Surround Sound
by JID (featuring 21 Savage)

Album: The Forever Story (2022)
Charted: 35 90
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, JID teams-up with fellow Atlanta rappers 21 Savage and Baby Tate for a hard-hitting cut. JID and Savage kick things off, spitting raw verses about their street life on some heavy beats. Then Tate slides in, bringing sultry R&B vibes. The beat then switches up as JID delivers chest-thumping rapid-fire bars over a bass-heavy, woozy instrumentation.
  • Get this strap, if it happen to blow, it make surround sounds

    With "strap" slanging for a personal firearm, JID throws it out there that if it accidentally pops off, it's going to make "surround" sounds. The term "surround" does double duty here, indicating the actual sound of the piece and also meaning he's dropping some serious rounds.
  • Frequent JID collaborator Christo and Florida producer DJ Scheme created the beat with Nuri. The song opens with a snippet of Aretha Franklin's 1965 single "One Step Ahead," setting the stage for the producers to craft the beat around the soulful sample.
  • In her song, Aretha is a step ahead dodging heartbreak. JID draws parallels to staying ahead in the streets, one step ahead of the competition.
  • "Surround Sound" was first teased as a song between JID and DJ Scheme in a tweet on April 5, 2020. JID released it on January 14, 2022, as the lead single from his third studio album The Forever Story. It peaked at #90 on the Hot 100.
  • Towards the end of 2023, the track got a second wind, blowing up on TikTok thanks to the "Ceiling Challenge." In this trend, creators stick their phones on the wall and bust moves toward the camera.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar

Richie McDonald of LonestarSongwriter Interviews

Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.