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Churchill Downs (song)

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"Churchill Downs"
Song by Jack Harlow featuring Drake
from the album Come Home the Kids Miss You
ReleasedMay 6, 2022
GenreHip hop
Length5:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"Churchill Downs" on YouTube

"Churchill Downs" is a song by American rapper Jack Harlow featuring Canadian rapper Drake from the former's second studio album Come Home the Kids Miss You (2022). It was produced by Boi-1da, Audi, BEDRM, and Ace G.

Background

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Producer Ace G stated that the making of the song began with him and his partner Myriam Eydo in the studio, improvising on the synth and the harp respectively. Eydo started singing, from which the melody was created.[1]

The song leaked in May 2022, upon which it received attention for Drake taking subliminal shots at rapper Pusha T. Jack Harlow said in an interview with Hot 97 that both he and Drake were upset about the leak. Pusha T responded to the leak on The Breakfast Club, saying, "I even heard that and it sounds old to me. Like, the flows sound old. And then it's like, even what is considered like, the shots. It's like, bro, after what I've done, like 'the middleman' talk and all that type of talk — that's not scathing for me. I'm here to like, burn down everything."[2] Harlow later revealed on The Breakfast Club that he added more lyrics to his verse after he heard Drake's.[3]

In June 2022, fellow American rapper Lil Yachty revealed to YouTuber DJ Akademiks some details behind how the song was composed. According to Yachty, Drake told him that he wrote his verse in about 11 minutes, in front of Harlow, while they were on vacation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.[4]

Composition

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The song uses a flute instrumental. In the song, the artists rap about the pitfalls of fame, and "throw humble compliments at each other when they're not offering cutting, pragmatic commentary".[5] Jack Harlow's line "I'm hip-hop, do you fully understand?" have been called the "defining defensive line" of the album.[6] Drake also references his feud with Pusha T in his verse.[7]

Critical reception

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A.D. Amorosi of Variety praised Drake's feature on the song, writing: "Drake's lyrics about life in the limelight are some of the best he's come up with since 2020; the next Drake record is something to really look forward to, if this is where he's going."[5] Mosi Reeves of Rolling Stone wrote that Drake "doesn't disappoint here" and performs "another great verse from a rapper famed for his poetically aggrieved self-absorption", while also writing, "Meanwhile, Harlow can only offer bland braggadocio."[7] In contrast, Matthew Strauss of Pitchfork described the song as "more or less a copy of an up-late Drake confessional". Additionally, Strauss wrote, "A big mistake, however, was actually getting Drake on the song, as the veteran artist sounds like he has something worth saying. Meanwhile Harlow, despite the growing fame and unending fascination, is still finding his footing."[6]

Music video

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The official music video was filmed at the 2022 Kentucky Derby and released on June 1, 2022. Directed by Ace Pro, the clip sees Jack Harlow and Drake rapping at the event, holding bets in their hands, and watching the race, while blending slow motion footage of the horses racing.[8][9][10] Earlier in the video, Harlow appears in a baseball bat factory, as a reference to the Louisville Slugger.[11] The video also features cameos from Baka Not Nice, Boi1-da, Bryson Tiller, DJ Drama, Druski, Hit-Boy, Taylor Rooks, and Harlow's mother Maggie, who dances as Drake raps to her.[9][10][12]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Churchill Downs"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 17
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 11
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 38
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] 88
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 25
Portugal (AFP)[19] 101
South Africa (TOSAC)[20] 5
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 76
UK Singles (OCC)[23] 19
US Billboard Hot 100[24] 23
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 9

Certifications

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Certifications for "Churchill Downs"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[27] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Mullin, Kyle (May 17, 2022). "How Toronto Producer Ace G Turned an Intimate Moment Into Drake and Jack Harlow's "Churchill Downs"". Complex.
  2. ^ Walker, Joe (May 4, 2022). "Jack Harlow Reveals Drake Was 'Sad' About Song Leak: 'It Hurt My Feelings [Too]'". HipHopDX.
  3. ^ Price, Joe (May 6, 2022). "Jack Harlow on Adding More Bars to His "Churchill Downs" Verse After Hearing Drake's, Explains Viral Vacation Video". Complex.
  4. ^ Blanchet, Brenton (June 6, 2022). "Lil Yachty Claims Drake Wrote Verse for Jack Harlow Collab in 11 Minutes, Is Asked About Migos Breakup Rumors". Complex.
  5. ^ a b Amorosi, A. D. (May 6, 2022). "Jack Harlow's 'Come Home the Kids Miss You' Has the Ascendant Hip-Hop Star Improving on a Good Thing: Album Review". Variety.
  6. ^ a b Strauss, Matthew (May 10, 2022). "Jack Harlow: Come Home the Kids Miss You Album Review". Pitchfork.
  7. ^ a b Reeves, Mosi (May 9, 2022). "Review: Jack Harlow's 'Come Home the Kids Miss You'". Rolling Stone.
  8. ^ Price, Joe (June 1, 2022). "Watch Jack Harlow and Drake's New "Churchill Downs" Video". Complex.
  9. ^ a b Aniftos, Rania (June 1, 2022). "Jack Harlow & Drake Head to the Races for 'Churchill Downs' Video". Billboard.
  10. ^ a b Griffin, Marc (June 2, 2022). "Jack Harlow And Drake Bet It All In New "Churchill Downs" Music Video". Vibe.
  11. ^ Blistein, Jon (June 1, 2022). "Jack Harlow and Drake Take Over the Kentucky Derby in New 'Churchill Downs' Video". Rolling Stone.
  12. ^ Powell, Jon (June 1, 2022). "Jack Harlow, Drake, and more head to the races in "Churchill Downs" video". Revolt.
  13. ^ "Jack Harlow – Churchill Downs". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  14. ^ "Jack Harlow Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "Jack Harlow Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  17. ^ "Jack Harlow – Churchill Downs" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  18. ^ "Jack Harlow – Churchill Downs". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  19. ^ "Jack Harlow – Churchill Downs". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  20. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 19-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  21. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 19". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "Jack Harlow – Churchill Downs". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  23. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  24. ^ "Jack Harlow Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "Jack Harlow Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  26. ^ "British single certifications – Jack Harlow ft Drake – Churchill Downs". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  27. ^ "American single certifications – Jack Harlow – Churchill Downs". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
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