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Cobra (Megan Thee Stallion song)

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"Cobra"
Megan Thee Stallion standing in front of a large cobra, wearing a metallic bikini and pasties.
Single by Megan Thee Stallion
from the album Megan
ReleasedNovember 3, 2023 (2023-11-03)
Recorded2023
Genre
Length2:48
LabelHot Girl
Composer(s)
  • Derrick Gray
  • Joel Banks
  • S. Clarke
  • Shawn "Source" Jarrett
  • Tay Banks
Lyricist(s)Megan Pete
Producer(s)
Megan Thee Stallion singles chronology
"Bongos"
(2023) 		"Cobra"
(2023) 		"Not My Fault"
(2023)
Music video
"Cobra" on YouTube

"Cobra" is a song by American rapper Megan Thee Stallion from her third studio album, Megan (2024). It was released independently through Hot Girl Productions on November 3, 2023, as the album's lead single. It marked her first single since departing from her record label 1501 Certified Entertainment and 300 Entertainment in October 2023, as well as her first release as an independent artist.

The song received positive reviews by critics, being nominated at the 55th NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song, winning the latest.[1] Commercially, it became the rapper's eighth top-ten song on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A rock remix featuring Canadian heavy metal band Spiritbox was released on November 8.

Background and composition

[edit]

On October 19, 2023, 1501 Certified Entertainment sent out a press release[2] announcing that the label and Megan Thee Stallion had "mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences", ending a three-plus-year legal battle and settling in Megan's favor.[3][4] On October 28, 2023, Thee Stallion began teasing the release of her first solo single since she released her second studio album Traumazine in August 2022.[5]

In a message ahead of the song's release, Megan Thee Stallion wrote, "Cobras exemplify courage and self-reliance. They stand tall and fierce in the face of challenges, teaching one to tap into their inner strength and rely on oneself to conquer their threats. Emulating the cobra helps one be more confident in the person they are within."[6] The music video, directed by Douglas Bernardt[7] and released alongside the single on November 3, 2023, begins with the rapper crawling out of a snake's mouth, peeling off a layer of her skin. She raps about confronting suicidal ideation while laying in a glass box surrounded by reporters and cameras, then performs a dance routine to a guitar solo within a spiral jetty.

As Billboard reported, the song (as well as her upcoming album) is entirely self-funded[8] through Megan's independent enterprise Hot Girl Productions LLC. The song marks a distinct departure from her usual hip-hop style, exploring rap rock with a distinctive fuzzy electric guitar riff throughout the song.[9] The song's lyrics explore the rapper's battles with depression and anxiety following the loss of both of her parents and her recent breakup with American rapper Pardi. In the song, she hints at Pardi's infidelity, recalling the moment she caught him cheating in her bed: "Pulled up, caught him cheatin'/ Gettin' his dick sucked in the same spot I'm sleepin'".[10] A remix was released on November 8 with the Canadian-American alternative metal band Spiritbox, featuring a much harsher nu metal sound and gothic vocals from Courtney LaPlante.[11][12]

Critical reception

[edit]

Upon its release, "Cobra" received widespread critical acclaim from music critics, many of whom praised her vulnerability on the track. Amber Corrine of Vibe praised the rapper for "own[ing] her truth" in the single: "Meg tells a story about her past from over the years — which includes: losing her parents and grandmother, experiencing a breakup with ex-boyfriend Pardison Fontaine, concluding a three-year case over being shot in the foot, and also settling a lawsuit with her former 1501 label."[13] Malcom Trapp of Rap-Up remarked that Megan Thee Stallion "channeled vulnerability and defiance by revealing the struggles beneath her success" in "Cobra".[14]

The song's bass-heavy influences were also met with acclaim.[15][16] Larisha Paul of Rolling Stone wrote that Megan was "dripping with venom",[17] while Jade Gomez of Complex remarked that the rapper "came out swinging".[10] Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian defined the song as the "sonic creativity peaks" of the album, praising "its super-crunchy riff and fluttering synths".[18]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Cobra" generated 12 million streams, 6,000 downloads and registered 660,000 radio airplay audience impressions in United States in its first week. The song peaked at number 32 of the Billboard Hot 100 and became Megan Thee Stallion's eighth top-10 hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, peaking at 10.[19] It also became the rapper's 10th top-10 hit on R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs, debuting at number seven, and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart.[20]

Track listings

[edit]
  • Streaming/digital download[21]
  1. "Cobra" – 2:48
  • Streaming/digital download – rock remix[22]
  1. "Cobra" (rock remix; feat. Spiritbox) – 3:05
  2. "Cobra" – 2:48

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Cobra"
Chart (2023-2024) Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[23] 82
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[24] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 83
UK Indie (OCC)[26] 38
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 32
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 10
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[29]
with Spiritbox 		47

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Cobra"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various November 3, 2023
Original Hot Girl [21]
November 8, 2023 Rock remix [22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Grein, Paul (January 25, 2024). "Usher, Victoria Monét Score in 2024 NAACP Image Awards Nods: Here Are All Music Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  2. ^ "Instagram".
  3. ^ Bloom, Madison (October 19, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion Settles Legal Dispute With Former Label 1501 Certified Entertainment". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  4. ^ Vasquez, Ingrid (October 20, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion Settles Legal Battle with Former Record Label". People. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Kaplan, Ilana (October 28, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion Announces First Single After Settling Lawsuit and Going Independent with 'Cobra'". People. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  6. ^ "Instagram".
  7. ^ "Instagram".
  8. ^ Aniftos, Rania (October 13, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion Says She's Not Signed to a Label: 'We Are in My Pockets, Hotties'". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Obie, Brooke (November 10, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion's 'Cobra' takes aim at the snakes in her life". Andscape. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Gomez, Jade (November 3, 2023). "Fans Think Megan Thee Stallion Is Hinting at Pardison Fontaine's Infidelity in New Song, "Cobra"". Complex. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  11. ^ Kaufman, Gil (November 9, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion Cranks 'Cobra' Up to 11 With Rocking Spiritbox-Assisted Remix". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Zemler, Emily (November 9, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion Teams Up With Spiritbox for Raucous "Cobra (Rock Remix)"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  13. ^ Corrine, Amber (November 3, 2023). "Twitter is up in arms after listening to Megan Thee Stallion's "Cobra" single". Vibe. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  14. ^ Trapp, Malcolm (November 3, 2023). "Social Media Praises Megan Thee Stallion For Being Vulnerable In "Cobra"". Rap-Up. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  15. ^ Gwee, Karen (July 1, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion – 'Megan' review: the rapper shines in all her multifaceted glory". NME. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  16. ^ Powell, John (November 3, 2023). "Twitter is up in arms after listening to Megan Thee Stallion's "Cobra" single". Revolt. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  17. ^ Paul, Larisha (November 3, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion Brings Her Venomous Bite to Scorching New Single 'Cobra'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  18. ^ Aroesti, Rachel (June 28, 2024). "Megan Thee Stallion: Megan review – rap skill showcase is a sour sermon on superiority". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  19. ^ Anderson, Trevor (November 16, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion's 'Cobra' Strikes in Top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart | Billboard Canada". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  20. ^ Anderson, Trevor (November 16, 2023). "Megan Thee Stallion's 'Cobra' Strikes in Top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Cobra - Single". Spotify. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Cobra (Rock Remix) [feat. Spiritbox] - Single". Spotify. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  23. ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  24. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  26. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  27. ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  28. ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  29. ^ "Megan Thee Stallion Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
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