Jump to content

For the Night

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Chlöe song, see For the Night (Chlöe song).

"For the Night"
Single by Pop Smoke featuring Lil Baby and DaBaby
from the album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
ReleasedOctober 3, 2020
Genre
Length3:10
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Pop Smoke singles chronology
"Mood Swings"
(2020) 		"For the Night"
(2020) 		"What You Know Bout Love"
(2020)
Lil Baby singles chronology
"Why Do You Lie to Me"
(2020) 		"For the Night"
(2020) 		"Pardon"
(2020)
DaBaby singles chronology
"Levitating"
(2020) 		"For the Night"
(2020) 		"Nah Nah Nah (Remix)"
(2020)
Audio video
"For the Night" on YouTube

"For the Night" is a song by American rapper Pop Smoke featuring fellow American rappers Lil Baby and DaBaby, from the former's posthumous debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (2020) as well as the EP of the same name (2020). It was written by the artists, producers CashMoneyAP and Palaze, and additional producer Mike Dean, with more additional production credits going to Wylo and Jess Jackson. The song was released as the fourth single from the album on October 3, 2020, by Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records, while an extended play (EP) was released for the song a few days later.

"For the Night" is a hip hop, trap, and soul song with lyrics about Pop Smoke's lack of commitment in relationships. The single debuted and peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100, giving Pop Smoke his first, DaBaby his fourth, and Lil Baby his fifth top-10 hit in the US. The song reached the top-five on the Billboard airplay Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts and was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It entered the top 10 on record charts in Portugal, New Zealand, Canada, and Greece. Critics named "For the Night" one of the best songs of 2020, noting the rapper's' performances and instrumentation.

Background

[edit]

Pop Smoke found the song's original beat on Danish record producer Palaze's YouTube channel. French producer CashMoneyAP reworked the song with Palaze, Daniel Mxras, Jess Jackson, and Mike Dean. CashMoneyAP added keys and bass while helping Palaze add drums. Pop Smoke's team was surprised when he recorded his vocals as it was the first time they heard him singing. Pop Smoke's team went to the Bahamas to work on his album when he played "For the Night" without warning to them. Record executive Steven Victor lauded the song and said they wanted to include vocals by American rapper Lil Baby. Victor thought having Lil Baby on "For the Night" would be creatively and sonically good as Pop Smoke had always wanted to work with him.[1]

The track was supposed to feature Lil Baby and American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and YoungBoy wanted to be included in the track. CashMoneyAP decided not to feature him because he felt the rapper was not a good pick.[1] After 50 Cent joined Victor on completing Pop Smoke's album, he called American rapper DaBaby to also be part of the song. DaBaby initially did not know that Lil Baby was part of the track.[2] Jackson's main challenge was how to combine Lil Baby's timbre work with DaBaby. Jackson and Mike Dean mixed and recreated all of the music from scratch while keeping CashMoneyAP's drums.[1]

Writing and composition

[edit]

"For the Night" was written by Pop Smoke, Lil Baby, DaBaby, CashMoneyAP, Palaze, and Wylo. It was produced by CashMoneyAP and Palaze while Wylo, Jess Jackson, and Mike Dean were credited as additional producers.[3] "For the Night" is a hip hop, trap, and soul song consisting of an acoustic guitar, folk flutes, heavily autotuned vocals, and processed moans from Lil Baby and DaBaby.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] The three rappers dream about events that normally happen during the night.[11] DaBaby pays tribute to Pop Smoke with the line, "Rest in peace to the Pop, make me smoke ya".[12][13][14]

Critical reception

[edit]

Critics called "For the Night" one of the best songs of 2020,[4][15] such as the Los Angeles Times' August Brown who said it was a "convincingly dragged-out, haunting angle on his craft at the precipice of global stardom".[16] They suggested it could be a "monster hit" and a "social media ready smash".[7][17] Hannah Giorgis from The Atlantic opined that the song evokes the "recklessness of a summer party or the languid flirtation of stoop-side conversations".[18] While Wongo Okon of Uproxx labeled the track as sinister,[11] The Wall Street Journal's Mark Richardson considered it more welcoming than Pop Smoke's earlier songs.[10]

Other critics highlighted the song's vocals and instrumentation, Ashton Howard of Earmilk declaring the rappers delivered a "phenomenally charismatic appearance".[19] Journalists for Billboard and Variety complimented his flexibility, particularly his ability to step outside to try different genres beyond drill.[15][9] Juan Gutierraz called it a "well-balanced rap tune" due to DaBaby's "baritone staccato flow" counterpointing the "higher auto-tuned voices" of Lil Baby and Pop Smoke.[4] Giorgis stated Lil Baby and DaBaby add "arioso and vigor" to the song,[18] and Slant Magazine's Charles Lyons-Burt praised DaBaby's vocals as "tough-talking" and having a "chest-puffing brio".[20]

However, the vocals and instruments incorporated had lesser reviewers. Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre cited the song as an example of the misuse of more popular rappers on Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon; he argued they blurred the "animated personality and charisma" of the rapper, particularly calling "For the Night" a "forced Rap Caviar-bound marathon with Lil Baby and DaBaby".[21] The Independent critic Roisin O'Connor also declared the song's autotuned vocals and folk flutes seemed outdated in comparison to Pop Smoke's gruff.[8]

Release and commercial performance

[edit]

"For the Night" was released on Pop Smoke's posthumous debut studio album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, as the third track on July 3, 2020.[22] The song was later released as the album's fourth single on October 3, 2020, by Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records.[23] An EP for "For the Night" of the same name was released on October 7, 2020. The EP also features "Hello", "The Woo", "Got It on Me", "Creature", and "Aim for the Moon.[24]

Following the release of Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, "For the Night" debuted and peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100,[25] giving Pop Smoke his first, DaBaby his fourth, and Lil Baby his fifth top-10 hit in the US.[26][27][28] The song simultaneously peaked at number four on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number one on the US Rhythmic charts, with the latter becoming Pop Smoke's first song to top the chart and any Billboard chart altogether.[29] "For the Night" remained atop the Rhythmic chart five nonconsecutive weeks, making it Pop Smoke's longest reign at number one.[30] The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single a octuple platinum certification, which denotes eight million units based on sales and track-equivalent on-demand streams.[31]

The single also reached the top 10 in Canada,[32] New Zealand,[33] Norway,[34] Switzerland,[35] and Portugal.[36] It peaked at number one in Greece's singles chart.[37] The song was certified double platinum in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association[38] while being certified gold in Austria and the United Kingdom by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and British Phonographic Industry, respectively.[39][40]

Track listings

[edit]
  • For The Night - EP[24]
  1. "For the Night" (featuring Lil Baby and DaBaby) - 3:12
  2. "Hello" (featuring A Boogie wit da Hoodie) - 3:11
  3. "The Woo" (featuring 50 Cent and Roddy Ricch) - 3:22
  4. "Got It on Me" - 2:45
  5. "Creature" (featuring Swae Lee) - 3:23
  6. "Aim for the Moon" (featuring Quavo) - 2:56

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[3]

  • Pop Smoke – vocals, songwriter
  • Lil Baby – vocals, songwriter
  • DaBaby – vocals, songwriter
  • CashMoneyAP – production, programming, songwriter
  • Palaze – production, programming, songwriter
  • Wylo – additional producer, songwriter
  • Jess Jackson – additional producer, mixing engineer
  • Mike Dean – additional producer
  • Corey Nutile – recording engineer
  • Rose Adams – assistant mixer
  • Sage Skofield – assistant mixer
  • Sean Solymar – assistant mixer
  • Princston Terry – engineer
  • Stephen Farrow – engineer
  • Daniel Moras Raab – programming
  • Thomas Mann – vocal mixing

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "For the Night"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[39] Gold 15,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[80] Diamond 160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[81] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[82] Diamond 333,333‡
Germany (BVMI)[83] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[84] Platinum 70,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[85] Platinum 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[86] Platinum 50,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[87] 2× Platinum 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[88] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[31] 8× Platinum 8,000,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[89] Platinum 2,000,000†
Sweden (GLF)[90] Platinum 8,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Skelton, Eric; Setaro, Shawn; McKinney, Jessica. "Cover Story: The Making of Pop Smoke's 'Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon'". Complex. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  2. ^ Lamarre, Carl (July 21, 2020). "DaBaby Talks Pop Smoke Guest Verse & Rap's 2020 MVP Debate: 'It's a Close Race, Ain't It?'". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Credits / Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon / Pop Smoke". Tidal. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "The best songs of 2020 ranked". The Line of Best Fit. December 10, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  5. ^ Schwartz, Danny (July 6, 2020). "Pop Smoke's Endless Summer Continues on 'Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Amorosi, A.D. (July 3, 2020). "Pop Smoke's 'Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Pop Smoke featuring DaBaby and Lil Baby, 'For the Night'". Independent Tribune. November 29, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b O'Connor, Roisin (July 3, 2020). "Pop Smoke – Shoot For the Stars Aim For the Moon review: Late rapper's album is brilliant and bittersweet". The Independent. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Amorosi, A.D. (July 3, 2020). "Pop Smoke's 'Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Richardson, Mark (July 8, 2020). "'Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon' by Pop Smoke Review: A Young Artist's Final Dispatch". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Okon, Wongo (July 7, 2020). "Pop Smoke's 'Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon' Expands The Late Rapper's Mainstream Appeal". Uproxx. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  12. ^ Gomez, Jade (July 8, 2020). "Pop Smoke Transcends on Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon". Paste. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  13. ^ Mamo, Heran (October 2, 2020). "Here Are the Lyrics to Pop Smoke's 'For the Night,' Feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Brown, August (July 5, 2020). "Pop Smoke's posthumous album: A chart-topping debut and a frustrating farewell". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  15. ^ a b "The 100 Best Songs of 2020: Staff List". Billboard. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  16. ^ Brown, August; Exposito, Suzy; Roberts, Randall; Wood, Mikael (July 16, 2020). "The 50 best songs of 2020". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  17. ^ Blake, David Aaron (July 16, 2020). "Review: Pop Smoke's No. 1 Album Proves He Was A Star Outside Of 50 Cent & Quavo's Help". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Giorgis, Hannah (July 7, 2020). "Pop Smoke Made the Soundtrack of a Lost Summer". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  19. ^ Ashari (July 3, 2020). "Brooklyn legend, Pop Smoke shoots for the stars on his brilliant posthumous album". Earmilk. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  20. ^ Lyons-Burt, Charles (July 8, 2020). "Review: Pop Smoke's Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon Is a Half-Baked Epitaph". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  21. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (July 7, 2020). "Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  22. ^ Crone, David. "Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon – Pop Smoke". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover". All Access. Archived from the original on 2020-10-04. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  24. ^ a b "For The Night – Pop Smoke". Tidal. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  25. ^ Zellner, Xander (July 13, 2020). "All 19 Songs From Pop Smoke's New LP Chart on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  26. ^ Trust, Gary (July 13, 2020). "DaBaby's 'Rockstar' Rules Hot 100 For Fifth Week, Pop Smoke's 'For the Night' Debuts in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  27. ^ "DaBaby Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  28. ^ "Lil Baby Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  29. ^ Anderson, Trevor (December 10, 2020). "Pop Smoke Is the First Posthumous Lead Act to Top Rhythmic Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  30. ^ Anderson, Trevor (January 28, 2021). "Pop Smoke Posts Back-to-Back No. 1s on Rhythmic Airplay Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  31. ^ a b "American single certifications – Pop Smoke – For the Night". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  32. ^ a b "Pop Smoke Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 5, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  34. ^ a b "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 42, 2020". VG-lista. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  35. ^ a b "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  36. ^ a b "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  37. ^ a b "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 32/2020". IFPI Greece. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  38. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  39. ^ a b "Austrian single certifications – Pop Smoke ft. Lil Baby & Dababy – For the Night" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  40. ^ a b "British single certifications – Pop Smoke/Lil Baby/Dababy – For the Night". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  41. ^ "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  42. ^ "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  43. ^ "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  44. ^ "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  45. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 42. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  46. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 39, 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  47. ^ "Top Singles (Week 41, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  48. ^ "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  49. ^ "Pop Smoke Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  50. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  51. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  52. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  53. ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 42" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  54. ^ "Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  55. ^ Arvunescu, Victor (7 December 2020). "Top Airplay 100 - Piesa de care ai nevoie ca să ai cel mai bun mood posibil!" [Top Airplay 100 – The song that you need to be in the best mood possible!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  56. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  57. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 39". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  58. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  59. ^ "Pop Smoke Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  60. ^ "Pop Smoke Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  61. ^ "Pop Smoke Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  62. ^ "Top 100 Songs, July 3, 2020 - July 9, 2020". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  63. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  64. ^ "Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2020". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  65. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  66. ^ "Track Top-100 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  67. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2020" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  68. ^ "Stream Top 100 - darabszám alapján - 2020". Mahasz. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  69. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2020" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  70. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2020". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  71. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2020". hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  72. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  73. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  74. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  75. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  76. ^ "Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  77. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  78. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  79. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  80. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Pop Smoke – For the Night" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  81. ^ "Danish single certifications – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  82. ^ "French single certifications – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  83. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby; 'For the Night')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  84. ^ "Italian single certifications – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  85. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby and DaBaby – For the Night". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  86. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 17, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter For the Night in the search box.
  87. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Pop Smoke feat. Lil Baby & DaBaby – For the Night" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  88. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Pop Smoke / Lil Baby / DaBaby – For the Night". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  89. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 9/2021" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  90. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Pop Smoke" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=For_the_Night&oldid=1262354180"