Wait for U
"Wait for U" is a song by American rapper Future featuring Canadian rapper and singer Drake and Nigerian singer Tems. It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio as the second single from Future's ninth studio album, I Never Liked You, on May 3, 2022.
"Wait for U" | ||||
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Single by Future featuring Drake and Tems | ||||
from the album I Never Liked You | ||||
Released | May 3, 2022 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 3:10 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
Future singles chronology | ||||
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Drake singles chronology | ||||
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Tems singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Wait for U" on YouTube |
The song samples Tems' song, "Higher", from her debut extended play, For Broken Ears (2020).[1] Future and Drake wrote the song with producers FnZ (Finatik and Zac) and ATL Jacob, alongside Tejiri Akpoghene and Tems, who are credited songwriters for the sampling of "Higher", and Floyd E. Bentley III. [2] "Wait for U" is an R&B song that lyrically discusses the occasional toxicity of a romantic relationship.[3]
The song debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Future's second (first as a lead artist), Drake's tenth, and Tems' first number-one hit on the Hot 100, and peaked within the top 10 of the charts in many other countries, including Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand. "Wait for U" received two nominations at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards: Best Rap Song and Best Melodic Rap Performance, winning the latter.
Critical reception
Michael Di Gennaro of Exclaim! felt that "Wait for U" is one of "the most Drake-sounding Future songs from a production standpoint" with "tender moments that harken back to the popstar aspirations Future once had when writing songs for Rihanna and Ciara".[4] In a negative review, HipHopDX music critic Anthony Malone opined that both "Wait for U" and "I'm on One", another track from I Never Liked You that Drake is featured on, do not "match the toxic king chemistry of their previous collaborations", adding that "like an old rock star who can still play the hits off muscle memory, Drake and Future recite the same stories of one-night stands, DM debauchery and drug-filled nights at the club in their sleep" and "however, their charisma is notably absent from the music.[5] In a similar review, Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork said that the sample of "Higher" by Tems "is a cheat code to a catchy song, but Future and Drake are on such autopilot that I'd rather listen to the original".[6]
Awards and nominations
Year | Ceremony | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | African Entertainment Awards USA | Best Collaboration | Nominated | [7] |
American Music Awards | Collaboration of the Year | Nominated | [8] | |
Favorite Hip-Hop Song | Won | |||
BET Hip Hop Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [9] | |
Best Collaboration | Won | |||
Best Hip Hop Video | Nominated | |||
MTV Video Music Awards | Song of Summer | Nominated | [10] | |
Best Hip Hop | Nominated | |||
2023 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Song | Nominated | [11] |
Best Melodic Rap Performance | Won | |||
BET Awards | Best Collaboration | Won | [12] | |
Viewer's Choice | Nominated | |||
iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best Collaboration | Nominated | [13] | |
Favorite Hip-hop Song | Won | |||
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song | Nominated | [14] | |
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) | Nominated | |||
Music video
The official music video for "Wait for U", directed by Director X, was released on May 5, 2022. It is a medieval-themed video that deals with love and betrayal. The video includes cameo appearances from Moxie Raia, Cece Rose, producer ATL Jacob, Strick, and Trey Richards. Drake plays a knight that delivers a note to a queen for Future, who plays a "toxic" king.[15] On the way to deliver the note, Drake engages in a sword fight and saves a woman.[16] At the end of the video, Future wins a duel against another man as the queen reads his note, rolls her eyes and throws it away. Future's note is a reference to a leaked text exchange of his from 2018 in which he told a woman he did not want to see her.[15] The music video was filmed at Casa Loma in Toronto, Canada.[17]
Credits and personnel
- Future – lead vocals, songwriting
- Drake – featured vocals, songwriting
- Tems – featured vocals, songwriting
- FnZ
- Finatik – production, songwriting
- Zac – production, songwriting
- ATL Jacob – production, songwriting
- Wheezy - production, songwriting
- Sonic Major - production, songwriting
- Tejiri Akpoghene - songwriting
- Floyd E. Bentley III - songwriting
- Ethan Stevens – mixing
- Joe LaPorta – mastering
- Eric Manco – recording
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[53] | 2× Platinum | 140,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[54] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[55] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[56] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[57] | Gold | 5,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[59] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | May 3, 2022 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [60] | |
Italy | May 6, 2022 | Radio airplay | [61] |
References
- Reeves, Mosi (April 29, 2022). "Future is a Platinum-Encrusted Antihero on 'I Never Liked You'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- "Floyd E Bentley III – Grammy Nominations". The Recording Academy. November 15, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
- Williams, Kyann-Sian (April 29, 2022). "Future – 'I Never Liked You' review: Atlanta's trap overlord proves he's still on top". NME. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Di Gennaro, Michael (May 3, 2022). "Future Is Determined to Stay on Top on 'I Never Liked You'". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- Malone, Anthony (May 5, 2022). "Review – Future 'I Never Liked You' Is Fan Service Held Back By Dull Beats & Marketed Toxicity". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- Pierre, Alphonse (May 3, 2022). "Future: I Never Liked You Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- "Full List of the 8th Annual AEAUSA 2022 Finalists" (PDF). African Entertainment Awards USA. December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- Atkinson, Katie (November 20, 2022). "Here Are All the 2022 AMAs Winners". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- "Kanye West and Drake Lead BET Hip Hop Awards 2022 Nominations". Complex. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- Grein, Paul (August 19, 2022). "Will BTS Make It Four in a Row as Group of the Year at 2022 MTV VMAs?". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- Nordyke, Kimberly; Thomas, Carly (February 5, 2023). "Grammy Awards: Complete List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- Nordyke, Kimberly; Thomas, Carly (February 5, 2023). "Grammy Awards: Complete List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- "2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards: See The Full List Of Nominees". iHeart. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- Jackson, Angelique (January 12, 2023). "'Abbott Elementary,' 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' and 'The Woman King' Dominate NAACP Image Award Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- Tomás, Tomas (May 5, 2022). "Future Is a Medieval Toxic King and Drake His Sexy Messenger in 'Wait for U' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- Price, Joe (May 5, 2022). "Drake Stars as a Knight in Shining Armor in Video for Future Collab "Wait for U" f/ Tems". Complex. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- "Drake and Future's "Wait for U" Music Video Was Filmed at Toronto's Casa Loma". Complex Networks.
- "Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- "Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- "Future Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- "Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- "Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- "Future Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 18/2022". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
- "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- "2022 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
- "Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
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- "Turntable Top 50 Chart". Turntable Charts. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- "TurnTable Top 50: Kizz Daniel's "Buga" Debuts At No.1". The NATIVE. May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- "Turntable Top 50 Airplay Chart Week of May 25 2022". Turntable Charts. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
- "Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202218 into search. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 18-2022". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 18". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
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- "Future Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- "ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart for 2022". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
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- "Canadian single certifications – Future – Wait for U". Music Canada. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- "Danish single certifications – Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- "New Zealand single certifications – Future feat. Drake and Tems – Wait for U". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- "Portuguese single certifications – Future feat. Drake & Tems – Wait for U" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
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