If you are a R&B and hip-hop music fan, you have probably heard of the song Creepin’ by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage.
The song was released on December 13, 2022, as the lead single from Metro Boomin’s second studio album, Heroes & Villains.
It is a remake of I Don’t Wanna Know by Mario Winans featuring Enya and P. Diddy, which itself samples Enya’s Boadicea.
The song has been a huge success, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the charts in several other countries.
But what is the meaning behind the lyrics of this catchy and melancholic tune?
And how did the artists manage to revive a classic R&B hit from the 2000s? In this article, we will explore the theme, sample, charts, and more of Creepin’.
The Theme of Creepin’
The theme of Creepin’ is infidelity and betrayal. The song tells the story of a man who is cheating on his girlfriend with another woman who is also in a relationship.
He doesn’t want to know if she is playing him or if she loves him more than her boyfriend. He just wants to keep it a secret and enjoy the moment. He is also aware of the risks and consequences of his actions, but he doesn’t care. He is addicted to the thrill and danger of creeping around.
The lyrics of Creepin’ use imagery, metaphors, slang, and repetition to convey the emotions and motivations of the characters. For example, The Weeknd sings in the chorus:
I don’t wanna know If you’re playin’ me, keep it on the low ‘Cause my heart can’t take it anymore And if you creepin’, please don’t let it show Oh, baby, I don’t wanna know
These lines show that he is in denial and prefers to live in ignorance rather than face the truth. He also begs his lover not to expose their affair and hurt him. The word creepin’ is a slang term for cheating or sneaking around. It also implies that their relationship is shady and secretive.
21 Savage raps in his verse:
Woah, woah, woah, 21 Had me crushin’, I was cuffin’ like the precinct How you go from housewife to a sneaky link? Got you riding ’round in all type of Benzes and Rovers Girl, you used to ride in the rinky dink
These lines show that he is angry and disappointed with his lover. He accuses her of being ungrateful and dishonest. He claims that he treated her well and gave her expensive gifts, but she still betrayed him. He also contrasts her current lifestyle with her previous one, implying that she has changed for the worse. The phrase sneaky link is another slang term for a secret lover or a casual hookup.
The Sample of “Creepin’”
The sample of Creepin’ is I Don’t Wanna Know by Mario Winans featuring Enya and P. Diddy, which was released in 2004 as the lead single from Winans’ second studio album, Hurt No More. The song was a huge hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on several other charts. It also received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
I Don’t Wanna Know itself samples Boadicea by Enya, which was released in 1987 as part of her second studio album, The Celts. The song is an instrumental piece that features Enya’s ethereal vocals and harp playing. It has been used in several movies and TV shows, such as Sleepwalkers (1992), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), and Stranger Things (2016).
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage decided to remake I Don’t Wanna Know because they were fans of the original song and wanted to pay homage to it. They also wanted to give it a modern twist and add their style and flavour. They contacted Mario Winans and asked for his permission and collaboration. Winans agreed and provided backing vocals on the song, along with Travis Scott. P. Diddy also joined them on a remix of the song that was released on March 17, 2023.
The sample of Creepin’ adds a nostalgic and haunting element to the song. It creates a contrast between the smooth and seductive verses and the aggressive and violent chorus. It also evokes the emotions of regret, guilt and fear that the characters feel.
Creepin’” on the Charts
The charts show that Creepin’ has been a commercial success and a hit with listeners. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Metro Boomin’s second number-one single as a lead artist, The Weeknd’s ninth number-one single, and 21 Savage’s third number-one single. It also became the first song to debut at number one on both the Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts since Drake’s “God’s Plan” in 2018. The song also topped the charts in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several European countries. It also received positive reviews from critics and fans alike, who praised the production, vocals, lyrics, and sample of the song.
The charts for Creepin’ also show that the song has been a streaming phenomenon and a viral sensation. The song broke several streaming records, such as the most streams in a single day on Spotify (17.8 million), the most streams in a single week on Spotify (125.6 million), and the most streams in a single month on Spotify (452.3 million). The song also inspired countless memes, videos, challenges, and covers on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. The song also received attention from celebrities and influencers, such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, and Barack Obama.
The more you listen to Creepin’, the more you realise that the song is not just a catchy and melancholic tune but also a cultural phenomenon and a musical masterpiece. The song showcases the talents and skills of Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage, who are among the most influential and successful artists in the music industry today. The song also pays tribute to Mario Winans, Enya, and P. Diddy, who are legends and icons in their own right.
The song also reflects the social and historical issues that influenced its creation and reception, such as the rise of streaming platforms and social media, the popularity of R&B and hip-hop music, and the controversies surrounding sexual morality and gender roles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Creepin’ is more than just a song. It’s a cultural phenomenon and a musical masterpiece. It is a song that explores the theme of infidelity and betrayal, uses the sample of I Don’t Wanna Know by Mario Winans featuring Enya and P. Diddy, tops the charts in several countries, breaks several streaming records, inspires countless memes, videos, challenges, and covers on social media platforms, receives attention from celebrities and influencers, showcases the talents and skills of Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage, pays tribute to Mario Winans, Enya, and P. Diddy, and reflects the social and historical issues that influenced its creation and reception.
We hope you enjoyed this article on Creepin’: Metro Boomin’s R&B Hit Explained”. If you did, please share it with your friends and family. And if you want to learn more about this song or other songs by these artists, please visit the other topics below.
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Verse 1: The Weeknd Creepin’ lyrics
Somebody said they saw you
The person you were kissing wasn’t me
And I would never ask you
I just kept it to myself
Chorus: The Weeknd
I don’t wanna know
If you’re playin’ me, keep it on the low
Cause my heart can’t take it anymore
And if you creepin’, please don’t let it show
Oh, baby, I don’t wanna know
Verse 2: The Weeknd Creepin’ lyrics
I think about it when I hold you
When lookin’ in your eyes, I can’t believe
And I don’t need to know the truth
Baby, keep it to yourself
Chorus: The Weeknd
I don’t wanna know
If you’re playin’ me, keep it on the low
‘Cause my heart can’t take it anymore
And if you creepin’, please don’t let it show
Oh, baby, I don’t wanna know
Bridge: Mario Winans, The Weeknd, Both
Did he touch you better than me? (Touch you better than me)
Did he watch you fall asleep? (Watch you fall asleep)
Did you show him all those things, that you used to do to me?
If you’re better off that way (Better off that way)
There ain’t more that I can say (More that I can say)
Just go on and do your thing and don’t come back to me
Verse 3: 21 Savage Creepin’ lyrics
Woah, woah, woah, 21
Had me crushin’, I was cuffin’ like the precinct
How you go from housewife to a sneaky link?
Got you riding ’round in all type of Benzes and Rovers
Girl, you used to ride in the rinky dink
I’m the one put you in Eliantte (On God)
Fashion Nova model, I put you on the runway (On God)
You was rockin’ Coach bags, got you Chane’-ne’
Side bitch in Frisco, I call her my Bay-bae (21)
I got a girl but I still feel alone (On God)
If you playin’ me that mean my home ain’t home (On God)
Havin’ nightmares of goin’ through your phone (21)
Can’t even record, you got me out my zone
Chorus: The Weeknd
I don’t wanna know
If you’re playin’ me, keep it on the low
‘Cause my heart can’t take it anymore
And if you creepin’, please don’t let it show
Oh, baby, I don’t wanna know
If you’re playin’ me, keep it on the low
‘Cause my heart can’t take it anymore
And if you creepin’, please don’t let it show
Oh, baby, I don’t wanna know
