Stay Down (Lil Durk, 6lack and Young Thug song) explained

"Stay Down" is a song by American musicians Lil Durk, 6lack, and Young Thug. It was released on October 30, 2020, as the second single from the former's sixth studio album, The Voice. The melodic track finds the artists melancholically detailing their quest for love and loyalty. The song was written by the artists alongside producers DY of 808 Mafia and Metro Boomin.

Composition

"Stay Down" is a melancholic and melodic track,^{[1] [2] [3]} with the rappers delivering rhymes about their ladies' questionable motives, while making them understand their time and energy requires loyalty.^[4] The song "prioritizes sex and lots of money", with Durk referencing The Proud Family ("I gave you every Penny like Oscar"), and delivering non-English bars about how women of all cultures are welcome in his life. The chorus is performed by 6lack, who, as noted by Consequence of Sounds Wren Graves, "provides a sticky ear-worm chorus that starts with a pause and heats up with double- and triple-rhymes", while Young Thug closes out the song with a "bouncy, tongue-twisting flow that could almost have served as a second hook".^[5]

Critical reception

Rap-Up noted how "Durk reflects on love while 6lack delivers the brooding chorus and Thugger adds a hypnotizing verse". Revolt's Jon Powell called it a "hard-hitting cut". Complexs Jordan Rose stated: "All three artists have become masters at being able to dip their hands into either a melodic, melancholy bag or, conversely, their hard hip-hop pockets and that skillset is made evident again here. While 6lack cruises over the beat with a more smooth, crooning sound, Thug and Durk are spitting about how loyalty and love are the perfect pairings".^[6] HipHopDX named "Stay Down" among the best hip hop songs of 2020, calling it an enjoyable track and praising 6lack for his "silky hook and verse on the track that stole the show".^[7]

Music video

The song was released alongside a video directed by Collin Fletcher and Nick Vernet. It shows Lil Durk riding a hovercraft, with all three rappers later appearing in and around heavy duty trucks, performing their verses.

Charts

Chart (2020–2021)	Peak position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[8]	28
US Rolling Stone Top 100[9]	65

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lil Durk, 6lack, & Young Thug Link For "Stay Down". HotNewHipHop. Marie. Erika. October 30, 2020. January 5, 2021.
2. Web site: Lil Durk Enlists 6lack and Young Thug for 'Stay Down'. Rap-Up. October 30, 2020. January 5, 2021.
3. Here Are the Lyrics to Lil Durk, 6lack & Young Thug's 'Stay Down'. Billboard. Mamo. Heran. November 13, 2020. January 5, 2021.
4. Web site: Lil Durk, Young Thug, and 6lack "Stay Down" in new video. Revolt. Powell. Jon. October 30, 2020. January 5, 2021.
5. Web site: Lil Durk Drops New Song Stay Down" Featuring Young Thug and 6. Consequence of Sound. Graves. Wren. October 30, 2020. January 5, 2021.
6. Web site: Lil Durk Teams Up With Young Thug and 6lack for New Single "Stay Down". Complex. Rose. Jordan. October 30, 2020. January 5, 2021.
7. Web site: Best Hip Hop Songs of 2020. . December 18, 2020. January 5, 2021.
8. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. November 8, 2020. January 5, 2021.
9. Top 100 Songs: October 30, 2020-November 5, 2020. Rolling Stone. January 5, 2021.