Real Friends (Kanye West song)

"Real Friends" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featuring vocals from fellow singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was released as a promotional single from West's seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo, on January 8, 2016, as part of West's GOOD Fridays program. The song includes West rapping about his family and friends, with Whodini's song "Friends" being directly recalled.

"Real Friends"
Promotional single by Kanye West
from the album The Life of Pablo
ReleasedJanuary 8, 2016
Recorded2015
Genre
Length4:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Audio sample
  • file
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Song

The song directly recalls the 1980s track "Friends" by hip hop group Whodini.[1] West's lyrical content when rapping in the track is centered around the rapper's relationships with his friends and family.[2] The lyrics: "I had a cousin that stole my laptop that I was fuckin' bitches on/Paid that nigga 250 thousand just to get it from him" were referenced by West in his Kendrick Lamar-featuring promotional single "No More Parties in LA" with the lines: "And as far as real friends, tell my cousins I love 'em/Even the one that stole the laptop, you dirty motherfucker".[3] The song also directly borrows from Frank Dukes’ Couches; the sample is looped to create the instrumental track.

Release

On January 8, 2016, Kim Kardashian, West's wife, announced via Twitter the release of "Real Friends", The Life of Pablo's actual first single, will initiate the return of West's GOOD Fridays program.[4] West has previously done a weekly free music giveaway leading up to the release of his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010. "Real Friends" was released the day it was announced via SoundCloud simultaneously with the album's (then titled Swish) release date and a snippet of the forthcoming GOOD Friday release, titled "No More Parties in LA", which features guest vocals from Kendrick Lamar.[5]

Recording

In March 2016, Swizz Beatz revealed via Instagram that DMX was recording his feature for a remix of "Real Friends".[6] Joey Badass made the claim in January 2018 that he spoke to West at Coachella 2016, where West apparently told him that he inspired him to make the song.[7]

Critical reception

"Real Friends" received universal acclaim from music critics. At Pitchfork, Jonah Bromwich awarded the song the "Best New Track" tag, labeling it as "heavy, grizzled, and sad" and complimenting its production and lyrical content.[8] Adelle Platon of Billboard called the song's beat "dreamy", and commented on the lyrical content by writing that Kanye "waxes poetic about trust issues and reflects on how he could be a better BFF and family man."[9]

Pitchfork listed "Real Friends" on their ranking of the 100 best songs of 2016 at number 14.[10] Red Bull named it the second best song of 2016.[11] Genius listed the song as the thirteenth best song of 2016.[12] Crack Magazine placed it fifth in their end of year best songs of the year list.[13]

Remixes

In January 2016, singer Erykah Badu released a remix of the track titled "Trill Friends" which was named "Best New Track" by Pitchfork.[14] Rapper Waka Flocka Flame also released his own remix version of the song in April 2016.[15] A minute-long verse by DMX surfaced online in December 2017 whilst he was in jail that was supposed to be on a remix by West featuring him that never was released due to DMX's legal issues.[6]

Commercial performance

"Real Friends" debuted at number 92 on the US Billboard Hot 100 upon the release of The Life of Pablo.[16] It also charted at number 34 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the same week and stayed on the chart for a total of two weeks.[17] The song performed best in the United Kingdom, reaching number 78 on the UK Singles Chart.[18]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from West's official website.[19]

  • Production – Kanye West & Boi-1da for 1da Boi Productions Inc.
  • Co-produced – Frank Dukes & Havoc
  • Additional production – Darren King, Mike Dean #MWA for Dean's List Productions, Noah Goldstein for Ark Productions, Inc. & Sevn Thomas
  • Engineering – Noah Goldstein & Ty Dolla Sign
  • Mix – Manny Marroquin at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, CA
  • Mix assisted – Chris Galland, Ike Schultz & Jeff Jackson
  • Keyboards – Mike Dean
  • Vocals – Ty Dolla Sign

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 78
UK R&B (OCC)[21] 21
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 92
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] 34

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[25] Platinum 1,000,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. Drake, David (January 8, 2016). "Kanye West's Every Friday Progress Report: 'Real Friends'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  2. Suhas, Maitri (January 8, 2016). "Who Is "Real Friends" By Kanye West About? The Emotional Track Calls Out His Friends & Family". Bustle. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  3. Plaugic, Lizzie (January 18, 2016). "The sad, troubled history of Kanye West's MacBook Air". The Verge. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  4. "Kim Kardashian Hints Kanye West Will Drop New Music Every Friday, Starting Today | News". Pitchfork. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  5. "Kanye West Announces Swish Release Date | News". Pitchfork. January 8, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  6. Sawyer, Jonathan (December 21, 2017). "Listen to DMX's Verse From Kanye's Lost "Real Friends" Remix". Highsnobiety. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  7. Smith, Trevor (January 7, 2018). "Joey Bada$$ Says He Inspired Kanye's "Real Friends," Reveals Countless Collaborations". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  8. Bromwich, Jonah (January 8, 2016). "Kanye West: "Real Friends"". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  9. Platon, Adelle (January 8, 2016). "Kanye West Releases 'Real Friends,' Previews 'No More Parties In L.A.' Feat. Kendrick Lamar". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  10. "The 100 Best Songs of 2016". Pitchfork Media. December 12, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  11. "50 Best Songs of 2016". Red bull. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  12. "The Genius Community's 50 Best Songs of 2016". Genius. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  13. "Tracks of the Year 2016". Crack. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2018.
  14. Thompson, Paul, A (January 12, 2016). "Erykah Badu "Trill Friends"". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  15. "Hear Waka Flocka Flame Rap Over Kanye West's "Real Friends"". The Fader. April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  16. Mendizabal, Amaya (April 12, 2016). "12 of Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' Tracks Are on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  17. "Kanye West Real Friends Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  18. "Real Friends | Full Official Chart History |". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  19. davidbaker.tv, builtbylane.com ×. "The Life of Pablo". The Life of Pablo – Kanye West. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  21. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  22. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  23. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  24. "British single certifications – Kanye West Ft Ty Dolla Sign – Real Friends". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 August 2019. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Real Friends in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  25. "American single certifications – Kanye West – Real Friends". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 27, 2020. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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