Twerkulator

"Twerkulator"
Single by City Girls
ReleasedMay 21, 2021 (2021-05-21)
Length2:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mr. Hanky
City Girls singles chronology
"Throat Baby (Go Baby) [Remix]"
(2021) 		"Twerkulator"
(2021) 		"Scared"
(2021)

"Twerkulator" is a song recorded by American hip hop duo City Girls. It was released on May 21, 2021, through Quality Control, Motown and Capitol.[1][2][3]

Background and release

JT
@ThegirlJT
 Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird

Thank you to our team for fighting hard 😭💕💕💕💕 now we can shake ass this summer!!!!!

May 18, 2021[4]

In March 2021, Yung Miami, one of the members of the duo, said that "Twerkulator" couldn't be released due to the instrumental it uses not being cleared. In May, JT, the other member of the duo, revealed that the instrumental was cleared and that the song could be released.[5]

"Twerkulator" follows the release of City Girls' second studio album, City on Lock. The song went viral on TikTok prior to its release.[6] A music video directed by Missy Elliott was released for the song.[7]

Composition

"Twerkulator" makes usage of the instrumental of the 1982 song "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa, which in turn was inspired on Kraftwerk's "Numbers".[6] It also interpolates the lyric from "Percolator" by Cajmere.[8]

Reception

In an interview with Vice, rapper Trick Daddy opined that "Twerkulator" was "on pace to become the song of the summer".[9]

Accolades

Critical rankings for "Twerkulator"
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Pitchfork The 100 Best Songs of 2021 85 [10]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Twerkulator"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[11] 82
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[12] 34
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 51
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] 19
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[15] 14

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Twerkulator"
Chart (2021) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 93

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Bloom, Madison (May 21, 2021). "City Girls Release New Song "Twerkulator": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  2. ^ Tigg, Fnr (May 21, 2021). "City Girls Release Viral Track "Twerkulator" to Streaming Services". Complex. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Haylock, Zoe (May 21, 2021). "'Twerkulator' By the City Girls Is Finally Free". Vulture. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  4. ^ JT [@ThegirlJT] (May 18, 2021). "Thank you to our team for fighting hard 😭💕💕💕💕 now we can shake ass this summer!!!!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Miss2Bees (2021-05-19). "City Girls Are Set To Release 'Twerkulator'". The Source. Retrieved 2021-05-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ a b "City Girls announce "Twerkulator" release date". The Fader. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  7. ^ "City Girls share "Twerkulator" music video, directed by Missy Elliot". The Fader. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  8. ^ "Twerkulator by City Girls on WhoSampled". WhoSampled.
  9. ^ "Trick Daddy Tells Us Why Rap Would Be Nothing Without Florida". Vice. 23 April 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  10. ^ Ani, Ivie (December 6, 2021). "The 100 Best Songs of 2021". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "Billboard Global 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Hot 100 Chart: June 5, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: June 5, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "Rhythmic Airplay Chart: August 14, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  16. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "American single certifications – City Girls – Twerkulator". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 25, 2021.