Sprinter (song) Last updated February 12, 2025
2023 single by Dave and Central Cee
"Sprinter " is a song by British rappers Dave and Central Cee . The single was released 1 June 2023 through record labels Neighbourhood and Live Yours,and was included on the artist's collaborative EP Split Decision ,released four days later. The song's instrumental has been characterized as a "guitar -led,subtle drill " beat with Latin influence. [ 2] [ 3]
Sprinter debuted at number one in the UK Singles Chart ,becoming Dave's third number-one single and Central Cee's first. The single became the longest-running number-one rap song in the UK,holding the position for 10 weeks. [ 4] It also topped the charts in Australia,Ireland,Luxembourg,New Zealand and Switzerland. Sprinter was ultimately the most streamed song on Spotify in the United Kingdom in 2023. [ 5] By April 2024 it was the most streamed UK rap song of all time. [ 6]
The work won the PRS for Music Most Performed Work Ivor Novello Award on Thursday 23 May 2024. [ 7]
Background The song was first teased by Cee on his Instagram stories on 18 March 2023,revealing that Dave had just sent him an audio file. [ 8] They were also spotted in the studio together on 10 May. [ 9]
Sprinter marks only the second time the two have teamed up on a song,the last one being a remix of "Spirit Bomb" (2016) by AJ Tracey . [ 10] Additionally,Dave helped produce the song "End of the Beginning" on the 23 mixtape in 2022. [ 11]
Composition "Sprinter" sees the rappers trading "laid-back" verses over a "Latin -tinged,summer-ready" [ 3] beat characterised by "chopped-up acoustic guitars and wordless operatic vocals". [ 12]
David Renshaw of The Fader thought the track was distinguished by "bright wordplay and good vibes",while the lyrics talk about the "age-old problem" of partying with too many girls that a whole van is needed to transport them. [ 13] Robin Murray of Clash opined that the song "sits somewhere between drill and broader UK rap flavours" and allows the rappers "to do their thing". [ 14]
Music video The music video,released on 2 June,switches between London and South France . Scenes in Monaco were filmed in late May 2023. [ 15] The video features a cameo by Nigerian artist Slawn. [ 8] The rappers are seen showcasing the perks of their lifestyle,showing off diamonds and other valuables. [ 16]
"Sprinter" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart ,marking the biggest opening week of the year. [ 17] The track opened with 108,200 chart units in its first tracking week alongside 13.4 million streams,the biggest week of streams for a rap single ever in UK history. [ 17] [ 18] [ 19] By December 2023,Sprinter had received over 500 million streams on Spotify. [ 20]
The track peaked at number one in Australia after selling 13,000 units in its first tracking week. [ 21] [ 22] The track also peaked at number one in Ireland,Luxembourg,New Zealand and Switzerland. In the United Arab Emirates ,the song peaked at number 11. [ 23]
In the United States,the song peaked in the top ten of the Billboard Global 200 and the U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. [ 24] In Canada,"Sprinter" debuted at number five on the Canadian Hot 100 on 17 June 2023,becoming the highest peaking British hip hop single of all time,surpassing M.I.A. 's 2008 song,"Paper Planes " which reached number seven.
Reception and legacy The song was declared "song of the summer" for 2023 by UK Charts . [ 25] In August 2023,a video of American rapper J. Cole rapping along to Sprinter at record producer T-Minus ' wedding went viral on social media. [ 26] Former U.S. President Barack Obama included the song on his annual playlist,which was released in December 2023. [ 27] At the MOBO Awards 2024 ,"Sprinter" won the award for best song. [ 28] At the 2024 Global Awards "Sprinter" was nominated for Best Song. [ 29]
References ↑ Dave And Central Cee’s ‘Sprinter’ Takes the Lead In U.K. Chart Race Billboard ↑ Rouhani, Neena; Lee, Cydney (5 June 2023). "R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Dave, Toosii, CHIKA & More" . Billboard . Retrieved 22 February 2024 . 1 2 Stickler, Jon (2 June 2023). "Dave And Central Cee Team Up For New Single Sprinter" . Stereoboard . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ Brandle, Lars (7 August 2023). "Dave and Central Cee's 'Sprinter' Snags U.K. Chart Record" . Billboard . Retrieved 12 September 2023 . ↑ "In 2023, "Sprinter" was the UK's biggest and best export" . British GQ . 19 December 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ↑ " 'Sprinter' by Dave and Central Cee is now the most streamed UK rap song of all time" . X . 27 April 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2025 . ↑ Brown, Anna (23 May 2024). "Winners of The Ivors with Amazon Music announced" . The Ivors Academy . Retrieved 28 May 2024 . 1 2 A., Aron (2 June 2023). "Central Cee & Dave's Highly Anticipated Single "Sprinter" Is Here" . Rolling Stone UK . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ Keith, James (1 June 2023). "Dave & Central Cee Reveal Hotly-Anticipated Visuals For "Sprinter" " . Complex . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ "Dave & Central Cee 'Sprinter' lyrics meaning revealed" . Capital Xtra . 2 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ "Dave and Central Cee have too much of a good thing on "Sprinter" " . The FADER . Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ↑ Breihan, Tom (2 June 2023). "Central Cee & Dave – "Sprinter" " . Stereogum . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ Renshaw, David (2 June 2023). "Dave and Central Cee have too much of a good thing on "Sprinter" " . The Fader . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ Murray, Robin (2 June 2023). "It's Here! Central Cee, Dave Spar On 'Sprinter' " . Clash . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ A., Aron (2 June 2023). "Central Cee & Dave's Highly Anticipated Single "Sprinter" Is Here" . HotNewHipHop . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . ↑ Okon, Wongo (1 June 2023). "Dave And Central Cee's Opulent 'Sprinter' Video Weighs The Pros And Cons Of Their Playboy Lifestyles" . Uproxx . Retrieved 3 June 2023 . 1 2 "Record Breaker! Dave & Central Cee debut at Number 1 with Sprinter: Duo land biggest streaming week for any rap song in UK chart history" . Official Charts Company . 9 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 . ↑ "Dave and Central Cee: Sprinter scores a record-breaking number one" . BBC News . 9 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 . ↑ "Dave And Central Cee Sprint to U.K. Chart Title, Set Streaming Record" . Billboard . 12 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 . ↑ Coste, Jonathan (7 December 2023). "Taylor Swift announced as the most streamed artist of 2023 by Spotify" . Birmingham Eastside . Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ↑ "Dave & Central Cee Spend Second Week At #1 With 'Sprinter' " . The Music . 19 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 . ↑ "Kerser, Dave & Central Cee Lead Australia's Charts" . Billboard . 30 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 . ↑ "This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20: from 15/09/2023 to 21/09/2023" . International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . 15 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023 . ↑ "Stormzy & Fredo eye highest new entry on the Official Singles Chart, Dave & Central Cee sprinting for full month at Number 1" . Official Charts Company . 25 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 . ↑ Glynn, Paul (8 September 2023). "Dave and Central Cee track Sprinter named UK song of summer 2023" . Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ↑ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (14 August 2023). "J. Cole Turns Up To Nicki Minaj & Central Cee At T-Minus' Wedding" . HipHopDX . Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ↑ "Dave, Central Cee and Victoria Monét Make It Onto Barack Obama's 2023 Playlist" . Hypebeast . 29 December 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben; Vinter, Robyn (7 February 2024). "Mobo awards 2024: Central Cee tops winners thanks to megahit Sprinter" . The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 February 2024 . ↑ "The Global Awards 2024: Full list of nominees & how to vote" . Capital XTRA . 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024 . ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved 9 June 2023. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart" . Australian Recording Industry Association . 12 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023 . ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40 . Retrieved 21 June 2023. ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50 . Retrieved 18 June 2023. ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in French). Ultratop 50 . Retrieved 20 August 2023. ↑ "Dave Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023. ↑ "Dave Chart History (Croatia Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023 . ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 30. týden 2023 in the date selector . Retrieved July 31, 2023. ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . Tracklisten . Retrieved 14 June 2023. ↑ "Dave, Central Cee: Sprinter" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat . Retrieved 14 August 2023. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 35, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 4 September 2023 . ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 9 June 2023. ↑ "Dave Chart History (Global 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista . Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 13 July 2023. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista . Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 15 June 2023. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 June 2023. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 30" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 29 July 2023 . ↑ "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 30. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian). LAIPA . 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023 . ↑ "The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Dave" . The Official Lebanese Top 20 . 12 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023 . ↑ "2023 30-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA . 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023 . ↑ "Dave Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023 . ↑ "This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20: from 16/06/2023 to 22/06/2023" . theofficialmenachart.com . International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023 . ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 2023 " (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 15 July 2023. ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in Dutch). Single Top 100 . Retrieved 1 July 2023. ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . Top 40 Singles . Retrieved 10 June 2023. ↑ "Singel 2023 uke 24" . VG-lista . Retrieved 17 June 2023 . ↑ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 21.07.2023–27.07.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS . Retrieved 3 August 2023 . ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . AFP Top 100 Singles . Retrieved 30 June 2023. ↑ "Dave Chart History (Romania Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved 21 June 2023 . ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 30. týden 2023 in the date selector . Retrieved 31 July 2023. ↑ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10 Week 23-2023" . The Official South African Charts . Retrieved 27 May 2024. ↑ "Top 40 – 14 sept T/M 21 sept 2023" [ Top 40 – September 14 to September 21, 2023] (in Dutch). Nationale Top 40 Suriname . 21 September 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2024 . ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . Singles Top 100 . Retrieved 2 September 2023. ↑ "Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . Swiss Singles Chart . Retrieved 11 June 2023. ↑ "UAE: 2023 - W39 - 09/22 to 09/28" . The Official MENA Chart . International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 June 2024 . ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 June 2023. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 June 2023. ↑ "Dave Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved 3 August 2023. ↑ "Dave Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved 3 August 2023. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart for 2023" . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 12 January 2024 . ↑ "Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2023: Singles" . Ö3 Austria Top 40. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023 . ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch). Ultratop . Retrieved 7 January 2024 . ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2023" . Billboard . Retrieved 22 November 2023 . ↑ "Track Top-100 2023" . Hitlisten . Retrieved 13 January 2024 . ↑ "Jahrescharts 2023" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 10 December 2023 . ↑ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2023" . Billboard . Retrieved 22 November 2023 . ↑ "Single Top 100 - digitális és fizikai értékesítés alapján - 2023" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024 . ↑ "TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – 2023" . plotutidindi.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 January 2024 . ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2023" . dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 January 2024 . ↑ "Top Selling Singles of 2023" . Recorded Music NZ . Archived from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023 . ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 2023" . Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 18 January 2024 . ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2023" . hitparade.ch . Retrieved 31 December 2023 . ↑ Griffiths, George (29 December 2023). "The Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2023" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 29 December 2023 . ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023" . Billboard . Retrieved 23 November 2023 . ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Hip Hop/R&B Singles for 2024" . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 14 January 2025 . ↑ "End of Year Singles Chart – 2024" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 1 January 2025 . ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 30 March 2024 . ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2023" . Ultratop . Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2023 . ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Dave – Sprinter" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 16 August 2024 . ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Dave – Sprinter" . Music Canada . Retrieved 5 November 2024 . ↑ "Danish single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . IFPI Danmark . Retrieved 18 October 2023 . ↑ "French single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved 4 July 2024 . ↑ "Italian single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 30 October 2023 . ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Dave and Central Cee – Sprinter" . Radioscope. Retrieved 4 January 2025 . Type Sprinter in the "Search:" field. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 May 2024 . Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Sprinter in the search box. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved 8 January 2024 . ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Dave / Central Cee – Sprinter" . El portal de Música . Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 16 January 2024 . ↑ "British single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 January 2024 . ↑ "American single certifications – Dave, Central Cee – Sprinter" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 21 September 2024 . ↑ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 24/2024" (in Greek). IFPI Greece . Retrieved 21 July 2024 .
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