| "Yonkers" | ||||||||
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| Single by Tyler, The Creator | ||||||||
| from the album Goblin | ||||||||
| Released | February 14, 2011 | |||||||
| Format | Digital download | |||||||
| Recorded | 2010 | |||||||
| Genre | Alternative hip hop, hardcore hip hop | |||||||
| Length | 4:11 | |||||||
| Label | XL | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Tyler, the Creator | |||||||
| Producer | Tyler, the Creator | |||||||
| Tyler, The Creator singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Yonkers" is a song by American hip hop artist and OFWGKTA member Tyler, The Creator, released as the second single (also the lead single) from his second studio album Goblin. It was produced by Tyler, the Creator. The single was released digitally on February 14, 2011. The song received controversy due its violent lyrics and numerous "disses", although it was critically acclaimed, landing on numerous year-end lists. Tyler also directed a music video for the single, which was also met with positive critical reception, giving Tyler the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. Numerous magazine publications noted "Yonkers" as Tyler, the Creator's breakout song. [1][2]
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In the song, Tyler disses numerous artists, such as B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Hayley Williams. Tyler, the Creator also disses Mars in Game's song "Martians vs. Goblins", in which he and Lil Wayne are featured artists. In response, B.o.B released a similar diss track, entitled "No Future" that also references Tyler's group, Odd Future.[3] Ironically, Tyler praised the song, and initially did not think it was a diss track.[4] Bruno Mars, in response to the verse "stab Bruno Mars in his goddamn esophagus", said, "[Tyler] has to wait in line if he wants to stab me...[Tyler's] definitely not the first guy that's said something like that to me and he's not going to be the last."[4]
The music video for "Yonkers" was released on 10 February, 2011 on the official OFWGKTA Youtube channel.
The video is shot in black-and-white using a Perspective control lens. The video features Tyler handling and eating a cockroach and vomiting. The word Kill is seen on his hand along with an upside-down cross. It concludes with Tyler placing a noose around his neck and hanging himself.[5] Tyler made an extended version to the song which consist of Tyler hanging himself (like at the end of the video) and his white alter ego, Wolf Haley, takes over the body and cuts himself down.
On February 23, rapper Kanye West stated on Twitter that he thought the Yonkers video was the best of 2011.[6] The video earned Tyler the Best New Artist award at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, as well as a nomination for Video of the Year (which lost to Katy Perry's "Firework".).
"Yonkers" received critical acclaim. Pitchfork awarding it with the 'Best New Music' award stating "'Yonkers' is not only the best thing any OF affiliate has produced to date, it's also the perfect distillation of what they do well."[7] The Guardian named it the third best song of 2011.[8] Claire Suddath of Time named "Yonkers" the eighth best song of 2011, describing it as "minimalistic rap" and "a piece of performance art", concluding that "'Yonkers' creates a thrilling sense of uneasiness that the music world hadn't seen since the early days of punk."[9] Pigeons and Planes named the single the twenty-first best song of 2011.[10] XXL named it the twenty-second best song of 2011, noting that "Yonkers", the single's video, and his performance of "Sandwitches" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, propelled him to stardom. [1] Rolling Stone named the song the twenty-third best single of 2011, stating that Tyler "stabs Bruno Mars and disses Jesus", although "somehow, all the bad vibes are mesmerizing." [11]
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard) | 2 |
| US Heatseekers Songs (Billboard) | 9 |
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