Racks in the Middle
{{Infobox song
| name = Racks in the Middle
| type = single
| cover = Nipsey Hussle - Racks in the Middle.png
| alt =
| artist = Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy
| released = {{start date|2019|02|15}}
| recorded = 2018
| genre = West Coast hip hop
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=53}}
| label =
| writer =
- Ermias Asghedom
- Rodrick Moore Jr.
- Chauncey Hollis Jr.
- Dustin James Corbett
- Greg Allen Davis
| producer = Hit-Boy
| chronology = Nipsey Hussle
| prev_title = Perfect Timing
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Higher
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Roddy Ricch
| type = single
| prev_title = Project Dreams
| prev_year = 2018
| title = Racks in the Middle
| year = 2019
| next_title = How It Is
| next_year = 2019
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|PAcGg_4KKYs|"Racks In The Middle (feat. Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy)"}}
}}
}}
"Racks in the Middle" is a song by American rapper Nipsey Hussle featuring fellow American rapper Roddy Ricch and American record producer Hit-Boy, released on February 15, 2019, through All Money In and Atlantic Records. It is the last single Hussle released during his lifetime, as he was shot dead on March 31, 2019.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nipsey-hussle-songs-you-need-to-know-816299/|title=10 Nipsey Hussle Songs You Need to Know|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Fitzgerald|first=Kiana|date=April 1, 2019|accessdate=April 8, 2019}} The song received nominations for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, winning the latter. The award marked Hussle's first Grammy win, with his family and his partner Lauren London accepting the award on his behalf.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/01/nipsey-hussle-family-accepts-posthumous-grammy-for-racks-in-the-middle|title=Nipsey Hussle's Family Accepts Posthumous Grammy Award for "Racks in the Middle"|last=Cowen|first=Trace William|date=January 27, 2020|website=Complex|access-date=January 27, 2020}}
Background
In an interview, Roddy Ricch said the song was initially only a collaboration between him and the song's producer Hit-Boy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2019-12-05/roddy-ricch-nipsey-hussle-grammys-2020-racks-in-the-middle|title=For Nipsey Hussle friend Roddy Ricch, Grammy recognition is bittersweet|last=Roberts|first=Randall|date=December 5, 2019|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=December 29, 2019}} He said Nipsey Hussle then heard the song and said he wanted it. Ricch recalls not liking the song at first, but putting his trust in Hussle who later claimed that "the streets are going to feel that shit".
Critical reception
Rolling Stone called the track atypical of Hussle's discography, saying his collaboration with Ricch and Hit-Boy resulted in a "more radio-friendly sound", but with "radical honesty" in its lyrics, which detail Hussle speaking to rap artist Tee Ran.
Music video
The music video was released to Hussle's YouTube channel on February 22, 2019, a week after the song's release, and features Hussle and Ricch rapping in front of women, various locations and luxury cars. Analysis of the video seems to show he's speaking to someone directly as said by him in his famous interview with Rap Genius, Billboard described the video as "lavish".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8499653/nipsey-hussle-roddy-ricch-racks-in-the-middle-video|title=Nipsey Hussle & Roddy Ricch Ride Around in Luxury for New 'Racks in the Middle' Video: Watch|magazine=Billboard|last=Saponara|first=Michael|date=February 22, 2019|accessdate=April 8, 2019}}
Commercial performance
Following Hussle's death, his music sales increased by close to 3,000% and his streams increased by 1,773% in the United States, with "Racks in the Middle" accumulating 3,000 units, or 11.8 million streams.{{cite web|url=http://thesource.com/2019/04/03/nipsey-hussle-surge/|title=Nipsey Hussle's Music Sales Surge Nearly 3,000 Percent Since Passing|work=The Source|date=April 3, 2019|accessdate=April 8, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/04/nipsey-hussle-songs-streamed-over-100-million-times-following-death|title=Nipsey Hussle Music Streams Increased 1,773% Following His Death|work=Complex|last=Espinoza|first=Joshua|date=April 4, 2019|accessdate=April 8, 2019}} This led to the song being one of four songs by the rapper to posthumously debut on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Racks in the Middle" becoming his highest-charting as a lead artist.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8506613/nipsey-hussle-posthumously-debuts-four-songs-hot-100|title=Nipsey Hussle Posthumously Debuts Four Songs On Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-04-26}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|47|artist=Nipsey Hussle|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 16, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland3|70|artist=Nipsey Hussle|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 13, 2019}} |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2019-04-12|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=April 15, 2019|access-date=April 12, 2019}}
| 15 |
| {{single chart|Slovakdigital2|93|year=2019|week=15|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 16, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UK|59|date=20190412|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 13, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|26|artist=Nipsey Hussle|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 16, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|11|artist=Nipsey Hussle|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 16, 2019}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 6, 2019}}
| 71 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Nipsey Hussel|title=Racks in the Middle|award=Platinum|relyear=2019|certyear=2020|access-date=November 11, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Nipsey Hussle feat. Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy|title=Racks in the Middle|award=Gold|relyear=2019|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=December 28, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Nipsey Hussle|title=Racks in the Middle|award=Platinum|relyear=2019|certyear=2019|access-date=January 24, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Nipsey Hussle}}
{{Roddy Ricch}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
Category:Songs written by Nipsey Hussle
Category:Songs written by Roddy Ricch
Category:Songs written by Hit-Boy