Champions (GOOD Music song)

"Champions" is a collaborative song by American rappers Kanye West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo and Desiigner,[1] released as the lead single from the upcoming GOOD Music compilation album Cruel Winter. The song was produced by West himself, alongside A-Trak, Lex Luger and Mike Dean, with co-production from Derek Watkins and Charlie Heat, and additional production from Noah Goldstein. A freestyle video was released by Teyana Taylor in September 2016.

Not to be confused with "Champion", another Kanye West song from the album Graduation, or "Champions", a song by West featured on the Paid in Full soundtrack.
"Champions"
Single by Kanye West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo and Desiigner
ReleasedJune 7, 2016
FormatDigital download
Recorded2016
GenreHip hop
Length5:34
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kanye West singles chronology
"Father Stretch My Hands"
(2016)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "Friends"
(2016)
Gucci Mane singles chronology
"Back on Road"
(2016)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "All My Children"
(2016)
Big Sean singles chronology
"Play No Games"
(2015)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "Holy Key"
(2016)
2 Chainz singles chronology
"No Problem"
(2016)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "Big Amount"
(2016)
Travis Scott singles chronology
"Pick Up the Phone"
(2016)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "Goosebumps"
(2016)
Yo Gotti singles chronology
"Order More"
(2016)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "Better"
(2016)
Quavo singles chronology
"Pick Up the Phone"
(2016)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "Castro"
(2016)
Desiigner singles chronology
"Panda"
(2015)		 "Champions"
(2016)		 "Tiimmy Turner"
(2016)
GOOD Music singles chronology
"Clique"
(2012)		 "Champions"
(2016)

Release

"Champions" was first aired on Big Boy's 92.3.[2] Kanye West later released the song as the first single from Cruel Winter. The single was untitled at the time, with "Round and Round" and "Champions" being used as working titles.[3][4] It was officially released to iTunes on June 12, 2016.[5]

Critical reception

The song was placed at number 49 on Complex's list of 2016's best songs.[6]

Chart performance

On the chart dated July 2, 2016, "Champions" entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 71, powered by first-week digital download sales of 31,000 copies and it debuted at number 7 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart.[7][8] On May 15, 2018, the song was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over one million digital copies in the United States.[9]

Freestyle video

Teyana Taylor released a video of her freestyling over the track on September 6, 2016.[10] The video is a stop-motion clip that sees Taylor covered in smeared gold paint and dancing militaristically in front of a gray backdrop.[10] It marked Taylor's first video since she starred in the music video for West's single "Fade".[10]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[11]

  • Kanye West – vocals, production
  • Gucci Mane – vocals
  • Big Sean – vocals
  • 2 Chainz – vocals
  • Travis Scott – vocals
  • Yo Gotti – vocals
  • Quavo – vocals, recording engineer
  • Desiigner – vocals
  • A-Trak – production
  • Lex Luger – production
  • Mike Dean – production, bass guitar, keyboards, drum programming, recording engineer, mixing
  • Fonzworth Bentley – co-production
  • Charlie Heat – co-production
  • Noah Goldstein – additional production, recording engineer
  • Finis "KY" White – recording engineer
  • Maximilian Jaeger – recording engineer
  • Gregg Rominiecki – recording engineer
  • Thomas Goff – recording engineer
  • William J. Sullivan – assistant recording engineer
  • Kez Khou – mix assistance

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 73
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[13] 24
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[14] 128
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 71
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 22

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "Kanye West releases new single, Round and Round". DIY Mag. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  2. "The Verses on Kanye West's New Song 'Champions,' Ranked". Inverse. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  3. "Kanye West premieres new single with Gucci Mane, Travis Scott and more off Cruel Winter". XXL. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  4. "Kanye West's Champions (Round and Round) feat. Desiigner, Travis Scott, Big Sean, Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz [New Song]". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  5. "Kanye West, Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo & Desiigner – Champions". iTunes. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  6. "Complex's Best Songs of 2016". Complex. June 16, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  7. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  8. Mansell, Henry (June 25, 2016). "Hip Hop Single Sales: Drake, Desiigner & Beyoncé". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  9. "Gold & Platinum - Kanye West - Champions". RIAA. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  10. Blistein, Jon (September 6, 2016). "Watch Teyana Taylor Wearing Only Gold Paint in 'Champions'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  11. "Champions / Kanye West". Tidal. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  12. "Kanye West Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  13. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  14. Chart Log UK: "CLUK Update 18.06.2016 (wk24)". UK Singles Chart. Zobbel.de. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  15. "Kanye West Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  16. "American single certifications – Kanye West – Champions". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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