Lemon (N.E.R.D. and Rihanna song)

"Lemon (Drake Remix)"
"Lemon (Drake Remix)"
Single by N.E.R.D. and Drake featuring Rihanna
Released	March 17, 2018
Length	3:46
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Williams; Robyn Fenty; Aubrey Graham;
Producer(s)	Pharrell Williams; Kuk Harrell;
N.E.R.D. singles chronology
Drake singles chronology

"Lemon"
"Lemon"
Single by N.E.R.D. and Rihanna
from the album No One Ever Really Dies
Released	November 1, 2017
Recorded	2017
Genre	Hyphy
Length	3:39 (single version); 3:07 (radio edit); 2:27 (w/out first verse)
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Pharrell Williams; Robyn Fenty;
Producer(s)	Pharrell Williams; Kuk Harrell;
N.E.R.D. singles chronology
Rihanna singles chronology
Music video
	"Lemon" on YouTube

"Lemon" is a song by American band N.E.R.D. from their fifth studio album, No One Ever Really Dies (2017).^[4] The song features vocals from Barbadian singer Rihanna, and was released as the album's lead single on November 1, 2017.^[5]

Former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Arlen Specter is sampled in the song as the man saying "wait a minute."^[6]

Several alternate versions of the songs were produced, including a version without the Rihanna feature (which sees Pharrell rapping a similar verse), a radio edit, and an edited version submitted to streaming services that omits Pharrell's first verse. The remix featuring Drake was released on March 17, 2018.^[7]^[8]^[9]

Music video

The music video for "Lemon" was uploaded to N.E.R.D.'s Vevo page on YouTube on November 1, 2017. The video was directed by Todd Tourso and Scott Cudmore, and produced by Stacey Thiel and stars dancer Mette Towley.

Track listing

Digital download^[5]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lemon"	3:39

Digital download^[10]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lemon" (edit)	2:26

7" vinyl^{[citation needed]}
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lemon (N.E.R.D. and Rihanna)"
2.	"Lemon (N.E.R.D.)"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017–18)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[11]	44
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[12]	7
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[13]	33
Colombia (National-Report)^[14]	80
France (SNEP)^[15]	47
Ireland (IRMA)^[16]	51
Israel (Media Forest TV Airplay)^[17]	7
Japan (Japan Hot 100)^[18]	99
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[19]	87
Portugal (AFP)^[20]	78
Scotland (OCC)^[21]	30
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)^[22]	94
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[23]	59
UK Singles (OCC)^[24]	31
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[25]	14
US Billboard Hot 100^[26]	36
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[27]	23
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[28]	16
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[29]	22
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[30]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2018)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100^[31]	83
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[32]	42
US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[33]	25
US Rap Songs (Billboard)^[34]	36

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[35]	Platinum	70,000^‡
Canada (Music Canada)^[36]	2× Platinum	160,000^‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[37]	2× Platinum	60,000^‡
Poland (ZPAV)^[38]	Gold	10,000^‡
United Kingdom (BPI)^[39]	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[40]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
United States	November 1, 2017	Digital download	Original	Columbia	^[5]
Italy	November 2, 2017	Contemporary hit radio	Original	Sony	^[41]
United States	November 7, 2017	Rhythmic contemporary	Radio Edit	Sony Columbia	^[42]
United States	November 19, 2017	Contemporary hit radio	Radio Edit	Sony Columbia	^[43]
United Kingdom	December 1, 2017	Contemporary hit radio	Original	Columbia Sony i am OTHER	^[44]
United Kingdom	December 1, 2017	Digital download	Radio Edit	Columbia	^[10]

Drake remix

The official remix, titled the "Drake Remix", featuring Canadian rapper Drake was premiered on Episode 58 of OVO Sound Radio and made available for purchase on March 17, 2018.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[45]^[46]^[47]

Chart performance

The remix charted on RMNZ's New Zealand chart, peaking at number 37.^[48]

Track listing

Digital download – Drake remix^[7]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lemon" (Drake remix) (featuring Drake)	3:46

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[48]	37

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[49]	Gold	15,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	March 17, 2018	Digital download	Columbia	^[7]
Australia	March 23, 2018	Contemporary hit radio	Universal Music Australia	^[50]

References

^ "Singles Club: N.E.R.D and Rihanna bring plenty of zest to 'Lemon'". Fact. November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
^ "N.E.R.D Ft. Rihanna – Lemon (Clean)". BeatSnoop. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
^ "Lemon - Edit". Spotify. December 6, 2017.
^ Ortiz, Edwin (November 5, 2017). "N*E*R*D Debut New Album at ComplexCon With Electrifying Show". Complex. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Lemon – Single by N.E.R.D". iTunes Store (US). November 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
^ Rolen, Emily (August 20, 2018). "Song on Ariana Grande's new album samples clip of man shouting at 2009 Pa. town hall meeting". Philadelphia Voice. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Lemon (feat. Drake) [Drake Remix] – Single by N.E.R.D & Rihanna on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Drake Joins N.E.R.D. & Rihanna on New 'Lemon' Remix". Billboard. March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Morgan Britton, Luke (March 18, 2018). "Drake remixes N.E.R.D and Rihanna's 'Lemon'". NME. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "iTunes – Music – Lemon (Edit) – Single by N.E.R.D & Rihanna". iTunes Store. December 6, 2017.
^ "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
^ "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
^ "NERD Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
^ "Top 100 Colombia" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
^ "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography N.E.R.D.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
^ "N.E.R.D feat. Rihanna - Lemon Media Forest". Mediaforest.biz. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
^ "NERD Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
^ "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
^ "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 15. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
^ "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
^ "NERD Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
^ "NERD Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
^ "NERD Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
^ "NERD Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
^ "NERD Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Year-End". Billboard.
^ "Rhythmic Songs - Year-End". Billboard.
^ "Hot Rap Songs - Year-End". Billboard.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
^ "Canadian single certifications – N*E*R*D – Lemon". Music Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – N.E.R.D. And Rihanna – Lemon". Radioscope. Retrieved December 17, 2024. Type Lemon in the "Search:" field.
^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
^ "British single certifications – Nerd & Rihanna – Lemon". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
^ "American single certifications – N.E.R.D – Lemon". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
^ "N.E.R.D & RIHANNA "Lemon" – (Radio Date: 02/11/2017)". radiodate.it. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
^ "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
^ "Radio1 - New USA Singles". December 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^ "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
^ "New Music: N.E.R.D & Rihanna Feat. Drake – 'Lemon (Remix)'". Rap-Up. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
^ "Drake's 'Lemon' Remix Sours Some Fans". ET Canada. March 17, 2018. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
^ "Hear Drake on New Remix of N.E.R.D & Rihanna's 'Lemon'". March 17, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
^ "New Zealand single certifications – N.E.R.D and Rihanna – Lemon (Drake Remix)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
^ "Singles To Radio - The Music Network". themusicnetwork.com.

[1] "Singles Club: N.E.R.D and Rihanna bring plenty of zest to 'Lemon'". Fact. November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.

[2] "N.E.R.D Ft. Rihanna – Lemon (Clean)". BeatSnoop. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.

[3] "Lemon - Edit". Spotify. December 6, 2017.

[4] Ortiz, Edwin (November 5, 2017). "N*E*R*D Debut New Album at ComplexCon With Electrifying Show". Complex. Retrieved November 13, 2017.

[itunes-5] "Lemon – Single by N.E.R.D". iTunes Store (US). November 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.

[6] Rolen, Emily (August 20, 2018). "Song on Ariana Grande's new album samples clip of man shouting at 2009 Pa. town hall meeting". Philadelphia Voice. Retrieved October 25, 2019.

[Remix_iTunes-7] "Lemon (feat. Drake) [Drake Remix] – Single by N.E.R.D & Rihanna on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved March 18, 2018.

[Billboard_Remix-8] "Drake Joins N.E.R.D. & Rihanna on New 'Lemon' Remix". Billboard. March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.

[NME-9] Morgan Britton, Luke (March 18, 2018). "Drake remixes N.E.R.D and Rihanna's 'Lemon'". NME. Retrieved June 16, 2018.

[gb-10] "iTunes – Music – Lemon (Edit) – Single by N.E.R.D & Rihanna". iTunes Store. December 6, 2017.

[sc_Australia_N.E.R.D._&_Rihanna-11] "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 31, 2018.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_N.E.R.D._&_Rihanna-12] "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 2, 2017.

[sc_Canada_NERD-13] "NERD Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.

[14] "Top 100 Colombia" (in Spanish). National-Report. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2019.

[sc_France_N.E.R.D._&_Rihanna-15] "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 20, 2018.

[sc_Ireland3_N.E.R.D.-16] "Irish-charts.com – Discography N.E.R.D.". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

[israelcharts-17] "N.E.R.D feat. Rihanna - Lemon Media Forest". Mediaforest.biz. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[sc_Billboardjapanhot100_NERD-18] "NERD Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2017.

[sc_Dutch100_N.E.R.D._&_Rihanna-19] "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

[sc_Portugal_N.E.R.D._&_Rihanna-20] "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 27, 2018.

[sc_Scotland_-21] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

[sc_Slovakdigital2_-22] "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 15. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved April 18, 2018.

[sc_Switzerland_N.E.R.D._&_Rihanna-23] "N.E.R.D. & Rihanna – Lemon". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

[sc_UK_-24] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

[sc_UKrandb_-25] "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 14, 2017.

[sc_Billboardhot100_NERD-26] "NERD Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.

[sc_Billboarddanceclubplay_NERD-27] "NERD Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2018.

[sc_Billboardrandbhiphop_NERD-28] "NERD Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.

[sc_Billboardpopsongs_NERD-29] "NERD Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.

[sc_Billboardrhythmic_NERD-30] "NERD Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2018.

[31] "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.

[32] "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - Year-End". Billboard.

[33] "Rhythmic Songs - Year-End". Billboard.

[34] "Hot Rap Songs - Year-End". Billboard.

[AustraliasingleCertRef-35] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 19, 2021.

[CanadaN*E*R*DLemonsingleCertRef-36] "Canadian single certifications – N*E*R*D – Lemon". Music Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

[New_ZealandN.E.R.D._And_RihannaLemonsingleCertRef-37] "New Zealand single certifications – N.E.R.D. And Rihanna – Lemon". Radioscope. Retrieved December 17, 2024. Type Lemon in the "Search:" field.

[PolandN.E.R.D_&_RihannaLemonsingleCertRef-38] "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2020 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 6, 2020.

[United_KingdomNerd_&_RihannaLemonsingleCertRef-39] "British single certifications – Nerd & Rihanna – Lemon". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 21, 2022.

[United_StatesN.E.R.DLemonsingleCertRef-40] "American single certifications – N.E.R.D – Lemon". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 8, 2022.

[41] "N.E.R.D & RIHANNA "Lemon" – (Radio Date: 02/11/2017)". radiodate.it. Retrieved November 2, 2017.

[42] "Top 40/R Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on November 4, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.

[Radio1_USA-43] "Radio1 - New USA Singles". December 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2020.

[44] "BBC – Radio 1 – Playlist". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.

[45] "New Music: N.E.R.D & Rihanna Feat. Drake – 'Lemon (Remix)'". Rap-Up. Retrieved March 17, 2018.

[46] "Drake's 'Lemon' Remix Sours Some Fans". ET Canada. March 17, 2018. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.

[47] "Hear Drake on New Remix of N.E.R.D & Rihanna's 'Lemon'". March 17, 2018.

[RMNZ-48] "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

[New_ZealandN.E.R.D_and_RihannaLemon_(Drake_Remix)singleCertRef-49] "New Zealand single certifications – N.E.R.D and Rihanna – Lemon (Drake Remix)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.

[Australia_radio-50] "Singles To Radio - The Music Network". themusicnetwork.com.

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v t e N.E.R.D.
Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo Shay Haley
Studio albums	In Search of... Fly or Die Seeing Sounds Nothing No One Ever Really Dies
Singles	"Lapdance" "Rock Star" "Provider" "She Wants to Move" "Maybe" "Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom)" "Spaz" "Hot-n-Fun" "Hypnotize U" "Lemon"
Related articles	The Neptunes

v t e Rihanna songs
Singles discography Songs recorded
Music of the Sun	"Pon de Replay" "If It's Lovin' that You Want" "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)"
A Girl like Me	"SOS" "Unfaithful" "We Ride" "Break It Off"
Good Girl Gone Bad	"Umbrella" "Don't Stop the Music" "Shut Up and Drive" "Hate That I Love You" "Rehab"
Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded	"Disturbia" "Take a Bow" "If I Never See Your Face Again"
Rated R	"Wait Your Turn" "Hard" "Stupid in Love" "Rockstar 101" "Russian Roulette" "Rude Boy" "Te Amo" "Cold Case Love"
Loud	"S&M" "What's My Name?" "Cheers (Drink to That)" "Fading" "Only Girl (In the World)" "California King Bed" "Man Down" "Raining Men" "Skin" "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)"
Talk That Talk	"You da One" "Where Have You Been" "We Found Love" "Talk That Talk" "Cockiness (Love It)" "Birthday Cake" "Watch n' Learn"
Unapologetic	"Phresh Out the Runway" "Diamonds" "Pour It Up" "Loveeeeeee Song" "Jump" "Right Now" "What Now" "Stay" "Nobody's Business"
Home soundtrack	"Towards the Sun" "Dancing in the Dark"
Anti	"Consideration" "Kiss It Better" "Work" "Desperado" "Needed Me" "Love on the Brain" "Higher" "Pose" "Sex with Me"
Collaborations	"All of the Lights" "Bad (Remix)" "Believe It" "Can't Remember to Forget You" "Famous" "Fly" "Lemon" "Live Your Life" "Love the Way You Lie" "Loyalty" "Nothing Is Promised" "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" "Princess of China" "Roll It" "Run This Town" "Selfish" "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" "Take Care" "The Monster" "This Is What You Came For" "Too Good" "Who's That Chick?" "Wild Thoughts"
Other songs	"American Oxygen" "Bad Girl" "Bitch Better Have My Money" "FourFiveSeconds" "Just Stand Up!" "Lift Me Up" "Redemption Song" "Sledgehammer" "Turn Up the Music (Remix)"
Category