"Neck & Wrist" is a song by American rapper Pusha T featuring fellow American rapper Jay-Z and American musician Pharrell Williams. Produced by the latter, it was released on April 6, 2022 as the third single from the former's fourth studio album It's Almost Dry (2022).
| "Neck & Wrist" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Pusha T featuring Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams | ||||
| from the album It's Almost Dry | ||||
| Released | April 6, 2022 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Pharrell Williams | |||
| Pusha T singles chronology | ||||
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| Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
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| Pharrell Williams singles chronology | ||||
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Background
editIn 2020, actor and comedian Faizon Love claimed that Jay-Z had been lying about his drug-dealing past. Jay-Z addresses Love's comments in the song.[1]
The artwork of the single was created by Sterling Ruby, who also previously designed the artwork for Pusha T's single "Diet Coke".[2]
Composition and lyrics
editThe song finds Pusha T and Jay-Z reflecting on their music careers and the benefits of their luxurious lifestyles, over an instrumental of heavy drum beats.[3][4] In his verse, Jay-Z begins with responding to Faizon Love's claims ("The phase I'm on, love, I wouldn't believe it either / I'd be like, 'Jay-Z's a cheater,' I wouldn't listen to reason either"),[1][5] and raps that if The Notorious B.I.G. were alive, he and him would have dominated the New York hip hop scene as The Commission, a supergroup that Jay-Z and B.I.G. had planned to form before the latter's death.[1][6]
Critical reception
editJessica McKinney of Complex praised the song's cocaine metaphors and called Jay-Z's performance "captivating".[4]
Response
editFans have speculated that Jay-Z had dissed American rapper Birdman in the song with the lyrics, "I blew bird money, y'all talk in Twitter feeds". Audio engineer Young Guru, a longtime collaborator and associate of Jay-Z, suggested that the line could have multiple meanings behind it and stated it was not a diss toward Birdman.[7]
In an interview with VladTV around a week after the song was released, Faizon Love denied that Jay-Z had dissed him.[8]
Charts
edit| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] | 69 |
| Global 200 (Billboard)[10] | 148 |
| South Africa (TOSAC)[11] | 46 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[12] | 76 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] | 23 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Lindner, Grant (6 April 2022). "Decoding the Subliminals on Pusha T and Jay-Z's "Neck & Wrist"". GQ.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (April 6, 2022). "Pusha T and Jay-Z Release New Song "Neck & Wrist": Listen". Pitchfork.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (April 6, 2022). "Jay-Z and Pusha T's 'Neck and Wrist' Is An Ode to Bling and Finer Things". Rolling Stone.
- ^ a b McKinney, Jessica (April 8, 2022). "Best New Music This Week: Pusha-T, Jack Harlow, Fivio Foreign, and More". Complex.
- ^ Callas, Brad (April 6, 2022). "Jay-Z Responds to Faizon Love's Claim That He Faked Drug Dealing Lifestyle on Pusha-T's "Neck & Wrist"". Complex.
- ^ Walker, Joe (April 6, 2022). "JAY-Z Addresses Biggie Supergroup The Commission on Pusha T 'Neck and Wrist' Collab". HipHopDX.
- ^ Espinoza, Joshua (April 7, 2022). "Speculation Jay-Z Dissed Birdman on New Pusha-T Collab "Neck and Wrist" Addressed by Young Guru". Complex.
- ^ Todd, Jessica (April 14, 2022). "Faizon Love". VladTV.
- ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 17-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.