Scared Money

"Scared Money"
Single by YG featuring J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo
from the album I Got Issues
ReleasedFebruary 4, 2022 (2022-02-04)
GenreHip hop
Length3:24
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gibson
YG singles chronology
"Miss California"
(2021) 		"Scared Money"
(2022) 		"Run"
(2022)
J. Cole singles chronology
"Johnny P's Caddy"
(2022) 		"Scared Money"
(2022) 		"London"
(2022)
Moneybagg Yo singles chronology
"Too Hot"
(2022) 		"Scared Money"
(2022) 		"G Lock"
(2022)
Music video
"Scared Money" on YouTube

"Scared Money" is a song by American rapper YG, featuring fellow American rappers J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo. It was released through Def Jam Recordings and 4Hunnid Records as the lead single from YG's sixth studio album, I Got Issues, on February 4, 2022. The three artists wrote the song with producer Gibbo. The song was originally supposed to be released earlier, according to it being listed to impact urban contemporary radio on January 25, 2022.[1] YG announced its release date and shared its cover art on February 2, 2022.[2]

Composition and lyrics

Over the "menacing" piano-heavy instrumental of "Scared Money", YG, J. Cole, and Moneybagg Yo refer to the "scared money don't make no money" proverb.[3] YG starts the song off with the first verse, in which he states compares his shoes to American rapper Kanye West's shoes and also declares himself as the "best dressed, but I ain't no Kid Cudi". Cole appears for the second verse, in which he refers to his "budding basketball career" and references the milk crate challenge ("I was thinkin' 'bout walkin' up a stack of crates/But I was busy stackin' cake"); he also compares himself to Canadian rapper and singer Drake and mentions the fact that he has three houses in the same neighborhood. Moneybagg Yo takes the third and final verse, in which he also boasts about his expensive purchases.[4]

Critical reception

Jordan Darville of The Fader described the beat as "a close sibling" of American rapper Kendrick Lamar's 2017 single, "Humble", "from the beat's stalking piano keys to YG's more playful-than-usual flows", but "the key difference is that this one has features: J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo show up to do their things and help try and make the song feel like an event".[5] Writing for Stereogum, Tom Breihan felt that "sometimes, big-name rap collaborations feel like brand extensions that were brought up in boardrooms" and "this one feels like three rap stars out to flex on everyone else", acknowledging that "I know this isn't the best verse of J. Cole's career, but it might be the one that I've enjoyed the most".[6]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Scared Money"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 75
Global 200 (Billboard)[8] 176
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[9] 8
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 73
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 25
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[12] 5

Year-end charts

2022 year-end chart performance for "Scared Money"
Chart (2022) Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 96
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[14] 33

Certifications

Certifications for "Scared Money"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Urban/R&B Future Releases (archived)". All Access. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Grant, Shawn (February 3, 2022). "YG Announces New Single "Scared Money" Featuring J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo". The Source. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  3. ^ Bustard, Andy (February 4, 2022). "YG, J. Cole & Moneybagg Yo Pull Of Bank Heist In 'Scared Money' Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Rose, Jordan (February 4, 2022). "YG, J. Cole, and Moneybagg Yo Team Up in Video for New Song "Scared Money"". Complex. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Darville, Jordan (February 4, 2022). "YG shares new song "Scared Money" featuring J. Cole and Moneybagg Yo". The Fader. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Breihan, Tom (February 9, 2022). "Kodak Black Is Popular Again Because Nothing Matters". Stereogum. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "YG Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  8. ^ "YG Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "YG Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  11. ^ "YG Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  12. ^ "YG Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  13. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "American single certifications – YG – Scared Money". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 3, 2023.