Sinister (song)
{{Short description|2021 single by Cordae featuring Lil Wayne}}
{{Infobox single
| name = Sinister
| cover = Cordae - Sinister.jpg
| type = single
| artist = Cordae
| album = From a Birds Eye View
| released = December 3, 2021
| recorded = 2021
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 2:28
| label = {{hlist|Atlantic|Art@War|Hi-Level}}
| writer = {{hlist|Cordae Dunston|Dwayne Carter, Jr.|Chauncey Hollis|Rafael Brown}}
| producer = {{hlist|Hit-Boy|Audio Anthem ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}
| prev_title = Super
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Chronicles
| next_year = 2022
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Lil Wayne
| type = single
| prev_title = Ya Dig
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Sinister
| year = 2021
| next_title = Thought I Was Gonna Stop (Remix)
| next_year = 2022
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|9VYj6CFnO08|"Sinister"}}}}
}}
"Sinister" is a song by American rapper Cordae, released on December 3, 2021, as the second single from his second studio album From a Birds Eye View (2022). It features American rapper Lil Wayne and was produced by Hit-Boy, with co-production from Audio Anthem.
Composition
In the chorus, Cordae raps about his plan of staying in the rap game for at least 20 years, and shouts out to Hit-Boy as well.{{cite web |last1=Lavin |first1=Will |title=Cordae recruits Lil Wayne for lyrically charged new single 'Sinister' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/cordae-recruits-lil-wayne-for-lyrically-charged-new-single-sinister-3110846 |website=NME |access-date=December 26, 2022 |date=December 3, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=DeVille |first1=Chris |title=Cordae – "Sinister" (Feat. Lil Wayne) |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2169594/cordae-sinister-feat-lil-wayne/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=December 26, 2022 |date=December 3, 2022}} Toward the end of the song, Lil Wayne raps his verse, using "dizzying wordplay".
Critical reception
Jon Powell of Revolt wrote that the song sees Cordae "bringing some of his hardest bars to date".{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Jon |title=Cordae recruits Lil Wayne for "Sinister" |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2021-12-03/130308/cordae-lil-wayne-sinister/ |website=Revolt |access-date=December 26, 2022 |date=December 3, 2021}} Wongo Okon of Uproxx commented that both rappers "strike fire for an impressive lyrical onslaught."{{cite web |last1=Okon |first1=Wongo |title=Cordae And Lil Wayne Lead A Well-Orchestrated Revolution In Their Video For 'Sinister' |url=https://uproxx.com/music/cordae-lil-wayne-sinister/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=December 26, 2022 |date=December 3, 2021}}
Live performances
On January 11, 2022, Cordae performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon along with "Chronicles".{{cite web |title=Cordae: Sinister / Chronicles |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UdBptc_Brk |website=YouTube |access-date=December 26, 2022 |date=January 11, 2022}}
Music video
The music video was directed by Edgar Esteves, and references the Black Panther Party. In it, Cordae and Lil Wayne lead a "revolution" of bringing about the success of Cordae's own record label Hi-Level.{{cite web |last1=Caraan |first1=Sophie |title=Cordae and Lil Wayne Join Forces on New Single "Sinister" |url=https://hypebeast.com/2021/12/cordae-lil-wayne-sinister-music-video |website=Hypebeast |access-date=December 26, 2022 |date=December 3, 2021}} Cordae plays the role of an activist, while Lil Wayne is a guest speaker.{{cite web |last1=Elibert |first1=Mark |title=Cordae & Lil Wayne Usher In The 'HI LEVEL' Movement in Music Video For 'Sinister' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.66265/title.cordae-and-lil-wayne-drop-new-music-video |website=HipHopDX |access-date=December 26, 2022 |date=December 3, 2022}} The two stand in front of a group of their followers as leaders.
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Sinister" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2021-12-10|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=December 13, 2021|access-date=December 26, 2022}}
| 40 |
|---|