What It Feels Like (song)

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"What It Feels Like"
Single by Nipsey Hussle and Jay-Z
from the album Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album
ReleasedFebruary 16, 2021
Recorded2013–2021
GenreHip hop
Length4:35
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Nipsey Hussle singles chronology
"Deep Reverence"
(2020) 		"What It Feels Like"
(2021) 		"Zero Tolerance"
(2021)
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Entrepreneur"
(2020) 		"What It Feels Like"
(2021) 		"Neck & Wrist"
(2022)

"What It Feels Like" is a song by American rappers Nipsey Hussle and Jay-Z, from the soundtrack to the film Judas and the Black Messiah. It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on February 16, 2021, four days after the film was released.[1]

Background

The beat of the song was produced in 2013, by Rance and MyGuyMars of 1500 or Nothin'. Horns were added to it in 2015. In 2017, strings were added to the instrumental and Nipsey Hussle recorded the hook of the song. The song was further recorded by Hit-Boy amidst the George Floyd protests.[2]

"What It Feels Like" was originally a song recorded by Mississippi rapper Tito Lopez. Hussle's lyrics in the song were written as a featured verse. Jay-Z's verse replaced that of Lopez's and was written specifically for Judas and the Black Messiah.[3]

NBA player LeBron James previewed the song on February 10, 2021, two days before the song was released from the soundtrack to the film.[4]

The song opens with Nipsey Hussle rapping a verse about surviving as a rapper,[5] also mentioning selling his mixtape Crenshaw.[2] In the next verse, Jay-Z briefly name-drops Canadian rapper Drake and record producer 40.[4] He then criticizes the 2021 United States Capitol attack and the manner in which white insurrectionists were treated.[5] Jay-Z also notes being born on the same day that Fred Hampton was assassinated, a fact which he previously mentioned in the song "Murder to Excellence".[2]

Charts

Chart (2021) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[6] 93
Global 200 (Billboard)[7] 99
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[8] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] 20
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[11] 23

References

  1. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Crossover Radio Music News, Charts, Top Songs, Stations". All Access. Archived from the original on February 14, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Tharpe, Frazier (2021-02-12). "How Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle Finally Came Together For a Classic Track". GQ.
  3. ^ Eustice, Kyle (February 14, 2021). "Nipsey Hussle's Verse For Jay-Z Collab 'What It Feels Like' is Actually 8 Years Old". HipHopDX.
  4. ^ a b Shifferaw, Abel (February 10, 2021). "Jay-Z Name-Drops Drake on New Nipsey Hussle Collab "What It Feels Like"". Complex.
  5. ^ a b Ihaza, Jeff; Ehrlich, Brenna (February 12, 2021). "Listen to Jay-Z's Collaboration With the Late Nipsey Hussle: 'What It Feels Like'". Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ "Nipsey Hussle Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Nipsey Hussle Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard.
  8. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 22, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  9. ^ "Nipsey Hussle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "Nipsey Hussle Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Nipsey Hussle Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.