Barely Holdin' On
{{Infobox song
| name = Barely Holdin' On
| cover = Barely Holding On.jpeg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Polo G
| album = Hood Poet
| released = August 18, 2023
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 2:54
| label = Columbia
| writer = {{hlist|Noah Goldstein|Łukasz Gottwald|Joshua Luellen|Taurus Bartlett}}
| producer = {{hlist|Southside|Dr. Luke|Noah Goldstein}}
| prev_title = Heartbroken
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title = Sorrys & Ferraris
| next_year = 2024
}}
"Barely Holdin' On" is a song by American rapper Polo G. It was released on August 18, 2023, as the second single from his fourth studio album, Hood Poet. The song was produced by Southside, Dr. Luke, and Noah Goldstein.
Background
On August 15, 2023, Bartlett officially announced his next album, Hood Poet. He announced the single for release the following Friday, with the album to release on September 15, 2023.{{cite web |last1=Bartlett |first1=Taurus |title=Polo G - HOOD POET (Album Trailer) {{!}} OUT SEPTEMBER 15 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obwqgSylFJ0 |website=YouTube |access-date=16 August 2023}}
Composition
The song features tranquil guitars and keyboards and a fidgety beat.{{Cite web |last=Partridge |first=Ken |date=Aug 18, 2023 |title=Polo G Finds Strength Amid Tragedy On New Song "Barely Holdin' On" |url=https://genius.com/a/polo-g-finds-strength-amid-tragedy-on-new-song-barely-holdin-on |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=Genius}} Throughout the song, Polo raps about his mental-health and gunplay, with lines such as: "Ain't hard to figure him out 'cause all his thoughts was tweeted/ We blew some shots to shut him up, that's why his top was leakin'."{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Polo G – "Barely Holdin' On" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2233603/polo-g-barely-holdin-on/music/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=Stereogum}} In the first verse, Polo G mentions his childhood friend who was shot and killed in a drive-by on September 18, 2014,{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Marc |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Polo G Shows Empathy To Those "Barely Holdin' On" In New Visuals |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/videos/polo-g-barely-holding-on-music-video-1234781652/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=Vibe}} while in the second verse he raps about his upbringing, in which he raps about his heavy trauma.
Critical reception
Alexander Cole of HotNewHipHop called the track "an uplifting yet emotional song that speaks to some of the trauma Polo G has faced throughout his life."{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Cole |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Polo G Returns With Lead "Hood Poet" Single, "Barely Holdin' On" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/703917-polo-g-barely-holdin-on-song |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=HotNewHipHop}} Vibe said that the song "soundtracks the visual, but paints a picture of the artist attempting to rationalize his own trauma, as well."
Music video
Polo G released the song's music video on August 18, 2023. It was directed by Araad and shows scenes of Polo G at a piano as well as with living individuals who each go through their own struggles.{{Cite web |last=Grant |first=Shawn |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Watch: Polo G Delivers New Video For "Barely Holdin' On" |url=https://thesource.com/2023/08/18/polo-g-barely-holdin-on/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=The Source}}{{Cite web |last=Duong |first=Pual |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Video: Polo G "Barely Holding On" |url=https://rapradar.com/2023/08/18/video-polo-g-barely-holding-on/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=Rap Radar}}
Credits and personnel
Technical
- Randy Merrill – mastering engineer
- Serban Ghenea – mixing engineer
- Todd Hurtt – recording engineer
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Barely Holdin' On" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|93|artist=Polo G|rowheader=true|access-date=August 29, 2023}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2023-09-22|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=August 28, 2023|access-date=August 26, 2023}}
| 4 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|68|artist=Polo G|rowheader=true|access-date=August 29, 2023}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|23|artist=Polo G|rowheader=true|access-date=August 29, 2023}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Barely Holdin' On"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Polo G|title=Barely Holdin_ On|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2025|access-date=March 14, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}