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Pushin P

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"Pushin P"
Song by Gunna and Future featuring Young Thug
from the album DS4Ever
ReleasedJanuary 7, 2022
StudioArt Basel, Miami[1]
Length2:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
Pushin P on YouTube

"Pushin P" (stylized as "pushin P") is a song by American rappers Gunna, Future, and Young Thug. It was released on January 7, 2022, as the second track from Gunna's third studio album DS4Ever. The "hypnotic", alliterative track finds the trio rapping about "pushin p", which is a phrase popularized by Gunna that means to "keep it real". The track was regarded by some critics as a standout from DS4Ever, and became the album's highest-charting track, debuting at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Background

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With the song's release, the phrase "pushin P" became a trend online,[2][3] with social media users posting blue emojis, and the context being that either something is "P", or it is not. This was developed through Gunna posting about "pushing P" online, prior to the song's release; "P" stands for "Pimp" or “Playa”, meaning to "keep it real". Gunna detailed that when something is not "P", it has negative connotations, and vice versa. He also stated that for him it was initially a substitution for the word "pleas", however its definition is open to interpretation, as Gunna clarified: "P means paperwork, too. You can be pushing this P with paper". He further explained the slight difference between "kicking P" and "pushing P": "If you're in this [mansion] and it's rented, then you're kicking P. But if you buy this shit and you own it, then you're really pushing P". A week after DS4Ever's release, Gunna kept the momentum of the trend going, changing the title of his Drake collaboration from "Pussy Power" to "P Power".[3] According to Complex's Eric Skelton, although the phrase was popularized "in the mainstream" by Gunna, it had been used as a term in American regions like the Bay Area and Texas for years.[3] After some Bay Area natives accused Gunna of "stealing" the term, he seemingly responded, claiming that his father introduced him to the saying.[4] In the 2023 YSL RICO trial, Brian Steel, Young Thug's defense attorney, stated that "pushin P" stands for "pushing positivity."[5][6]

Composition

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"Pushin P" is a "hypnotic" track that sees the rappers delivering "intoxicating" flows,[7] chanting "numb and muddy good-life fatalism over downtuned violin-hums and understated drum-spatters and eerie synth-tinkles".[8] The song contains similar alliteration; lines about pushing things that start with the letter P.[9] The Focus's Bruno Cooke noted how some words are deliberately misspelled, for instance the line "She not a lesbian, for P, she turn Pesbian". Cooke opined: "Overall, it's pretty clear that, at least in the context of the song, 'P' stands for a vulgar slang word for a woman's genitals". Furthermore, the song consists of various references to sexual acts and illegal drugs.[10] Complex's Eric Skelton opined that the song is "basically just a chance for Gunna, Future, and Thug to pack a ludicrous amount of P-words into a single song",[3] while Uproxx's Aaron Williams said the trio employs "a slurred, foggy take on the old-school in-and-out, pass-the-mic flow".[11] Exclaim!'s Michael Di Gennaro labeled the song "dark and brooding", calling it a display "of a master at work, someone who knows exactly the type of emotional reaction he wants to get from his audience and how to reach it".[12]

Critical reception

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Complex's Jessica McKinney praised Future for being "the glue that keeps the track together, delivering ad-libs and plenty of swagger on the chorus".[7] Stereogum's Tom Breihan called it a standout track on the album, stating that the song "sounds like blissfully plummeting down an abyss, secure in the feeling that you'll never hit the bottom".[8] Tomás Mier of Rolling Stone also named it one of the standout tracks on DS4Ever.[9] Jordan Darville of The Fader called it one of the best tracks on the album, while quipping: "There's still no explanation of Thug's 'I just fucked a cup of water' bar, but some things are too magical to be fully explained".[13] Revolt's Jon Powell called it a "hard-hitting number".[14] Consequence's Eddie Fu named it the rap song of the week, highlighting Future and Thug's "toxic bars over icy production from Juke Wong and Wheezy". Fu also called Thug's "fucked a cup of water" line bizarre.[15] In their album review, Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre wrote: "as forced as Gunnas new 'pushin' P' motto may be, the Wheezy instrumental it's laid over is so ominous it'll make the hairs stick up on the back of your neck. The middle section of the song, where Gunna raps gibberish for a moment, is the most fun he's having on the entire album".[16] With the album's release, Billboard's Jason Lipshutz said the song "arrives early in the track list as a de facto breakout single from the project".[17]

Commercial performance

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For the week of January 22, 2022, "Pushin P" debuted at number seven of the Billboard Hot 100, garnering 22.5 million streams and debuting at number two on the Streaming Songs chart. It marked Gunna's first top 10 debut, and his third top 10 entry, following "Drip Too Hard" and "Lemonade" with Internet Money. Future and Young Thug also earned their fifth and sixth Hot 100 top 10s, respectively, and their second shared top 10, after Drake's chart-topping "Way 2 Sexy".[18]

Music video

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The music video was released on January 12, 2022, directed by Caleb Jermale. It finds the rappers giving examples of what it means to "push p", as they are inside a club, luxury stores, a mansion, as they board private jets, and drop large amounts of cash at a strip club.[9][13][19] HipHopDX's Michael Saponara called the visual "lavish", noting how it follows the trio "taking over a South Beach party, shopping at Miami's designer store district with eye candy on their hip, and pouring up some lean without a worry in the world".[20] Actor Demetrius "Lil Meech" Flenory Jr. also makes a cameo appearance.[14]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Pushin P"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[48] 2× Platinum 160,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[49] Gold 10,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[51] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Saponara, Michael (January 7, 2022). "Wheezy on Producing Gunna's 'DS4Ever & Learning From Kanye West". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Barilla, Chris (January 13, 2022). "Rapper Gunna Gave a Breakdown of What "Pushin P" Means in His New Song of the Same Name". Distractify. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Skelton, Eric (January 14, 2022). "What Is P? Pushing P? Gunna's New Phrase, Explained". Complex. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  4. ^ Zidel, Alex (January 17, 2022). "Gunna Allegedly Responds To Bay Area "Pushin P" Controversy". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  5. ^ Loh, Matthew (November 29, 2023). "Young Thug's defense lawyer said his name stands for 'Truly Humble Under God'". Business Insider. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Breihan, Tom (November 29, 2023). "Young Thug's Lawyer Defines "Pushin P" And "Thug" In RICO Trial Opening Statements". Stereogum. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  7. ^ a b McKinney, Jessica (January 7, 2022). "Best New Music This Week: The Weeknd, Gunna, Earl Sweatshirt, and More". Complex. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (January 11, 2022). "Gunna's New Album DS4Ever Is A Weirdo Trap Blockbuster". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Mier, Tomás (January 14, 2022). "Gunna, Future, and Young Thug Drop Cash at a Strip Club in 'Pushin P' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  10. ^ Cooke, Bruno (January 14, 2022). "P emoji meaning explained as Gunna pushes new singles". The Focus. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  11. ^ Williams, Aarom (January 12, 2022). "Gunna Shines When He Branches Out On The Slickly-Executed 'DS4Ever'". Uproxx. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  12. ^ Di Gennaro, Michael (January 12, 2022). "Gunna Is Best When He Stays in His Lane on 'DS4Ever'". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Darville, Jordan (January 12, 2022). "Gunna, Young Thug, and Future share "pushin p" video". The Fader. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Powell, Jon (January 13, 2022). "Gunna, Young Thug, and Future are "pushin P" in new visual". Revolt. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  15. ^ Fu, Eddie (January 7, 2022). "Rap Song of the Week: Gunna Establishes New Slang on "pushin P" with Future and Young Thug". Consequence. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (January 14, 2022). "Gunna: DS4Ever Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  17. ^ Lipshitz, Jason (January 7, 2022). "First Stream: New Music From The Weeknd, Gunna, Maren Morris and More". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  18. ^ Trust, Gary (January 18, 2022). "Adele Holds Atop Billboard Hot 100, Gunna & Future, Gayle Hit Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  19. ^ Yaregal, Bizu (January 13, 2022). "Gunna Is "Pushin P" With Future & Young Thug In All-New Visuals - GRM Daily". GRM Daily. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  20. ^ Saponara, Michael (January 12, 2022). "Gunna & Young Thug Release 'Pushin P' Video After Getting Kicked Off Private Flight". HipHopDX. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  21. ^ "Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug – Pushin P". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  22. ^ "Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug – Pushin P" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "Gunna Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  24. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 5. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  25. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 5. týden 2022 in the date selector. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  26. ^ "Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug – Pushin P" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "Gunna Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  28. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög - Vika 4, 2022" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  29. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  30. ^ "2022 6-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  31. ^ "Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug – Pushin P" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  32. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  33. ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202205 into search. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  34. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 02-2022". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  35. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 5". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  36. ^ "Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug – Pushin P". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  38. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  39. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  40. ^ "Gunna Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  41. ^ "Gunna Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  42. ^ "Gunna Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  43. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  44. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  45. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  46. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  47. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  48. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Gunna & Future – Pushin P (feat. Young Thug)". Music Canada. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  49. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Pushin P')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  50. ^ "British single certifications – Gunna/Future/Young Thug – Pushin P". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  51. ^ "American single certifications – Gunna & Future – Pushin P (feat. Young Thug)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
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