Durag Activity
{{Short description|2021 single by Baby Keem and Travis Scott}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Durag Activity
| cover = Baby Keem, Travis Scott - durag activity (cover).jpg
| type = single
| artist = Baby Keem and Travis Scott
| album = The Melodic Blue
| released = April 30, 2021
| recorded =
| genre =
| length = 3:45
| label = * Columbia
| writer = * Hykeem Carter, Jr.
- Jacques Webster II
- Justin Howze
| producer = Brick!
| chronology = Baby Keem
| prev_title = No Sense
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Family Ties
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Travis Scott
| type = single
| prev_title = Buss It
| prev_version = Remix
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Durag Activity
| year = 2021
| next_title = Flocky Flocky
| next_year = 2021
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|YbgT-H39cnQ|"Durag Activity"}}}}
}}
"Durag Activity" is a song by American rappers Baby Keem and Travis Scott. It was released through Columbia Records and PGLang as the lead single from Keem's debut studio album, The Melodic Blue, on April 30, 2021. Released on Scott's 30th birthday, he and Keem wrote the song with producer Justin "Brick!" Howze. A durag is a close-fitting cloth tied around the top of the head to protect the hair.{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Madison|date=April 30, 2021|title=Baby Keem and Travis Scott Share New Song "durag activity"|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/baby-keem-and-travis-scott-share-new-song-durag-activity-listen/|url-status=live|website=Pitchfork|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430041107/https://pitchfork.com/news/baby-keem-and-travis-scott-share-new-song-durag-activity-listen/ |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }}{{Cite web|last=Cho|first=Regina|date=2021-05-03|title=Baby Keem is coming for revenge in "durag activity" video|url=https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2021/5/3/22417843/baby-keem-durag-activity-video|url-status=live|website=Revolt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506120427/https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2021/5/3/22417843/baby-keem-durag-activity-video |archive-date=May 6, 2021 }}
Background
The song was announced by Baby Keem on April 21, 2021, before it was released on Travis Scott’s birthday, April 30.{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Jordan|date=April 30, 2021|title=Baby Keem Connects With Travis Scott in Video for "Durag Activity"|url=https://www.complex.com/music/baby-keem-travis-scott-durag-activity|url-status=live|website=Complex|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430040614/https://www.complex.com/music/baby-keem-travis-scott-durag-activity |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }}
In May 2021, Madonna posted a photo of herself wearing a bandana with "durag activity" in the captions on Twitter. Keem responded with, "...Can I send you a Durag?" and then, "did I humble Madonna?"{{Cite web|last=S.|first=Madusa|date=May 29, 2021|title=Baby Keem Asks If He "Humbled Madonna" After Her "Durag Activity" Tweet|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/baby-keem-asks-if-he-humbled-madonna-after-her-durag-activity-tweet-news.132840.html|url-status=live|website=HotNewHipHop|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529185117/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/baby-keem-asks-if-he-humbled-madonna-after-her-durag-activity-tweet-news.132840.html |archive-date=May 29, 2021 }}
Composition
Wongo Okon of Uproxx describes the song as Baby Keem "leading the way with near-mumble raps" before Travis Scott "arrives with his trademark autotune croons".{{Cite web|last=Okon|first=Wongo|date=2021-04-30|title=Travis Scott And Baby Keem’s ’Durag Activity’ Is A Clouded Banger|url=https://uproxx.com/music/tavis-scott-baby-keem-durag-activity/|url-status=live|website=UPROXX|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430041911/https://uproxx.com/music/tavis-scott-baby-keem-durag-activity/ |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }} In the song, Baby Keem and Travis Scott talk about "money, influence, and women in their lives", which they describe as "durag activity", over a "clicking, slinking" beat.{{Cite web|last=Kaye|first=Ben|date=2021-04-30|title=Baby Keem teams with Travis Scott on new track "durag activity": Stream|url=https://consequence.net/2021/04/baby-keem-travis-scott-durag-activity-stream/|url-status=live|website=Consequence|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430043103/https://consequence.net/2021/04/baby-keem-travis-scott-durag-activity-stream/ |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }} "Distorted piano chords" can also be heard in the instrumental.{{Cite web|last=Caraan|first=Sophie|date=2021-04-30|title=Baby Keem and Travis Scott Deliver Debut Collab "durag activity"|url=https://hypebeast.com/2021/4/baby-keem-travis-scott-durag-activity-single-stream-music-video|url-status=live|website=HYPEBEAST|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430072207/https://hypebeast.com/2021/4/baby-keem-travis-scott-durag-activity-single-stream-music-video |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }}
Critical reception
Sophie Caraan of Hypebeast writes, "The effortless delivery from both Keem and Scott provide a new layer of texture for the bars they drop — which are mostly about getting rich — and almost gives it a new meaning, putting emphasis on the importance fusion of flow, cadence and lyricism." Erika Marie of HotNewHipHop called the song "laid back" and "slow-burning".{{Cite web|last=Marie|first=Erika|date=April 30, 2021|title=Baby Keem Connects With Travis Scott On "Durag Activity"|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/baby-keem-connects-with-travis-scott-on-durag-activity-new-song.1991120.html|url-status=live|website=HotNewHipHop|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214248/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/baby-keem-connects-with-travis-scott-on-durag-activity-new-song.1991120.html |archive-date=June 2, 2021 }}
Music video
An accompanying music video was released on April 30, 2021. Directed by Eliel Ford, it depicts Baby Keem as a mob boss and opens with him in a suit, rapping his verse while someone in the background is beat up.{{Cite web|last=Walker|first=Joe|date=2021-04-30|title=Travis Scott Joins Baby Keem For ‘Durag Activity’ Video On Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.61864/title.travis-scott-joins-baby-keem-for-durag-activity-video-on-kendrick-lamars-pglang|url-status=live|website=HipHopDX|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430102108/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.61864/title.travis-scott-joins-baby-keem-for-durag-activity-video-on-kendrick-lamars-pglang |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }} After "laying hands on an enemy", Keem gets tied to a chair with Travis Scott, but they "reverse the situation".
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|53|artist=Travis Scott|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|77|artist=Travis Scott|rowheader=true|access-date=August 22, 2021}} |
| scope="row"| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/18s/|title=2021 18-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)|language=Lithuanian|publisher=AGATA|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=July 2, 2021}}
| 67 |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-05-07|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=May 10, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2021}}
| 6 |
| {{single chart|UK|96|date=20210513|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|85|artist=Travis Scott|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|38|artist=Travis Scott|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2021}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Durag Activity"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Gold|certyear=2022|title=Durag Activity|artist=Baby Keem & Travis Scott|type=single|access-date=November 17, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Gold|certyear=2022|title=Durag Activity|artist=Baby Keem & Travis Scott|type=single}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Baby Keem}}
{{Travis Scott songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Columbia Records singles