Neck & Wrist

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"Neck & Wrist"
Single by Pusha T featuring Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams
from the album It's Almost Dry
ReleasedApril 6, 2022
GenreHip hop
Length3:29
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Pharrell Williams
Pusha T singles chronology
"Hear Me Clearly"
(2022) 		"Neck & Wrist"
(2022) 		"Scrape It Off"
(2022)
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Guns Go Bang"
(2021) 		"Neck & Wrist"
(2022) 		"God Did"
(2022)
Pharrell Williams singles chronology
"Tamagotchi"
(2022) 		"Neck & Wrist"
(2022) 		"Cash In Cash Out"
(2022)

"Neck & Wrist" is a song by American rapper Pusha T featuring fellow American rapper Jay-Z and American musician Pharrell Williams. Produced by the latter, it was released on April 6, 2022 as the third single from the former's fourth studio album It's Almost Dry (2022).

Background[edit]

In 2020, actor and comedian Faizon Love claimed that Jay-Z had been lying about his drug-dealing past. Jay-Z addresses Love's comments in the song.[1]

The artwork of the single was created by Sterling Ruby, who also previously designed the artwork for Pusha T's single "Diet Coke".[2]

Composition and lyrics[edit]

The song finds Pusha T and Jay-Z reflecting on their music careers and the benefits of their luxurious lifestyles, over an instrumental of heavy drum beats.[3][4] In his verse, Jay-Z begins with responding to Faizon Love's claims ("The phase I'm on, love, I wouldn't believe it either / I'd be like, 'Jay-Z's a cheater,' I wouldn't listen to reason either"),[1][5] and raps that if The Notorious B.I.G. were alive, he and him would have dominated the New York hip hop scene as The Commission, a supergroup that Jay-Z and B.I.G. had planned to form before the latter's death.[1][6]

Critical reception[edit]

Jessica McKinney of Complex praised the song's cocaine metaphors and called Jay-Z's performance "captivating".[4]

Response[edit]

Fans have speculated that Jay-Z had dissed American rapper Birdman in the song with the lyrics, "I blew bird money, y'all talk in Twitter feeds". Audio engineer Young Guru, a longtime collaborator and associate of Jay-Z, suggested that the line could have multiple meanings behind it and stated it was not a diss toward Birdman.[7]

In an interview with VladTV around a week after the song was released, Faizon Love denied that Jay-Z had dissed him.[8]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Neck & Wrist"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 69
Global 200 (Billboard)[10] 148
South Africa (RISA)[11] 46
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 76
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 23

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Lindner, Grant. "Decoding the Subliminals on Pusha T and Jay-Z's "Neck & Wrist"". GQ.
  2. ^ Strauss, Matthew (April 6, 2022). "Pusha T and Jay-Z Release New Song "Neck & Wrist": Listen". Pitchfork.
  3. ^ Mier, Tomás (April 6, 2022). "Jay-Z and Pusha T's 'Neck and Wrist' Is An Ode to Bling and Finer Things". Rolling Stone.
  4. ^ a b McKinney, Jessica (April 8, 2022). "Best New Music This Week: Pusha-T, Jack Harlow, Fivio Foreign, and More". Complex.
  5. ^ Callas, Brad (April 6, 2022). "Jay-Z Responds to Faizon Love's Claim That He Faked Drug Dealing Lifestyle on Pusha-T's "Neck & Wrist"". Complex.
  6. ^ Walker, Joe (April 6, 2022). "JAY-Z Addresses Biggie Supergroup The Commission on Pusha T 'Neck and Wrist' Collab". HipHopDX.
  7. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (April 7, 2022). "Speculation Jay-Z Dissed Birdman on New Pusha-T Collab "Neck and Wrist" Addressed by Young Guru". Complex.
  8. ^ Todd, Jessica (April 14, 2022). "Faizon Love". VladTV.
  9. ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  10. ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 17-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  13. ^ "Pusha T Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
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