Cover art for
Stefflon Don remix. The remixes EP also uses this cover art, but with "Remix EP" or "Remix EP (Expanded Edition)" on the bottom-right corner of the "Best Friend" text.
"Best Friend" is a song by American rapper
Saweetie featuring fellow American rapper and singer
Doja Cat, released on January 7, 2021 as the third single from the upcoming debut studio album Pretty Bitch Music.[2][3][4][5] The song was written by the two performers along with Asia Smith, Kaine,
Theron Thomas, and producers
Dr. Luke and
Rocco Did It Again!.
The song's first official remix features vocals from British rapper
Stefflon Don,[6] while the second features Chinese rapper
VaVa.[7] A third, with New Zealand rapper
JessB and Australian singer
Okenyo,[8] a fourth, with South Korean singer
Jamie and South Korean/Japanese rapper
Chanmina,[9] and fifth, with German rapper
Katja Krasavice,[10] were also released.[11] The latter debuted at number one in Germany, becoming the first number-one single there for both Saweetie and Doja Cat. The single also won Saweetie her first Video Music Award for Best Art Direction. The song also received a nomination for
Best Rap Song at the
64th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background and release
On December 4, 2020, "Best Friend" was released prematurely on streaming platforms.[12] Saweetie later took to social media to express her disappointment in her record label,
Warner Records, in regards to handling the release.[13][14][15] She stated: "I am extremely disappointed in my label WBR for prematurely releasing a single I was so excited about. I feel disrespected. I'm hands on with ALL of my creative & had such a dope rollout for 'best friends'. The thirst for clout & $ is real & it overrides the artists' art." The single was later taken off streaming services the following day.[16] "Best Friend" was then officially released on January 7, 2021 for
digital download and
streaming.[3][17] The track was sent to both
contemporary hit radio and
rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on January 12, 2021.[18][19]
Composition and reception
The hip hop song was described as a "danceable",[20] "
club-ready",[3] and "fun,
uptempo record that celebrates friendship."[20] Lyrically, the rappers highlight and hype up each other's beauty, success, independence, wealth, and loyalty.[21][20]
Filmed in November 2020, The
Dave Meyers directed music video was released alongside the song on January 7, 2021.[21] The video consists of Saweetie and Doja Cat in various settings including driving and posing in front of a bedazzled
Tesla as well as jumping off of a cliff into the ocean.[23] The video also features an appearance from Canadian comedian
King Bach.[24] Althea Legaspi of Rolling Stone noted that they call out
misogyny and celebrate
camaraderie in the music video.[3][5] Upon release, Saweetie was accused of stealing the concept of the music video from "BFF" by R&B duo
Ceraadi.[25] As of November 2022, the music video has 241 million views on YouTube.
^Remixes
EP released on March 19, 2021, included original version of the song, previously released Stefflon Don remix, as well as remixes featuring VaVa or JessB with Okenyo. The remix EP released on April 23, 2021, was dubbed as "Extended Edition" and included afromentioned versions in addition of renditions featuring Katja Krasavice or Chanmina, and remixes by Party Pupils and Kito.