| "Send It Up" | |
|---|---|
| Song byKanye West | |
| from the albumYeezus | |
| Released | June 18, 2013 |
| Recorded | 2013 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:58 |
| Label | |
| Songwriters |
|
| Producers | |
| Audio video | |
| "Send It Up" onYouTube | |
"Send It Up" is a song by Americanhip hop recording artistKanye West, from his sixth studio albumYeezus (2013). It was produced by West,Daft Punk,Gesaffelstein,Brodinski,Arca andMike Dean. Like other songs on the album, it features anindustrial hip hop sound, with elements ofelectronic music. The song features vocals from American rapperKing Louie, who improvised his contributions. It contains a sample of "Memories" (also known as "Stop Live Inna De Pass") by Jamaicanreggae anddancehall singerBeenie Man. Eight days before its release on the album, West performed the song live at theGovernors Ball Music Festival, along with four other tracks fromYeezus.
"Send It Up" received positive reviews from music critics, with many complimenting the production and party appeal. Despite not being released as asingle, it enteredBillboard'sHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and On-Demand Songs charts, at numbers 50 and 42, respectively. One line in the song was changed to being rappeda cappella when West reworked theApple Music version ofYeezus in 2016. It was covered bypunk rock bandIdles in 2018.
Before they collaborated for the first time on "Send It Up", American rapper King Louie found out West was a fan of his after West gave him a shoutout in the 2012GOOD Music collaboration "I Don't Like (Remix)", featuringChief Keef,Pusha T,Big Sean, andJadakiss.[1] King Louie called the shoutout "crazy" and appreciated his ability to influence Chicago-based rappers.[2] Along with his vocal appearance on "Send It Up", King Louie also has a writing credit on anotherYeezus track, "New Slaves".[3]
"Send It Up" is anindustrial hip hop song, with elements ofelectronic music.[4] According to MTV's Rob Markman, the song contains a "kinetic" beat, with "blaring sirens" and "a pounding drum."[5] It features vocals fromKing Louie, whofreestyled his entire verse.[5] King Louie later explained onMTV News that the song's beat was different than he originally recorded: "the beat was just one instrument, two instruments and then now it's like a whole party thing."[5] However, he called the final version "dope."[5] The song was co-produced by French electronic duoDaft Punk, who also co-produced the otherYeezus tracks "On Sight," "Black Skinhead," and "I Am a God."[3][6] For the chorus, which repeats twice at the end of the song, West added a sample of "Memories" (also known as "Stop Live Inna De Pass") by Jamaicanreggae anddancehall singerBeenie Man.[4][7]
When West began to make adjustments to the songs on his seventh studio albumThe Life of Pablo (2016),[8] he did the same to "Black Skinhead" and "Send It Up" for theApple Music version ofYeezus (theSpotify andTidal versions of the songs remained unchanged).[9] On "Send It Up", West cut the instrumental backing track to his line at the 1:30 mark, making ita cappella.[10][11]
"Send It Up" was released on June 18, 2013, as the ninth and penultimate track on West's sixth studio albumYeezus.[12] Eight days before its release, on June 10, 2013, West performed live at theGovernors Ball Music Festival; his set included five songs from the then-upcoming album, including "New Slaves", "Black Skinhead", and "I Am a God".[13][14] While "Send It Up" and "On Sight" were played, their titles were not introduced; West instead introduced them as "new shit."[14][15] The song was performed at the opening show ofThe Yeezus Tour inSeattle'sKeyArena.[16] A cover version was performed bypunk rock bandIDLES onBBC Radio 1 in August 2018.[17]
"Send It Up" was one of the album's least-performing songs. Upon the release ofYeezus, the song debuted at number 50 on the USBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart the week of July 6, 2013.[18] The same week, it peaked at number 42 on the USBillboardOn-Demand Songs chart.[19]
Since release, the song has received positive reviews from music critics, with many complimenting its production and party appeal. Rob Markman ofMTV News gave the track a positive review, calling it "a clear-cut party starter."[5]Alexis Petridis ofThe Guardian wrote, "the mid-tempo four-to-the-floor thud of "Send It Up" is strafed with electronic squeals and bursts of menacing, growling bass," as well as pointing out the track's "dance influences."[20] Michael Madden ofConsequence of Sound described its sound as being reminiscent of the work done byDJ Mustard and theNine Inch Nails albumPretty Hate Machine.[21] Julianne Escobedo Spephard ofSpin called the song "bananas" and complimented producer Arca's work on the song, writing: "[It] recalls both the sub-bass on [her] EPStretch 2, and the demonic elasticity of [her] beat forMykki Blanco's "Join My Militia".[22] Gavin Haynes ofNME wrote that the song "finds a natural pathway between new Robo-Kanye and the stark experiments," such as his 2012GOOD Music collaboration "Clique".[23] In a more mixed review, Ryan Dombal ofPitchfork described the track as being "riotous" and wrote in response to King Louie's appearance: "His presence, along with that of fellow Chi-town drillerChief Keef, makes the message clear: America may want to ignore these young black men from the gang-strewn South Side, but here, they have a voice."[24]
Credits adapted from theYeezus liner notes.[3]
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] | 50 |
| USOn-Demand Songs (Billboard)[19] | 42 |
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