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Rodeo (Lil Nas X and Cardi B song)

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"Rodeo"
Song by Lil Nas X and Cardi B
from the EP 7
ReleasedJune 21, 2019
Genre
Length2:39
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Rodeo" is a song by American rappers Lil Nas X and Cardi B from the former's second EP, 7 (2019). The song was written by the artists alongside Pardison Fontaine and producers Take a Daytrip, Roy Lenzo, and Russ Chell. Due to the song's interpolation of Heart's 1977 song "Barracuda," band members Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Michael Derosier, and Roger Fisher are also credited as songwriters. Musically, the song is a country trap track with a surf trumpet and reverberated staccato guitar riff. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised Cardi B's verse.

"Rodeo" debuted at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and reached charts in numerous other territories. Lil Nas X and Cardi B, among others, were sued by Don Lee and Glen Keith DeMeritt III, with the two of them claiming that "Rodeo" plagiarized a track they produced called "Broad Day" (2017). A remix of the former with Lil Nas X and American rapper Nas was released for digital download and streaming as a single on January 27, 2020, after a live performance by Lil Nas X and Nas of the remix during the 2020 Grammy Awards the previous day. It was supported by a music video and caused the song to re-enter the Billboard Hot 100 at number 74, with the magazine billing the artist as "Lil Nas X featuring Cardi B or Nas".

Background and composition

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According to Take a Daytrip, the duo of David Biral and Denzel Baptiste, the guitar lick for "Rodeo" was introduced during Lil Nas X's first studio session ever. The song's chorus was the first part the three of them completed, which was posted to Lil Nas X's Instagram before the rest of the song was finished, and had received around three million views within two days. A solo version of it was completed one month and a half later in New York City. Cardi B's verse was a late addition to "Rodeo", which Lil Nas X texted to the producers when they "were in the studio working on something else" a few days prior.[1] The song was written by Lil Nas X and Cardi B, alongside Pardison Fontaine, Roy Lenzo, Russ Chell, Biral, and Baptiste, while the latter four produced the song.[2]

Lil Nas X revealed the song's name as part of the tracklist for 7. Cardi B's appearance on it was not announced until the EP's release on June 21, 2019.[3] A hip hop song,[4] "Rodeo" retains Lil Nas X's "country trap style with twanging guitars" according to Spin's Nina Braca.[5] The song samples a guitar riff, described by Uproxx's Aaron Williams as "a harder rock-oriented loop" similar to Heart's "Barracuda" (1977), featuring Lil Nas X's country trap vocals, which Williams thought were "to censure a romantic flame for her dependence on his largesse".[6] It includes a reverbed staccato guitar riff and surf trumpet.[7] With "twisted, brooding Mariachi tones", "Rodeo" has a hint of guitar-and-drum driven heaviness.[8]

Reception

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"Rodeo" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre wrote that "'Rodeo' hits all the beats of 'Mo Bamba'" (2017), describing the former as "a desperate return to the bulletproof cowboy persona".[9] Nina Braca from Spin labelled Cardi B's verse "energetic".[5] NPR's Meaghan Garvey called the song "an outlaw banger", noting that it sees Lil Nas X's "cartoon cowboy drawl" return.[10] In a review for AllMusic, Fred Thomas wrote that the song gets closest to the "trappy country" formula, with Lil Nas X "affecting his rugged cowboy persona over a banging beat, complete with a dusty drawl and a burning feature from Cardi B".[11] Garrett Gravley of Consequence of Sound compared the quality of the backing instrumentals of "Rodeo" to Dick Dale, adding that it "leave[s] a void in the listener that can only be filled by playing [it] again and again".[7] Rolling Stone's Spanos described the song as a "surefire hit".[8] In a mixed review, Erika Marie of HotNewHipHop thought that the song "brings more of a hip hop vibe with Cardi's aggressive rap addition, but with only two verses, there's much to be left for listeners".[4]

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Don Lee and Glen Keith DeMeritt III sued Lil Nas X, Cardi B, Take a Daytrip, Unxque and Sony Music Entertainment for allegedly plagiarizing "Rodeo" from a song they produced called "Broad Day" (2017). Lee and DeMeritt stated that the former uses the E, F, G, F, E chord progression of the song and features similar instrumentation to it; they also alleged that the song was "performed, published, and distributed widely, including without limitation in and around the Atlanta hip-hop scene".[12] Lil Nas X denied the claims and said that "the work, 'Rodeo,' was created independently from and without knowledge of the allegedly infringed work".[13]

Commercial performance

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"Rodeo" debuted at number 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the issue date of July 6, 2019, following the release of 7.[14] The track was later certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of three million certified units on July 19, 2024.[15] In Canada, it peaked at number 44 on the Canadian Hot 100 and attained a double platinum certification from Music Canada (MC).[16][17] The track charted at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart, number 35 on the Irish Singles Chart and number 13 on Latvia's Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops chart.[18][19][20] The song peaked at number 72 on the ARIA Singles chart and number six on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart, an extension to the New Zealand Top 40 Singles chart.[21][22]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[2]

  • Lil Nas X – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Cardi B – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Roy Lenzo – songwriting, production
  • Russ Chell – songwriting, production
  • Take a Daytrip – songwriting, production
  • Jorden Thorpe – songwriting
  • Ann Wilson - songwriting
  • Michael Derosier - songwriting
  • Nancy Wilson - songwriting
  • Roger Fisher - songwriting
  • Denzel Baptiste – recording
  • DJ Swivel – mixing
  • Colin Leonard – mastering

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] Gold 35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[38] 3× Platinum 120,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[17] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
France (SNEP)[39] Gold 100,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[40] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[15] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Remix

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"Rodeo (Remix)"
Single by Lil Nas X and Nas
ReleasedJanuary 27, 2020
Genre
Length2:25
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Take a Daytrip
  • Chell
  • Lenzo
Lil Nas X singles chronology
"Panini"
(2019) 		"Rodeo (Remix)"
(2020) 		"Holiday"
(2020)
Nas singles chronology
"NY Se Mumbai"
(2019) 		"Rodeo (Remix)"
(2020) 		"Ultra Black"
(2020)
Music video
"Rodeo (ft. Nas)" on YouTube
Lyric video
"Rodeo (Remix) (feat. Nas)" on YouTube

A remix of "Rodeo" by Lil Nas X and American rapper Nas was released for digital download and streaming in various countries on January 27, 2020, accompanied by an animated lyric video.[42][43] Lil Nas X said of the collaboration that it was "amazing" for Nas to acknowledge him.[44] The remix was serviced as a single to contemporary hit radio in Italy on January 31, 2020.[45] Nas' verse features him rapping about his "ho stable" and major catalog. Stereogum's Tom Breihan called it just as catchy as the original version, stating that the remix adds mariachi horns to its rumbling surf-guitar beat.[46] Lil Nas X performed the former alongside Nas at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards a day before its digital release.[44]

Chart performance

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The remix reached number 29 on Belgium's Ultratip Flanders chart and number 16 on the country's Ultratip Wallonia chart.[47][48] It peaked at number 27 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart and number 74 on the US Billboard Hot 100, with the magazine billing the artist as "Lil Nas X featuring Cardi B or Nas".[49][50]

Music video

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On February 4, 2020, Lil Nas X revealed that the music video for "Rodeo" will be released the following day, along with a selfie of him as a vampire with red dilated pupils and pointy ears from the shoot.[51] The former was directed by Bradley & Pablo and released for the remix of the song.[52] The video begins with Lil Nas X receiving a phone call about playing a game, following which he is bitten by a vampire and begins to evolve. Lil Nas X is then thrown into the matrix, where Nas shows up in a leather jacket and sunglasses.[53] He offers the former a choice between two pills, who chooses the red pill over the blue one and unlocks his superpowers.[54] About Cardi B's absence from the visual, Lil Nas X stated that she could not appear because of timing conflicts.[54]

Trey Alston of MTV News called it "fully outrageous" and "the music video of your dreams". He added that the "weird" video is "one of the most wickedly original things you'll see".[55] According to Consequence of Sound's Ben Kaye, the visuals continue Lil Nas X's "penchant for genre-specific visuals" and "scare up some vampire horror", but the video cannot decide if it wants to be The Lost Boys, Blade or The Matrix.[56] Writing for Teen Vogue, Sara Delgado stated that the music video is a "cinematic masterpiece" and a "pop culture references galore".[53]

Charts

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Chart (2020) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[47] 29
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[48] 16
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[49] 27
US Billboard Hot 100[50] 74
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[57] 25

Release history

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Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various January 27, 2020 Digital download Columbia [42]
Streaming [43]
Italy January 31, 2020 Contemporary hit radio Sony Music Italy [45]
Canada February 3, 2020 Sony Music Canada [58]

References

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  1. ^ Skelton, Eric (June 22, 2019). "Stories From the Making of Lil Nas X's Debut EP, Told by Producers Take A Daytrip". Complex. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "7 EP / Lil Nas X – TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  3. ^ Saponara, Michael (June 21, 2019). "Lil Nas X Releases '7' EP". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 23, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Marie, Erika (June 21, 2019). "Lil Nas X & Cardi B Join Forces On 'Rodeo'". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Braca, Nina (June 24, 2019). "Here Are the Lyrics to Lil Nas X & Cardi B's 'Rodeo'". Spin. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  6. ^ Williams, Aaron (June 21, 2019). "Cardi B Joins Lil Nas X At The 'Rodeo' On His Breezy, Versatile '7' EP". Uproxx. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Gravley, Garrett (June 24, 2019). "Lil Nas X Proves More Than a 10-Gallon Novelty Act on 7 EP". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (June 21, 2019). "Lil Nas X Keeps Riding Down the Old Town Road on His Debut EP '7'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  9. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (June 21, 2019). "Lil Nas X: 7 EP Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  10. ^ Garvey, Meaghan (June 21, 2019). "Lil Nas X Is More Than Just A Meme Lord, Apparently". NPR. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  11. ^ Thomas, Fred. "7 - Lil Nas X". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Bloom, Madison (October 4, 2019). "Lil Nas X, Cardi B, More Hit With Copyright Infringement Lawsuit for "Rodeo"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  13. ^ "Lil Nas X Issues Response to 'Rodeo' Copyright Infringement Claim". Complex. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Lil Nas X Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  15. ^ a b "American single certifications – Lil Nas X & Cardi B – Rodeo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Lil Nas X Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Canadian single certifications – Lil Nas X – Rodeo". Music Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Irish-charts.com – Discography Lil Nas X". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 27. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "ARIA Chart Watch #531". auspOp. June 29, 2019. Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  22. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 1, 2019. Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 27. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  24. ^ "EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS: tere tulemast edetabelitesse, manna!". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  25. ^ "Lil Nas X & Cardi B – Rodeo" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  26. ^ "Greece Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart: 27/2019". IFPI Charts. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  27. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved June 29, 2019.
  28. ^ "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. July 5, 2019. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  29. ^ "Lil Nas X & Cardi B – Rodeo". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  30. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 28. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  31. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 27". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  32. ^ "Lil Nas X & Cardi B – Rodeo". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  33. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  34. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  35. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. July 2, 2019. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  36. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  37. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  38. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Lil Nas X & Cardi B – Rodeo" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  39. ^ "French single certifications – Lil Nas X – Rodeo" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  40. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  41. ^ "British single certifications – Lil Nas X & Cardi B – Rodeo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  42. ^ a b References for the digital release of "Rodeo":
  43. ^ a b "Nas Joins Lil Nas X for 'Rodeo' at the Grammys, and It's Now an Official Remix". Spin. January 27, 2020. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  44. ^ a b Ortiz, Edwin (January 27, 2020). "Lil Nas X and Nas Connect for New Collab 'Rodeo (Remix)'". Complex. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  45. ^ a b "Radio Date: 31/01/2020 - 'Rodeo (Remix)'". Radio Airplay SRL. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  46. ^ Breihan, Tom (January 27, 2020). "Lil Nas X – 'Rodeo (Remix)' (Feat. Nas)". Stereogum. Archived from the original on April 25, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  47. ^ a b "Lil Nas X x Nas – Rodeo" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  48. ^ a b "Lil Nas X x Nas – Rodeo" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  49. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 10, 2020. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  50. ^ a b "Hot 100". Billboard. February 22, 2020. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  51. ^ Saponara, Michael (February 5, 2020). "Lil Nas X's 'Rodeo' Video Will Ride in Very Soon". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  52. ^ Martoccio, Angie (February 6, 2020). "Lil Nas X, Nas Channel 'The Matrix,' 'Scream' and More in 'Rodeo' Remix Video". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  53. ^ a b Delgado, Sara (February 6, 2020). "Lil Nas X Releases 'Rodeo' Music Video Referencing 'Buffy,' 'The Matrix,' and More". Teen Vogue. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  54. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (February 6, 2020). "Lil Nas X Becomes a Rabid Vampire in 'The Matrix'-Inspired 'Rodeo' Video Featuring Nas". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  55. ^ Alston, Trey (February 6, 2020). "Lil Nas X And Nas Team Up For The Zombie Matrix Music Video Of Your Dreams". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  56. ^ Kaye, Ben (February 6, 2020). "Lil Nas X and Nas go full vampire in 'Rodeo' remix video". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  57. ^ "Lil Nas X Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  58. ^ "Lil Nas X – Rodeo feat. Nas (Clean)". Play MPE. February 4, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
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