Off the Grid (song)

For other songs of the same name, see Off the grid.

"Off the Grid" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album Donda (2021). The song features vocals from American rappers Playboi Carti and Fivio Foreign, with choir vocals performed by opera singer Justin Austin. It was released to US urban contemporary radio stations as the album's fourth single on November 30, 2021 (third promoted to radio formats).^[1]

"Off the Grid"
Single by Kanye West featuring Playboi Carti and Fivio Foreign
from the album Donda
Released	November 14, 2021 (2021-11-14)
Recorded	2020–21
Studio	Mercedes Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Genre	Progressive rap trap drill
Length	5:39
Label	GOOD Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Kanye West Jordan Carter Maxie Ryles III Samuel Gloade Mark Williams Raul Cubina Aswad Asif David Ruoff Elias Klughammer Eric Sloan Jr. Billy Walsh Cydel Young Malik Yusef Orlando Wilder Tobias Smith
Producer(s)	Kanye West 30 Roc Ojivolta AyoAA David x Eli Sloane
Kanye West singles chronology
"Believe What I Say" (2021) "Off the Grid" (2021) "Eazy" (2022)
Playboi Carti singles chronology
"Unlock It" (2021) "Off the Grid" (2021) "Popular" (2023)
Fivio Foreign singles chronology
"Panicking" (2021) "Off the Grid" (2021) "City of Gods" (2022)

Background and recording

On July 18, 2020, West announced Donda on his Twitter and posted a track listing that had "Off the Grid" on it.^[2][3] Before the song morphed into its final version, it had scrapped contributions from KayCyy, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, Baby Keem, and more, alongside versions with entirely different, siren-based production.

In December, it was revealed that West was recording and executive producing for Playboi Carti's album Whole Lotta Red, which released on December 25.^[4][5] Playboi Carti recorded his verse for "Off the Grid" during these sessions. A snippet of Playboi Carti's part leaked after West played the song on his speakers during his stay at a hotel in Belgium in December. The collaboration with Fivio Foreign came together after West asked Fivio Foreign to come to Mercedes Benz Stadium on the night before the August 5 listening party.^[6] Talking about the collaboration, Fivio Foreign recalled:

He gave me my space, but every eight couple bars, "I'm like yo look, I got some shit" and he's like, "Yo, keep going". That’s why it is so long, he kept telling me to keep going, keep going like three times. Like how much more, "Just keep going". [...] I was playing a couple of songs, and he was like "Who produced this?", and I'm like my man AyoAA – Ozzy, and he's like "Get him on a plane, get him out here". The "Off the Grid" shit was already done, he sent me that beat before I even met him. It wasn't drill. He got my producer Ozzy to add the drill to the song on my part.^[6]

The song was first officially previewed at the August 5 listening party at Mercedes Benz Stadium.^[7] It was previewed again in Soldier Field on August 26, with an added verse from West at the end.^{[citation needed]}

Reception

The song received positive reviews from critics and fans, who widely considered it to be one of the best songs from the album. The track was named the best song of 2021 by Complex.^[8]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[9]

• Kanye West – production, vocals
• Playboi Carti – vocals
• Fivio Foreign – vocals
• 30 Roc – production
• AyoAA – production
• Ojivolta – production
• David & Eli – co-production
• Sloane – additional production
• Irko – mastering, mixing
• Alejandro Rodriguez-Dawsøn – recording
• Drrique Rendeer – recording
• James Kelso – recording
• Josh Berg – recording
• Lorenzo Wolff – recording
• Mikalai Skrobat – recording
• Roark Bailey – recording
• Will Chason – recording
• Louis Bell – vocal editing
• Patrick Hundley – vocal editing

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Off the Grid" Chart (2021) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[10] 9 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 36 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 7 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 40 Denmark (Tracklisten)[14] 14 France (SNEP)[15] 44 Global 200 (Billboard)[16] 7 Greece International (IFPI)[17] 21 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[18] 35 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[19] 10 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 11 Italy (FIMI)[21] 58 Lithuania (AGATA)[22] 17 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 38 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 7 Norway (VG-lista)[25] 22 Portugal (AFP)[26] 22 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[27] 21 South Africa (TOSAC)[28] 5 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 30 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 17 UK Singles (OCC)[31] 15 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[32] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[33] 11 US Hot Christian Songs (Billboard)[34] 3 US Gospel Songs (Billboard)[35] 2 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[36] 4

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for "Off the Grid" Chart (August 2021) Peak position Greece International Digital Singles (IFPI)[37] 56 Year-end charts 2021 year-end chart performance for "Off the Grid" Chart (2021) Position US Christian Songs (Billboard)[38] 11 US Gospel Songs (Billboard)[39] 3

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[40]	Gold	40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[41]	Gold	25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.