Clout (Offset song)

"Clout" is a song by American rapper Offset featuring his wife Cardi B, released as the second single from his debut solo album Father of 4 on March 15, 2019.[1][2] Although the song initially charted following the album's release, it reached the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 after the release of its music video in April 2019. It received a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 62nd Grammy Awards,[3] marking Offset's first nomination as a soloist outside of Migos.[4]

"Clout"
Single by Offset featuring Cardi B
from the album Father of 4
ReleasedMarch 15, 2019 (2019-03-15)
Length3:25
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Offset singles chronology
"Red Room"
(2019)		 "Clout"
(2019)		 "Enzo"
(2019)
Cardi B singles chronology
"Please Me"
(2019)		 "Clout"
(2019)		 "Press"
(2019)
Music video
"Clout ft. Cardi B" on YouTube

Background

The song is a criticism of those who use others for fame, including social climbers or "clout chasers", with the lyrics calling out those who have "the Instagram disease".[1] "Clout" marks Offset and Cardi B's fifth collaboration, following "Um Yea", "Lick (Remix)", "MotorSport" and "Drip".[5]

Critical reception

Writing for AllMusic, Fred Thomas opined that the song "is made by Cardi B's high-energy, high-confrontation cameo."[6] Charles Holmes of Rolling Stone found Cardi's performance "brutal, swift and nimble" and considered it among the best on the album; he noted the song features her "dismantling a variety of unnamed detractors: rappers, blogs, trolls."[7] In NME, Sam Moore opined that Cardi B demonstrates "her show-stopping prowess" in her verse.[8] HotNewHipHop stated that "hip-hop's power couple" delivers "the hardest-hitting banger on the project, blasting the opps while they're at it."[9] In Exclaim!, Kyle Mullin described it as a "swaggering, ominous keys peppered" song, where Cardi B sounds "like the biggest rapper in the world as she nimbly mocks gossipy, nosy haters trolling her in vain."[10] Similarly, Highsnobiety's Thomas Hobbs said that her verse delivers "a necessary dose of energy."[11]

In Consequence of Sound, Wren Graves found "explosive potential" in the song, and noticed that in an album lyrically centered on his personal life, Offset "has retreated to platitudes" and "turn their attention to bloggers" instead of giving details about their relationship, further commenting, "perhaps the marriage wasn't in a place where the couple felt comfortable discussing it."[12] Brian Josephs of Entertainment Weekly deemed the song "a gem", "anchored by a Cardi B verse" to "express her indignation," and noted the hook "features a relatable amount of deadpanned disgust;" however, Josephs felt "unfortunate" that "a song about clout chasers is a highlight from an album introducing a family man."[13] Trent Clarck of HipHopDX felt the performers "can absolutely do better."[14]

Music video
Offset cited Busta Rhymes' work as an inspiration for the visuals.

The Daniel Russell-directed music video was announced by Cardi B on April 16 and released on April 17, 2019.[15] Offset and Joseph Desrosiers Jr. served as creative directors.[16] It features Offset and Cardi B delivering their verses in a yellow and black hall of mirrors.[17] Offset plays piano while wearing a couture hockey mask, and then uses a bright-yellow chainsaw to cut a black cake.[18] Cardi B is shown in an all-yellow outfit in a pile of lemons, and also wearing all-black leather bondage outfit giving a lap dance to Offset in another scene.[1] It was inspired by Busta Rhymes' video for "What's It Gonna Be?!" featuring Janet Jackson (1999).[19] In Stereogum, Tom Breihan praised it saying "the whole thing rules" and called it "a really great music video."[18] Vulture called the video "mostly just an excuse for Offset to show off his piano fingers and Cardi to get her freak on in some increasingly elaborate outfits".[20]

Live performances

Cardi and Offset both performed "Clout" at the 2019 BET Awards, along with a performance of "Press".[21] They also performed "Clout" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on July 17, 2019.[22]

Awards and nominations
Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2019 BET Hip Hop Awards Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse Nominated [23]
2020 Grammy Awards Best Rap Performance Nominated [24]
ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Winning Songs Won [25]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Father of 4.[26]

Personnel

Recording and management

  • Recorded at Offset Studios LA (Los Angeles, California)
  • Mixed at Mama's House Studios (Atlanta, Georgia)
  • Published by YRN Piped Up Ent/JPL QC Music/Reservoir Media Music (ASCAP), Washpoppin/Sony/ATV Allegro (ASCAP), Want Some More/ Songs Of Universal, Inc (BMI), Royal Legend Publishing/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp (BMI), Sony/ATV Music Publishing (BMI), and Songs Of Universal, Inc (BMI)
  • Cardi B appears courtesy of KSR/Atlantic Recording Corporation

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[39] Gold 100,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[40] Gold 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[41] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[42] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Malone, Chris (April 17, 2019). "Cardi B & Offset Call Out 'Clout' Chasers In New Video". Forbes. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  2. "Offset feat. Cardi B – Clout". australian-charts.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  3. Variety Staff (November 20, 2019). "Grammy Awards Nominations: The Complete List". Variety. Archived from the original on 2019-11-20. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  4. "Offset Grammys History". The Recording Academy. November 26, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  5. "Cardi B & Offset Get Close In Their Steamy "Clout" Video". Genius. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  6. Thomas, Fred. "Father of Four – Offset". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  7. Holmes, Charles (February 25, 2019). "Offset Opens Up on 'Father of 4'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  8. Moore, Sam (February 25, 2019). "Offset – 'Father of 4' review". NME. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  9. A., Aron (March 1, 2019). "Offset "Father of 4" Review". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  10. Mullin, Kyle (February 25, 2019). "Offset Father of 4". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  11. Hobbs, Thomas (February 28, 2019). "Offset – 'Father of 4' Review". Highsnobiety. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  12. Graves, Wren (February 26, 2019). "Offset – Father of 4". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  13. Josephs, Brian (February 25, 2019). "Offset explains himself to mixed success on 'Father of 4': EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  14. Clark, Trent (February 27, 2019). "Offset Father of 4 Album Review". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  15. Aniftos, Rania (April 16, 2019). "Cardi B Announces 'Clout' Music Video Featuring Offset". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  16. "Offset and Cardi B's "Clout" Video Doesn't Disappoint". Complex.
  17. Shaffer, Claire (April 17, 2019). "Watch Offset and Cardi B Flex Their Star Power in 'Clout' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  18. "Offset – "Clout" (Feat. Cardi B) Video". Stereogum. 17 April 2019.
  19. "Offset and Cardi B Channel Busta Rhymes and Janet Jackson's 'What's It Gonna Be?' in 'Clout' Music Video". The Source. 17 April 2019.
  20. Ivie, Devon (April 17, 2019). "Offset and Cardi B Do Very Sexy Stuff for 'Clout' in Their New Music Video". Vulture. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  21. "BET Awards 2019: Watch Cardi B Open the Show With "Press"". Pitchfork. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  22. Strauss, Matthew (July 18, 2019). "Watch Cardi B and Offset Perform "Clout" on "Kimmel"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2019-07-18. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  23. Lamarre, Carl (September 12, 2019). "Cardi B Leads 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards With 10 Nominations: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  24. "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". Grammy.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  25. "2020 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards". ASCAP. July 15, 2020.
  26. Father of 4 (CD liner notes). Offset. Quality Control Music/Motown. 2019. 52814-9.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. "Offset Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  28. "Greece Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart: 20/2019". IFPI Charts. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  29. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Offset". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  30. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 4, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  31. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  32. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  33. "Offset Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  34. "Offset Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  35. "Offset Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  36. "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  37. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  38. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  39. "French single certifications – Offset – Clout" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  40. "Portuguese single certifications – Offset – Clout" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  41. "British single certifications – Offset – Clout". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  42. "American single certifications – Offset – Clout". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
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