HBA (song)

Last updated

"HBA"
Promotional single by Playboi Carti
from the album Music
Released
Recorded2023
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Playboi Carti promotional singles chronology
"2024"
(2023)		"HBA"
(2023)		"Backr00ms"
(2024)
Music video
HBA on Instagram

"HBA" is a song by American rapper Playboi Carti. It was originally released as a promotional single exclusively through Instagram on December 20, 2023, before being officially released through AWGE and Interscope Records as the fourth track from Carti's third studio album, Music , on March 14, 2025. The song was written by Playboi Carti, alongside producers Cardo and Onokey. [1] The song's title is a reference to Hood By Air, a New York City–based clothing brand. [2]

Contents

Background and release

In 2023–2024, Playboi Carti released several snippets of upcoming music to be released in his third studio album, Music. On December 19, 2023, nearly ten days after releasing "2024" on YouTube, Playboi Carti uploaded a video to his Instagram story announcing that he would drop a new song later that night. On December 20, Playboi Carti released "H00dByAir" with accompanying visuals on Instagram; the video features appearances from Opium rappers Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson, and Homixide Gang. [3] Playboi Carti then performed "H00dByAir" live for the first time as his set-opening song, followed by other Music snippets, at the Summer Smash 2024 festival. [4]

On March 14, 2025, Playboi Carti released his third studio album, Music, and included "H00dByAir", renamed to "HBA", as the twenty-eighth song in its track listing. [5]

In the official version present on the album, several lines from the original track are muted, creating blank spaces where the instrumental plays on its own. In addition, DJ Swamp Izzo added a snare roll which is played several times throughout the song. This snare roll is also present on several other Music tracks.

Production

In the song's outro, Playboi Carti reveals that he had a second child: a daughter named Yves. [6] [7]

The official version of "HBA" includes new snare rolls added to the teased "H00dByAir" snippet. [8]

Critical reception

Rolling Stone ranked the song in twentieth place in a list of the best hip-hop songs of 2024, calling it "a distillation of Carti’s grip over the culture. The track's marauding bass and menacing drums loomed large over 2024, a beacon to Carti’s loyal horde of adoring fans." [9]

In a ranking of "loosies" released by Playboi Carti in the lead-up to Music's release in 2025, Complex placed "H00dByAir" in second place, calling it his "best pure rapping performance ... like he's in a live playground cypher, embracing Young Thug-style techniques and improvisation as he stutters, growls, and hiccups through his verses." [10]

Billboard called "HBA" the 14th best song in Music, lauding Playboi Carti's sense of personal and career reflection but criticizing the changes to the song's drum production. [8]

Pitchfork included "HBA" on their "The 100 Best Songs of 2024", ranking it at number 24 out of 100. [11]

Remixes

On July 1, 2025, American rapper JID released a remix to the song titled "32 (Freestyle)". [12]

Personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from Tidal. [13]

Musicians

Technical

Charts

Chart performance for "HBA"
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [14] 82
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA) [15] 23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [16] 52
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [17] 55
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [18] 55
Greece International (IFPI) [19] 30
Latvia (LaIPA) [20] 10
Lithuania (AGATA) [21] 23
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [22] 30
US Billboard Hot 100 [23] 48
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [24] 23

References

  1. ↑ Powell, Jon. "Playboi Carti's latest single confirms that he's now a father of two". REVOLT. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ II, C. Vernon Coleman IIC Vernon Coleman (December 20, 2023). "Playboi Carti Appears to Reveal He Has a Newborn Daughter on New Song 'H00dByAir'". XXL Mag. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Playboi Carti Seemingly Reveals He Welcomed A Baby In 'H00DByAir' Song". Uproxx. December 20, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Playboi Carti Debuts 10 Songs During Summer Smash Set". Spin. June 16, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  5. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (March 14, 2025). "Playboi Carti Releases New Album Music". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Playboi Carti Mentions Newborn Daughter Yves in "H00DBYAI..." Complex. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Playboi Carti drops surprise video for new song 'H00DByAir'". WMIX. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Saponara, Michael; Diaz, Angel (March 14, 2025). "Every Song From Playboi Carti's 'Music' Album Ranked: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  9. ↑ "The 20 Best Hip Hop Songs of 2024". Rolling Stone. December 18, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Ranking Playboi Carti's Loosies From the 'I Am Music' Era". Complex. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  11. ↑ Pitchfork (December 2, 2024). "The 100 Best Songs of 2024". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ Horvath, Zachary (July 1, 2025). "JID Announces "GDLU PRELUXE" With Fiery "32 (Freestyle)"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Credits / MUSIC - SORRY 4 DA WAIT / Playboi Carti". Tidal . Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  14. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 24 March 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1829. Australian Recording Industry Association. March 24, 2025. p. 4.
  15. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hip/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 24, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Playboi Carti Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  17. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 12. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Playboi Carti Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts − Digital Singles Chart (International) − Εβδομάδα: 12/2025" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Latvijas mūzikas topu pārņem reperis Playboi Carti; vadībā atgriežas "Sudden Lights"" [Rapper Playboi Carti takes over the Latvian music chart; Sudden Lights returns to the top] (in Latvian). TV Net  ( lv ). March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2025 12-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. March 21, 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  22. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 12. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Playboi Carti Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Playboi Carti Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
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