Ghostface Killers

"Ghostface Killers"
Song by 21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin featuring Travis Scott
from the album Without Warning
ReleasedOctober 31, 2017
Length4:28
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Metro Boomin

"Ghostface Killers" is a song by Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage, American rapper Offset, and American record producer Metro Boomin featuring fellow American rapper Travis Scott. It was released on October 31, 2017 as the opening track from the former three's collaborative studio album Without Warning. The title is a reference to Ghostface Killah of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan.

Composition

Over a "sinister" beat, the song begins with Offset rapping in the chorus and first verse about his diamond jewelry and having shooters by his side, while switching his flow and using his signature triplet rhyme scheme.[1] In the second verse, 21 Savage immediately compares himself to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a joke, while rapping about how he is still hanging out with the "killers" and "gorillas" with guns.[1][2] The third verse finds Travis Scott in Auto-Tune laced vocals, referencing his drug use and being a "Nike" boy.[1]

Gary Suarez of Consequence Of Sound wrote, "While less overtly villainous than his deadpan cohort, Offset lets Savage’s sinister sensibilities rub off on him at times, particularly on opener 'Ghostface Killers'."[3]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews. Marshall Gu of Pretty Much Amazing wrote in a review of Without Warning, "And the best song comes early in 'Ghostface Killers', with an excellent rapped chorus from Offset that's been running through my head since the tape dropped and Travis Scott sounding excellent as always even if he doesn't say much anything at all."[4] Trent Clark of HipHopDX also considered "Ghostface Killers" the best track from Without Warning, adding that "The Travis Scott inclusion is an obvious draw but when you have a bridge, a chorus and layered instrumentation, it's not a coincidence the song quality can raise above mixtape level."[5]

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[6] 69
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[7] 14
Denmark (Tracklisten)[8] 37
Germany (GfK)[9] 94
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 95
Portugal (AFP)[11] 81
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[12] 76
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 40
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 60
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 35
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 14

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[17] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[19] Gold 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c Goddard, Kevin (October 31, 2017). "21 Savage & Offset Call On Travis Scott For New Metro Boomin-Produced Intro "Ghostface Killers"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  2. ^ Bromfield, Daniel (November 6, 2017). "Savage/Offset/Metro Boomin: Without Warning". Spectrum Culture. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  3. ^ Suarez, Gary (November 6, 2017). "21 Savage, Offset, and Metro Boomin – Without Warning". Consequence. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Gu, Marshall (November 15, 2017). "Reviews: Metro Boomin". Pretty Much Amazing. Archived from the original on November 16, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Clark, Trent (November 7, 2017). "21 Savage, Offset, & Metro Boomin Without Warning Album Review". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #448". auspOp. November 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  7. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  8. ^ "21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin feat. Travis Scott – Ghostface Killers". Tracklisten. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin feat. Travis Scott – Ghostface Killers" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin feat. Travis Scott – Ghostface Killers" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin feat. Travis Scott – Ghostface Killers". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  12. ^ "21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin feat. Travis Scott – Ghostface Killers". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin feat. Travis Scott – Ghostface Killers". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "21 Savage Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "Canadian single certifications – 21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin – Ghostface Killers". Music Canada. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  19. ^ "Danish single certifications – 21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin – Ghostface Killers". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  20. ^ "British single certifications – 21 Savage – Ghostface Killers". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  21. ^ "American single certifications – 21 Savage – Ghostface Killers". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 14, 2023.