Be Like Me

"Be Like Me" is a song by American rapper Lil Pump featuring Lil Wayne from the former's second studio album, Harverd Dropout (2019). It was released for digital download and streaming as the album's seventh single on February 21, 2019, by Tha Lights Global and Warner Records. The song was written by Lil Pump, Lil Wayne and CBMix, the latter of which handled the production. Throughout the song, Lil Pump calls out the rappers copying his style, while Lil Wayne looks at how he birthed a generation of them.

For the song by Gunplay, see Living Legend (Gunplay album).

"Be Like Me"
Single by Lil Pump featuring Lil Wayne
from the album Harverd Dropout
ReleasedFebruary 21, 2019 (2019-02-21)
Length4:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • CBMix
Lil Pump singles chronology
"Racks on Racks"
(2019)		 "Be Like Me"
(2019)		 "Pose To Do"
(2019)
Lil Wayne singles chronology
"I Don't Even Know You Anymore"
(2019)		 "Be Like Me"
(2019)		 "Pullin'"
(2019)
Music video
"Be Like Me" on YouTube

"Be Like Me" was mostly praised by music critics, with some seeing it among the best tracks on Harverd Dropout. An accompanying music video for the song was released on the same day. Directed by Sophie Muller, the visual is reminiscent of the video for Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady" (2000) and sees Lil Pump leading an army of people that want to be like him. The song charted in the United States, Ireland and Canada in 2019. For promotion, Lil Pump performed it on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February 2019.

Background and composition
The song includes a verse from Lil Wayne, pictured in December 2015.

The involvement of Lil Wayne was first known to the public when Lil Pump shared a photo of the Harverd Dropout's tracklist that revealed him as being featured on "Be Like Me".[1] He stands alongside the likes of 2 Chainz, Lil Uzi Vert and Quavo as one of the fellow rap artists to be featured on the album.[2] The song was produced by CBMix, standing as one of the four tracks on Harverd Dropout that was solely produced by him.[3] Lil Pump, CBMix and Lil Wayne wrote the song.[3]

"Be Like Me" has a "bouncy" instrumental minimalistic in its arrangement.[4] Lyrically, Lil Pump calls out those copying his style in hip hop, rapping lines such as: "Everybody wanna be like Pump / Everybody got fake dreads and love to take drugs."[5] Pump references Kanye West, whom he collaborated with on "I Love It" (2018), with the lyrics: "Everybody wanna be like Ye / Everybody wanna go and smash Kim K."[6] Utilizing Lil Pump's flow during his verse at the end of the track,[7] Lil Wayne looks at how he birthed the next generation of rappers.[5]

Release and reception

The song was released for digital download in the United States on the eve of the album's release as its seventh single.[6][8][9] That same day, it was also made available for streaming.[10] "Be Like Me" is the twelfth track on Lil Pump's second studio album Harverd Dropout, released on February 22, 2019.[11]

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. It was viewed by Luke Morgan Britton of NME as being one of "the rare moments where things do click on Harverd Dropout."[12] The staff of Rap-Up called the song a "CB MIX-produced banger."[6] Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork pointed out "unleashing Pump's purest pop form" on the song as being an example of when the album's "high-budget production does have some bright spots."[13] In a more negative review, Brody Kenny of The 405 labelled the song as "a pretty underwhelming track."[14]

Music video and promotion

An accompanying music video for "Be Like Me" was released on February 22, 2019 and directed by Sophie Muller.[15] The theme of the video is the same as Eminem's visual for "The Real Slim Shady" (2000); Lil Pump hinted at this when tweeting a screenshot reading "IM THE REAL SLIM SHADY".[16] Eminem criticized Pump in his 2018 track "The Ringer", with the latter responding to the diss with "Thank you I deserved that." during the video.[16] It is a fluorescent visual that includes Lil Pump leading an army of look-alikes and imposters that want to be like him.[17] Lil Wayne's cameo sees him with a Styrofoam cup and blunt in hand while rapping or being reflected in multiple mirrors.[15]

For further promotion, Lil Pump performed "Be Like Me" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 25, 2019. The performance began with him breaking a banner and confetti raining afterwards.[18] Pump dressed in a way that resembled the cover art of Harverd Dropout, wearing a decked-out purple and white graduation robe, with a bedazzled cap on his head. During the performance, Lil Pump was backed by an all-purple drumline and cheerleaders.[18]

Commercial performance

Upon its release as a single, "Be Like Me" debuted at number 72 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 35 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively.[19][20] The track descended 14 places to number 49 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart the next week.[21] On the Irish Singles Chart, it entered at number 71.[22] The track further charted at number 47 on the Canadian Hot 100.[23]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[3]

  • Lil Pump – performer, lyricist, composer
  • Lil Wayne – performer, lyricist, composer
  • CBMix – lyricist, composer, mixing, mastering, recording

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 47
Ireland (IRMA)[25] 71
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[26] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 72
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 33
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 19

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States February 21, 2019 Digital download
[8]
Various Streaming [10]

References
  1. Saponara, Michael (February 20, 2019). "Lil Pump's Track List For 'Harverd Dropout': See Details". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  2. Cowen, Trace William (February 21, 2019). "Lil Pump Enlists Lil Wayne for "Be Like Me"". Complex. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  3. "Harverd Dropout / Lil Pump". Tidal. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  4. Findlay, Mitch (February 21, 2019). "Lil Wayne & Lil Pump Bring The Bounce On "Be Like Me"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  5. Saponara, Michael (February 21, 2019). "Lil Pump 'Be Like Me' Feat. Lil Wayne: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  6. "New Music: Lil Pump feat. Lil Wayne – 'Be Like Me'". Rap-Up. February 21, 2019. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  7. M. Centeno, Tony (February 21, 2019). "Lil Pump Drops New Song With Lil Wayne". XXL. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  8. "Be Like Me (feat. Lil Wayne) - Single by Lil Pump". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  9. Mastrogiannis, Nicole (February 21, 2019). "Lil Pump Drops Lil Wayne Collab "Be Like Me" Ahead of 'Harverd Dropout'". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  10. Montes, Patrick (February 21, 2019). "Lil Pump and Lil Wayne "Be Like Me" Song Stream". HYPEBEAST. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  11. Thomas, Fred. "Harverd Dropout – Lil Pump". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  12. Britton, Luke Morgan (February 25, 2019). "Lil Pump – 'Harverd Dropout' review". NME. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  13. Pierre, Alphonse (February 28, 2019). "Lil Pump: Harverd Dropout Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  14. Kenny, Brody (February 24, 2019). "Album Review: Lil Pump - Harverd Dropout". The 405. Archived from the original on February 26, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  15. "Video: Lil Pump feat. Lil Wayne – 'Be Like Me'". Rap-Up. February 22, 2019. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  16. Gelenidze, Remy (February 23, 2019). "Lil Pump uses Eminem's "My Name Is" theme in "Be Like Me" video, says 'I'm the real Slim Shady'". Southpawer. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  17. Goddard, Kevin (February 22, 2019). "Lil Wayne Joins Lil Pump In His New Video For "Be Like Me"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  18. Acevedo, Angelica. "Lil Pump Brings 'Pump University' to 'Kimmel' With Flashy 'Be Like Me' Performance: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2019-03-02. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  19. "Music: Top 100 Songs – March 9, 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  20. "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart – March 9, 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  21. "Top Hip-Hop Songs / R&B Songs Chart – March 16, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  22. "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  23. "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs – March 9, 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  24. "Lil Pump Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  25. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Lil Pump". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  26. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  27. "Lil Pump Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  28. "Lil Pump Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  29. "Lil Pump Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
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