| "Best Friend" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| SinglebySaweetie featuring Doja Cat | ||||
| from the album Pretty Bitch Music | ||||
| Released | January 7, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | 2020 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:35 | |||
| Label |
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| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) | ||||
| Saweetie singles chronology | ||||
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| Doja Cat singles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
Cover art for Stefflon Don remix. The remixes EP also uses this cover art, but with "Remix EP" or "Remix EP (Expanded Edition)" on the bottom-right corner of the "Best Friend" text.
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| Music video | ||||
| "Best Friend"onYouTube | ||||
"Best Friend" is a song by American rapper Saweetie featuring fellow American rapper and singer Doja Cat, released on January 7, 2021 as the third single from Saweetie's upcoming debut studio album Pretty Bitch Music.[1][2][3][4] The song was written by the two performers along with Asia Smith, Kaine, Theron Thomas, and producers Dr. Luke and Rocco Did It Again!.
The song's first official remix features vocals from British rapper Stefflon Don,[5] while the second features Chinese rapper VaVa.[6] A third, with New Zealand rapper JessB and Australian singer Okenyo,[7] a fourth, with South Korean singer Jamie and South Korean/Japanese rapper Chanmina,[8] and fifth, with German rapper Katja Krasavice,[9] were also released.[10] The latter debuted at number one in Germany, becoming the first number-one single there for both Saweetie and Doja Cat. The single also won Saweetie her first Video Music Award for Best Art Direction. The song also received a nomination for Best Rap Song at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
On December 4, 2020, "Best Friend" was released prematurely on streaming platforms.[11] Saweetie later took to social media to express her disappointment in her record label, Warner Records, in regards to handling the release.[12][13][14] She stated: "I am extremely disappointed in my label WBR for prematurely releasing a single I was so excited about. I feel disrespected. I'm hands on with ALL of my creative & had such a dope rollout for 'best friends'. The thirst for clout & $ is real & it overrides the artists' art." The single was later taken off streaming services the following day.[15] "Best Friend" was then officially released on January 7, 2021 for digital download and streaming.[2][16] The track was sent to both contemporary hit radio and rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on January 12, 2021.[17][18]
The hip hop song was described as a "danceable",[19] "club-ready",[2] and "fun, uptempo record that celebrates friendship."[19] Lyrically, the rappers highlight and hype up each other's beauty, success, independence, wealth, and loyalty.[20][19]
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitchfork | The 100 Best Songs of 2021 | 54 | [21] |
Filmed in November 2020, The Dave Meyers directed music video was released alongside the song on January 7, 2021.[20] The video consists of Saweetie and Doja Cat in various settings including driving and posing in front of a bedazzled Tesla as well as jumping off of a cliff into the ocean.[22] The video also features an appearance from Canadian comedian King Bach.[23] Althea Legaspi of Rolling Stone noted that they call out misogyny and celebrate camaraderie in the music video.[2][4] Upon release, Saweetie was accused of stealing the concept of the music video from "BFF" by R&B duo Ceraadi.[24] As of June 2024, the music video has reached 300 million views on YouTube.
The song was used in the official trailers for the 2022 Disney+ film Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers.
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[54] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[55] | 3× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV)[56] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[57] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[58] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | January 7, 2021 |
|
Original |
|
[59] |
| United States | January 12, 2021 | Contemporary hit radio | Warner | [17] | |
| Rhythmic contemporary | [18] | ||||
| Various | March 5, 2021 |
|
Stefflon Don remix |
|
[5] |
| March 19, 2021 | Remixes[a] | [60] | |||
| April 23, 2021 | [61] |
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