Let You Down (NF song)

"Let You Down" is a song performed by American rapper and songwriter NF. It serves as the third single from his third studio album, Perception, and was released on September 14, 2017, for digital download and streaming, including an audio video.[1]

"Let You Down"
Single by NF
from the album Perception
Released	September 14, 2017
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:32
Label	Capitol Caroline NF Real Music LLC
Songwriter(s)	Feuerstein
Producer(s)	David Garcia Tommee Profitt
NF singles chronology
"Green Lights" (2017) "Let You Down" (2017) "No Name" (2018)
Music video
"Let You Down" on YouTube

The song is NF's highest-charting song to date, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Pop Songs chart. As well as reaching mainstream charts internationally, "Let You Down" charted on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs and Hot Rhythmic Songs, reaching the No. 1 spot on the former chart.[2] It is his first song to be certified Gold by the RIAA.[3][4] It was later certified 3× Platinum in the US[5] and also reached multi-Platinum in several other countries, including Canada and Australia.[6]

Background

"Let You Down" was produced by David Garcia and Tommee Profitt. NF wrote the song about his relationship with his father and how he did not want to disappoint him, making it the first time he had publicly spoken about his relationship with his father, who raised him as a child. His parents went through a divorce, and his mother overdosed years later.[7][8]

Music video

The official music video was released on November 9, 2017, on NF's Vevo channel.[9]

The music video was directed and produced by Nathan Feuerstein (NF's real name) and Patrick Tohill. Given the song's lyrical content, the visual focus is on the relationship between an older Nate and his younger self. The clip shows an older man, presumably his future self, standing on a dock looking at a lake, while a fully clothed NF drowns right in front of him. As he flails and tries to keep from going under, the man just looks at him, and doesn't help. Then, the same man is seen staring at NF who is trapped in a burning car. As it's engulfed in flames, the man again makes no move to help. Then we see the older man in a field, staring into a freshly dug grave. Inside the grave is a coffin, and NF is inside, dead. The older man seems upset by this, and falls to his knees. In the final shot, the older man is back on the dock, looking at NF drowning once again. The camera switches views to an identical tattoo that NF has. Then a woman approaches him on the dock and says, "Nathan?"[10][11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Let You Down"	Nathan Feuerstein	David Garcia Tommee Profitt	3:32

Chart performance

"Let You Down" reached No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs and Mainstream Top 40 charts. It has also reached No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, NF's first entry on the chart.[12] The song has achieved international success, charting in the UK, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, New Zealand and Ireland.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017–18) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 7 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 11 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 31 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 15 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[18] 12 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[19] 12 Denmark (Tracklisten)[20] 7 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 6 Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 9 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[23] 11 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 4 Italy (FIMI)[25] 44 Malaysia (RIM)[26] 17 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[27] 18 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[29] 2 Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[30] 52 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[31] 52 Portugal (AFP)[32] 19 Scotland (OCC)[33] 14 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[34] 16 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[35] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 12 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[39] 25 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[40] 4 US Christian Songs (Billboard)[41] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[42] 6 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[44] 2

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position Hungary (Stream Top 40)[45] 61 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 68 US Christian Songs (Billboard)[47] 61 Chart (2018) Position Australia (ARIA)[48] 37 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[49] 95 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[50] 37 Denmark (Tracklisten)[51] 96 Estonia (IFPI)[52] 42 Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 64 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[54] 68 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[55] 57 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[56] 66 UK Cross Rhythms Annual Chart[57] 28 US Billboard Hot 100[58] 29 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[59] 21 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[60] 17 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[61] 15 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[62] 13

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[63]	3× Platinum	210,000
Belgium (BEA)[64]	Gold	15,000^*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[65]	Gold	20,000
Canada (Music Canada)[66]	4× Platinum	320,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[67]	Platinum	90,000
France (SNEP)[68]	Gold	66,666
Germany (BVMI)[69]	Platinum	400,000
Italy (FIMI)[70]	Platinum	50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[71]	Platinum	30,000
Portugal (AFP)[72]	Gold	5,000
Sweden (GLF)[73]	4× Platinum	32,000,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[74]	Platinum	600,000
United States (RIAA)[75]	5× Platinum	5,000,000
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United States	September 14, 2017	Digital download	Capitol CMG NF Real Music LLC	[76]
	October 3, 2017	Rhythmic contemporary radio	Caroline	[77]
	October 24, 2017	Contemporary hit radio		[78]

References

1. "NF – Let You Down (Audio)". NFVEVO. September 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
2. "Hot Christian Songs". Billboard. September 14, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
3. Sarachik, Justin. "NF's 'Let You Down' Earns Rapper His First Gold Song". Rapzilla.com. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
4. Hudelson, Molly (December 6, 2017). "NF's "Let You Down" has been certified Gold by the RIAA". Substream Magazine. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
5. "NF's "Let You Down" Reaches 3x Platinum In US; "Perception" Certified Gold". Headline Planet. March 26, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
6. Hallels. "NF's Song "Let You Down" Goes Platinum in 8 Countries". hallels.com. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
7. "Let You Down NF". Genius. September 14, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
8. 104.5 SNX (December 1, 2017). "Mike Interviews NF". Retrieved November 5, 2018.
9. "NF – Let You Down". NFVEVO. November 9, 2017 – via YouTube.
10. NF Drops The Emotional Video For Rising Hit 'Let You Down'. Idolator. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
11. Watch now: NF lets himself drown and burn in new video for "Let You Down". ABC News. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
12. "NF Chart History (Billboard Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
13. "Australian-charts.com – NF – Let You Down". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
14. "Austriancharts.at – NF – Let You Down" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
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31. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
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33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
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35. "Swedishcharts.com – NF – Let You Down". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
36. "Swisscharts.com – NF – Let You Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
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38. "NF Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
39. "NF Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
40. "NF Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
41. "NF Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
42. "NF Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
43. "NF Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
44. "NF Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
45. "Stream Top 100 – 2017". Mahasz. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
46. "Årslista Singlar – År 2017" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
47. "Hot Christian Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
48. "ARIA End of Year Singles 2018". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
49. "Jaaroverzichten 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
50. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
51. "Track Top-100 2018" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
52. "EESTI TIPP-100 MUUSIKAS Neid artiste ja lugusid kuulati möödunud aastal Eestis kõige rohkem". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
53. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
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55. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2018 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
56. "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
57. "Cross Rhythms– Year-End 2018". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
58. "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
59. "Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
60. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
61. "Pop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
62. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
63. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 2, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
64. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2018". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
65. "Brazilian single certifications – NF – Let You Down" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
66. "Canadian single certifications – NF – Let You Down". Music Canada. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
67. "Danish single certifications – NF – Let You Down". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
68. "French single certifications – NF – Let You Down" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
69. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (NF; 'Let You Down')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
70. "Italian single certifications – NF – Let You Down" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 23, 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Let You Down" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
71. "New Zealand single certifications – NF – Let You Down". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
72. "Portuguesecharts.com - Singles Top 100 (07/2018)". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
73. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 10, 2018 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved March 9, 2018. Scroll to position 46 to view certification.
74. "British single certifications – NF – Let You Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
75. "American single certifications – NF – Let You Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 16, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
76. "Perception". Apple Music. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
77. "Top 40/R Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates". All Access. October 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
78. "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates". All Access. October 18, 2017. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 27, 2017.