7.21.2021

TikTok Treats, Week of July 19th

TikTok Favorites Like The Kid Laroi, Drake, and City Girls Highlight the Week in Music on the Platform

The News:

Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more. TikTok creators are experts at manipulating music to their own ends. They often use an artist’s intonation or the rhythm of their delivery to discern a meaning that the original artist might not have intended, but that feels true to the song nonetheless. Below, see some ways TikTok creators use music for their own purposes, through mashups, glow-ups, and more:

• Drake was responsible for one of 2020’s most viral dances with “Toosie Slide,” and 2021, the TikTok community is back for more inspiration from the 6 God. The new trend takes its cues from “Know Yourself” (once a very popular sound on #ShoeTok) and its famous line “I was running through The 6 with my woes,” playing on Drake’s dramatic escalation during the repetition of the lyric. While lip-syncing to the famous line, creators reveal a dramatic fact about themself, at first nonchalantly, but then with panic in their eyes as they realize the magnitude of their implication. The trend has been used by former Disney Channel stars, successful attorneys, and people who are making their side hustle their main gig.
• The Kid Laroi is a major TikTok success story, with his single “Without You” (3 million video creations) riding its trending status on the app to a Top 10 placement in the Billboard Hot 100. The Australian teenager is trending on TikTok once again with “Stay,” his new collaboration with Justin Bieber. “Stay” has been floating around TikTok in snippet form since late 2020, with an early version of the song used in a video by Addison Rae (the subject of one of Laroi’s breakout songs), and in May by Laroi himself. Since its official release on July 9th, “Stay” has been inescapable, with creators using the song to soundtrack a failed trip to IKEA, work through rejection anxiety, or to show off some perfectly cooked lobster tails. Propelled in part by its TikTok traction, “Stay” debuted atop the Rolling Stone 100 singles chart and bowed at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, with a strong chance of reaching number one in the near future.
• Produced by The Neptunes and featuring a sultry hook from Nivea, Mystikal’s “Danger (Been So Long)” gets its power from the contrast between the smooth backing track and the rapper’s maniacal energy. The 2003 hit has resurfaced on TikTok in recent weeks, being used in over 20k videos. “Danger” is the driver behind a text-on-screen trend for people to use to warn people to “watch yourself,” before continuing with a reluctant “go ahead though.” It’s the perfect track to use when addressing an over-aggressive hairdresser, an accidentally profane daughter, or a mischievous younger sibling. Creator @callmelexo21 made waves on the app over the weekend when she danced to the song in front of her grandmother, racking up over 5.3 million views.
• Miami’s own City Girls caused a ruckus on TikTok earlier this summer with their song “Twerkulator,” generating over 915k video creations and over 65 million views on the #twerkulator tag. In the past few weeks, “Twerkulator” has returned–this time, as a mashup with Michael Jackson’s timeless “PYT (Pretty Young Thing).” Originally created by user @arii.j4ckson, the “Twerkulator”/”PYT” mashup is an instant mood booster, capable of inspiring spontaneous dance parties. The mashup has given rise to over 68k video creations, and is the basis of a self-deprecating new trend, in which TikTok creators detail some personality or physical traits that they find attractive. Even Major League Baseball got in on the action with their own take on the trend.
• The latest rising rapper to gain traction on TikTok is CEO Trayle, an artist who has roots in both The Bronx and Atlanta. He’s currently doing numbers on the app with his blasé banger “Ok Cool” (38k video creations). The song is the soundtrack to a new glow up trend, creators channeling Trayle’s nonplussed attitude to show that they’re immune to criticism. To the users who participate in this trend, living well and looking good is the best revenge to wield against those who used to make fun of them. In the words of CEO Trayle, “my feelings ain’t hurt, b****.”

TikTok is a major force in music and culture, and now the short-form video giant has data to prove just how much the platform influences music listeners who use the app. Recently, TikTok commissioned MRC Data Music Research and Flamingo to see exactly how impactful TikTok has been. Today, TikTok unveiled these studies, the results of which give insight on the unique way that TIkTok users discover, stream, and interact with music on TikTok and streaming services. Check out key insights from the study’s findings at TikTok’s newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/new-studies-quantify-tiktoks-growing-impact-on-culture-and-music

Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com

For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Andrea Higgins, Erin Ryan, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok

The Background:

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Links:

TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us

Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:

BIA Meets Nicki, Stromae Slows Down, and More TikTok Trends
Avril Lavigne, Bo Burnham, and Gucci Mane Lead The Week in TikTok Trends
TikTok Summer Madness: Lorde Leads a Pack of New Trending Songs
Swae Lee, WILLOW, Mitski & More Inspire Trends on TikTok
Only On TikTok: Lil Durk & City Girls Trend Alongside…The Backyardigans?
On TikTok: BTS Army Takes Over, Carti Demands Silence, and Fans Anticipate F9
Olivia Rodrigo Catches Fire, Miguel Helps Users Catch Feelings, and More TikTok Stories
Saweetie, Calvin Harris, and Bella Poarch Highlight The Week in TikTok
Another One? DJ Khaled, Lizzo, and More Make the Week in TikTok
Doja Cat, Little Simz, and El Alfa Inspire TikTok Trends
Britney Spears, Chloe Bailey, and Diplo Make Waves on TikTok
Dua Lipa, Drake, and Bell Biv DeVoe Make Waves on TikTok
DMX Gets His Flowers, Silk Sonic Reaches #1, and More TikTok Stories
TikTok Unveils Music-Powered Filters, Lil Nas X Debuts At #1, and More TikTok Stories
Bieber Tops The Charts, Young Thug Premieres New Music, and More TikTok Stories
Demi Lovato Kicks Off TikTok’s New Livestream Series Headstream
Rock Music Thrives on TikTok, Just Ask Yungblud, Beach Bunny, and More
Shania Hops On Board, Kid Cudi Tosses and Turns, and More TikTok Stories
On TikTok: Kali Uchis and Coi Leray Hit the Charts as Bobby Shmurda Comes Home
Rihanna, Brent Faiyaz, and Giveon Lead TikTok’s R&B Moment
T-Pain, Hyperpop, and Anti-Valentine’s Anthems Take TikTok By Storm
Cardi Goes Up, Uzi Goes Down (to Sleep), and More TikTok Stories
Black History Month Kicks Off, Mark Ronson Duets, and More Music Stories From TikTok
Cardi Goes Up, Uzi Goes Down (to Sleep), and More TikTok Stories
Dave Grohl, Migos, Miley, and More Happenings on TikTok
This Week on TikTok: Olivia Rodrigo Hits #1 as Memes & Mashups Flourish
New Year, New TikTok Trends: Alicia Keys, Remembering MF DOOM & More
Paul McCartney, Holiday Celebrations, and New Year’s Eve Live on TikTok
TikTok Releases First U.S. Music Report: Here Are Some Key Insights
How TikTok’s Top 10 Songs of 2020 Impacted the Industry