Overseas (Ken Carson song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Overseas

| cover = Ken Carson - overseas.jpg

| alt = Two of the same images of a bloody scar on a man's face

| type = single

| artist = Ken Carson

| album = A Great Chaos (Deluxe)

| released = April 12, 2024

| recorded =

| genre = Hip-hop

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=21}}

| label = * Opium

Interscope

| writer = * Kenyatta Lee Frazier Jr.

Pierre Thevenot
Ștefan Cișmigiu
Nick Spiders
Oliver Brown

| producer = * Esko

Lucian
Lukrative
Nick Spiders

| prev_title = I Need U

| prev_year = 2023

| next_title = President

| next_year = 2024

| misc = {{External music video|type=single|{{YouTube|80M6sAU9DY4|"Overseas"}}}}

}}

"Overseas" is a song by the American rapper Ken Carson. It was released by Opium and Interscope Records on April 12, 2024, as the lead single from the deluxe edition of his third studio album, A Great Chaos (2023). Carson wrote it alongside the song's producers, Esko, Lucian, Lukrative, and Nick Spiders. After Carson was sent the song's instrumental, he found affinity with it and developed an idea for the song. The single's cover art was inspired by Heath Ledger's depiction of the Joker in the 2008 film The Dark Knight. Carson included "Overseas" in the set list of the Chaos World Tour (2024).

"Overseas" is a hip-hop song driven by a buzzing beat, 808-heavy production, and a subtle melody. Its lyrics see Carson offer an update on his recent life, which he mostly spent on tour, and reflecting on his rise to prominence. Praised by critics for its rhythm and catchiness, the song debuted at number 79 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Carson's first entry on the chart, and charted in New Zealand and Canada. In October 2024, "Overseas" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Gunner Stahl directed the song's music video, which included grainy clips of Carson's live performances in Europe.

Background and release

The American rapper Ken Carson released his third studio album, A Great Chaos, on October 13, 2023, through Opium and Interscope Records.{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Alexander |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Ken Carson Drops Off Highly-Anticipated Album "A Great Chaos" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/723829-ken-carson-a-great-chaos-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014065428/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/723829-ken-carson-a-great-chaos-stream |archive-date=October 14, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=HotNewHipHop}} It was positively received by critics;{{Cite web |last=Bernstein |first=Elaina |date=April 11, 2024 |title=Ken Carson Goes Global on "overseas" |url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/4/ken-carson-overseas-single-stream |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412043656/https://hypebeast.com/2024/4/ken-carson-overseas-single-stream |archive-date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |publisher=Hypebeast}} several publications featured it on their year-end lists of the best albums from 2023.{{Efn|Namely, The Washington Post,{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2023 |title=The best albums of 2023: Top pop from Peso Pluma to Sexyy Red |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2023/12/06/best-albums-2023-pop/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231206115740/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2023/12/06/best-albums-2023-pop/ |archive-date=December 6, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=The Washington Post}} Slant Magazine,{{Cite web |last=Attard |first=Paul |date=December 7, 2023 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2023 |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/lists/the-50-best-albums-of-2023/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207201621/https://www.slantmagazine.com/lists/the-50-best-albums-of-2023/ |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Slant Magazine}} Complex,{{Cite web |last=Rindner |first=Grant |date=December 14, 2023 |title=The 50 Best Albums Of 2023 |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/best-albums-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214214415/https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-mckinney/best-albums-2023 |archive-date=December 14, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Complex}} Rolling Stone,{{Cite web |last=Ihaza |first=Jeff |date=December 20, 2023 |title=The 10 Best Rap Albums of 2023 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-10-best-rap-albums-of-2023-1234929705/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209052108/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-10-best-rap-albums-of-2023-1234929705/mike-sundial-1234929708/ |archive-date=February 9, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Rolling Stone}} and Paste.{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Matt |date=December 31, 2023 |title=The 25 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2023 |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/25-best-hip-hop-albums-of-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231175012/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/25-best-hip-hop-albums-of-2023 |archive-date=December 31, 2023 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Paste}}}} "Overseas" was released on April 12, 2024, as the lead single for the deluxe edition of A Great Chaos.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Kyann-Sian |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Ken Carson announces 2024 UK, US and European ‘Chaos’ world tour |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/ken-carson-adds-uk-and-european-tour-dates-to-chaos-world-tour-album-more-3749639 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425033658/https://www.nme.com/news/music/ken-carson-adds-uk-and-european-tour-dates-to-chaos-world-tour-album-more-3749639 |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=NME}} It was released one day ahead of his debut Coachella performance. Lucian, who produced the song alongside Esko, Lukrative, and Nick Spiders,{{Cite web |last=Espinoza |first=Joshua |date=July 5, 2024 |title=Ken Carson Unleashes 'A Great Chaos' Deluxe Edition |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/joshua-espinoza/ken-carson-a-great-chaos-deluxe-edition |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705062332/https://www.complex.com/music/a/joshua-espinoza/ken-carson-a-great-chaos-deluxe-edition |archive-date=July 5, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Complex}} told XXL that Carson immediately connected to its instrumental, devised an idea and was ready to record vocals for it before he and the other producers were aware. The artwork depicts scars on Carson's face; it was inspired by Heath Ledger's character Joker in the 2008 film The Dark Knight.{{Cite web |last=Rindner |first=Grant |date=July 30, 2024 |title=Ken Carson Talks About Getting in Shape for Tour, What He'd Tell His Younger Self and Staying in the Studio Instead of on Social Media |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/ken-carson-interview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731000846/https://www.xxlmag.com/ken-carson-interview/ |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=XXL}} A week after the release of the deluxe edition on July 5, 2023, Carson commenced his Chaos World Tour, which ran until November;{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=April 22, 2024 |title=Ken Carson Announces 2024 World Tour |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/ken-carson-announces-2024-world-tour/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422162507/https://pitchfork.com/news/ken-carson-announces-2024-world-tour/ |archive-date=April 22, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Pitchfork}} he included "Overseas" as a part of its set list.{{Cite web |last=Pointer |first=Flisadam |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Here Is Ken Carson's 'Chaos Tour' Setlist |url=https://uproxx.com/music/ken-carson-chaos-tour-setlist/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711011338/https://uproxx.com/music/ken-carson-chaos-tour-setlist/ |archive-date=July 11, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Uproxx}}

Composition and lyrics

{{Listen

| filename = Ken Carson - Overseas.ogg

| title = "Overseas"

| description = The hook of "Overseas", showcasing its 808-heavy production, Carson's frenzied flow, and discussion of European cities.

| pos = left

}}

"Overseas" is 2 minutes and 21 seconds long.{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2024 |title=overseas - Single - Album by Ken Carson |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/overseas-single/1739187307 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425011415/https://music.apple.com/us/album/overseas-single/1739187307 |archive-date=April 25, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |publisher=Apple Music}} Carson wrote the song with Esko, Lucian, Lukrative, and Nick Spiders. It was recorded by Corey Moon, with Benjamin Lidsky handling mixing and Colin Leonard handling mastering.{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2024 |title=overseas - Song by Ken Carson |url=https://music.apple.com/us/song/overseas/1739187310 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204002049/https://music.apple.com/us/song/overseas/1739187310 |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |publisher=Apple Music}} It is a hip-hop song{{Cite web |last=Woods |first=Aleia |date=April 12, 2024 |title=The 13 Best New Hip-Hop Songs This Week |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/key-glock-future-hunxho-best-new-hip-hop-songs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412223619/https://www.xxlmag.com/key-glock-future-hunxho-best-new-hip-hop-songs/ |archive-date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=XXL}} driven by an "electric" beat, 808-heavy production, and a subtle melody. According to HotNewHipHop's Elias Andrews, the songs sees Carson offer his audience an update on his recent life, which he mostly spent on tour. He mentions the European cities London, Paris, and Amsterdam, a reference to the first three stops of the Chaos World Tour. These lines are followed by lyrics discussing women and boasting to his enemies.{{Cite web |last=Castro |first=Danilo |date=2024-04-12 |title=Ken Carson Travels The Globe On Glitchy New Single "Overseas" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/787196-ken-carson-travels-the-globe-on-glitchy-new-single-overseas-hip-hop-news |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413100820/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/787196-ken-carson-travels-the-globe-on-glitchy-new-single-overseas-hip-hop-news |archive-date=April 13, 2024 |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} He also reflects on his rise to prominence and what he would tell his younger self if he could: "I wish I could go back in time to tell myself, 'You gon' be rich{{'"}}. Andrews called Carson's flow "frantic", "aggressive", and "inflected".

Reception

For HotNewHipHop, Andrews felt Carson's flow and "vivid rhymes" were able give the track a distinctive approach; he also called the single's cover art "gruesome". Complex{{'s}} Joshua Espinoza called the song "catchy", while Hypebeast's Elaina Bernstein said the track "finds [Carson] in his zone". Preezy Brown of Vibe considered it a standout from the deluxe edition of A Great Chaos, writing that it "garner[s] a favorable approval rating".{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Preezy |date=July 5, 2024 |title=Childish Gambino Makes His Trek, Quavo Links With Lana Del Rey, VanVan Shines Bright And Other Hip-Hop Releases |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/childish-gambino-quavo-vanvan-new-hip-hop-1234891728/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706003053/https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/childish-gambino-quavo-vanvan-new-hip-hop-1234891728/ |archive-date=July 6, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Vibe}} Rolling Stone included the track in their weekly "Songs You Need to Know" list{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2024 |title=Dua Lipa, Future, Metro Boomin', Girl in Red, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dua-lipa-future-metro-boomin-girl-in-red-songs-you-need-to-know-1235003737/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412202138/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dua-lipa-future-metro-boomin-girl-in-red-songs-you-need-to-know-1235003737/ |archive-date=April 12, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Rolling Stone}} and XXL added it in their list of the week's best new hip-hop songs. Grant Rindner of the latter magazine called the track "a fitting introduction to the world of Ken Carson".

"Overseas" was Carson's first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at number 79 on the chart dated April 27, 2024. In its opening week, it earned 6.9 million streams in the United States. On Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the track debuted at number 34.{{Cite web |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=April 23, 2024 |title=Hot 100 First-Timers: Ken Carson Scores First Entry With 'Overseas' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/ken-carson-hot-100-debut-overseas-1235663738/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423191910/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/ken-carson-hot-100-debut-overseas-1235663738/ |archive-date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Billboard}} It peaked at number 13 on Recorded Music NZ's New Zealand Hot Singles chart dated April 19.{{cite web |date=April 22, 2024 |title=NZ Hot Singles Chart |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2024-04-19 |access-date=April 19, 2024 |publisher=Recorded Music NZ}} On the Canadian Hot 100, it peaked at number 93 on the chart dated April 27. The song was certified gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 29, 2024.

Music video

Gunner Stahl directed the visually distorted music video, which premiered just over a year after the release of A Great Chaos.{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=October 19, 2024 |title=Watch Ken Carson's New "Overseas" Video |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-ken-carson-new-overseas-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203034344/https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-ken-carson-new-overseas-video/ |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |access-date=February 12, 2025 |website=Pitchfork}} Henock Sileshi and Nick Holiday, formerly of the hip-hop group Brockhampton, assisted in the video's post-production. The video begins with an epilepsy warning and contains grainy visuals of clips from Carson's performances in London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Logan Fairbrother of Hypebeast said the video showcases "the strong tempo of the track matched by gritty visuals" and described the video as "chaotic".{{Cite web |last=Fairbrother |first=Logan |date=2024-10-19 |title=Ken Carson Links With Gunner Stahl for Energetic "overseas" Music Video |url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/10/ken-carson-overseas-music-video-info |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130221327/https://hypebeast.com/2024/10/ken-carson-overseas-music-video-info |archive-date=November 30, 2024 |access-date=2024-10-20 |publisher=Hypebeast}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Chart performance for "Overseas" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2024-04-27/\|title=Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of April 27, 2024\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=April 23, 2024}} \| 93
scope="row"\| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2024-04-19\|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=April 22, 2024\|access-date=April 19, 2024}} \| 13
scope="row"\| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-04-27/\|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of April 27, 2024\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=April 23, 2024}} \| 79
scope="row"\| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/2024-04-27/\|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of April 27, 2024\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=April 23, 2024}} \| 34

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

|+ Chart performance for "Overseas"

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2024-04-27/|title=Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of April 27, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 23, 2024}}

| 93

scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2024-04-19|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=April 22, 2024|access-date=April 19, 2024}}

| 13

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2024-04-27/|title=Billboard Hot 100: Week of April 27, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 23, 2024}}

| 79

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-songs/2024-04-27/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of April 27, 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 23, 2024}}

| 34

Certifications

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

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Ken Carson|title=Overseas|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2024|certyear=2024|access-date=October 31, 2024|refname="gold"}}

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

Notes

References

Category:2024 songs

Category:2024 singles

Category:Ken Carson songs

Category:Songs written by Ken Carson

Category:American hip-hop songs