Shake the Room
{{short description|2020 song by Pop Smoke featuring Quavo}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Shake the Room
| type = single
| artist = Pop Smoke featuring Quavo
| cover = File:Shaketheroom.png
| album = Meet the Woo 2
| released = March 28, 2020
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Drill
| length = 2:45
| label =
| writer =
| producer = 808Melo
| chronology = Pop Smoke
| prev_title = Ordinary
| prev_year = 2020
| next_title = Make It Rain
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Quavo
| type = single
| prev_title = Intentions
| prev_year = 2020
| title = Shake the Room
| year = 2020
| next_title = Lottery (Quavo remix)
| next_year = 2020
}}{{External music video|1={{YouTube|WoHaaOpOjqo|"Shake the Room"}}|header=Music video|type=single}}}}
"Shake the Room" is a song by American rapper Pop Smoke, featuring fellow rapper Quavo, from the former's second mixtape, Meet the Woo 2 (2020). The two artists wrote the song with its producer 808Melo. It was released as the mixtape's second single on March 28, 2020. The song was solely produced by the latter of the three. A drill track, it sees Pop Smoke and Quavo rap about someone who understands the streets.
"Shake the Room" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with several of them praising it as a highlight of the mixtape. The song peaked at number 93 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 76 on the UK Singles Chart. It was certified gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). An accompanying music video was released on March 28, 2020, and was directed by Virgil Abloh, making it Pop Smoke's first posthumous video since he was shot and killed at the age of 20. The visual features the latter and Quavo taking part in several activities in Paris; such as doing donuts in a red Ferrari.
Background and composition
The song was written by Pop Smoke, known as Bashar Jackson, alongside Quavo, who has the real name of Quavious Marshall, and 808Melo, who has the real name of Andre Loblack. The track was produced and programmed by the latter of the three. Mastering and mixing were both handled by Jess Jackson, while Corey Nutile was the song's recording engineer and Corey Nutile was credited as an assistant recording engineer. On February 7, 2020, "Shake the Room" was released as the second track on Pop Smoke's second mixtape Meet the Woo 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/meet-the-woo-vol-2-mw0003356485|title=Meet the Woo 2 – Pop Smoke|publisher=AllMusic|last=Thomas|first=Fred|access-date=November 12, 2020}} It was later released as the mixtape's second single on March 28, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://defpen.com/pop-smoke-shake-the-room-video/|title=Music Video: Pop Smoke – Shake The Room (Featuring Quavo)
|work=Def Pen|last=Shepard|first=Ryan|date=March 28, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
Writing for Revolt, Jon Powell described the song as a drill track.{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2020/3/30/21199472/pop-smoke-quavo-shake-the-room-video|title=Pop Smoke and Quavo take over Paris in 'Shake The Room' visual|publisher=Revolt|last=Powell|first=Jon|date=March 30, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Dominiq R. of HotNewHipHop said the song is "led by a harmonious vocal and bass-driven woodwind instrumentation", and that "Quavo incorporates his own patented melodies to the beat adding another layer of elements while a thunderous 808 drives the drum sequencing". He continued, commenting that Pop Smoke "kicks off the song with the chorus before Quavo takes off on the instrumental delivering bars about controlling the energy of any room he's in". He concluded, saying Quavo raps "his verse in another direction, spittin' braggadocios bars about his new-found wealth".{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/pop-smoke-and-quavo-swerve-on-new-track-shake-the-room-new-song.1986104.html|title=Pop Smoke & Quavo Swerve On New Track 'Shake The Room'|website=HotNewHipHop|last=R.|first=Dominiq|date=February 8, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Erin Lowers of Exclaim! mentioned that the song establishes "someone who understands the streets but still has a witty attitude to play with music and show his personality".{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/pop_smoke-meet_the_woo_2|title=Pop Smoke Meet the Woo 2|website=Exclaim!|last=Lowers|first=Erin|date=February 20, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
Reception
"Shake the Room" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. Writing for Pitchfork magazine, Reed Jackson described the song as "haunting" and "meditative", and said it demonstrates "[808Melo's] beatmaker's sonic growth".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/pop-smoke-meet-the-woo-vol-2/|title=Pop Smoke Meet the Woo Vol. 2|last=Jackson|first=Reed|website=Pitchfork|date=February 13, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Dhruva Balram of NME opined that Pop Smoke easily outshines Quavo on the song, and praised it as one of the mixtapes highlights.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/pay-tribute-to-the-late-great-pop-smoke-with-his-10-greatest-tracks-2612394|title=Pay tribute to the late, great Pop Smoke with his 10 best tracks|website=NME|last=Balram|first=Dhruva|date=February 20, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Writing for Billboard magazine, Michael Saponara stated "Shake the Room" was quickly "tabbed a fan-favorite off Meet the Woo 2", and that it continues to pick up steam.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8551379/pop-smoke-best-songs-list|title=Meet the Woo: 8 Songs to Remember Pop Smoke By|last=Saponara|first=Michael|magazine=Billboard|date=February 19, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Danny Schwartz of The Ringer lauded the song as the "colossal centerpiece" of Meet the Woo 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.theringer.com/2020/2/20/21145662/pop-smoke-obituary-death-welcome-to-the-party-gatti-dior|title=The Power of Pop Smoke|publisher=The Ringer|last=Schwartz|first=Danny|date=February 20, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Essence{{'s}} writer Brooklyn White viewed "Welcome to the Party", Dior", and "Shake the Room" as anthems of Brooklyn, New York.{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/articles/pop-smoke-remembrance/|title=Gone Too Soon: Pop Smoke's Reign Was Just Beginning|website=Essence|last=White|first=Brooklyn|date=December 31, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Bernadette Giacomazzo of HipHopDX commented that Pop Smoke and Quavo did "just fine" on the song, but said "there are absolutely zero reasons for these two to be in the studio together".{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3623/title.review-pop-smokes-meet-the-woo-2-is-brooklyn-strong|title=Review: Pop Smoke's 'Meet The Woo 2' Is Brooklyn Strong|website=HipHopDX|last=Giacomazzo|first=Bernadette|date=February 19, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
"Shake the Room" peaked at number 93 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 7, 2020. The song has also peaked at number 43 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It further peaked at number 98 on the Canadian Hot 100 and number 76 on the UK Singles Chart. "Shake the Room" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting track-equivalent sales and streams of 500,000 units in the United States.
Music video
=Background and synopsis=
Off-White founder and Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh reached out to Pop Smoke on Instagram for the creation of a music video for "Shake the Room".{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/03/pop-smoke-quavo-new-video-shake-the-room|title=Watch Pop Smoke and Quavo Take Over Paris in 'Shake the Room' Video|website=Complex|last=Espinoza|first=Joshua|date=March 28, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Abloh revealed on how the video for the song was created: "[Pop Smoke's] impact will live on thru the art he left us. In this case, it was the night after the [Louis Vuitton] show while we had the cameras rolling inside & outside a typical French restaurant in my neighborhood."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pop-smoke-shake-the-room-video-quavo-virgil-abloh-974810/|title=Pop Smoke Parties in Paris in Posthumous 'Shake the Room' Video With Quavo|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} The music video was released on March 28, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/pop-smoke-first-posthumous-video-shake-the-room-has-been-released-2637281|title=Pop Smoke's first posthumous video, 'Shake the Room', has been released|website=NME|last=Aubrey|first=Elizabeth|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/virgil-abloh-directs-first-pop-smoke-posthumous-video-shake-the-room|title=Virgil Abloh directs first Pop Smoke posthumous video for Quavo collaboration 'Shake The Room'|website=The Line of Best Fit|last=Kenneally|first=Cerys|date=March 30, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} It was directed by Abloh's Off-White International Rap Video Production Studio in Paris during Paris Fashion Week.{{cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/pop-smoke-shake-the-room-2645584070.html?rebelltitem=4#rebelltitem4|title=Virgil Abloh Filmed Pop Smoke's First Posthumous Video|website=Paper|last=Love|first=Michael|date=March 30, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9345747/pop-smoke-quavo-shake-the-room-music-video|title=Pop Smoke and Quavo Party Throughout Paris in New 'Shake the Room' Video: Watch|magazine=Billboard|last=Hughes|first=Hilary|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/shake-the-room-video-watch/|title=Watch The Off White Produced Video For Pop Smoke and Quavo's 'Shake the Room'|website=Highsnobiety|last=Campbell|first=Graeme|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/watch_pop_smokes_posthumous_video_for_shake_the_room_featuring_quavo|title=Watch Pop Smoke's Posthumous Video for 'Shake the Room' Featuring Quavo|website=Exclaim!|last=Murphy|first=Sarah|date=March 31, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} It marked Pop Smoke's first posthumous music video after he was shot and killed at the age of 20 during a home invasion in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/virgil-abloh-directs-pop-smoke-and-quavos-new-shake-the-room-video-watch/|title=Virgil Abloh Directs Pop Smoke and Quavo's New 'Shake the Room' Video: Watch|website=Pitchfork|last=Yoo|first=Noah|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
The video begins with an intro, reading: "This video is real life footage. This is barely a 'video shoot'."{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2020/03/29/pop-smoke-quavo-shake-the-room-video/|title=Pop Smoke and Quavo Take Over Paris In 'Shake the Room' Video: Watch|website=Rap-Up|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} It features Pop Smoke and Quavo enjoying their lives in the City of Light while driving in front of the Hôtel des Invalides. The scene then switches to them being in a fancy Parisian restaurant, with both rappers eating expensive meals and drinking wine,{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/music/pop-smoke-quavo-shake-the-room-video/|title=Pop Smoke And Quavo Live Their Best Lives In Paris In Their 'Shake The Room' Video|publisher=Uproxx|last=Okon|first=Wongo|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} while Pop Smoke blows out some candles on top of a birthday cake.{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.55193/title.watch-pop-smokes-posthumous-virgil-abloh-directed-shake-the-room-video-with-quavo#|title=Watch Pop Smoke's Posthumous Virgil Abloh-Directed 'Shake The Room' Video With Quavo|website=HipHopDX|last=Eustice|first=Kyle|date=March 30, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} They bring life to the quiet area and due to their presence, a small party happens within the restaurant.{{cite web|url=http://hiphopweekly.com/watch-pop-smoke-shake-the-room-video-ft-quavo-is-finally-here/|title=[Watch] Pop Smoke 'Shake The Room' Video Ft. Quavo Is Finally Here|website=Hip Hop Weekly|last=Bey|first=Royal|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020|archive-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213155207/http://hiphopweekly.com/watch-pop-smoke-shake-the-room-video-ft-quavo-is-finally-here/|url-status=dead}} Pop Smoke and Quavo later cause chaos in the streets of Paris as they spin around in their red Ferrari Pista, doing donuts. The video ends with the final credits cut out. It goes on for a minute, featuring a moment of silence for Pop Smoke. It has a still frame that reads: "In Loving Memory, Pop Smoke Forever".{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/3/pop-smoke-quavo-shake-the-room-music-video-off-white-international-rap-video-production-studio|title=Pop Smoke & Quavo Take Over Paris For 'Shake The Room' Visual Produced by Off-White™|website=Hypebeast|last=Li|first=Nicholas|date=March 28, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
=Critical reception=
The music video was met with positive reviews from critics. Nicholas Li of Hypebeast stated that the video mixes "lo-fi and hi-def clips with quick cuts and trippy edits". Michael Love of Paper magazine, and the staff of Rap-Up, described the visual as "grainy". Dazed writer Thom Waite labeled the clips in the video as "candid".{{cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48562/1/watch-pop-smoke-first-posthumous-video-directed-by-virgil-abloh-quavo|title=Watch Pop Smoke's first posthumous video, directed by Virgil Abloh|website=Dazed|last=Waite|first=Thom|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}} Writing for Billboard magazine, Hilary Hughes opined that Paris provides a "stunning backdrop for [Pop Smoke and Quavo]". She continued, saying "Pop Smoke and Quavo are all smiles as they trade verses on the track while hyping up themselves". L'Oréal of WQHT called the video "fast" and "fun".{{cite web|url=https://www.hot97.com/hip-hop-news/hot-news/shake-the-room-visual-with-pop-smoke-quavo-out/|title=Pop Smoke & Quavo Turn Up Paris In 'Shake The Room' Visual|publisher=WQHT|author=L'Oréal|date=March 29, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
Live performances
Quavo performed "Shake the Room" and "Aim for the Moon" live at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards in October. The rapper performed the song in a futuristic styled white room, as on video billboards outside the room's window, Pop Smoke's verses and choruses would be displayed. Quavo wore a jean jacket with "Shoot for the Stars" on the front and "Aim for the Moon" on the back while performing.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/awards/9474112/pop-smoke-quavo-2020-bet-hip-hop-awards|title=Quavo Leads Two-Song Tribute to Pop Smoke at the 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards|magazine=Billboard|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|date=October 27, 2020|access-date=November 12, 2020}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{Cite web|title=Credits / Meet the Woo 2 / Pop Smoke|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/129860719/credits|publisher=Tidal|access-date=December 30, 2020}}
- Bashar Jackson{{spaced ndash}} vocals, songwriter
- Quavious Marshall{{spaced ndash}} vocals, songwriter
- Andre Loblack{{spaced ndash}} producer, programming, songwriter
- Jess Jackson{{spaced ndash}} mixing engineer, mastering engineer
- Corey Nutile{{spaced ndash}} recording engineer
- Sage Skofield{{spaced ndash}} assistant mixing engineer
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Shake the Room" ! scope="col"| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|98|artist=Pop Smoke|rowheader=true|access-date=July 14, 2020|refname="can"}} |
| {{single chart|UK|76|date=20200710|rowheader=true|access-date=July 13, 2020|refname="uk"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|93|artist=Pop Smoke|rowheader=true|access-date=July 14, 2020|refname="bill4"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|43|artist=Pop Smoke|rowheader=true|access-date=July 14, 2020|refname="bill5"}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Shake the Room"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Pop Smoke Ft Quavo|title=Shake the Room|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=March 5, 2023|id=18762-6261-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Pop Smoke (feat. Quavo)|title=Shake the Room|award=Gold|type=single|certyear=2020|access-date=November 22, 2020|refname="UScert"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Pop Smoke}}
{{Quavo}}
Category:Songs written by Pop Smoke