“CLOUDS” marks NF’s first release of 2021, following his October 2020 track ��Chasing_(Demo).” On the track, NF recounts success and shares how he doesn’t fit the classic rapper mold. The classic cinematic production resembles the opening track of his 2019 album The Search, both handled by NF’s main...
[Intro]
(sduolc eht ni s'daeH)
[Verse 1]
Calmly, feel myself evolving
Appalling, so much I'm not divulging
Been stalling, I think I hear applauding, they're calling
Mixtapes aren't my thing, but it's been awfully exhausting
Hanging on to songs this long is daunting (Yeah)
Which caused me to have to make a call I thought was ballsy
Resulting in what you see today, proceed indulging
As always, the one-trick pony's here, so quit your sulking
[Verse 2]
Born efficient, got ambition, sorta vicious—yup, that's me (Woo)
Not artistic, unrealistic, chauvinistic—not those things
Go the distance, so prolific, posts are cryptic, move swiftly
Unsubmissive, the king of mischief, the golden ticket, rare sight to see
I stay committed, embrace the rigid
I'm playful with it, yeah, basically
Too great to mimic, you hate, you're bitter
No favoritism, that's fine with me
Create the riddles, portrayed uncivil
Unsafe a little, oh, yes, indeed
It's plain and simple, I'm far from brittle
Unbreakable, you following?
I'm Bruce Willis in a train wreck
I'm like tradin' in your car for a new jet
I'm like havin' a boss getting upset
'Cause you asked him for less on your paycheck
I'm like doin' headstands with a broke neck
I'm like watchin' your kid take his first steps
I'm like sayin' Bill Gates couldn't pay rent
'Cause he's too broke,— where am I goin' with this?
[Verse 3]
Unbelievable, yes, yes, inconceivable
See myself as fairly reasonable
But at times I can be stubborn, so
If I have to, I will rock the boat
I don't tend to take the easy road
That's just not the way I like to roll
What you think's probably unfeasible
I've done already a hundredfold
A hundredfold, it's probable
That I might press the envelope
Ideas so astronomical
Sometimes I find 'em comical
Yeah, incomparable
Replay value phenomenal
Beat selection remarkable
Slowing me down, impossible
[Verse 4]
I don't rock no Rollies
I don't hang around no phonies (Nope)
I don't really got no trophies
I don't know why God chose me (I don't know)
Got somethin' in the cup, ain't codeine (Never)
Change my style, they told me
Now they come around like, "Homie"
Man, y'all better back up slowly, back up slowly (Woo!)
[Verse 5]
Who are you kiddin'?
How could you doubt me? I've always delivered
Rippin' the teeth out of the back of my mouth's
The closest you get to my wisdom
See, my initial thought was to wait
But what can I say? I had to come visit
Check on you guys, you doin' alright?
Your year really sucked? Yeah, that's what I figured
They cover they heads up whenever I drop
Shake the whole industry, put 'em in shock
Come out the clouds like a meteor rock
Then land on the earth like, "Ready or not?"
Ain't no one like me, the cream of the crop
Don't even front better, give me some props
I pick up your body and throw it a block
Okay, I admit it, that's over the top—not!
[Verse 6]
Deer in the headlights looks every time I step my foot
On the ground, I get mistook
For a lame with no weight to his name
Ground just shook
Let's not beat around the bush
Even my B-sides throw 'em off like, "How's he do it?"
Some say I'm a great influence
I don't know about that, but I did do the best I could
[Bridge]
"Hollywood, Hollywood
Hope Nate doesn't go Hollywood"
You think that, you don't know me good
You think that, you don't know me good
"Hollywood, Hollywood
Hope Nate doesn't go Hollywood"
You think that, you don't know me good
You think that, you don't know me
[Verse 7]
I–I–I, I always advance
Say how I feel, you know where I stand (Woo)
Raisin' the bar, I gotta expand
Top of the charts, I'm settin' up camp
Pound in my stakes, I put up my tent
Shoot for the stars, they fall in my hand (Woo)
Stick to my guns, I don't even flinch
Can push all you want, ain't movin' an inch (Oh)
I rarely miss, you know I'm relentless
Ain't got a choice, no way to prevent it (Woo)
Just who I am, and I don't regret it
See what I want and then I go get it
Followed my gut, I'm happy I did it
Beat all the odds, I ain't got no limits (Ayy)
Cannot be stopped, you payin' attention?
I ain't gotta say it, they know where my head is
They know where my head is (Head is)
CLOUDS was written by Tommee Profitt & NF.
CLOUDS was produced by Tommee Profitt & NF.
On February 17, 2021, NF announced his new single “CLOUDS” on social media, releasing on February 18, 2021, at 12 PM:
NEW SONG DROPS TOMORROW AT 12PM ET/9AM PT. pic.twitter.com/6YDGQRaWPC— NF (@nfrealmusic) February 17, 2021
This is what he answered a fan on Twitter recently:
Long story— NF (@nfrealmusic) March 5, 2021
Reversing the beginning of the song, it’s a pitched down vocal saying “Head’s in the clouds.” This is similar to songs like “Leave Me Alone”, which also opens with reversed voices.
Profitt uploaded a two part video series on his official YouTube channel, showing how he and NF made this song, as well as walking people through its production.
During the week ending March 6, 2021, “Clouds” debuted at #53 on the Hot 100.