Topic summary
Welcome to the Party (Pop Smoke song)
"Welcome to the Party" is the debut single by American rapper Pop Smoke from his debut mixtapeMeet the Woo (2019). It was released on April 23, 2019, by Victor Victor Worldwide and Republic Records. The song was written alongside producer 808Melo. The first official remix for "Welcome to the Party" was released on August 15, 2019, with fellow New York rapper Nicki Minaj. The second official remix with British rapper Skepta was released on August 21, 2019. Both remixes were later released on the deluxe edition of Meet the Woo.
A drill track, Pop Smoke raps about the streets and gang members. The song received positive reviews from music critics, with many praising it for introducing drill music to the mainstream. The song featured on 2019 year-end lists by Complex, The New York Times, Pitchfork, and Time. The remix featuring Minaj peaked at number five on the US BillboardBubbling Under Hot 100 and number 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was certified a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
An accompanying music video for "Welcome to the Party" was directed by GoddyGoddy and released on May 28, 2019. The visual features a group of men saying the names of people who are dead or imprisoned while Pop Smoke raps the song and holds a small child in his arms. The rapper promoted the song by performing it for VevoDSCVR and MTV's Total Request Live offshoot program Fresh Ouwt Friday.