Meltdown (Travis Scott song)

{{short description|2023 single by Travis Scott featuring Drake}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Meltdown

| type = single

| album = Utopia

| released = {{start date|2023|8|15}}{{cite web|url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=337251&title=A-RECAP-OF-RADIO-ADD-RECAPS|title=A RECAP OF RADIO ADD RECAPS|website=Hits|date=August 15, 2023|access-date=March 8, 2024}}

| recorded = 2023

| studio = Miraval (Correns)

| genre = Hip hop

| length = 4:06

| label = * Cactus Jack

Epic

| writer = * Jacques Webster II

| producer = * Boi-1da

Vinylz
Tay Keith
Bnyx
Coleman

| chronology = Travis Scott

| prev_title = Delresto (Echoes)

| prev_year = 2023

| title = Meltdown

| year = 2023

| next_title = I Know ?

| next_year = 2023

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Drake

| type = single

| prev_title = On the Radar Freestyle

| prev_year = 2023

| title = Meltdown

| year = 2023

| next_title = Slime You Out

| next_year = 2023

}}

"Meltdown" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott featuring Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on August 15, 2023, as the seventh track and third single from the former's fourth studio album Utopia. The artists wrote the song with producers Coleman, Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, and Bnyx.

Composition and lyrics

The song starts out with Drake whispering over a "build-up of a squally string sample" and transitions into an "airy and raspy flow" with several disses against producer Pharrell Williams and rapper Pusha T.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/698914-travis-scott-drake-meltdown-stream|title=Travis Scott & Drake Serve A Chillingly Vengeful Banger On "Meltdown"|last=A.|first=Aron|website=HotNewHipHop|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Williams was targeted due to his newly assumed position as creative director for Louis Vuitton, previously held by the late Virgil Abloh, a friend of Drake.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2023/07/28/drake-disses-pharrell-era-louis-vuitton-targets-pusha-t-on-travis-scotts-meltdown|title=Drake disses Pharrell-era Louis Vuitton, targets Pusha T on Travis Scott's "Meltdown"|last=Darville|first=Jordan|website=The Fader|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} He also addressed Pusha T's close connection to Williams. The latter had previously been mocked by Drake in the video for "Jumbotron Shit Poppin" (2022).{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/drake-disses-pusha-t-pharrell-travis-scott-meltdown|title=Drake Takes Aim at Pusha T & Pharrell on Travis Scott 'Meltdown' Collab|last=Bustard|first=Andy|website=HipHopDX|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Another slight sees Drake calling out Pusha T for performing a diss track against Jim Jones, a close Drake supporter, at a fashion show held by Williams in June 2023.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-disses-pharrell-pusha-t-travis-scott-meltdown-1235380923/|title=Drake Takes Aim at Pharrell & Pusha T on Travis Scott's 'Meltdown'|last=Lamarre|first=Carl|magazine=Billboard|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} The diss was also noted for appearing on the same album where Williams contains a production credit ("Looove").{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/zach-dionne/drake-pusha-t-pharrell-diss-meltdown-utopia-travis-scott|title=Drake Drags Pharrell Into His Pusha T Feud on Travis Scott's "Meltdown"|last=Dionne|first=Zach|website=Complex|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Another reference includes a lawsuit initiated by Vogue after Drake and 21 Savage released a fake Vogue cover to promote their 2022 album Her Loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/joshua-espinoza/drake-21-savage-conde-nast-settle-lawsuit-over-fake-vogue-cover|title=Drake and 21 Savage Reportedly Settle 'Vogue' Lawsuit Over 'Her Loss' Promo|last=Espinoza|first=Joshua|website=Complex|date=February 16, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Scott "finds himself similarly getting petty and flamboyant across his verses" and references fictional character Willy Wonka during one of his verses.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/travis-scott-appears-to-diss-timothee-chalamet-over-kylie-jenner-on-utopia-track-meltdown-3474853|title=Travis Scott appears to diss Timothée Chalamet over Kylie Jenner on 'Utopia' track 'Meltdown'|last=Duran|first=Anagricel|website=NME|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} The lyrics are assumed to be aimed at actor Timothée Chalamet, who portrayed Wonka in Wonka (2023); the film was later released on December 15.{{Cite magazine |last=Fear |first=David |date=2023-12-14 |title='Wonka': Timothée Chalamet Bites Off More Than He Can Chew in This Dizzying Musical |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/wonka-review-timothee-chalamet-hugh-grant-willy-wonka-prequel-1234889981/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} Chalamet was reportedly dating Scott's ex-girlfriend, American model and media personality Kylie Jenner, at the time of the release.{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/travis-scott-seemingly-disses-kylie-jenners-rumored-boyfriend-timothee-chalamet-in-new-song|title=Travis Scott Seemingly Disses Kylie Jenner's Rumored Boyfriend Timothée Chalamet in New Song 'Meltdown'|last=McRady|first=Rachel|website=Entertainment Tonight|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}} Similar to one of their earlier collaborations, Scott's single, "Sicko Mode", from his third studio album, Astroworld, the track makes use of three beat switches in the song.

Critical reception

Aron A. of HotNewHipHop praised the artists for their "exceptional performance", describing their verses as an "impressive lyrical putting" with "plenty of quotable bars". Another offering within their "incredible track record", A. opines that their collaborations work best when "unexpected". In a negative review, Mackenzie Cummings-Grady of Billboard placed "Meltdown" among the worst three tracks of the album, calling it "disappointingly one-dimensional" and particularly criticized Drake's verses for containing "hollow flexes" and "cheap digs".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/travis-scotts-utopia-album-songs-ranked-1235381047/|title=Travis Scott's 'Utopia' Album: All 19 Songs Ranked|last=Cummings-Grady|first=Mackenzie|magazine=Billboard|date=July 28, 2023|access-date=July 29, 2023}}

Commercial performance

In the United States "Meltdown" debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Scott's 13th top-ten single, simultaneously with Utopia's track "Fe!n".{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Morgan Wallen's 'Last Night' Notches 15th Week Atop Hot 100, Travis Scott, Dua Lipa Hit Top 10 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/morgan-wallen-last-night-15-weeks-number-one-hot-100-travis-scott-dua-lipa-top-10-1235386212/ |access-date=August 8, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en}} The song also debuted at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Scott's 6th number one and Drake's 28th.{{Cite magazine |title=Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of August 12, 2023 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/ |access-date=August 8, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en}} In Canada the song debuted at number one of the Canadian Hot 100, becoming Scott's fourth song to debut directly at no. 1 on the chart and Drake's 12th in his career.

In the United Kingdom "Meltdown" debuted at number ten on the Official Singles Chart, becoming highest new entry of the week and Scott's fifth top-ten song in the country.{{Cite web |last=Griffiths |first=George |date=August 4, 2023 |title=Dave & Central Cee have record-setting ninth week at Number 1 with Sprinter |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/dave-central-cee-sprinter-number-1-nine-weeks/ |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=Official Charts Company}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/hip-hop-r-and-b-singles-chart/2023-08-07\|title=ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|date=August 7, 2023\|access-date=August 4, 2023}} \| 3
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Meltdown" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|8\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 4, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|8\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 9, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|1\|artist=Travis Scott\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 8, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Croatia (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/travis-scott/chart-history/i32/\|title=Travis Scott Chart History (Croatia Songs)\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=August 8, 2023}} \| 24
{{single chart\|Czechdigital\|17\|year=2023\|week=31\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 7, 2023\|refname="Czech Republic"}}
{{single chart\|Denmark\|17\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 9, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Finland\|37\|artist=Travis Scott\|song=Meltdown (Feat. Drake)\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 14, 2023}}
{{single chart\|France\|21\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 7, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|61\|songid=2386728\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 18, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Billboardglobal200\|2\|artist=Travis Scott\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 8, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Greece International (IFPI){{cite web\|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html\|publisher=IFPI Greece\|title=Official IFPI Charts — Digital Singles Chart (International) — Εβδομάδα: 35/2023\|language=el\|access-date=6 September 2023\|archive-date=6 September 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906064202/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_iel.html}} \| 6
{{single chart\|Hungarysingle\|17\|year=2023\|week=31\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 9, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Iceland (Tónlistinn){{cite web\|url=http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/\|title=Tónlistinn – Lög\|trans-title=The Music – Songs\|language=is\|publisher=Plötutíðindi\|access-date=5 August 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805151119/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/\|archive-date=5 August 2023}} \| 4
{{single chart\|Ireland4\|10\|date=20230804\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 4, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Italy\|30\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 5, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Latvia (LaIPA){{cite web\|url=https://www.parmuziku.lv/chart?type=2&week=2023-W31&limit=100&id=5e472896c97ba\|title=Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 31. nedēļa\|language=en, lv\|publisher=LaIPA\|access-date=9 August 2023\|date=8 August 2023}} \| 2
scope="row"\| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web\|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s31-2-2/\|title=2023 31-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)\|publisher=AGATA\|language=lt\|date=August 4, 2023\|access-date=August 4, 2023}} \| 13
scope="row"\| Luxembourg (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/travis-scott/chart-history/i12/\|title=Travis Scott Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=August 8, 2023}} \| 4
scope="row" \| MENA (IFPI){{cite web\|url=https://www.theofficialmenachart.com/weeklychart\|title=The Official Mena Chart — This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20 from 28/07/2023 to 03/08/2023\|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry\|website=theofficialmenachart.com\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230808213813/https://www.theofficialmenachart.com/weeklychart\|archive-date=August 8, 2023\|access-date=August 9, 2023}} \| 5
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|30\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 5, 2023}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|4\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 5, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/1\|title=TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: August 11th, 2023 - August 17th, 2023\|magazine=TurnTable\|access-date=August 23, 2023\|archive-date=August 23, 2023\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823214723/https://www.turntablecharts.com/charts/1\|url-status=live}} \| 63
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|13\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 5, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100){{cite web\|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/single-w-streamie\|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie\|publisher=OLiS\|language=pl\|access-date=August 10, 2023\|type=Select week 28.07.2023–03.08.2023.}} \| 13
{{single chart\|Portugal\|12\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 14, 2023}}
scope="row"\| Romania (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/travis-scott/chart-history/i36/\|title=Travis Scott Chart History (Romania Songs)\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=August 8, 2023}} \| 12
{{single chart\|Slovakdigital2\|4\|year=2023\|week=31\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 7, 2023}}
{{single chart\|South Africa2\|2\|year=2023\|week=31\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 27, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|45\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 4, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|2\|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake\|song=Meltdown\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 6, 2023}}
{{single chart\|UK\|10\|date=20230804\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 4, 2023}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|4\|date=20230804\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 4, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|3\|artist=Travis Scott\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 8, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|1\|artist=Travis Scott\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 8, 2023}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|2\|artist=Travis Scott\|rowheader=true\|access-date=November 12, 2023}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 2023 year-end chart performance for "Meltdown" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/canadian-hot-100/\|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2023\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=November 22, 2023}} \| 69
scope="row"\| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-100-songs/\|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2023\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=November 22, 2023}} \| 97
scope="row"\| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/\|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=November 23, 2023}} \| 32

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2023 year-end chart performance for "Meltdown"

! scope="col"| Chart (2023)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/canadian-hot-100/|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023}}

| 69

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-100-songs/|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023}}

| 97

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 23, 2023}}

| 32

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 2024 year-end chart performance for "Meltdown" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/\|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2024\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 15, 2024}} \| 85

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2024 year-end chart performance for "Meltdown"

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2024}}

| 85

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Meltdown"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=Meltdown|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake|certyear=2024|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=2023|access-date=October 19, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Travis Scott|title=Meltdown|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=November 26, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake|title=Meltdown|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|id=12333|access-date=May 7, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake|title=Meltdown|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=June 5, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Travis Scott feat. Drake|title=Meltdown|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2023|relmonth=8|certyear=2024|access-date=April 9, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Travis Scott|title=Meltdown|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|id=4222-6904-1|access-date=September 13, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Travis Scott|title=Meltdown|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2023|certyear=2024|access-date=September 13, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}