Die for It
{{short description|2021 single by Belly and the Weeknd featuring Nas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{For|the song by My Morning Jacket|Is (My Morning Jacket album)}}
{{Distinguish|Die for You (disambiguation){{!}}Die for You}}
{{Infobox single
| name = Die for It
| type = single
| artist = Belly and the Weeknd featuring Nas
| cover = Die for it The Weeknd Belly Nas.jpg
| alt =
| album = See You Next Wednesday
| released = {{Start date|2021|8|27}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 3:20
| label =
| writer =
- Ahmad Balshe
- Abel Tesfaye
- Nasir Jones
- Sonia Ben Ammar
- Sami Hamed
- Jason Quenneville
- Richard Muñoz
- Faris Al-Majed
| producer =
| chronology = Belly
| prev_title = Better Believe
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Requiem
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = The Weeknd
| type = single
| prev_title = Take My Breath
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Die for It
| year = 2021
| next_title = Hurricane
| next_year = 2021
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Nas
| type = single
| prev_title = Rare
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Die for It
| year = 2021
| next_title = Big Nas
| next_year = 2021
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|UXW9ldj_2wM|"Die for It"}}}}
}}
"Die for It" is a song by Palestinian-Canadian rapper Belly and Canadian singer the Weeknd, featuring vocals from American rapper Nas. It was released on August 27, 2021, through XO Records and Republic Records as the fourth single from Belly's third studio album, See You Next Wednesday, along with the album.{{cite web |title=The Weeknd and Nas Join Belly in Video for New Song "Die for It": Watch|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/the-weeknd-and-nas-join-belly-in-video-for-new-song-die-for-it-watch/|website=Pitchfork|last=Hussey|first=Allison|date=August 27, 2021|access-date=August 27, 2021|quote=Belly, the Weeknd, and Nas have joined forces in a new video for the single 'Die for It.'}} The song was produced by Skinny, DaHeala, and the Anmls.
Background
On the song, the Weeknd handles the intro and chorus, while Belly handles the first verse and Nas handles the second verse. Belly also talked to Rolling Stone about how he felt about the song and collaboration:
This collaboration felt like something special from the jump. Nas is someone I've always looked up to and learned from my whole life and getting a verse from him was definitely on my bucket list. An artist like Abel comes around once in a lifetime, being able to work with him has been one of my greatest blessings. Having both of them on one song is a dream come true. James Larese killed it as usual and gave us a movie. Even the production was a family affair, shout-out to DaHeala, The Anmls, and DannyboyStyles.{{cite magazine |title=Behind the Scenes of Belly, Nas, and the Weeknd's New Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-pictures/belly-nas-the-weeknds-video-1216896/|magazine=Rolling Stone|last1=Lotz|first1=Griffin|last2=Ihaza|first2=Jeff|date=27 August 2021|access-date=27 August 2021}}
"Die for It" serves as the second collaboration between Belly and the Weeknd on the album, following the previously-released single, "Better Believe", alongside American rapper Young Thug.{{cite web |title=The Weeknd, Belly and Nas join forces for powerful new track 'Die for It'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-weeknd-belly-and-nas-join-forces-for-powerful-new-track-die-for-it-3030802|website=NME|last=Doria|first=Matt|date=August 27, 2021|access-date=August 27, 2021|quote=Belly has shared the latest single from his just-released third album, 'See You Next Wednesday', a kaleidoscopic thumper titled 'Die For It', featuring guest vocals from The Weeknd and Nas.}} The Weeknd is also involved in the following two tracks of See You Next Wednesday: providing background vocals on "Requiem", featuring fellow Canadian rapper and labelmate Nav, and producing "Two Tone", featuring American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. Belly played the song on Drink Champs on June 11, 2021.{{cite tweet|number=1403064221722628096|title=This episode is going to be special…. Tonight on @Drinkchamps with @noreaga and @djEFN at 7PM pst /10PM est on @revolttv...|user=reBELLYus|date=June 11, 2021|access-date=August 27, 2021}}
Music video
A music video for the song was released to Belly's YouTube channel alongside the song and album on August 27, 2021.{{cite magazine |title=Belly, The Weeknd & Nas Explore a Post-Apocalyptic World in 'Die for It': Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9621123/belly-the-weeknd-nas-die-for-it-video/|magazine=Billboard|last=Bowenbank|first=Starr|date=August 27, 2021|access-date=August 27, 2021}} The video starts with Belly walking around a city that shows "an apocalyptic red sky, burning buildings, and abandoned streets littered with newspapers" while smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. It transitions to the Weeknd singing the first chorus through the screens of televisions that are falling through the sky, but he later comes to perform the remaining choruses in person. Belly performs his verse to the Weeknd going back to the chorus, which then turns to Nas appearing to perform his verse in a church's clock tower and ends with the Weeknd performing the last chorus.{{cite magazine |title=The Weeknd, Nas Join Belly in Apocalyptic 'Die for It' Video: Watch|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-weeknd-belly-nas-die-for-it-video-1217863/|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=August 27, 2021|access-date=August 27, 2021}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/194756148/credits|title=Credits / See You Next Wednesday|publisher=Tidal|access-date=August 27, 2021}}
- Belly – lead vocals, songwriting
- The Weeknd – lead vocals, songwriting
- Nas – featured vocals, songwriting
- Sonia Ben Ammar – background vocals, songwriting
- DaHeala – production, songwriting, keyboards, programming
- Skinny – production, songwriting
- The ANMLS – production, songwriting, keyboards, programming
- Richard Munoz – production, songwriting, keyboards, programming
- Faris Al-Majed – production, songwriting, keyboards, programming, recording, studio personnel
- DannyBoyStyles – recording, studio personnel
- Shin Kamiyama – recording, studio personnel
- Gabriel Zardes – recording, studio personnel
- Mark Goodchild – recording, studio personnel
- Fabian Marasciullo – mixing, studio personnel
- Colin Leonard – mastering, studio personnel
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Die for It" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|65|artist=Belly|rowheader=true|access-date=September 8, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|85|artist=Belly and The Weeknd fear. Nas|song=Die for It|rowheader=true|access-date=April 8, 2022}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|162|artist=Belly|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 8, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|21|artist=The Weeknd|rowheader=true|accessdate=September 8, 2021}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{Belly (rapper)}}
{{The Weeknd songs}}
{{Nas}}
Category:Songs written by Belly (rapper)
Category:Songs written by the Weeknd
Category:Songs written by DaHeala