Traktor (song)

"Traktor"
Single by Wretch 32 featuring L Marshall
from the album Black and White
Released16 January 2011
Recorded2010
Genre
Length3:38
LabelMinistry of Sound
Songwriter(s)
  • Jermaine Scott
  • Yogi Tulsiani
  • Thomas Christopher Temilaye Rosiki-Griffith
Producer(s)Yogi
Wretch 32 singles chronology
"Traktor"
(2011) 		"Unorthodox"
(2011)
L singles chronology
"Traktor"
(2011) 		"The Wait"
(2012)

"Traktor" is a song by Tottenham-born rapper Wretch 32, featuring vocals from British singer L Marshall (credited as "L" on the release).[1] It was released as the lead single from his second studio album, Black and White, on 16 January 2011. A 12" vinyl was released the following day. On 23 January 2011, the single debuted at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart;[2] also managing to reach number 2 on both the R&B chart and the independent releases chart.[3][4] The song title refers to Traktor, the Native Instruments DJ software of the same name.

"Traktor" was selected by Reggie Yates as The Weekend Anthem on BBC Radio 1 for 18 – 19 December 2010.[5]

Background

Speaking to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis – assistant editor of Blues & Soul – in December 2010 Wretch stated: "'Traktor' is actually about a dad talking to his child. Like on the intro the dad is saying 'Hey, go get a job' and basically telling his son to get outta the house. Then the chorus is actually the son explaining what's going on in his life. Like he's quit school; he hasn't got a job yet; his girl's upset 'cause she's pregnant and – though his daughter's on the way – he keeps on clubbing and raving... But yet through it all he knows that he rides the beat like a TRACTOR – that he's a great RAPPER! You know, though everything is so wild in his life he literally does know that he has got a talent and he wants to stick with it... So yeah, it's basically all about having a gift and taking a risk with the music and BELIEVING in it. Which is pretty much how it is for ME!".[6]

Critical reception

Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song a positive review stating: "Though he sounds like a mere number from the Dickensian workhouse, there's nothing anonymous about this debut single."[7]

Chart performance

"Traktor" debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 23 January 2011 at number 5;[2] marking the week's third highest new entry behind Diddy-Dirty Money and Adele. The following week, the single fell two places to number 7; falling out of the top ten to number 12 on 6 February. The single spent a total of six weeks within the top 40, falling to number 44 on its seventh week on 6 March. The single also debuted at number 2 on the R&B singles chart[3] behind Diddy-Dirty Money and Skylar Grey's "Coming Home" and at number two on the independent releases chart[4] behind Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". The single also debuted in Ireland and Scotland at number 45 on 28 January[8]

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of the single "Traktor" was first released on YouTube on 9 November 2010, directed by Ben Newman. The video lasts 3 minutes and 47 seconds long. The video opens with the digits '32' forming out of ice; before the song begins, in which Wretch 32, L and FKA twigs are all show in between the flashing of lights. The video takes place in an underground and empty car park and features Wretch 32 and L performing along with the song, while FKA twigs mimics the song by playing the drums; also dancing. Rapper Chipmunk makes a cameo appearance at the end of the video.[9]

Track listing

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Traktor" (radio edit – clean)3:38
2."Traktor" (Dawood & Preston remix – clean)4:04
3."Traktor" (Brookes Brothers remix – clean)4:25
4."Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project remix – clean)4:42
5."Traktor" (Friction remix – clean)4:38
6."Traktor" (explicit edit)3:37
7."Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project Go Harder dub – clean)4:42
CD single[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Traktor" (radio edit)3:38
2."Traktor" (Dawood & Preston remix)4:04
3."Traktor" (Brookes Brothers remix)4:25
4."Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project remix)4:42
5."Traktor" (Friction remix)4:38
6."Traktor" (explicit edit)3:37
7."Traktor" (Mike Delinquent Project Go Harder dub)4:42
8."Traktor" (instrumental edit)3:38

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format
Ireland[14] 16 January 2011 Digital download
United Kingdom[15] 16 January 2011
17 January 2011 Vinyl

References

  1. ^ L Marshall Music
  2. ^ a b c "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ a b c "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  4. ^ a b c "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
  5. ^ BBC Radio 1 - Switch - 20 December 2010 - Tracklisting, Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  6. ^ Stephen Clark - Design. "Wretch 32: Ploughing on through". bluesandsoul.com.
  7. ^ Music – Singles Review – Wretch 32: 'Traktor'. Digital Spy (16 January 2011). Retrieved on 23 January 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Chart Track: Week 04, 2011". Irish Singles Chart.
  9. ^ Wretch 32 - Traktor - Music Video, YouTube, Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  10. ^ "Wretch 32 – Traktor (2010, CD)". Discogs.
  11. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  12. ^ "End of Year Chart 2011" (PDF). ChartsPlus. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  13. ^ "British single certifications – Wretch 32 ft L – Traktor". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  14. ^ "iTunes - Music - Traktor (Remixes) [feat. L] by Wretch 32". iTunes.
  15. ^ "iTunes - Music - Traktor (Remixes) [feat. L] by Wretch 32". iTunes.