Ain't It Different

"Ain't It Different"
Single by Headie One, AJ Tracey and Stormzy
from the album Edna
Released20 August 2020 (2020-08-20)
GenreDrill
Length3:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Fred
  • Michael Beinhorn
  • Toddla T
Headie One singles chronology
"Impress Me"
(2020) 		"Ain't It Different"
(2020) 		"Breathing"
(2020)
AJ Tracey singles chronology
"West Ten"
(2020) 		"Ain't It Different"
(2020) 		"Miss Me"
(2020)
Stormzy singles chronology
"Real Life"
(2020) 		"Ain't It Different"
(2020) 		"Flavour"
(2020)
Music video
"Ain't It Different" on YouTube

"Ain't It Different" is a song by British rappers Headie One, AJ Tracey and Stormzy. It was released on 20 August 2020 as the second single from Headie One's debut studio album Edna and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the highest-charting single for both Headie One and AJ Tracey. The song was nominated for the Brit Award for Song of the Year at the 2021 ceremony.

Composition

The song sees the rappers "trade assertive, straight-talking bars that touch on how life is different now to what it was back in the day when they had a lot less". It samples M-Dubs' "Bump 'n' Grind (I Am Feeling Hot Tonight)" (1999) and Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Pretty Little Ditty" (1989), the latter of which was also famously sampled by Crazy Town for their 2001 single "Butterfly". The song also interpolates Lady Saw's "No Long Talking" (1996).[1][2] Sonically, the song was described as "a slow-burning drill banger".[3]

Remix

On 25 September 2020, Australian rap collective Onefour released a remix version of the song, which they had previously teased on social media.[4] A remix with Luciano and Condcta was also released.

Music video

The accompanying music video was released on 20 August 2020 and was directed by Taz Tron Delix. It is set in three locations: a botanical garden, the back of a Benz truck, as well as the streets of London, with a Headie One statue towering over the rappers.[2]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[5] 16
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[6] 60
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[7] 16
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[8] 36
Germany (GfK)[9] 53
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 52
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[12] 4
Scotland (OCC)[13] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 65
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2020) Position
UK Singles (OCC)[16] 51

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[17] Platinum 70,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[18] Gold 15,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[19] Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Lynch, Jack (20 August 2020). "Headie One Shares "Ain't It Different" From 'Edna' f/ Stormzy and AJ Tracey". Complex. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b Darville, Jordan (20 August 2020). "Headie One enlists Stormzy and AJ Tracey for "Ain't It Different" music video". The Fader. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. ^ A., Aaron (21 August 2020). "Headie One Enlists Stormzy & AJ Tracey For "Ain't It Different"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  4. ^ Triscari, Caleb (25 September 2020). "Onefour rap alongside Headie One, Stormzy, AJ Tracey on 'Ain't It Different' remix". NME Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  11. ^ "[++Remixes+feat.+Onefour+/+Sevn+Alias+/+Conducta&cat=s Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different [+ Remixes feat. Onefour / Sevn Alias / Conducta" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  12. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  16. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  17. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Headie One ft. AJ Tracey, Stormzy & Luciano – Ain't It Different" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Danish single certifications – Headie One feat. AJ Tracey & Stormzy – Ain't It Different". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  20. ^ "British single certifications – Headie One/Aj Tracey/Stormzy – Ain't It Different". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 10 November 2020.