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"Tequila Shots" is a song by American rapper Kid Cudi, released on December 11, 2020 as part of his seventh studio album Man on the Moon III: The Chosen. The song was produced by Dot da Genius, Take a Daytrip and Cudi himself. In June 2022, the song reached platinum status, selling over 1 million units in the US. The song was later included on Cudi’s first greatest hits album The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1 (2022).

Background

In an interview with Zane Lowe, Kid Cudi stated that "Tequila Shots" was the first song he made for Man on the Moon III which he finished before even deciding to make the album. He said of the song, "it sounds like such an introduction, it sounds like you pick right back up where we left off ten years ago", referring to the 2010 release of Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager.

The song was created on the day that Kid Cudi's collaboration with fellow American rapper Travis Scott, titled "The Scotts", reached the peak of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking Cudi's first number-one hit single in the US. Its title derived from Cudi, Dot da Genius and Take a Daytrip drinking shots of tequila in celebration.

Composition

The song features "warped synths and distorted organs", as well as humming from Cudi. It has been described as reminiscent of his early music in style. Kid Cudi sings about facing internal conflicts relating to mental health which he thought had already been dealt with, and being ready to manage them.

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews from critics. Aron A. of HotNewHipHop wrote that it "brings Cudi's long-time collaborator Dot Da Genius into the fold alongside Take A Daytrip for an exhilarating and psychedelic blast-off". Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork called it the best song from Man on the Moon III.

Live performances

Kid Cudi performed the song on Saturday Night Live on April 10, 2021.

Other versions

In 2021, Kid Cudi released an alternate version of the song, which originally premiered on Amazon’s Prime Day Show. The alternate version was included on an extended play (EP) titled Prime Day Show x Kid Cudi, issued exclusively on Amazon Music, on June 17, 2021.

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Thomas, Fred. "The Man on the Moon, Vol. 3: The Chosen Review". AllMusic.
2. "Kid Cudi's "Tequila Shots" Has Officially Gone Platinum". 2 June 2022.
3. ^ Cudi, Kid, Kid Cudi - Apple Music 'Man on the Moon III: The Chosen' (Zane Lowe Interview)
4. Schube, Will (December 14, 2020). "Stories From the Making of Kid Cudi's 'MOTMIII,' Told by Dot Da Genius and Take a Daytrip". Complex.
5. ^ Lavin, Will (December 14, 2020). "Kid Cudi – 'Man On The Moon III: The Chosen' review: an art piece of epic highs and honest lows". NME.
6. Schwartz, Danny (December 17, 2020). "Kid Cudi's 'Man on the Moon III: The Chosen' is Another Beleaguered Dispatch From His Stormy Emotional World". Rolling Stone.
7. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (December 16, 2020). "Man on the Moon III: The Chosen". Pitchfork.
8. Grove, Rashad (December 16, 2020). "Kid Cudi Defies Gravity One Last Time on Man on the Moon III: The Chosen: Review". Consequence.
9. A., Aron (December 13, 2020). "Kid Cudi Goes Through The Motions On "Tequila Shots"". HotNewHipHop.
10. Rose, Jordan. "Watch Kid Cudi Perform "Tequila Shots" and "Sad People" on 'Saturday Night Live'". Complex.
11. "Billie Eilish, Kid Cudi, and H.E.R. Perform lavish Prime Day sets: Watch". 17 June 2021.
12. "Archived copy". music.amazon.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. "Kid Cudi Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
14. "Kid Cudi – Tequila Shots" (in French). Les classement single.
15. "Kid Cudi Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard.
16. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Kid Cudi". Irish Singles Chart.
17. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 21, 2020.
18. "Kid Cudi – Tequila Shots". AFP Top 100 Singles.
19. "Kid Cudi – Tequila Shots". Swiss Singles Chart.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
21. "Kid Cudi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
22. "Kid Cudi Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
23. "American single certifications – Kid Cudi – Tequila Shots". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 30, 2024.

• 2020 songs
• Kid Cudi songs
• Song recordings produced by Kid Cudi
• Song recordings produced by Take a Daytrip
• Songs written by Kid Cudi
• Songs written by Dot da Genius