"Amari" (stylized as "a m a r i") is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on May 14, 2021 on Cole's sixth studio album, The Off-Season.[2]
| "Amari" | |
|---|---|
| Song by J. Cole | |
| from the album The Off-Season | |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:28 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | |
| Music video | |
| "Amari" on YouTube | |
Background edit
The song title, "Amari", is named after Dreamville president and manager Ibrahim Hamad's son, also the nephew of Dreamville rapper Bas.[3]
Production and composition edit
J. Cole revealed how the song was created on Timbaland's BeatClub YouTube channel. The song was produced during a Twitch live stream by Timbaland. When Cole heard it, he contemplated reaching out, but wrote to the beat through a rip on the internet. He said "I looped up the YouTube lil' rip, made a whole song on this shit. I spent the next two days writing and recording the song, and right when I was 90% through writin' it, I was like, I should probably call him now and get the real file."[4] After asking for the file and playing the song, Timbaland said he didn't save the beat and had to remake it.[5]
Music video edit
On May 17, 2021, Cole released the official music video for "Amari" directed by fellow North Carolina rapper Mez, who also directed the "Middle Child" video.[6] Scenes in the video features Cole rapping in front of a Dreamville helicopter and in a dorm-room with the wall lined with platinum plaques. A message saying "hold on to your inner child," reads at the end.[7]
Critical reception edit
Writing for HipHopDX, Clark Trent said "The Timbaland-assisted "Amari" proves the magic ultimately falls on the beatpicker as T-Minus, Sucuki and Cole all combine for a relatively limp staccato blitz of guitar loops."[8] Clash said Cole reflects "on his success and how he made it out even through trials and tribulations."[9] Rolling Stone said the song was a standout on the album "as he alternates between agile rapping and serious singing."[10]
Commercial performance edit
Upon its first week of release, "Amari" debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his third top five song on the chart.[11]
Charts edit
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[12] | 14 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] | 7 |
| Lithuania (AGATA)[14] | 40 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[15] | 12 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[16] | 58 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[18] | 5 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19] | 3 |
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[20] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References edit
- ^ Jenkins, Craig (May 18, 2021). "J. Cole and the Limitations of Millennial Rap". Vulture. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ Skinner, Tom (May 13, 2021). "J. Cole reveals tracklist and producers for new album 'The Off-Season'". NME. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ Threadcraft, Torry. "J.Cole Returns With the Official "a m a r i" Video". OkayPlayer.
- ^ "J. Cole's "Amari" Samples A Lost Timbaland Beat From A Twitch Stream". Hotnewhiphop.
- ^ Okon, Wongo. "J. Cole Used A Twitch-Ripped Timbaland Beat For 'Amari,' Only To Find Out The Producer Hadn't Saved It". Uproxx.
- ^ "J. Cole Shares Video for "Amari"". Complex.
- ^ Sodomsky, Sam. "J. Cole Shares New "Amari" Video: Watch". Pitchfork.
- ^ Clark, Trent (June 2, 2021). "'The Off-Season' Is J. Cole's Lyrical Prime, Artistic Wall". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Hawthorne, Sade (May 14, 2021). "J. Cole - The Off-Season - Clash Magazine". Clash.
An album that touches astronomical heights...
- ^ Mankaprr, Conteh. "J. Cole Prizes Benign Autobiography Over Social Commentary on 'The Off-Season'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ Blake, Cole (May 24, 2021). "J. Cole Lands 4 Of Top 5 Spots On Billboard's Most-Streamed Songs This Week". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "J. Cole Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "2021 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 21, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ "J. Cole Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "J. Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- ^ "American single certifications – J. Cole – A m a r i". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 26, 2023.