| "Shake the Room" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byPop Smoke featuringQuavo | ||||
| from the albumMeet the Woo 2 | ||||
| Released | March 28, 2020 | |||
| Genre | Drill | |||
| Length | 2:45 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | 808Melo | |||
| Pop Smoke singles chronology | ||||
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| Quavo singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Shake the Room" onYouTube | ||||
"Shake the Room" is a song by American rapperPop Smoke, featuring fellow rapperQuavo, from the former's secondmixtape,Meet the Woo 2 (2020). The two artists wrote the song with its producer808Melo. It was released as the mixtape's second single on March 28, 2020. The song was solely produced by the latter of the three. Adrill track, it sees Pop Smoke and Quavo rap about someone who understands the streets.
"Shake the Room" received generally positive reviews frommusic critics, with several of them praising it as a highlight of the mixtape. The song peaked at number 93 on the USBillboard Hot 100 and number 76 on theUK Singles Chart. It was certified gold in the United States by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). An accompanyingmusic video was released on March 28, 2020, and was directed byVirgil Abloh, making it Pop Smoke's first posthumous video since he wasshot and killed at the age of 20. The visual features the latter and Quavo taking part in several activities in Paris; such as doing donuts in a red Ferrari.
The song was written by Pop Smoke, known as Bashar Jackson, alongside Quavo, who has the real name of Quavious Marshall, and808Melo, who has the real name of Andre Loblack. The track was produced andprogrammed by the latter of the three.Mastering andmixing were both handled byJess Jackson, while Corey Nutile was the song's recording engineer and Corey Nutile was credited as an assistant recording engineer.[1] On February 7, 2020, "Shake the Room" was released as the second track on Pop Smoke's secondmixtapeMeet the Woo 2.[2] It was later released as the mixtape's second single on March 28, 2020.[3]
Writing forRevolt, Jon Powell described the song as adrill track.[4] Dominiq R. ofHotNewHipHop said the song is "led by a harmonious vocal and bass-driven woodwind instrumentation", and that "Quavo incorporates his own patented melodies to the beat adding another layer of elements while a thunderous 808 drives the drum sequencing". He continued, commenting that Pop Smoke "kicks off the song with the chorus before Quavo takes off on the instrumental delivering bars about controlling the energy of any room he's in". He concluded, saying Quavo raps "his verse in another direction, spittin' braggadocios bars about his new-found wealth".[5] Erin Lowers ofExclaim! mentioned that the song establishes "someone who understands the streets but still has a witty attitude to play with music and show his personality".[6]
"Shake the Room" was met with generally positive reviews frommusic critics. Writing forPitchfork magazine, Reed Jackson described the song as "haunting" and "meditative", and said it demonstrates "[808Melo's] beatmaker's sonic growth".[7] Dhruva Balram ofNME opined that Pop Smoke easily outshines Quavo on the song, and praised it as one of the mixtapes highlights.[8] Writing forBillboard magazine, Michael Saponara stated "Shake the Room" was quickly "tabbed a fan-favorite offMeet the Woo 2", and that it continues to pick up steam.[9] Danny Schwartz ofThe Ringer lauded the song as the "colossal centerpiece" ofMeet the Woo 2.[10]Essence's writer Brooklyn White viewed "Welcome to the Party",Dior", and "Shake the Room" as anthems ofBrooklyn, New York.[11]Bernadette Giacomazzo ofHipHopDX commented that Pop Smoke and Quavo did "just fine" on the song, but said "there are absolutely zero reasons for these two to be in the studio together".[12]
"Shake the Room" peaked at number 93 on the USBillboard Hot 100 on March 7, 2020.[13] The song has also peaked at number 43 on the USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[14] It further peaked at number 98 on theCanadian Hot 100 and number 76 on theUK Singles Chart.[15][16] "Shake the Room" wascertified gold by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting track-equivalent sales and streams of 500,000 units in the United States.[17]
Off-White founder andLouis Vuitton artistic directorVirgil Abloh reached out to Pop Smoke onInstagram for the creation of amusic video for "Shake the Room".[18] Abloh revealed on how the video for the song was created: "[Pop Smoke's] impact will live on thru the art he left us. In this case, it was the night after the [Louis Vuitton] show while we had the cameras rolling inside & outside a typical French restaurant in my neighborhood."[4][19] The music video was released on March 28, 2020.[20][21] It was directed by Abloh's Off-White International Rap Video Production Studio in Paris duringParis Fashion Week.[22][23][24][25] It marked Pop Smoke's first posthumous music video after he was shot and killed at the age of 20 during a home invasion in Los Angeles, California.[20][21][26]
The video begins with an intro, reading: "This video is real life footage. This is barely a 'video shoot'."[18][27] It features Pop Smoke and Quavo enjoying their lives in the City of Light while driving in front of the Hôtel des Invalides.[18] The scene then switches to them being in a fancy Parisian restaurant, with both rappers eating expensive meals and drinking wine,[28] while Pop Smoke blows out some candles on top of a birthday cake.[19][23][29] They bring life to the quiet area and due to their presence, a small party happens within the restaurant.[28][30] Pop Smoke and Quavo later cause chaos in the streets of Paris as they spin around in their red Ferrari Pista, doing donuts.[23][28][30] The video ends with the final credits cut out. It goes on for a minute, featuring a moment of silence for Pop Smoke. It has a still frame that reads: "In Loving Memory, Pop Smoke Forever".[19][22][31]
The music video was met with positive reviews from critics. Nicholas Li ofHypebeast stated that the video mixes "lo-fi and hi-def clips with quick cuts and trippy edits".[31] Michael Love ofPaper magazine, and the staff ofRap-Up, described the visual as "grainy".[22][27]Dazed writer Thom Waite labeled the clips in the video as "candid".[32] Writing forBillboard magazine, Hilary Hughes opined that Paris provides a "stunning backdrop for [Pop Smoke and Quavo]". She continued, saying "Pop Smoke and Quavo are all smiles as they trade verses on the track while hyping up themselves".[23] L'Oréal ofWQHT called the video "fast" and "fun".[33]
Quavo performed "Shake the Room" and "Aim for the Moon" live at the2020 BET Hip Hop Awards in October. The rapper performed the song in a futuristic styled white room, as on video billboards outside the room's window, Pop Smoke's verses and choruses would be displayed. Quavo wore a jean jacket with "Shoot for the Stars" on the front and "Aim for the Moon" on the back while performing.[34]
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] | 98 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 76 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[13] | 93 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] | 43 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[35] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[17] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||