"Champions" was first aired on Big Boy 's 92.3.[2] Kanye West later released the song as the first single from Cruel Winter . The single was untitled at the time, with "Round and Round" and "Champions" being used as working titles.[3] [4] It was officially released to iTunes on June 12, 2016.[5]
Critical reception
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The song was placed at number 49 on Complex 's list of 2016's best songs.[6]
Chart performance
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Freestyle video
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Teyana Taylor released a video of her freestyling over the track on September 6, 2016.[10] The video is a stop-motion clip that sees Taylor covered in smeared gold paint and dancing militaristically in front of a gray backdrop.[10] It marked Taylor's first video since she starred in the music video for West's single "Fade ".[10]
Personnel
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Credits adapted from Tidal .[11]
Kanye West – vocals, production
Gucci Mane – vocals
Big Sean – vocals
2 Chainz – vocals
Travis Scott – vocals
Yo Gotti – vocals
Quavo – vocals, recording engineer
Desiigner – vocals
A-Trak – production
Lex Luger – production
Mike Dean – production, bass guitar, keyboards, drum programming, recording engineer, mixing
Fonzworth Bentley – co-production
Charlie Heat – co-production
Noah Goldstein – additional production, recording engineer
Finis "KY" White – recording engineer
Maximilian Jaeger – recording engineer
Gregg Rominiecki – recording engineer
Thomas Goff – recording engineer
William J. Sullivan – assistant recording engineer
Kez Khou – mix assistance
Certifications
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References
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^ "Kanye West releases new single, Round and Round" . DIY Mag . 3 June 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016 .
^ "The Verses on Kanye West's New Song 'Champions,' Ranked" . Inverse . 3 June 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2018 .
^ "Kanye West premieres new single with Gucci Mane, Travis Scott and more off Cruel Winter" . XXL . 3 June 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016 .
^ "Kanye West's Champions (Round and Round) feat. Desiigner, Travis Scott, Big Sean, Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz [New Song]" . HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 4, 2016 .
^ "Kanye West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo & Desiigner – Champions" . iTunes . Retrieved June 12, 2016 .
^ "Complex's Best Songs of 2016" . Complex . June 16, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2018 .
^ a b "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved June 21, 2016.
^ Mansell, Henry (June 25, 2016). "Hip Hop Single Sales: Drake, Desiigner & Beyoncé" . HipHopDX . Retrieved June 30, 2016 .
^ "Gold & Platinum - Kanye West - Champions" . RIAA . Retrieved April 15, 2018 .
^ a b c Blistein, Jon (September 6, 2016). "Watch Teyana Taylor Wearing Only Gold Paint in 'Champions' " . Rolling Stone . Retrieved May 14, 2019 .
^ "Champions / Kanye West" . Tidal. Retrieved March 12, 2019 .
^ "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved June 21, 2016.
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 17, 2016.
^ Chart Log UK: "CLUK Update 18.06.2016 (wk24)" . UK Singles Chart . Zobbel.de. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
^ "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved June 21, 2016.
^ "Danish single certifications – Kanye West feat. Desiigner, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Gucci Mane, Quavo, Yo Gotti – Champions" . IFPI Danmark . Retrieved October 8, 2022 .
^ "British single certifications – West/Gucci Mane/Big Sean – Champions" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 16, 2022 .
^ "American single certifications – Kanye West – Champions" . Recording Industry Association of America .
External links
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