Prblms

"Prblms"
Single by 6lack
from the album Free 6lack
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2016
Recorded2016
Genre
Length4:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)NOVA
6lack singles chronology
"Ex Calling"
(2016) 		"Prblms"
(2016) 		"Bless Me"
(2016)
Music video
"PRBLMS" on YouTube

"Prblms" (a disemvoweling of "problems" and stylized in all caps) is a single by American singer 6lack. It was released on September 23, 2016, by LoveRenaissance and Interscope Records.[3] The track was produced by NOVA.[4] The song was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in December 2020.

Background and release

6lack originally released "Prblms" onto SoundCloud on April 14, 2016.[5] His manager connected with Apple Music's R&B curator, and eventually the song appeared on 10 playlists through the service.[5] In June, media personality Kylie Jenner lip-synced to the song during one of her Snapchat videos, which boosted the popularity of it.[6] 6lack said Jenner's shout-out was a great experience, and it showed him that he was "doing something right."[7] The song was later re-released officially in September of that year.[7]

Lyrically, the song is about a failing relationship.[8] 6lack wrote the song after having a fight with the woman he was seeing at the time; one of the lines from the song is a text that he received from her the night he was writing the song.[7]

Music video

The music video for "Prblms" was released on October 14, 2016, on 6lack's Vevo account.[9]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 72
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 34

Year-end charts

Chart (2017) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] 96

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[13] Gold 30,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[14] 3× Platinum 240,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[16] 4× Platinum 4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Ahlgrim, Carrie (December 13, 2019). "The 113 best songs of the past decade, ranked". Insider. Retrieved December 30, 2022. The sinister, industrial production of "Prblms" intensifies a lyrical message...
  2. ^ "Street Hymns, 9 Grand". SoundCloud. 1 April 2016. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  3. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  4. ^ "PRBLMS". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  5. ^ a b Slavik, Nathan (July 14, 2016). "How Apple Music Blew Up 6LACK's "Problems"". Djbooth.
  6. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (January 10, 2017). "How Kylie Jenner's Snapchat Turns Songs Into Hits". Genius.
  7. ^ a b c Skipper, Clay (March 30, 2017). "How 6LACK Went From Sleeping in a Recording Studio to Touring with The Weeknd". GQ.
  8. ^ Nostro, Lauren (January 31, 2017). "6LACK Breaks Down "PRBLMS" On Genius' Video Series 'Verified'". Genius.
  9. ^ "6LACK - Prblms (Official Video)". YouTube. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  10. ^ "6LACK Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  11. ^ "6LACK Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  12. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – 6lack – Prblms" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  14. ^ "Canadian single certifications – 6lack – Prblms". Music Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  15. ^ "British single certifications – 6Lack – Prblms". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  16. ^ "American single certifications – 6LACK". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 15, 2023.


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