No Idea (song)

"No Idea"
Single by Don Toliver
from the album Heaven or Hell
ReleasedMay 29, 2019 (2019-05-29)
Length2:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Don Toliver singles chronology
"Best You Had"
(2019) 		"No Idea"
(2019) 		"Situation"
(2019)
Music video
"No Idea" on YouTube

"No Idea" is a song by American rapper and singer Don Toliver. It was released by Cactus Jack Records, Atlantic Records, and We Run It Entertainment on May 29, 2019, as the lead single from Toliver's debut studio album, Heaven or Hell (2020). It was produced by WondaGurl and Cubeatz. The song gained popularity in December 2019 after going viral on video sharing app TikTok.[1]

Background

Don Toliver first gained prominence in 2018, after being featured on Travis Scott's Astroworld album, on the track "Can't Say". The song was later certified platinum and Toliver appeared as a supporting act on both legs of the Astroworld tour.[2] He released his second mixtape Donny Womack (named after his alter-ego) the same month as the release of Astroworld, August 2018. He returned with "No Idea" in May 2019. The song gained popularity on the video-sharing app TikTok and rapidly started climbing charts thereafter.[1] Toliver described the song as "the first chapter, the introduction, the real introduction to the chapter [of a new project]".[2]

Composition

"No Idea" sees Don Toliver reference his alter-ego, Donny Womack (inspired by late R&B artist Bobby Womack). Heran Mamo of Billboard magazine described Toliver's vocals as "soulful, gaseous moans", noting the lyrics for containing "the roots of Southern rap".[3] The song consists of a "dark, slinking beat",[2] with Toliver delivering a "refreshing falsetto" during the chorus.[4]

Toliver spoke to Complex about the concept of the song:

"'No Idea' is just basically like another universe for Womack, you know what I'm saying? Coming straight off of the Astroworld trip and Donny Womack, it especially feels like another universe. Just me kind of expressing my thoughts on where I'm at right now and touching back on events in the past, as well."[2]

Critical reception

Frazier Tharpe of Complex magazine said the song is "everything you want from a Don Toliver song", complimenting the "earworm melodies" and Toliver's ability to showcase his growing talents as a writer.[2] Nada Mesh of HotNewHipHop noted how the "dark trappy vibes of the beat" complement Toliver's rapping, described as "effortless flows".[4]

Music video

The music video was also released on May 29, 2019, and directed by Grant Singer.[5] Toliver described the theme of the video: "I'm basically going back down a memory lane type situation, and it kind of fast forwards to right now [2019]. When you listen to the song, and as you get deep into it, you start to figure out. I'm kind of ranting on what's going on right now, you know?"[2]

TikTok dance

Over 8 million videos have been made on TikTok using the song, with over 6 billion plays as of June 2020.[6] Popular TikTok users like Charli D'Amelio, who was the most-followed individual on the platform at the time,[7] helped to popularize the song on the platform. These videos usually consist of users dancing to a snippet of the song. It was the top TikTok song for December 2019.[8]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[36] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[37] 2× Platinum 80,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[38] 4× Platinum 320,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[39] Gold 45,000‡
France (SNEP)[40] Platinum 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[41] Gold 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[42] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[43] Platinum 20,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[44] Platinum 10,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[47] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 29, 2019
[48]
United States February 4, 2020
[49]

References

  1. ^ a b Lambert, Chris (December 14, 2019). "Don Toliver And 'No Idea'—Houston To TikTok To Billboard's Hot 100". Forbes. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Tharpe, Frazier (May 29, 2019). "Don Toliver Is Back, and He's Ready to Show a New Side to the World". Complex. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  3. ^ Mamo, Heran (December 10, 2019). "Here Are the Lyrics to Don Toliver's 'No Idea'". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Mesh, Nadia (May 29, 2019). "Don Toliver's "No Idea" Displays Jagged Late Night Memories In Accompanying Visuals". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Don Toliver Returns with 'Can't Feel My Legs'". BroadwayWorld. December 16, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  6. ^ "Tiktometer - No Idea by Don Toliver". tiktometer.com. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  7. ^ "Charli D'Amelio has officially become the most followed creator on TikTok". Business Insider. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  8. ^ "Tiktometer". December 28, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Don Toliver – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Don Toliver. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  10. ^ "Don Toliver – No Idea". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  11. ^ "Don Toliver – No Idea" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  12. ^ "Don Toliver – No Idea" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  13. ^ "Don Toliver Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  14. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 02. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  15. ^ "Top Singles (Week 2, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  16. ^ "Don Toliver – No Idea" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  17. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  18. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 50. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  21. ^ "Don Toliver – No Idea" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  22. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 23, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 1, 2020". VG-lista. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  24. ^ "Don Toliver – No Idea". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  25. ^ Arvunescu, Victor (January 13, 2020). "Top Airplay 100 - An nou acelasi hit!" [Top Airplay 100 – New year same hit!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  26. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 02. týden 2020 in the date selector. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  27. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 2". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  28. ^ "Don Toliver – No Idea". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  29. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  30. ^ "Don Toliver Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "Don Toliver Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  32. ^ "Don Toliver Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  34. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  35. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  36. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  37. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  38. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea". Music Canada. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  39. ^ "Danish single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  40. ^ "French single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  41. ^ "Italian single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  42. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea". Radioscope. Retrieved January 26, 2025. Type No Idea in the "Search:" field.
  43. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  44. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  45. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  47. ^ "American single certifications – Don Toliver – No Idea". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  48. ^ "No Idea by Don Toliver on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  49. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.