Diet Coke (song)

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"Diet Coke"
Single by Pusha T
from the album It's Almost Dry
ReleasedFebruary 8, 2022
GenreHip hop
Length2:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Pusha T singles chronology
"Dancing with the Devil"
(2022) 		"Diet Coke"
(2022) 		"Hear Me Clearly"
(2022)
Music video
"Diet Coke" on YouTube

"Diet Coke" is a song by American rapper Pusha T. It was released on February 8, 2022 as the lead single from his fourth studio album It's Almost Dry (2022). Produced by Kanye West and 88-Keys, the song references cocaine and drug dealing.

Background[edit]

On February 7, 2022, 88-Keys revealed that he produced the instrumental of the song in 2004, as an interlude for his beat tape, The Makings of Crack-Cocaine.[1]

The cover art of the single was designed by Sterling Ruby. It shows a "mash-up of melting faces with crude metallic letters" spelling "Diet Coke".[2]

Composition and lyrics[edit]

The song begins with a sample of rapper Fat Joe yelling, "Yesterday's price is not today's price".[3] Over a piano-driven boom bap beat,[4][5] Pusha T raps about selling cocaine and references his tough upbringing: "Imaginary players ain't been coached right / Master recipes under stove lights / The number on this jersey is the quote price / You ordered Diet Coke, that's a joke, right?"[5][6][7] He declares his appreciation for Kanye West as well ("Far as I'm concerned, who's the best? Me and Yezos").[8]

Critical reception[edit]

Complex writers Eric Skelton, Andre Gee and Jessica McKinney positively reviewed the song. Skelton and McKinney praised the beat, while Gee praised how Pusha T raps only about one topic and can "still come off sounding fresh". All three writers also expressed approval toward how Pusha does not diss rapper Drake in the song.[9]

Music video[edit]

The music video was released on February 8, 2022. It was shot in black-and-white and directed by Omar Jones.[10][11] It sees Pusha T rapping as Kanye West dances in the white background, and reclining on a sofa.[10]

Live performances[edit]

Pusha T first unveiled the song during a performance at Nigo's Kenzo Paris Fashion Week show in January 2022.[12] In March 2022, he performed the song at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[13]

Remixes[edit]

American rappers Jim Jones and Fabolous released a freestyle of the song on February 16, 2022.[14]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Diet Coke"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 93
South Africa (RISA)[16] 88
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17] 4
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 43

References[edit]

  1. ^ Saponara, Michael (2022-02-08). "Producer 88-Keys Reveals 18-Year-Old Origin Of Pusha T's 'Diet Coke' Beat". HipHopDX.
  2. ^ Wolf, Cam (2022-02-10). "Pusha T's "Diet Coke" Heats Up the Designer Album Cover Trend". GQ.
  3. ^ Strauss, Matthew (2022-02-08). "Pusha T and Kanye West Share Video for New Song "Diet Coke"". Pitchfork.
  4. ^ "Pusha T Returns with New Single 'Diet Coke'". Rap-Up. February 7, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (2022-02-08). "Pusha T Releases Hard New Single "Diet Coke": Listen". Stereogum.
  6. ^ Li, Nicolaus (2022-02-08). "Pusha T Drops "Diet Coke," Produced by Kanye and 88-Keys". Hypebeast.
  7. ^ Aderoju, Darlene (February 8, 2022). "Pusha T Releases 'Diet Coke' After Collaborating With Ye: Stream It Now". Billboard.
  8. ^ Callas, Brad (February 7, 2022). "Listen to Pusha-T's New Song "Diet Coke" Produced by Kanye West and 88-Keys". Complex.
  9. ^ Skelton, Eric; Gee, Andre; McKinney, Jessica (February 8, 2022). "First Impressions of Pusha-T's New Song "Diet Coke"". Complex. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  10. ^ a b Gallagher, Alex (2022-02-08). "Pusha T returns with Kanye-produced new single 'Diet Coke'". NME.
  11. ^ Wu, Ashley Shannon (2022-02-08). "Pusha T and Ye Share a Dance in the Void for 'Diet Coke'". Vulture.
  12. ^ Brown, Preezy (2022-02-08). "Watch: Pusha T's "Diet Coke" Music Video". Vibe.
  13. ^ Pusha T "Diet Coke", March 4, 2022
  14. ^ Walker, Joe (2022-02-17). "Pusha T Co-Signs Jim Jones & Fabolous' 'Diet Coke' Freestyle - Despite Dipset Rapper's Slander". HipHopDX.
  15. ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 17-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  17. ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  18. ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
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