21 Savage

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Lore & Background

21 Savage's contribution to "Rockstar" marked a major turning point in his career. The song debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 behind Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow". It stayed behind "Bodak Yellow" for three consecutive weeks before reaching the top spot in its fourth week. "Rockstar" topped the Hot 100 for one week before being succeeded by other hits; Camila Cabello's "Havana" featuring Young Thug later reached number one, but not immediately after. The single has sold over 10,000,000 copies, being certified Diamond in the US. In 21 Savage's native United Kingdom, "Rockstar" debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart on September 22, 2017, then rose to number two, but never reached the top of the chart. In September 2020, "Rockstar" became one of the early songs to surpass two billion streams on the audio platform Spotify.

In Their Own Story

The official music video for "Rockstar", directed by Emil Nava, was released on Post Malone's Vevo YouTube channel on November 21, 2017. The video features Post Malone in a room fighting against a gang of men with samurai swords, and ends with Post Malone and 21 Savage covered in blood. Pitchfork noted that the video references the Japanese action film *Lady Snowblood*. On June 23, 2022, after nearly five years on YouTube, the video hit one billion views. The song also received several remixes, including a Latin remix featuring Nicky Jam and Ozuna released on December 13, 2017, and a remix by Lil Wayne titled "5 Star" featuring Nicki Minaj, released on December 25, 2017, as a single from his mixtape *Dedication 6*.

Reader's Guide

For fans looking to understand 21 Savage's role in Post Malone's music, "Rockstar" is the essential starting point. The song was written alongside Carl Rosen, Joey Bada$$, and producers Louis Bell and Tank God. It received mixed reviews from music critics, with Spin and Time both naming it one of the worst songs of 2017. Despite this, it became the artists' most successful hit single. A notable marketing tactic involved an unofficial YouTube video released by Republic Records that looped only the song's chorus for three minutes and 38 seconds, allowing the song to receive equivalent downloads without featuring the entirety of the song. Some called it a "clever marketing scheme", while others believed it was a trick or a loophole. The song's commercial performance was undeniable, reaching number one in Australia, Canada, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

Did You Know?

• 21 Savage and Post Malone's "Rockstar" was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
• The official music video for "Rockstar" hit one billion views on YouTube on June 23, 2022.
• In September 2020, "Rockstar" became one of the early songs to surpass two billion streams on Spotify.
• A Latin remix of "Rockstar" featuring Nicky Jam and Ozuna was released on December 13, 2017.