Guatemala (song)

"Guatemala"
Single by Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi
from the album Swaecation
ReleasedApril 11, 2018
Genre
Length4:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mally Mall
  • TuneDaRula
  • Rubin
Swae Lee singles chronology
"Hurt to Look"
(2018) 		"Guatemala"
(2018) 		"Hopeless Romantic"
(2018)
Music video
"Guatemala" on YouTube

"Guatemala" is a song by American rapper Swae Lee in collaboration with his brother and fellow American rapper Slim Jxmmi, the other half of Rae Sremmurd. It was released on April 11, 2018 as the second single from Lee's debut studio album Swaecation (2018), part of a triple album set of Rae Sremmurd's third studio album SR3MM. and was produced by Mally Mall, TuneDaRula and Rubin.

Composition

"Guatemala" is a afrobeats[1] and dancehall-inspired[2] song. It features a "minimal Caribbean-styled backbeat"[3] and "airy synths"[4] in the production. In Auto-Tune vocals, Swae Lee suggests to his girlfriend that they go on vacation to Guatemala, on private jets, and sings about "quiet moments of seduction".[2][4] Slim Jxmmi's verse has been described as a blend of rapping and singing.[1][2]

Music video

The official music video was released on June 22, 2018, and was filmed in Guatemala a month before the 2018 Volcán de Fuego eruption.[5] The video opens with a message noting this and with the words, "Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Guatemala."[6] It shows Rae Sremmurd enjoying a vacation in Guatemala, where they dance with the locals and "finesse the ladies". The song also features cameos from Mike Will Made It and Mally Mall.[6][7][8]

Live performances

Rae Sremmurd performed the song on Good Morning America and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 17[9] and August 9, 2018 respectively.[10]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 39
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[12] 36
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 17
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 71
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 92
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 84
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 39

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[18] Gold 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Platinum 80,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (2018-04-12). "Rae Sremmurd – "Guatemala"". Stereogum.
  2. ^ a b c Mojica, Nick (April 12, 2018). "Swae Lee Taps Slim Jxmmi for New Song "Guatemala" - XXL". XXL.
  3. ^ Cook-Wilson, Winston (2018-04-12). "Rae Sremmurd - "Guatemala"". Spin.
  4. ^ a b "Hear Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee on Tropical New Song, 'Guatemala'". Rolling Stone. 2018-04-12.
  5. ^ Berry, Peter A. (June 22, 2018). "Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi Visit "Guatemala" in New Video - XXL". XXL.
  6. ^ a b Ofiaza, Renz (2018-06-21). "Rae Sremmurd Escape to Paradise in "Guatemala"". Highsnobiety.
  7. ^ Thompson, Rita (2018-06-21). "Rae Sremmurd Supports Guatemala With New Music Video: Watch". Billboard.
  8. ^ Boykins, Austin (2018-06-21). "Swae Lee & Slim Jxmmi Give "Guatemala" Praise in New Music Video". Hypebeast.
  9. ^ Hussein, Wandera (July 17, 2018). "Watch Rae Sremmurd perform "Guatemala" on Good Morning America". The Fader.
  10. ^ Schatz, Lake (2018-08-09). "Rae Sremmurd bring "Guatemala" to Fallon: Watch". Consequence.
  11. ^ "Swae Lee Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 16, 2018.
  13. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 16, 2018".
  14. ^ "Swae Lee feat. Slim Jxmmi – Guatemala". Swiss Singles Chart.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  16. ^ "Swae Lee Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. ^ "Swae Lee Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Rae Sremmurd – Guatemala" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Rae Sremmurd – Guatemala". Music Canada.
  20. ^ "British single certifications – Rae Sremmurd – Guatemala". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  21. ^ "American single certifications – Swae Lee – Guatemala". Recording Industry Association of America. June 28, 2019.