| "Amari" | |
|---|---|
| Song by J. Cole | |
| from the album The Off-Season | |
| Genre | |
| Length | 2:28 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | |
| Music video | |
| "Amari" on YouTube | |
"Amari" (stylized as "a m a r i") is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on May 14, 2021 on Cole's sixth studio album, The Off-Season.
Background
The song title, "Amari", is named after Dreamville president and manager Ibrahim Hamad's son, also the nephew of Dreamville rapper Bas.
Production and composition
J. Cole revealed how the song was created on Timbaland's BeatClub YouTube channel. The song was produced during a Twitch live stream by Timbaland. When Cole heard it, he contemplated reaching out, but wrote to the beat through a rip on the internet. He said "I looped up the YouTube lil' rip, made a whole song on this shit. I spent the next two days writing and recording the song, and right when I was 90% through writin' it, I was like, I should probably call him now and get the real file." After asking for the file and playing the song, Timbaland said he didn't save the beat and had to remake it.
Music video
On May 17, 2021, Cole released the official music video for "Amari" directed by fellow North Carolina rapper Mez, who also directed the "Middle Child" video. Scenes in the video features Cole rapping in front of a Dreamville helicopter and in a dorm-room with the wall lined with platinum plaques. A message saying "hold on to your inner child," reads at the end.
Critical reception
Writing for HipHopDX, Clark Trent said "The Timbaland-assisted "Amari" proves the magic ultimately falls on the beatpicker as T-Minus, Sucuki and Cole all combine for a relatively limp staccato blitz of guitar loops." Clash said Cole reflects "on his success and how he made it out even through trials and tribulations." Rolling Stone said the song was a standout on the album "as he alternates between agile rapping and serious singing."
Commercial performance
Upon its first week of release, "Amari" debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming his third top five song on the chart.
Charts
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 14 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100) | 7 |
| Lithuania (AGATA) | 40 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 12 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) | 58 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 16 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 5 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) | 3 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 200,000 |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
|
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- Jenkins, Craig (May 18, 2021). "J. Cole and the Limitations of Millennial Rap". Vulture. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- Skinner, Tom (May 13, 2021). "J. Cole reveals tracklist and producers for new album 'The Off-Season'". NME. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- Threadcraft, Torry. "J.Cole Returns With the Official "a m a r i" Video". OkayPlayer.
- "J. Cole's "Amari" Samples A Lost Timbaland Beat From A Twitch Stream". Hotnewhiphop. May 18, 2021.
- Okon, Wongo (May 19, 2021). "J. Cole Used A Twitch-Ripped Timbaland Beat For 'Amari,' Only To Find Out The Producer Hadn't Saved It". Uproxx.
- "J. Cole Shares Video for "Amari"". Complex. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- Sodomsky, Sam (May 17, 2021). "J. Cole Shares New "Amari" Video: Watch". Pitchfork.
- Clark, Trent (June 2, 2021). "'The Off-Season' Is J. Cole's Lyrical Prime, Artistic Wall". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- Hawthorne, Sade (May 14, 2021). "J. Cole - The Off-Season - Clash Magazine". Clash.
An album that touches astronomical heights...
- Mankaprr, Conteh (May 21, 2021). "J. Cole Prizes Benign Autobiography Over Social Commentary on 'The Off-Season'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- Blake, Cole (May 24, 2021). "J. Cole Lands 4 Of Top 5 Spots On Billboard's Most-Streamed Songs This Week". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "J. Cole Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "2021 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 21, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 20". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- "J. Cole Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "J. Cole Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- "British single certifications – J Cole – A M A R I". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- "American single certifications – J. Cole – A m a r i". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
