"Gummo" (stylized in all caps) is the debut solo single by American rapper 6ix9ine, released to digitally on September 24, 2017, as the lead single from 6ix9ine's debut mixtape Day69 (2018). The single peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[2] "Gummo" was certified gold by the RIAA on January 11, 2018, platinum on March 5, and double platinum on December 14 with the song reaching two million copies sold.[3][4]
"Gummo" was part of a concerted effort from 6ix9ine and his management to rebrand 6ix9ine's image from the punk, rap-rock aesthetic he had cultivated towards a more gangster rap sound.[6]
The beat was produced by Pi'erre Bourne, and was originally intended for Trippie Redd. However, Trippie Redd instead gave the beat to 6ix9ine, who made it into a diss track aimed at Trippie Redd and SosMula.[7]
6ix9ine would state about the song's impact, "I would pray every day: God, please change my life ... I got a baby; I can't even buy her Pampers ... please change my life, please change my life—and then 'Gummo' came and life changed."[10]
During the Trial of the Nine Trey Gangsters that began a year and a month after the song released, 6ix9ine would reveal that a friend associated with the Bloods gang invited the gang members featured in the video to the shoot, at 6ix9ine's request.[11] The gang members were initially hesitant to film with 6ix9ine, but were convinced by 6ix9ine "wining and dining" them, including buying bandanas and Hennessy bottles for them.[6] It was during the video shoot that 6ix9ine would meet Kifano "Shotti" Jordan, a known Nine Trey Gangster member, who would go on to become his manager.[12] Thus, Gummo marks the beginning of 6ix9ine's association with the Nine Trey Gangsters, as he testified during the trial.[13]
Commercial performance
"Gummo" debuted at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of December 2, 2017.[14] It peaked at number 12 the week of December 30,[15] remaining on the chart for twenty weeks.[16] In Canada, the song debuted at number 72 on the Canadian Hot 100 the same week it first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.[17] It peaked at number 32 the week of March 10,[18] and remained on the chart for twenty weeks.[16]
Remixes
The official remix features Offset and also is an included track on the Day69 mixtape.[19]Meek Mill, Rick Ross and Rico Recklezz have made their own remixes to the song.
Aftermath
Lyrics from "Gummo", as well as the circumstances of the song's creation, would later be used as evidence during the 2018 racketeering trial against the Nine Trey Gangsters.[20][13]
in 2019, Jon Caramanica would state that "'Gummo' set in motion a parallel path for 6ix9ine. Within months, he was living two simultaneous lives — in public, one of the most vivid and promising new talents in hip-hop; in private, part of a gang that committed robberies, distributed drugs, shot at rivals and more."[21]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 09. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
