Just Wanna Rock

Last updated

"Just Wanna Rock"
Lil Uzi Vert - Just Wanna Rock.png
Single by Lil Uzi Vert
from the album Pink Tape
ReleasedOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)
Recorded2022
Genre
Length2:03
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lil Uzi Vert singles chronology
"Lunchroom"
(2022)		"Just Wanna Rock"
(2022)		"The End"
(2023)
Music video
"Just Wanna Rock" on YouTube

"Just Wanna Rock" is a song by American rapper Lil Uzi Vert. It was released as the lead single for their third studio album, Pink Tape (2023), through Atlantic Records and Generation Now on October 17, 2022. They previously teased it on the video-sharing app TikTok, where the song gained over 500 million views prior to its release. Written by Lil Uzi Vert alongside American record producers MCVertt and Synthetic, the song incorporates elements of dance, hip house, and Jersey club.

Contents

"Just Wanna Rock" received positive reception from music critics, who often praised its production and incorporation of Jersey club. The song was a commercial success in several countries, peaking at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and charted within the top-40 in Canada, Ireland, Hungary, and New Zealand. It also peaked within the top 30 of the Billboard Global 200. A music video, featuring cameos from AMP members Kai Cenat and Fanum, Philadelphia rapper 2Rare, and Drew Jeeezy, was released on November 18, 2022. Jeeezy, who also choreographed the video, helped popularize the dance associated with the song.

During the entirety of her Renaissance World Tour, Beyoncé incorporated "Just Wanna Rock" during a dance break while performing "Diva". [2]

Background and release

Before the release of "Just Wanna Rock", Lil Uzi Vert had previewed the song on TikTok, posting snippets of it to their account. [3] These snippets would go viral, with user-created videos featuring the song earning a collective 500 million views in the next three weeks. [3] [4] Due to its success, the song would be officially released on October 17, 2022. Its release followed Lil Uzi Vert's Red & White EP, which was released in July 2022. [3] "Just Wanna Rock" was later included on their third studio album, Pink Tape (2023), featuring as its fifteenth track. [5]

Composition and lyrics

"Just Wanna Rock" is an uptempo Jersey club and hip house song. [6] It sees "Uzi chanting frantically over a synthy, queasy high-BPM beat". [3] The song includes a heavy beat with one short verse and a chorus that is barely above a whisper. [7]

Critical reception

"Just Wanna Rock" received positive reception from music critics. Eddie Fu of Consequence wrote that "Uzi made a clear effort to pay proper homage to Jersey club", pointing out that they enlisted MCVertt to produce it. [6] For Stereogum , Tom Breihan opined that "The track squirms and hammers, and it's oddly catchy in its own way. Time will tell if this marks a full Lil Uzi Vert reinvention or if [they're] just messing around with the sound for now, but it's worth remembering that Lil Uzi Vert comes from Philadelphia and that Philly is right next to Jersey." [3] The Fader 's Raphael Helfand called it "a change of pace for Uzi," noting it as "uncharacteristically brief and bare bones, featuring only one quick verse and a hook delivered just above a whisper." [7] Sophie Caraan of Hypebeast wrote that "'70s synths straight out of a thriller/slasher film and a pulsating bass drum [give] the rapper the sonic space to be more dynamic and experimental with [their] sound." [8]

At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, "Just Wanna Rock" was nominated for Best Rap Song, but ultimately lost to "Scientists & Engineers" by Killer Mike. [9]

Music video

Background

The song's music video began filming on November 2, 2022, in New York City. [10] Lil Uzi Vert held a flash mob in the city's SoHo, Manhattan neighborhood, [10] drawing the attention of fans to feature in the video. [11] Kenna McCafferty of Paper described the event as a shutdown of the city, writing that it "drew the city's best dancers, the crew's most avid fans and the niche-est micro-influencers around for a chance to Jersey Rock with the Philly-raised rapper." [11] The video was released on November 18, 2022, and was directed Gibson Harazard, who has worked with Lil Uzi Vert in the past. It features cameos from AMP members Kai Cenat and Fanum, P rapper 2Rare, and Drew Jeeezy, who originally popularized the dance. [12]

Jeeezy, who choreographed the music video, first thought of its dance after hearing the song's original TikTok preview. He predicted that he'd go viral if he created a dance to go along with it, but didn't expect it to have any longevity. After uploading videos of himself dancing to it, Jeeezy estimates that it took roughly six hours for his dance to start gaining traction, to which he "started seeing people interact with the first of my few videos", prompting him to "just ke[ep] pushing it to where more people would see it." Afterwards, Lil Uzi Vert would contact Jeeezy on TikTok through an alternate account, trying to get his phone number so he could be featured in the official music video. He would later fly to New York to feature in and choreograph the video, which was his first time choreographing. [13] When asked about the video's dance by HipHopDX , Lil Uzi Vert said that they included the dance because "that’s how cool kids from Philly and Jersey dance, so I'm only a product of my environment. I'm just shining a light on that culture." [14]

Reception

The music video for "Just Wanna Rock" received positive reception. For XXL , C. Vernon Coleman II wrote that the video "matches the energy of the uptempo New Jersey club vibes of the vigorous single. With stunning CGI effects, heart-pumping dance sequences and a more than likely unauthorized street scene featuring thousands of extras, the vigor is unmatched." [15] McCafferty lauded the visuals as "a seamless fusion of sci-fi and club chaos", writing that both the song and its video "catches listeners in an endless loop." [11] It won Video of the Year at the 2023 XXL Awards. [15]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. [16]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Just Wanna Rock"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [41] Platinum70,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [42] 3× Platinum240,000‡
France (SNEP) [43] Gold100,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [44] Gold50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [45] Platinum30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV) [46] Gold25,000‡
Portugal (AFP) [47] Gold5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [48] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [49] 4× Platinum4,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Chow, Aaron (March 29, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert Performs "Just Wanna Rock" on 'The Tonight Show'". Hypebeast. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ Brooks, Lian (May 30, 2023). "Beyoncé's Renaissance tour setlist - all the songs to expect". Glamour UK. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Breihan, Tom (October 18, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert – "Just Wanna Rock"". Stereogum . Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  4. ↑ Callas, Brad (October 17, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert Drops "Just Wanna Rock" Track". Complex . Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  5. ↑ Mancini, Maggie (June 27, 2023). "Lil Uzi Vert to release long-awaited 'Pink Tape' album this Friday". PhillyVoice. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Fu, Eddie (October 21, 2022). "Rap Song of the Week: Lil Uzi Vert Heads to the Club on "Just Wanna Rock"". Consequence . Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Helfand, Raphael (October 17, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert shares new song "Just Wanna Rock"". The Fader . Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  8. ↑ Caraan, Sophie (October 17, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert Surprise Releases New Single "Just Wanna Rock"". Hypebeast . Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ Staff, N. P. R. (February 5, 2024). "Here are the 2024 Grammy Award winners". NPR . Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Fofana, Oumou (November 3, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert Takes Over Soho While Shooting 'Just Wanna Rock' Music Video". HOT 97. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 McCafferty, Kenna (November 18, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert's "I Just Wanna Rock" Video Shut Down SoHo - PAPER Magazine". Paper . Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ Kelly, Dylan (November 18, 2022). "Lil Uzi Vert Goes Intergalactic for "Just Wanna Rock" Music Video". Hypebeast . Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  13. ↑ Haffenden, Dayna (December 13, 2022). "Drew Jeeezy, Lil Uzi Vert's 'Just Wanna Rock' Choreographer, Talks 'Crazy Experience' Appearing in Viral Video". Complex. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ Corrine, Amber (July 25, 2023). "Lil Uzi Vert Continues To Credit Philly And New Jersey For "Just Wanna Rock" Dance". Vibe . Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Lil Uzi Vert's 'Just Wanna Rock' Wins Video of the Year for XXL Awards 2023". XXL . January 30, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ Lil Uzi Vert - Just Wanna Rock, October 17, 2022, retrieved August 19, 2025
  17. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 02. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian). LAIPA. January 11, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ "2023 7-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Dutch Single Tip 26/11/2022". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  26. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 45-2022". The Official South African Charts . Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Lil Uzi Vert Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  41. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock". Music Canada . Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  43. ↑ "French single certifications – Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  44. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  45. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock". Radioscope. Retrieved July 25, 2025.Type Just Wanna Rock in the "Search:" field.
  46. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 21, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Just Wanna Rock in the search box.
  47. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  48. ↑ "British single certifications – Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  49. ↑ "American single certifications – Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 9, 2024.
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