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First Person Shooter (song)

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"First Person Shooter"
Single by Drake featuring J. Cole
from the album For All the Dogs
ReleasedOctober 31, 2023 (2023-10-31)[1]
RecordedOctober 5, 2023
Genre
Length4:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Drake singles chronology
"Rich Baby Daddy"
(2023) 		"First Person Shooter"
(2023) 		"You Broke My Heart"
(2023)
J. Cole singles chronology
"The Secret Recipe"
(2023) 		"First Person Shooter"
(2023) 		"H.Y.B."
(2024)
Music video
"First Person Shooter" on YouTube

"First Person Shooter" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring American rapper J. Cole. It was released through OVO Sound and Republic Records on Drake's eighth studio album, For All the Dogs. Drake and Cole wrote the song with producers Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, FnZ (Michael Mulé and Isaac De Boni), Oz, and Coleman, alongside Snorre Tidemand. It is notable for reigniting Drake's decade-long feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar.

"First Person Shooter" debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Drake's thirteenth and Cole's first number-one song; with this, Drake tied Michael Jackson for the most number-one singles by a male solo artist. It later impacted US rhythmic radio on October 31, 2023, as the album's fourth single. Its music video was released on November 15, 2023.

Background

[edit]

During a Table for One special episode on October 6, 2023, a few hours before For All the Dogs was released, Drake confirmed that J. Cole would appear on the sixth track of the album, calling it "fourth quarter magic", and also revealed that he and Cole had "just got out from the studio",[2] making it the final song to be recorded for the album.[3]

Composition

[edit]

"First Person Shooter" features a "subtle-yet-triumphant"[4] yet "high-octane" production that starts out with a "warped" vocal sample of Joe Washington's "Look Me in the Eyes"[5] while both artists exchange a few bars. The second half of the song features a down-pitched looped sample from Snorre Tidemand's orchestral "Redemption."[6] The "hard" and "playful" track was especially noted for its "futuristic and energetic" production that enabled Drake and Cole to showcase their skills.[7] The track sees Cole reflecting on his continuous success, arguing that him, Drake, and fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar are the "big three" in rap music whereas he himself feels like Muhammad Ali. Another reference includes a comparison of both artists to a meme of two Spider-Men pointing at each other. Cole also says that he wishes to collaborate with fellow American rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again later on the song, seemingly dismissing rumors of him dissing the rapper on his collaboration with rapper and album producer Lil Yachty on "The Secret Recipe", while he also confirms that his upcoming album, The Fall Off, is on the way.[8][9] In reference to his fame and commercial success, Drake later shouts out the Beatles and Michael Jackson, notably referencing how he was one song away from eventually tying the latter's record for most number-one US Billboard Hot 100 singles by a solo male artist.[4]

Response from Kendrick Lamar

[edit]

After hearing of J. Cole's "big three" lyrical claim, rapper Kendrick Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin's single, "Like That", which was released in late-March 2024.[10] On his verse, he responds to Cole and Drake, rapping "Motherfuck the big three, nigga. It's just big me."[11]

Critical reception

[edit]

In a first assessment of the album, Kyle Denis of Billboard ranked "First Person Shooter" as the ninth best track of the album, writing that the duo had adopted an "elder statesmen" mentality while still presenting their "skin in the game", but while their attitude was seen as "braggadocious", both were holding back a little.[4] Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves stated that on the song, Drake is "thoroughly outclassed by J Cole" and that his lyrics are basic, several of them being "desultory lyrics where he discusses women like he’s stocking a meat freezer."[12] Writing for Clash, Shahzaib Hussain notes that "First Person Shooter" sees Drake "all shit-talking pomp and posturing."[13]

Commercial performance

[edit]

The song debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Drake's thirteenth and Cole's first number-one song on the chart, the former tying the record for most solo number-one songs by a solo male artist with Michael Jackson.[14] In its second week, the song remained in the top ten in the US Billboard Hot 100 and fell to number eight.[15] The song debuted at number-one on the Billboard's Streaming Songs, marking Drake's 19th number-one on the chart.[15]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "First Person Shooter"
Chart (2023–2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 4
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[17] 2
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[18] 38
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 22
France (SNEP)[21] 52
Global 200 (Billboard)[22] 2
Greece International (IFPI)[23] 5
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[24] 8
Ireland (IRMA)[25] 7
Italy (FIMI)[26] 55
Latvia (LAIPA)[27] 8
Lithuania (AGATA)[28] 19
Luxembourg (Billboard)[29] 11
MENA (IFPI)[30] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[31] 22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 5
Portugal (AFP)[33] 15
South Africa (TOSAC)[34] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 42
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 10
UAE (IFPI)[37] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[38] 4
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[39] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[40] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[41] 1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[42] 4

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "First Person Shooter"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] Gold 35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "A RECAP OF RADIO ADD RECAPS". Hits. October 31, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  2. ^ Cowen, Trace William (October 6, 2023). "J. Cole Says He Still Wants a Song With YoungBoy Never Broke Again on Drake Collab "First Person Shooter"". Complex. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Galindo, Thomas (October 6, 2023). "J. Cole Addresses NBA YoungBoy Dispute on New Drake Collab". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Denis, Kyle (October 6, 2023). "Drake's 'For All the Dogs': All 23 Songs Ranked". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  5. ^ https://www.whosampled.com/sample/1100567/Drake-J.-Cole-First-Person-Shooter-Joe-Washington-Wash-(Soul-Band)-Look-Me-in-the-Eyes/
  6. ^ https://www.whosampled.com/sample/1101771/Drake-J.-Cole-First-Person-Shooter-Snorre-Tidemand-Redemption/
  7. ^ A., Aron (October 6, 2023). "Drake & J. Cole Aim For The Head On "First Person Shooter"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (October 6, 2023). "J. Cole Addresses Beef With NBA YoungBoy on Drake's Album". XXL. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  9. ^ Gomez, Jade (October 6, 2023). "J. Cole Calls Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Himself Rap's 'Big Three' on 'For All the Dogs' Track "First Person Shooter"". Complex. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (April 4, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Already Has the Best Verse of 2024". XXL Mag. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (March 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Disses Drake and J. Cole on Future and Metro Boomin's New Song 'Like That'". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Reeves, Mosi (October 7, 2023). "Drake Sounds A Little Tired of Being Drake On 'For All the Dogs'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Hussain, Shahzaib (October 6, 2023). "Drake - For All The Dogs". Clash. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Zellner, Xander (October 15, 2023). "All 23 Songs From Drake's 'For All the Dogs' Hit Top Half of Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Trust, Gary (October 23, 2023). "Taylor Swift's 'Cruel Summer' Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, Becoming Her 10th Leader". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  17. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  19. ^ "Drake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  21. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  22. ^ "Drake Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  23. ^ "Digital Singles Chart (International)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  24. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  25. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  26. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter". Top Digital Download. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  27. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 41. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian). LAIPA. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  28. ^ "2023 41-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  29. ^ "Drake Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  30. ^ "This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20: from 06/10/2023 to 12/10/2023". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. October 17, 2023. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  31. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  32. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  33. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  34. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10 Week 41-2023". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  36. ^ "Drake feat. J. Cole – First Person Shooter". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  37. ^ "UAE: 2023 - W41 - 10/06 to 12/10". The Official MENA Chart. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  39. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  40. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  41. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  42. ^ "Drake Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  43. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  44. ^ "British single certifications – Drake Ft J Cole – First Person Shooter". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
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