard)[24] | 10 |
Malaysia International (RIM)[25] | 9 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[26] | 6 |
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[27] | 80 |
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100)[28] | 43 |
Singapore (RIAS)[29] | 11 |
UK Singles (OCC)[30] | 89 |
US Billboard Hot 100[31] | 36 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] | 7 |
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[33] | 18 |
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[34] | 1 |
References
edit- ^ Fabris, Andres (July 9, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion and Yuki Chiba's 'Mamushi' Goes Viral On The Charts". Music Daily. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ Kassahun, Tomas. "How Megan Thee Stallion's 'Mamushi' Is Going Viral On TikTok - Blavity". Blavity News & Entertainment. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Ford, Lucy (July 10, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion Out-Cosplayed Herself With New Sailor Moon Look". Teen Vogue. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ Corrine, Amber (July 10, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion Cosplays As Sailor Moon While Hitting Viral Moves To Her Song "Mamushi"". Vibe. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion & Yuki Chiba's 'Mamushi' Becomes the #1 Most Added Song on Urban Radio". TheGrapeJuice. July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ a b A., Aron (July 2, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion "Megan" Review". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Siobhan (July 10, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion & Yuki Chiba's "Mamushi" Lyrics Are All Over TikTok, but What Do They Mean?". Her Campus. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Heads to Japan for 'Rush Hour 2'-Inspired 'Mamushi' Video Featuring Yuki Chiba". Billboard. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ Carter, Ashleigh (August 10, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallon Pays Homage to Japanese Films in 'Mamushi' Video". Teen Vogue. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Garcia, Thania (August 9, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion Pays Homage to Japanese Cinema in Action-Packed Video for 'Mamushi'". Variety. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ Gwee, Karen (July 1, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion – 'Megan' review: the rapper shines in all her multifaceted glory". NME. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Conteh, Mankaprr (July 1, 2024). "'Megan' Blissfully Soundtracks the Summer Thee Stallion Deserves". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Pierre, Alphonse (July 2, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion: MEGAN". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Martins, Lucas (July 8, 2024). "Album Review: Megan Thee Stallion – Megan". BPM. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ Zellner, Xander (July 9, 2024). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Yuki Chiba, Loco & BabyTron All Score First Entries Thanks to Collaborations". Billboard.
- ^ "World Digital Song Sales (July 20, 2024)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 19 August 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1798. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 19, 2024. p. 4.
- ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) (Week: 31/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ "IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 22nd July 2024 | Week 29 of 52". IMIcharts. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of August 21, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 33 (09/08/2024-15/08/2024)". RIM. August 24, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
- ^ "TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: August 9th, 2024 – August 15th, 2024". TurnTable. Archived from the original on August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Philippines Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 32 (2 - 8 Aug 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on August 20, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2024.