"Durag Activity" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rappers Baby Keem and Travis Scott, released on April 30, 2021 by Columbia Records and pgLang as the lead single from Keem's debut studio album The Melodic Blue (2021). The song was written by Keem and Scott alongside Justin Howze and was produced by Brick.[1][2]
| "Durag Activity" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Baby Keem and Travis Scott | ||||
| from the album The Melodic Blue | ||||
| Released | April 30, 2021 | |||
| Length | 3:45 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | Brick | |||
| Baby Keem singles chronology | ||||
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| Travis Scott singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Durag Activity" on YouTube | ||||
Background
The song was announced by Baby Keem on April 21, 2021, before it was released in April 30.[3]
In May 2021, Madonna posted a photo of herself wearing a bandana with "durag activity" in the captions on Twitter. Keem responded with, "...Can I send you a Durag?" and then, "did I humble Madonna?"[4]
Composition
Wongo Okon of Uproxx describes the song as Baby Keem "leading the way with near-mumble raps" before Travis Scott "arrives with his trademark autotune croons".[5] In the song, Baby Keem and Travis Scott talk about "money, influence, and women in their lives", which they describe as "durag activity", over a "clicking, slinking" beat.[6] "Distorted piano chords" can also be heard in the instrumental.[3][7]
Critical reception
Sophie Caraan of Hypebeast writes, "The effortless delivery from both Keem and Scott provide a new layer of texture for the bars they drop — which are mostly about getting rich — and almost gives it a new meaning, putting emphasis on the importance fusion of flow, cadence and lyricism."[7] Erika Marie of HotNewHipHop called the song "laid back" and "slow-burning".[8]
Music video
An accompanying music video was released on April 30, 2021. Directed by Eliel Ford, it depicts Baby Keem as a mob boss and opens with him in a suit, rapping his verse while someone in the background is beat up.[2][9] After "laying hands on an enemy", Keem gets tied to a chair with Travis Scott, but they "reverse the situation".[5][9]
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[10] | 53 |
| Global 200 (Billboard)[11] | 77 |
| Lithuania (AGATA)[12] | 67 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] | 6 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[14] | 96 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 85 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] | 38 |
References
- ^ Bloom, Madison (April 30, 2021). "Baby Keem and Travis Scott Share New Song "durag activity"". Pitchfork.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Cho, Regina (May 3, 2021). "Baby Keem is coming for revenge in "durag activity" video". REVOLT.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Rose, Jordan (April 30, 2021). "Baby Keem Connects With Travis Scott in Video for "Durag Activity"". Complex.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ S., Madusa (May 29, 2021). "Baby Keem Asks If He "Humbled Madonna" After Her "Durag Activity" Tweet". HotNewHipHop.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Okon, Wongo (April 30, 2021). "Travis Scott And Baby Keem's 'Durag Activity' Is A Clouded Banger". UPROXX.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Kaye, Ben (April 30, 2021). "Baby Keem teams with Travis Scott on new track "durag activity": Stream". Consequence.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Caraan, Sophie (April 30, 2021). "Baby Keem and Travis Scott Deliver Debut Collab "durag activity"". HYPEBEAST.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Marie, Erika (April 30, 2021). "Baby Keem Connects With Travis Scott On "Durag Activity"". HotNewHipHop.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Walker, Joe (April 30, 2021). "Travis Scott Joins Baby Keem For 'Durag Activity' Video On Kendrick Lamar's pgLang". HipHopDX.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
- ^ "2021 18-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 7, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
- ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ "Travis Scott Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2021.