Steelpan once had a solid foothold in contemporary music. Find out how it’s returned in a unique way.
Since its release in October 2018, the hip-hop/rap hit “Zeze” has elevated the steelpan’s influence to new heights. A year ago, it was not uncommon to come across the tune blasting out of speakers everywhere from bars to clothing stores to a passing car window.
It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since racked in more than 500 million Spotify streams, with the steelpan featured throughout the entire song as Kodak Black, Travis Scott, and Offset take turns rapping. However, what many might not know is that when Kodak Black featured a sneak peek of the steelpan instrumental on his Instagram page, the sound’s popularity skyrocketed before the actual song was even released.
Help From A Platform
Tiktok, an application designed to create short videos and used largely by Generation Z, was a primary catalyst for this instrumental snippet’s meteoric rise. Before long, Tiktok creators had incorporated the sound from Kodak’s Instagram as a backing track for their comedic skits, memes, and dance trends.
With assistance from Tiktok’s infamous algorithm, known for its heavy reliance on user interaction indicators, the bright, playful beat amplified excitement in anticipation of the actual track. So much so that upon its initial release, “Zeze” became the most-streamed song in the country. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, producer D.A. Doman commented that “the ‘Zeze’ thing was kind of unheard of, where it’s a beat that’s so big without the song.” The track’s unique path to success highlights the recent changes experienced by the music industry, particularly with the uptick in streaming service use and overnight viral sensations.
Return of Steelpan, Sort Of…
“Zeze” is just one example of how the steelpan has entered modern mainstream hip-hop/rap music. In 2003, rap artist 50 Cent took the rap game by storm with his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which featured the song “P.I.M.P.” This tune featured a synthesized steelpan sample riff, which became a signature and instantly recognizable hook for the artist. Further, Soulja Boy’s 2007 hit “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” featured a similar riff that helped to make it arguably one of the most recognizable hip/hop songs of its time.
One of the artists featured on “Zeze”, Travis Scott, incorporated a steelpan sample into his 2016 hit “Pick Up the Phone” with Young Thug. Other prominent names like Drake and Rihanna also featured pan in their 2012 hit, “Take Care.” Drake specifically has incorporated more Caribbean influences in recent hits like “Controlla” and “One Dance” on his 2016 album Views.
Mystery Draw Listeners
For many, much of the interest surrounding “Zeze” stemmed from its mystery and unconventionality. Its initial release was devoid of any lyrics, and it was the second track rapper Kodak Black was set to release after leaving prison. The title of the song itself was an uncommon word that many had to look up in order to understand (the word zeze is defined as a stringed musical instrument originating from West Africa).
The song itself, which for many manifests a happy, carefree, summer feel was teased and released in the Fall of 2018. Doman even said himself, “I feel like conventional music industry wisdom would tell you not to put a record full of steel drums out in October.”
Even when speaking with on the song’s composition, Doman refused to disclose whether or not real steelpans were used. “It’s more interesting when people don’t give away how they do everything. It keeps more of a mystique around it,” Doman said. “It’s a lot like Beyonce. Beyonce is not on Instagram Live every day. Don’t get me wrong, some people that works really well for, and it’s super dope, but it also works well for some people to keep more secrecy around themselves. That’s how I like doing things in my production.”
Clearly, Doman was right. His strategy was not only successful in marketing his song but exposing steelpan to Gen Z at a level never before accomplished by the music industry.
Read the complete Rolling Stone article HERE.
![Kodak Black - ZEZE (feat. Travis Scott & Offset) [Official Audio]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mjaayCARwro/0.jpg)
