Right Above It

"Right Above It" is a hip hop song by American rapper Lil Wayne, released as the first single off his eighth studio album, I Am Not a Human Being (2010). The song features vocals from Canadian and Young Money rapper Drake, and is produced by American hip-hop producer Kane Beatz. The song is also written by rapper and producer Andrew Canton. The song achieved reasonable chart success, particularly in the United States where it peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Digital Songs chart, and also charted modestly internationally.

"Right Above It"
Single by Lil Wayne featuring Drake
from the album I Am Not a Human Being
ReleasedAugust 17, 2010 (2010-08-17)
Recorded2010
GenreHip hop
Length4:35
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Kane Beatz
Lil Wayne singles chronology
"I'm Single"
(2010)		 "Right Above It"
(2010)		 "No Love"
(2010)
Drake singles chronology
"Fancy"
(2010)		 "Right Above It"
(2010)		 "Aston Martin Music"
(2010)

Upon its release, the song received generally positive reviews from critics, who complimented its confident, upbeat tone and the performances of both rappers, with many praising it as a highlight off the album.[1][2][3] The song was later certified 5× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 5 million equivalent units.[4]

The song serves as the opening theme for the HBO series Ballers, starring Dwayne Johnson.

Background

Along with all of the other songs on I Am Not a Human Being, the song was recorded in 2010 prior to Wayne's nine-month prison term for criminal possession of a weapon. The song contains a vocal sample from the 2Pac song "Hail Mary": more specifically, it samples the line "I ain't a killer but don't push me".[5]

The song premiered on August 3, 2010, on the New York urban contemporary radio station Hot 97. On the same evening, the show's host Funkmaster Flex conducted an interview with Lil Wayne from Rikers Island prison. While discussing I Am Not a Human Being, Lil Wayne announced that the song would be released as a single, although he did not announce a release date at the time.[6] The single was officially digitally released in the United States on August 17, 2010.

A visualizer for the song was released on March 31, 2023.

Live performances

On December 31, 2010, Lil Wayne performed the song on NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly. As Drake was not available to sing his verse, it was not featured in the performance. Lil Wayne and Drake performed the song on 106 and Park on December 31, 2010.

Reception

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic writer David Jefferies called the song "grand" stating that it "swaggers and struts like a free man cruising through the club".[1] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times described the song as "bombastic" and praised Lil Wayne's musical diversity, comparing the song to more recent hits ("I'm Single" and "No Love") and their different musical styles, stating "[his] successes in the last few months have been in different, and divergent, modes... diversity is Lil Wayne’s strength".[2] Despite describing the song as "generic", Los Angeles Times writer Jeff Weiss wrote positively of the song, stating that "[it] achieves a kind of bizarre solipsism". However, he also felt that "Wayne’s done this shtick better before".[7]

Chart performance

After experiencing strong digital sales on release, the song debuted at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart dated September 4, 2010, making it the highest debuting song on the chart for that week,[8] and at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart, becoming the first Lil Wayne song to top this chart.[9] With 225,000 copies downloaded during the first week, it was Wayne's best sales week as a lead artist and as of December 27 the single has sold over a million copies.[9] The song also peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, and also at number four on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"Right Above It" also achieved modest international charting. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 37 on 5 September 2010 following strong digital downloading from the album. This marks Lil Wayne's second Top 40 hit in the UK after "Lollipop" peaked at number 26 during 2008. The single also peaked at number 11 on the UK R&B Chart. The song also peaked at number 34 in Canada, and number 27 in Belgium.

Appearances

As of June 2015, the song is featured in the opening of the HBO television series Ballers. It was also used as the walkout song for former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier.

Credits and personnel

Source:[10]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] Gold 35,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[27] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[4] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Country Date Format Label
United States[28] August 17, 2010 Digital download Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown
United Kingdom[29] August 23, 2010 Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Island

References
  1. Jeffries, David (2010-10-04). "Review: I Am Not a Human Being". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  2. Caramanica, Jon (2010-10-10). "Review: I Am Not a Human Being". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  3. Jones, Steve (2010-09-28). "Review: I Am Not a Human Being". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
  4. "American single certifications – Lil Wayne – Right Above It". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  5. "Lil Wayne – Right Above It Lyrics". DirectLyrics. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
  6. "Lil Wayne Debuts New Single, 'Right Above It,' Featuring Drake". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  7. Weiss, Jeff (2010-10-12). "Review: I Am Not a Human Being". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  8. Trust, Gary (2010-08-26). "Weekly Chart Notes: Lil Wayne, Lady Antebellum, John Mellencamp". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
  9. Caulfield, Keith (25 August 2010). "Eminem Won't Budge From No. 1 on Billboard 200, Lil Wayne Tops Digital Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  10. Credits adapted from liner notes for I Am Not a Human Being (2010). Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Universal Motown.
  11. "The ARIA Report: Issue 1074 (Week Commencing 27 September 2010)" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  12. "Lil Wayne feat. Drake – Right Above It" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  13. "Lil Wayne Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  14. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  16. "Lil Wayne Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  17. "Lil Wayne Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  18. "Lil Wayne Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  19. "Lil Wayne Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  20. "2010 Year End Charts – Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  21. "2010 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  22. "2010 Year End Charts – Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  23. "2011 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  24. "2011 Year End Charts – Rap Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  25. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  26. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  27. "British single certifications – Lil Wayne – Right Above It". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  28. "Right Above It (feat. Drake) – Single by Lil Wayne: Download on US iTunes". ITunes (US). Apple. Retrieved 2011-05-15.
  29. "Right Above It (Explicit Version) – Single by Drake & Lil Wayne: Download on UK iTunes". ITunes (GB). Apple. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
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