| "ATM" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by J. Cole | ||||
| from the album KOD | ||||
| Released | July 31, 2018 (2018-07-31) | |||
| Recorded | 2018 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Jermaine Cole | |||
| Producer(s) | J. Cole | |||
| J. Cole singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "ATM" on YouTube | ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
"ATM" (an acronym for "Addicted To Money") is a single by American rapper J. Cole, released on April 20, 2018 from his fifth studio album, KOD, and was produced solely by himself. "ATM" was sent to US rhythmic contemporary radio on July 31, 2018, as the album's second single. The track debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Composition and samples
The song contains excerpts and samples of "I'll Never Stop Loving You", as written by Nicholas Brodszky and Sammy Cahn, and performed by Ahmad Jamal.
Lyrical interpretation
On Twitter, J. Cole revealed the title can be interpreted as an abbreviation for "Addicted to Money" and MTV said " of the addicitons that J. Cole confronts on KOD is humanity's addiction to money, and he tackles it on the song 'ATM', the title of which is pretty self-explanatory."
Music video
A music video for "ATM" was released on April 20, 2018, the same day as the release of the album. The video was directed by Cole and Scott Lazer and produced by Jefferis Gray. Cole plays multiple roles in the video, such as wrapped in a black leather straitjacket locked in a room padded with $100 bills. He also loses all his chips at a blackjack table and literally pays an arm and a leg for a used car. He also thanked Busta Rhymes for his 1998 music video "Gimme Some More" saying "Flipmode is the greatest. Thank you for the inspiration big bro."
Critical reception
Spin said "Like spiking the candy bowl with medicine, he adapts the stylistic tics—triplets and trap drums, mostly—of so-called mumble and Soundcloud rappers, many of whom revel in the vices he's denouncing. "ATM" and its Hype Williams-styled video is perhaps the best example. Complete with a hyper-repetitive chorus, he satirizes capitalistic greed with the bluster of a club banger." Vice said "ATM" at times feels like a parody of contemporary rappers when his elected flow and content are considered along with each.
Accolades
Its official music video received two nominations for Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Art Direction at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
Usage in media
The song was featured in the official 2018 NBA Playoffs commercial for ESPN.
Chart performance
Upon its first week of release, "ATM" debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is J. Cole's fourth highest-charting song after "Amari," "Middle Child," and "My Life," respectively. On July 29, 2020, "ATM" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales of one million units in the United States.
Charts
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 32 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 5 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 32 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 8 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 1 |
| Portugal (AFP) | 5 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 7 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 6 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 28 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 6 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Rhythmic (Billboard) | 6 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000 |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 40,000 |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000 |
|
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- "KOD by J. Cole on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on March 1, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ^ "J Cole Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- "J COLE DROPS A VIDEO FOR "ATM" AND IT'S GOT US SPENDING ALL THE CASH". MTV Base. April 23, 2018.
- "J. Cole: ATM Video". IMDB. April 20, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- Cowen, Trace William (April 20, 2018). "J. Cole Highlights the Pitfalls of Chasing Money in "ATM" Video". Complex. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- Kaye, Ben (April 20, 2018). "J. Cole is cash crazy in "ATM" video: Watch". Consequence of Sound.
- Saponara, Michael (April 20, 2018). "J. Cole Thanks Busta Rhymes for 'ATM' Video Inspiration on Twitter". Billboard.
- Younger, Briana (April 23, 2018). "J. Cole's KOD Is a Commendable Examination of Addiction". Spin. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- Burney, Lawrence (April 23, 2018). "Your Opinions About J. Cole Are Probably Dumb". Vice. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
- Variety Staff (2018-07-16). "Cardi B, Beyonce, Jay-Z Lead 2018 MTV VMA Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
- A., Aron (April 20, 2018). "J. Cole's "ATM" Features In New NBA Playoffs Commercial". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
- Trust, Gary. "Drake Leads Billboard Hot 100, Ariana Grande Arrives at No. 3 & J. Cole Collects Record Three Debuts in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
- "J. Cole – ATM". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "J Cole Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- "Irish-charts.com – Discography J. Cole". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "J. Cole – ATM" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- "J. Cole – ATM". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "J. Cole – ATM". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- "J. Cole – ATM". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- "J. Cole – ATM". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- "J Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- "J Cole Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- "Canadian single certifications – J. Cole – ATM". Music Canada. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- "American single certifications – J. Cole – ATM". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
