Prblms
"Prblms" (a disemvoweling of "problems" and stylized in all caps) is a single by American singer 6lack. It was released on September 23, 2016, by LoveRenaissance and Interscope Records.[3] The track was produced by NOVA.[4] The song was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in December 2020.
"Prblms" | ||||
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Single by 6lack | ||||
from the album Free 6lack | ||||
Released | September 23, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2016 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:06 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | NOVA | |||
6lack singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"PRBLMS" on YouTube |
Background and release
6lack originally released "Prblms" onto SoundCloud on April 14, 2016.[5] His manager connected with Apple Music's R&B curator, and eventually the song appeared on 10 playlists through the service.[5] In June, media personality Kylie Jenner lip-synced to the song during one of her Snapchat videos, which boosted the popularity of it.[6] 6lack said Jenner's shout-out was a great experience, and it showed him that he was "doing something right."[7] The song was later re-released officially in September of that year.[7]
Lyrically, the song is about a failing relationship.[8] 6lack wrote the song after having a fight with the woman he was seeing at the time; one of the lines from the song is a text that he received from her the night he was writing the song.[7]
Music video
The music video for "Prblms" was released on October 14, 2016, on 6lack's Vevo account.[9]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2017) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 72 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] | 34 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2017) | Position |
---|---|
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] | 96 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[13] | 3× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[15] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Ahlgrim, Carrie (December 13, 2019). "The 113 best songs of the past decade, ranked". Insider. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
The sinister, industrial production of "Prblms" intensifies a lyrical message...
- "Street Hymns, 9 Grand". SoundCloud. 1 April 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
- "PRBLMS". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
- Slavik, Nathan (July 14, 2016). "How Apple Music Blew Up 6LACK's "Problems"". Djbooth.
- Horowitz, Steven J. (January 10, 2017). "How Kylie Jenner's Snapchat Turns Songs Into Hits". Genius.
- Skipper, Clay (March 30, 2017). "How 6LACK Went From Sleeping in a Recording Studio to Touring with The Weeknd". GQ.
- Nostro, Lauren (January 31, 2017). "6LACK Breaks Down "PRBLMS" On Genius' Video Series 'Verified'". Genius.
- "6LACK - Prblms (Official Video)". YouTube. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
- "6LACK Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- "6LACK Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
- "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
- "Canadian single certifications – 6lack – Prblms". Music Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- "British single certifications – 6Lack – Prblms". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
- "American single certifications – 6LACK". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 17, 2017.