Highjack
{{Short description|2024 single by ASAP Rocky featuring Jessica Pratt}}
{{other uses|Hijack (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Highjack
| cover = ASAP Rocky - Highjack.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = ASAP Rocky featuring Jessica Pratt
| album = Don't Be Dumb
| released = August 2, 2024
| recorded =
| genre =
| length = 3:10
| label =
- ASAP Worldwide
- Polo Grounds
- RCA
| writer = {{hlist|Rakim Mayers|Jessica Pratt|Greg Kurstin|Carlton McDowell|Anthony Holmes, Jr.|Masamune Kudo|Robert Gallardo|Zach Fogarty|Jordan Patrick|Jon Batiste}}
| producer = {{hlist|Kurstin|Patrick|Fogarty|Hitkidd|Car!ton}}
| chronology = ASAP Rocky
| prev_title = Hoodlumz
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title = Tailor Swif
| next_year = 2024
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Jessica Pratt
| type = single
| prev_title = The Last Year
| prev_year = 2024
| title = Highjack
| year = 2024
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
}}
"Highjack" is a song by American rapper ASAP Rocky, released on August 2, 2024, as the lead single from his upcoming fourth studio album, Don't Be Dumb. Produced by Greg Kurstin, Jordan Patrick, Zach Fogarty, Hitkidd, and Car!ton, it features American musician Jessica Pratt. The song's background vocals are provided by Creed B Good and Jon Batiste,{{cite magazine |last1=Zemler |first1=Emily |title=A$AP Rocky Teams Up With Jessica Pratt for Genre-Spanning Single 'Highjack' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/asap-rocky-jessica-pratt-jon-batiste-highjack-single-1235072949/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}} who sing during Pratt's performance.
Background
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, ASAP Rocky spoke about his inspirations behind the song and collaborations:
I just love alternative. I love just different sounds and whatnot. [Jessica Pratt] kind of gave me this kind of Portishead meets Stevie Nicks vibe a little bit. Right. So I always fucked with her as a artist, and so I figured it was necessary to get her, Jon Batiste on this one, and kind of make it feel soulful to bring it on home in the outro.
With respect to the theme of the song, Rocky said:
I feel like the real is back man, and it's just like, this shit is for the taking. It's a hijack. Not only that, it's just we coming with a whole new aesthetic on everything, especially with German expressionism and the whole ghetto futurism grim thing. So that's just what the sound sounds like and whatnot. The sonics of it.{{cite web |title=A$AP Rocky: "Highjack", New Album Don't Be Dumb, & Fatherhood {{!}} Apple Music |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdescWF_Sa0 |website=YouTube |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}}
Composition and lyrics
The production is composed of "floaty keyboards" with "tight, snappy drums"{{cite web |last1=Partridge |first1=Ken |title=A$AP Rocky Teams Up With Folk Artist Jessica Pratt For New Song "Highjack" |url=https://genius.com/a/a-ap-rocky-teams-up-with-folk-artist-jessica-pratt-for-new-song-highjack |website=Genius |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}} and has been described as "sunny, spectral boom bap".{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=A$AP Rocky – "Highjack" (Feat. Jessica Pratt) |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2274429/aap-rocky-highjack-feat-jessica-pratt/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}} The song has been noted to be reminiscent of the music from ASAP Rocky's early career,{{cite web |last1=Caraan |first1=Sophie |title=A$AP Rocky Makes a Last-Minute Submission for Song of the Summer With "HIGHJACK" |url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/8/asap-rocky-jessica-pratt-highjack-single-stream |website=Hypebeast |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}} with a "fusion of melodic raps and dynamic sonic backdrop". Lyrically, Rocky addresses recent events of his life{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Jon |title=ASAP Rocky teams up with Jessica Pratt for "HIGHJACK" single |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/asap-rocky-teams-up-with-jessica-pratt-for-highjack-single |website=Revolt |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}} and successes. He repeatedly uses the phrase "like that", a reference to the song of the same name by Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, which has led to speculation that the song is dissing fellow rapper Drake.{{cite web |last1=Andrews |first1=Elias |title=ASAP Rocky And Jessica Pratt Make Magic On New Single "HIGHJACK" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/830331-asap-rocky-jessica-highjack-stream |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}} The theory is further supported by the lyrics, "Don't compare that pussy boy to me (I don't like that) / Feelin' like I'm Sosa, Chiefie Keef (I don't like that) / Tired of them niggas sleepin' on me, I don't like naps / Niggas fuck around and stole the flow and y'all like that?"{{cite magazine |last1=Diaz |first1=Angel |title=A$AP Rocky Calls Out Rappers Who 'Stole the Flow' on New Single 'Highjack' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/asap-rocky-highjack-stream-1235745804/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=13 August 2024 |date=August 2, 2024}} Later on, Rocky raps about his influence in the rap industry, referencing his song "Peso", fashion designer Raf Simons and ASAP Mob's song "Raf". He ends his verse with mentions of pressures in his life, including people lusting after his wife Rihanna and his legal issues, following which Jessica Pratt sings from his point of view.
Critical reception
Elias Andrews of HotNewHipHop wrote that Jessica Pratt "wisely plays to her strengths on the 'HIGHJACK' chorus. It's subtle yet catchy. ASAP Rocky does most of the heavy lifting here, and he proves up to the task."
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Highjack" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2024-09-06|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=August 12, 2024|access-date=August 13, 2024}}
| 6 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|89|artist=ASAP Rocky|rowheader=true|access-date=August 13, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|26|artist=ASAP Rocky|rowheader=true|access-date=August 13, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|13|artist=ASAP Rocky|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2024}} |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Highjack (Right Back)" ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2025-05-23|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=May 23, 2025|access-date=May 23, 2025}}
| 21 |
|---|
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Highjack" ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format(s) ! scope="col" | Label(s) ! scope="col" | {{Ref.}} |
| scope="row" | United States
| August 30, 2024 | RCA | align="center" | {{cite web |date=14 May 2024 |title=Crossover - Your Radio Chart Previews |url=https://m.hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=342459 |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=Hits}} |
|---|