| "The Weekend" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Stormzy and Raye | ||||
| Released | 20 July 2023 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:26 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
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| Stormzy singles chronology | ||||
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| Raye singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Weekend" on YouTube | ||||
"The Weekend" is a song by British rapper Stormzy and singer-songwriter Raye. It was released on 20 July 2023 through Def Jam Recordings. The song marks the second collaboration between the two artists,following "Ambition",a track from Raye's 2016 EP Second . [1] [2] The song was sent to Italian radio as a radio single on 5 September 2023 through EMI Records. [3]
Written and composed by Stormzy and Raye,who also produced the song with ThisizLondon, [4] the track incorporates elements of 2000s R&B and hip-hop. [5] [6]
El Hunt of Evening Standard described Raye as a "perfect co-conspirator",praising the production for its "smooth,Noughties pop beat" with jazz and gospel influences. [7] Tom Breihan of Stereogum described Raye's vocals as "downright jazzy",while nothing that Stormzy "brings a whole lot of pop-rap swagger to his pickup lines",finding the track "futuristic and familiar". [4] Clash's writer Robin Murray explained that the song "leans on the soulful charms" of both singers,defining it as a "breezy,R&B-influenced track". [8]
An accompanying music video was directed by Omar Jones and filmed in London. It was released alongside the song on 20 July 2023. [9]
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA) [10] | 48 |
| UK Singles (OCC) [11] | 22 |
| UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [12] | 10 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ) [13] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [14] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 22 July 2023 | Def Jam | [15] | |
| Italy | 5 September 2023 | Radio airplay | EMI | [3] |