Carnival (Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign song)

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"Carnival"
File:Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign - Carnival.png
Single by ¥$ featuring Rich the Kid & Playboi Carti
from the album Vultures 1
Released February 15, 2024
Recorded 2023
Genre Trap
Length 4:24
Label YZY
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
¥$ singles chronology
"Talking / Once Again"
(2024)		 "Carnival"
(2024)
{{{This album}}}
{{{This album}}}
{{{This album}}}
{{{This album}}}
Music video
"Carnival" on YouTube

"Carnival" is a song by American hip hop superduo ¥$, composed of rapper Kanye West and singer Ty Dolla Sign, featuring fellow American rappers Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti. It was released through a single pack on streaming services on February 15, 2024, as the third single from the superduo's collaborative album Vultures 1. The pack also includes "Hooligan Version", where only the choir is present, and an "a cappella" version.[1][2] The digital single cover consists of a still shot from a promo short clip for the album, made by Jon Rafman, which was later released in its entirety as the music video for the song.[3]

Produced by the superduo alongside The Legendary Traxster, TheLabCook, Ojivolta, and Digital Nas, the track was previewed during listening events in Chicago and New York shortly before its official release. The original song contained a sample of a live performance version of "Iron Man", however, upon Ozzy Osbourne's refusal to grant permission, it was replaced with one of "Hell of a Life" by West, which itself contained a legally cleared interpolation of "Iron Man".

Following its release, "Carnival" attracted scrutiny for West's mentioning of Taylor Swift, as well as comparing himself to controversial public figures such as R. Kelly, Bill Cosby, Puff Daddy and others. It was nonetheless commended as one of the best songs from Vultures 1, with praise for its production and the performances of its collaborators.

"Carnival" reached number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming West's first chart-topper in 13 years after featuring on "E.T." by Katy Perry in 2011. Additionally, it became his first number-one as a lead artist since "Stronger" in 2007. It also became the first number-one song for Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti, as well as the second number-one for Ty Dolla Sign after featuring on "Psycho" by Post Malone in 2018. Aside from the United States, "Carnival" reached number one in Greece, Iceland, Latvia, and the Netherlands, and the top-10 in 14 other territories as well as the Billboard Global 200.

Background and release

American trap rappers Playboi Carti and Rich the Kid have credited guest appearances on the song.[4] Leaked versions of "Carnival" circulated online prior to its official release.[5] The song was previewed at a Vultures listening party held at the United Center in Chicago on February 8.[6][7] This version of "Carnival" used a sample of a 1983 live performance of "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath.[5] The band's lead singer, Ozzy Osbourne, stated that he did not approve of this sample. In a social media post, he wrote that West "was refused permission because he is an antisemite and has caused untold heartache to many".[5] Osbourne's wife and manager, Sharon, told TMZ that they were considering legal action against West; the Osbournes also sent West a cease and desist.[8][9]

Another listening party event was held on February 10 at the UBS Arena on Long Island.[6] "Carnival" played as the event started, with this version seeing a sample of West's own "Hell of a Life" (from his 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy) play in place of the "Iron Man" sample.[6] This effectively maintained the presence of "Iron Man", as "Hell of a Life" interpolates the song.[10]

Composition and lyrics

Kanye West recruited ultras from Inter Milan (pictured) and Notts County to provide the backing vocals on "Carnival".[11]

The song opens with a chant that is "punctuated by 'ooohhh' crowd vocals" and features "clap-inducing percussion throughout".[12] The chant was performed by Italian football club Inter Milan's ultras named "Curva Nord Milano".[13] Sonically, the song gives the impression of "dark energy" according to Vibe's Marc Griffin;[14] when it was made available for streaming, "a dirge-like lick that evoked Black Sabbath without using Osbourne's recording was in the ["Iron Man"] sample's place".[5] Indeed, the album version of the track has the "Hell of a Life" sample, maintaining the presence of an "Iron Man" interpolation.[10] Billboard's Michael Saponara wrote that the substitute sample helps "bring the grunginess" to "Carnival".[10]

In its lyrics, the song makes several references to other public figures and fellow musicians. West raps in the song "This that Game of Thrones, Yeezy, not the clones / Elon, where my rocketship? It's time to go home / They served us the porn since the day we was born / Anybody pissed off, gotta make 'em drink the urine / Now I'm Ye-Kelly, bitch, now, I'm Bill Cosby, bitch / Now, I'm Puff Daddy rich, that's '#MeToo me' rich".[15] West additionally raps "I'm the new Jesus, bitch, I turn water to Cris / This for what they did to Chris, they can't do shit with this".[14]

Various media outlets made particular note of the song's reference to Taylor Swift, who West has had a longstanding feud with.[15][16] West raps "I mean since Taylor Swift, since I had the Rollie on the wrist".[lower-alpha 1]

Reception

"Carnival" received generally positive reviews from critics. Much of the song's critical reception, as well as audience reaction to it, was centered on its lyricism. Media writers noted that general listeners were critical of West's reference to Swift, with some fans cited as calling these lyrics "objectifying".[17] Joey Ech of XXL wrote that West's lyrics in which he "aligned himself with" the likes of R. Kelly and Bill Cosby was included in "perhaps one of his most eyebrow-raising verses to date".[18]

Praising the production and Ye's and Ty Dolla Sign's lyrics as some of their best on the album, Michael Saponara of Billboard ranked "Carnival" as the best song on Vultures 1, opining that it is "the perfect example of why people put up with all of the controversies, album delays, and madness that come with being a Ye fan because nobody in rap creates generational moments like this".[10] Saponara also wrote positively of Rich the Kid and Playboi Carti's appearances on the song, stating that Ye brought out the best of his collaborators.[10]

Writing on Vultures, Eric Skelton of Complex wrote that "more than anything, it feels like [West] wants a hit. More specifically, he's grasping for the kind of expansive record that could be chanted by tens of thousands of people in a soccer stadium", and pointed to "Carnival" as the "most obvious example" of this goal.[12]

Charts

Chart performance for "Carnival"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[19] 5
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[20] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[21] 10
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[22] 33
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 2
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 3
Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] 13
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] 20
France (SNEP)[27] 119
Germany (Official German Charts)[28] 13
Greece International (IFPI)[29] 1
2
Hungary (Single Top 40)[30] 15
Iceland (Plötutíðindi)[31] 1
6
Italy (FIMI)[32] 61
Latvia (LAIPA)[33] 1
Lithuania (AGATA)[34] 2
Luxembourg (Billboard)[35] 3
MENA (IFPI)[36] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[37] 17
Netherlands (Tipparade)[38] 1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 7
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[40] 56
Norway (VG-lista)[41] 6
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[42] 3
11
Romania (Billboard)[43] 7
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[44] 2
South Africa (Billboard)[45] 7
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 34
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 4
UAE (IFPI)[48] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[49] 5
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[50] 1
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[51] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[52] 1
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[53] 1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[54] 20

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources quote the lyric as "I made six Taylor Swift",[14] while others quote it as "I mean, since Taylor Swift".[17]

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – Carnival" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  22. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – Carnival" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  23. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Kanye West.
  24. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 202410 into search.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ "¥$, Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign, Rich the Kid, Playboi Carti: Carnival" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ "Musicline.de – Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – Carnival" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20248 into search.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – Carnival". Swiss Singles Chart.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20240308" UK Singles Chart.
  50. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20240301" UK R&B Chart.
  51. ↑ "Archive Chart: 20240216" UK Indie Chart.
  52. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Kanye West.
  53. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Kanye West.
  54. ↑ "Kanye West – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Kanye West.

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