Paranoia (Pop Smoke song)

"Paranoia" is a song by American rapper Pop Smoke, featuring fellow American rappers Gunna and Young Thug, from the deluxe version of the former's posthumous debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (2020). The song was written by Pop Smoke, Gunna, Young Thug, 808Melo, and Keven Wolfsohn and Paul Goller, who are credited under The Elements. The song was solely produced by The Elements while 808Melo provided additional production.
The original version of the song was supposed to be released on the standard edition of Pop Smoke's album and feature American rapper Pusha T. The latter later demanded record executive Steven Victor he wanted to be removed from the song after Gunna and Young Thug found out he was dissing Canadian rapper Drake in his verse.
Background and release
"Paranoia" was first discovered after it was leaked online. It originally suppose to feature American rappers Gunna, Young Thug, and Pusha T, and be released on the standard edition of Pop Smoke's posthumous debut studio album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (2020). The song ended up not being put on the standard edition of the album due to a glitch. Pusha T later demanded record executive Steven Victor he wanted to be taken off the track after Gunna and Young Thug found out he disses Canadian rapper Drake in his verse. Young Thug wrote on Instagram that he and Gunna did not approve of his verse and that if they knew about it sooner they would have made changes on their behalf. "Paranoia" was released on the deluxe version of Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, as the 29th track on July 20, 2020, with Pusha T removed from it. The song was written by Pop Smoke, Gunna, Young Thug, 808Melo, and Keven Wolfsohn and Paul Goller, who are credited under The Elements. The song was solely produced by The Elements while 808Melo provided additional production. In the unreleased version of "Paranoia" with Pusha T, he references a 2018 incident in which multiple people rushed to the stage during a show he was performing in Toronto, accusing Drake of inciting it: "You know reality bites/It's chess not checkers/Those empty threats only sound good on your records/If the patois is not followed by blocka/It's like marked for death Screwface, without the choppa/Let 'em rush the stage when you made like Sinatra." He also references moving to Mississauga, Drake's hometown, and disses his song-based adoptions of different accents: "Only to find the blade, flyin' back through LaGuardia/I might even buy a home out in Mississauga/ On my walls, half scrawls of Tshabalala's/Many doors, that are sprawled, they my il nana's/Make a call, she gon' crawl, Bad Gyal Patra/I'm involved then absolved, I am Godfather, hush."
Mitch Findlay, writing for HotNewHipHop stated even "without the controversial Pusha verse. It remains an enjoyable melodic vibe nonetheless, another new testament to Pop Smoke's versatility".
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.
*Pop Smoke vocals, songwriter
*Gunna vocals, songwriter
*Young Thug vocals, songwriter
*The Elements production, programming, vocal engineer, songwriter
*808Melo additional production, programming, songwriter
*Jess Jackson mastering engineer, mixing engineer
*Robert Ulsh engineer
*A. "Bainz" Bains vocal engineer
*Florian "Flo" Ongonga vocal engineer
*Rose Adams assistant mixing engineer
*Sage Skolfield assistant mixing engineer
*Sean Solymar assistant mixing engineer

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu