Wikipedia

Sorry Not Sorry (DJ Khaled song)

"Sorry Not Sorry" is a song by American record producer DJ Khaled featuring American rappers Nas and Jay-Z and American singers James Fauntleroy and Beyoncé, the last of whom is credited on the song as "Harmonies by the Hive". Released on April 30, 2021, as the tenth track from Khaled's twelfth studio album Khaled Khaled, the "luxurious" song is an unapologetic ode to their successes.

"Sorry Not Sorry"
Song by DJ Khaled featuring Nas, Jay-Z, James Fauntleroy, and Harmonies by the Hive
from the album Khaled Khaled
ReleasedApril 30, 2021
Length4:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Music video
"Sorry Not Sorry" on YouTube

The official video was released alongside the album and sees Khaled and his crew living a "lush" life at an isolated Las Vegas casino.

Background

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To celebrate the collaboration, Jay-Z curated a streaming playlist titled The Genesis that pays homage to Nas.[1] Following the song's release, Nas laughingly said he had to re-write some of his bars after being impressed by Jay's verse, however Khaled said Nas was only joking.[2] The two were previously involved in a well-documented feud, and also collaborated four times before.[3] However, "Sorry Not Sorry" was their first song together in over a decade, since 2008's "I Do It for Hip Hop" by Ludacris. They also performed together at Webster Hall in 2019.[4] Beyoncé appears on the track as "Harmonies by the Hive", a possible allusion to her fanbase, the Beyhive. With the announcement of the song, it was not immediately clear who Harmonies by the Hive was, as Khaled offered little clarity, simply stating to Apple Music: "You know what that is. I haven't seen that done like this ever".[4] It was eventually confirmed to be Beyoncé.[4][5][6]

The song marked the third time Jay-Z and Beyoncé collaborated with Khaled, following 2018's "Top Off" with Future, and 2017's "Shining"; Khaled also opened for Beyoncé on her Formation World Tour in 2016.[4] It was also DJ Khaled's second song with Nas and Jay-Z, respectively, behind "Nas Album Done" and "I Got the Keys" from Major Key.[7] Khaled said it had been a lifelong dream to get Jay-Z and Nas on a record of his.[8]

Composition

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The song contains mellow piano keys,[7][9] a languid, luxurious beat of heavy drums and "atmospheric", "symphonic" synths.[10][11] James Fauntleroy "croons" the chorus, as Nas and Jay-Z trade verses about their "humble beginnings" and successful careers. Nas delivers the first verse about his Coinbase deal, while Jay-Z raps about Japanese whiskey, intermittent fasting, being a billionaire, and his wife.[3][7] Beyoncé delivers brief backing vocals in between Jay-Z's "tricky" rhymescheme,[12] and vocalizes with Fauntleroy in the outro.[4] Vibe's Datwon Thomas wrote that the track "not only speaks of the material and monetary wealth, but the riches of seeing life with a clearer lens than their days of old".[9]

Critical reception

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Aron A. of HotNewHipHop said "'Sorry Not Sorry' remains one of the highlights off of Khaled Khaled with both Nas and Jay-Z delivering incredible verses".[2] The Source's Miss2Bees said "James Fauntleroy and the Harmonies by the Hive weaved the track together with the infectious hook".[6] Earmilk's Margaritë Camaj called the track "astounding", praising it is "nothing short of refreshing and legendary. Listening to every poetic word that Nas and Jay-Z utter is guaranteed to give you chills".[13] Vulture's Halle Kiefer said Beyoncé's "slinky 'heyyyy' [...] absolutely makes Jay-Z's verse",[14] while Rolling Stone's Jon Blistein found that her "etherial" vocals accents the track.[11] The New Yorker's Sheldon Pearce was not as enthusiastic, writing that Jay-Z and Nas "take venture-capitalist raps to new lows on 'Sorry Not Sorry', a celebratory toast that appropriates the language of the sarcastic non-apology for one-percenter consumption. The pair have rarely sounded so bored or so didactic [..]"[15]

Music video

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The music video was released along with the album, on April 30, 2021. It was directed by Hype Williams.[12] The visual shows DJ Khaled and his friends, including Nas and Jay-Z, at an empty casino, having a late-night gambling session. They are seen mainly at the blackjack table, enjoying a glamorous evening in Las Vegas and reminisce about their lives before fame.[14] The men are all dressed in tuxedos, smoking cigars.[12] Revolt's Jon Powell noted: "Elsewhere, the collaborators are spotted in front of a wall covered with foliage — a clear indication of the flowers they've continued to receive throughout their illustrious careers".[5]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Sorry Not Sorry"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[16] 48
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 65
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 80
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 30
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[20] 13
US Rolling Stone Top 100[21] 24

References

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  1. ^ Rose, Jordan (April 29, 2021). "Jay-Z Curates Playlist Dedicated to Nas". Complex. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  2. ^ a b A., Aron (May 1, 2021). "DJ Khaled Reveals Nas's Reaction To Jay-Z's "Sorry Not Sorry" Verse". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "JAY-Z & Nas Remake "Song Cry" on New DJ Khaled Cut "Sorry Not Sorry"". Okayplayer. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e Justin, Curto (April 30, 2021). "Yes, 'Harmonies by the Hive' Is Beyoncé". Vulture. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Powell, Jon (May 7, 2021). "DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, and Nas are true kings in "Sorry Not Sorry" visual". Revolt. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Miss2Bees (April 30, 2021). "Jay-Z And Nas Unapologetically Proclaim Their Thrones on DJ Khaled's "Sorry Not Sorry"". The Source. Retrieved May 11, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b c White, Dana (May 1, 2021). "Nas, Jay-Z & DJ Khaled Ball Out In Their 'Sorry Not Sorry' Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  8. ^ "Watch Nas React to Jay-Zs Verse on 'Sorry Not Sorry'". Rap-Up. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Thomas, Datwon (May 7, 2021). "Jay-Z And Nas Talk Money & Growth In DJ Khaled's "Sorry Not Sorry" VideoDatwon Thomas". Vibe. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  10. ^ McKinney, Jessica (April 30, 2021). "Best New Music This Week: Baby Keem, Morray, DJ Khaled, and More". Complex. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Jon, Blistein (April 30, 2021). "DJ Khaled, Nas, Jay-Z Hit the Casino in New 'Sorry Not Sorry'Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (April 30, 2021). "DJ Khaled Goes All-In With Jay-Z and Nas in Lush 'Sorry Not Sorry' Video". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  13. ^ Camaj, Margaritë "Magi" (April 30, 2021). "DJ Khaled, Jay-Z and Nas give us excellence in "Sorry Not Sorry" [Video]". Earmilk. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Kiefer, Halle (April 30, 2021). "DJ Khaled 'Sorry Not Sorry' He's Living Large With Jay-Z in New Video, Releases Khaled Khaled". Vulture. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  15. ^ Pearce, Sheldon (May 4, 2021). "The Empty Blockbuster Music of DJ Khaled". The New Yorker. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "DJ Khaled Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "DJ Khaled Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "DJ Khaled Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  20. ^ "DJ Khaled Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Leight, Elias (May 11, 2021). "RS Charts: Polo G Holds Number One as Billie Eilish Debuts". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
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