Thanks to the internet and social media, aspiring entertainers can create opportunities for themselves they might not have gotten otherwise. The latest example is breakout singer 4Batz, whose song “Act II: Date @ 8” went viral on TikTok, giving the relative newcomer a Billboard Hot 100 hit. Even better for 4Batz, the single came to the attention of some pretty heavy hitters, with Drake and Kanye West both commenting on the song and the latter calling 4Batz one of his favorite artists. Meanwhile, Drake shared an Instagram post that seemed to suggest he and 4Batz were collaborating on a remix.
Now, it looks like we have confirmation of the remix along with a release date, thanks to a 4Batz post on Twitter. In the accompanying video, Drake and 4Batz huddle with some friends in what looks like an empty arena — perhaps one of the more recent stops on Drake’s Big As The What? Tour — listening to Drake’s new verse from a phone and getting pretty hyped up about it. The release date is also right around the corner; the song is due to hit streaming this Friday (March 8) according to 4Batz, who also added the pre-save link to his bio. You can check that out here.
One of the breakout hits of 2024 so far came from R&B singer 4batz. His pitched-up single “act ii: date @ 8” started as a TikTok hit. A fan responded to a question about what music videos don’t fit the vibe of the song at all, netting the track quite a bit of attention. It’s snowballed into a full-on hit from there hitting the Hot 100 earlier this year. The song currently sits at #68 just a few weeks after hitting its peak spot at #59. Beyond just connecting with R&B fans it’s also clicked with numerous celebs.
The most recent of which is an R&B hitmaker in his own right, Robin Thicke. The “Blurred Lines” singer took to Instagram earlier this week to reveal how much he liked the song and even share his own cover version of it. “on repeat” he captioned a video of himself performing the track at his home playing keyboard and singing. Unsurprisingly, the experienced singer delivers an incredibly smooth rendition of the song even without pitching up his vocals. Check out his cover version and some of the fan reactions to it below.
Robin Thicke is far from the only big name in music who’s enjoying “act ii: date @ 8.” Earlier this week Drake shared his appreciation for the song and made a pretty significant announcement. He took to his Instagram story to tease a remix of the song. Unfortunately he didn’t confirm when fans might be able to hear his version of the song.
That came just a few days after Kanye West also revealed he’s a fan of the new track. The embrace from major figures in music has resulted in some allegations of being an industry plant being leveled at 4batz. What do you think of Robin Thicke’s take on 4batz’s breakout hit “act ii: date @ 8?” Are you a fan of the unique-sounding R&B hit? Let us know in the comment section below.
Dallas singer and rapper 4Batz has the internet abuzz. Late last year, he released his song “Act II: Date @ 8,” which has since proven to be a viral hit. As the hit garners more popularity, 4Batz is in the middle of a bidding war between the three major labels. The boy’s future looks promising, and now all he needs is one marker that has become a rite of passage for hip-hop and R&B artists in this day and age— a cosign from Drake.
But it looks like he may soon get the coveted seal of approval.
Will Drake remix 4Batz’s “Act II: Date @ 8?”
In an Instagram story posted last night (March 4), Drake shared an image of a screen playing an audio file. 4Batz and Drake’s longtime collaborating producer Noah “40” Shebib are tagged in the picture.
At the top of the file is a name reading “Date @ 8 REMIX S5V6b.”
Now, this could mean a lot of things. It could mean he sent a verse to 4Batz for consideration. It could also mean a remix is complete, and Drake was listening to final mixes.
But regardless, it looks like an “Act II: Date @ 8” remix is on the way, which could potentially open new doors for 4Batz. After all, we’ve seen how a Drake co-sign has boosted acts like Migos, Summer Walker, and more.
Drake has always had a keen eye for what’s breaking through into the mainstream. Across the past decade of his career, he’s worked with numerous freshly-popping artists and even tried his hand at a variety of different musical styles right as they became trendy. Earlier this week he gave fans the first taste of the next breakthrough artist he’s working with, 4batz. Following a viral TikTok the music video for 4bat’z song “act ii: date @ 8” began to go viral and success followed for the song itself.
The track has already racked up more than 75 million streams on Spotify since it dropped last year. It rose 7 spots on this week’s Hot 100 back to number 68. That’s just 9 spots short of where it peaked at number 59 just a few weeks ago. But all of those numbers could absolutely skyrocket soon when Drake shares a remix of the song. The “Rich Baby Daddy” rapper took to his Instagram story with a screenshot confirming the remix. It’s not clear if the track is already finished or when it will drop, but 4batz could be in for a massive streaming boost whenever it does. Check out the post Drake shared below.
Last year, Drake released his new album For All The Dogs. Shortly after he claimed that he would be taking a hiatus from releasing new music, something he absolutely hasn’t followed up on. Just a week after the album dropped he followed it up with an EP called Scary Hours 3 that added yet another smash hit into his repertoire with “You Broke My Heart.”
Drake is currently on tour with J. Cole and Lil Durk on the It’s All A Blur Tour. He’s teased new music multiple times at tour dates so far this year. What do you think of Drake jumping on a remix of 4batz’s breakout hit “act ii: date @ 8?” Do you like the very unique style of R&B that 4batz makes? Let us know in the comment section below.
In just a matter of two months, Dallas singer 4Batz went from an underground artist to one of this year’s most-anticipated new acts. He achieved that with just two songs available for his growing fan base to listen to. Released as “acts,” 4Batz kicked things off with “Act I: Stickerz “99”” which he released in June 2023 and six months later he returned with “Act II: Date @ 8.”
The latter record is one that swiftly pushed 4Batz into the spotlight. “Act II: Date @ 8” sits at over 34 million listens on Spotify, much of which can be credited to the 4Batz’s From The Block performance of the song going viral, a video that was posted just five days after the song was released. “Act I: Stickerz “99”” is nearing 13 million views while 4Batz’s Spotify page boasts 6 million monthly listens.
So what makes 4Batz so popular? One might say it’s the singer’s juxtaposing music videos that capture him and friends in dark clothing and ski masks as he belts out lyrics about love that are equally juxtaposing. For example, take well-intentioned yet coldly-delivered bars like “I’ll come and slide by 8 PM / And send a text to your DM / Five hunnid for your f*ckin’ hair / Two hunnid for your f*ckin’ nails” on “Act II: Date @ 8.”
Maybe its his pitched-up vocals that are raised just enough to catch the ear, but not too much to recall trauma from the endless TikToks with the chipmunk voice filter. It could also be his blunt and moderately toxic approach to love with lines like “You hate I’m stuck up in my way / But love it when I’m playin’ games” on “Act I: Stickerz “99”” and “She like ‘boy go find someone, find someone you love’ / Girl, I can’t find no one, ‘cus you’re the one I love” on his upcoming track “Act III: On God?”
Personally, as boring as this answer might be, I think it’s a little bit of everything. It’s not the first time an artist has stepped into the scene like this (see: RMR), but make no mistake, this isn’t an act for 4Batz. That was clear after we spoke with him as a part of our Uproxx Music 20 series. Below you’ll learn about his start in music, favorite R&B artists, how he avoids feeling regret, and more.
What is your earliest memory of music?
[It] was when I used to write down verses of music in my old spiral [notebook], and I used to tell my grandma it was raps… and she would always take my notebooks and say these aren’t raps, these are poems. It’s funny cause even though it was negative she would always put it together in a positive way, I’m like, ‘Grandma I’m talking about killing this n****,’ but she would still call it a poem.
Who inspired you to take music seriously?
Nobody did. I did. I feel like the downfalls of my life inspired me to take music seriously.
Do you know how to play an instrument? If so, which one? If not, which instrument do you want to learn how to play?
Yeah, I play the guitar.
What was your first job?
My first job was at Burger King.
What is your most prized possession?
My Ruger-5.7.
What is your biggest fear?
Regretting. Regretting or missing the moment and not doing something, and regretting like damn I should of did that. So I try to put my life on the line and just stand on business.
Who is on your R&B Mt. Rushmore?
Sadé, Mint Condition, Miguel, Jodeci, andddd… Anita Baker.
You are throwing a music festival. Give us the dream lineup of 5 artists that will perform with you and the location where it would be held.
My festival would be held in Dallas, Texas; with Chief Keef, Tupac, Biggie, DMX, and 50 Cent.
You get 24 hours to yourself to do anything you want, with unlimited resources: What are you doing? And spare no details!
Mannn, I’m going to sleep. If I have all the resources in the world, it’s kind of boring in a way… the thrill is being told you can’t do something and doing it vs having everything in the world.
What are your three most used emojis?
5⃣
What’s a feature you need to secure before you die?
4Batz, cause he gone be the biggest in the world.
If you could appear in a future season of a current TV show, which one would it be and why?
Which celebrity do you admire or respect for their personality and why?
I respect NBA Youngboy. He’s one person I’ve seen in the industry that don’t wanna f*ck with everybody. And I kind of respect that, cause you see people true colors in this industry. Cause I’m like that, I don’t f*ck with nobody forreal so I respect that.
Share your opinion on something no one could ever change your mind about.
When you walk through the street and you split the pole, that’s bad luck. You can’t split that muhf*ckin’ pole.
What is the best song you’ve ever heard in your life and what do you love about it?
Sadé’s “Kiss of Life.” Cause on that song, she didn’t say a lot of words but she said a lot of things without having to. She’s the one that showed me you don’t have to put all these words in a song, music is a feeling.
What’s your favorite city in the world to perform, and what’s a city you’re excited to perform in for the first time?
I haven’t performed yet but I’m excited to perform in Paris.
What would you be doing now if it weren’t for music?
Trappin’.
If you could see five years into the future or go five years into the past, which one would you pick and why?
Five years in the future, because my past was really crazy, like I don’t even want to think about it. I’d rather extend the future because lately my life been going good.
What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?
I’d tell myself to keep pushing [and] keep grinding. Like if I woulda went harder I would probably be somewhere else.
It’s 2050. The world hasn’t ended, and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered as, the biggest artist in the world and one of the most humble people in the world who gave back and inspired people, and who you know was talented.
Kanye West is an artist who has the power to make or break someone’s entire career. Overall, he has been doing this for a couple of decades at this point. Kid Cudi, Travis Scott, and even T-Pain to an extent are artists that have been aided by the Kanye co-sign. However, others have been hurt by it, such as Desiigner. Regardless, fans love to work with Ye for obvious reasons. Despite his recent controversies, he still offers artists a platform to take off. This is especially true for those who are barely starting out in the game.
One such artist is none other than 4batz. 4batz came to prominence and virality thanks to his From The Block Performance. Although he only has a couple of songs out, these tracks have blown up with millions of listens on Spotify. Just a couple of weeks ago, Ye found himself on FaceTime with the young star. Furthermore, in a recent Paparazzi video taken by Backgrid, Kanye offered up yet another co-sign to 4batz.
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 23: Ye is seen, outside Kenzo, during Paris Fashion Week – Menswear F/W 2022-2023, on January 23, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
Unfortunately for the young artist, this has subsequently led to some questions about the authenticity of his come-up. With so much attention going to him so soon, Twitter users are already calling him an “industry plant.” Numerous artists have been accused of this in the past. Even Kanye himself has been called one. Furthermore, there is a leaked XXL list that claims 4batz will be featured. This has only bolstered those detractors, and you can see their reactions, in the tweets below.
Fans Question Authenticity
Beating the “industry plant” allegations will be tough. However, 4batz has proven that he is a unique artist. Hopefully, he continues to drop great music. Let us know what you think of 4batz, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always be sure to keep you informed.
Historically speaking, most up-and-coming rappers and singers spend months or years trying to break into the industry before building up enough buzz to finally get recognition by Billboard charts. Jay-Z famously turned away J. Cole after a chance meeting in New York as Cole was trying to give him a CD with the very tunes that would inspire Jay to sign the 2014 Forest Hills Drive rapper years later. With the advent of platforms such as TikTok, however, rappers have been able to break onto the scene with immediate viral success, bypassing the preexisting barriers to the music industry with relative ease.
This is the case for 4batz, who exploded onto the scene with the recent two-pack release of “act I: stickerz 99” and “act ii: date @ 8.” The latter has even landed at No. 16 on Billboard‘s Hot R&B Songs chart. In addition to blowing up seemingly overnight and becoming a viral sensation, the rapper has also received co-signs from massive figures in the hip hop world such as Drake, Timbaland, and more, even appearing on a Facetime call with Kanye West. This meteoric rise has prompted many fans to wonder where he came from and where to follow him for more.
4batz got his start growing up in Dallas and honed his craft before appearing on the hit web series From The Block. The series, which highlights local artists across the country, showcased the young up-and-coming artist’s skills with a December performance of his second track ever. 4batz shocked viewers around the world with his laid-back melodic sound, as he looks like the kind of rapper Danny Brown might refer to as “rapping like Batman.” Due to his status as a new figure in the music scene, very little is known about 4batz’s early origins. However, the artist will certainly be providing fans with a plethora of new info via lyrics and interviews in the coming months.
His Voice Is Surprising & Unique
The ski mask, gold grills, and general demeanor of 4batz may lead prospective listeners to believe the ensuing music will be full of rough and rugged lyrics about street life and smoking opps. Yet, 4batz has taken his sound in a completely different direction. The 22-year-old artist approaches the mic with a soothing, boyish tenor resembling Frank Ocean or Brent Faiyaz more closely than Chief Keef or DMX.
The melodic flows present within “act ii: date @ 8” have shocked crowds with their laid-back grooves and allowed listeners to lose themselves in the refreshing melodies of 4batz’s pitched-up croons. This juxtaposition between the rapper’s look and sound makes for some of the most creative and unique artistry in modern music and completes a persona that could only have been born and bred in the internet age.
He Touts An Impressive Online Following
Like many modern rappers, 4batz blew up primarily through TikTok before his landmark On The Block performance exposed his music to a wider array of fans. He currently touts an impressive following of just under 300,000 followers on the social media platform. After recently blowing up, 4batz holds 3.8 million monthly Spotify listeners. While these figures may not be impressive when compared to record-breaking artists such as Drake, this is surely a massive accomplishment for a singer with only two released tracks. By these figures, 4batz may be one of the most successful pound-for-pound singers to come out of the internet era.
Fans Are Eagerly Waiting For His Next Move
Dam mane I’m fucked up rn, just hit number 1# inna world on Spotify…. Dis life shii crazy
Based on the naming conventions of 4batz’s first two records, fans are currently anticipating the release of a rumored “act iii” track. It remains unknown whether this titling choice exists only for “act I: stickerz 99” and “act ii: date @ 8” or if he plans to continue the trend. Regardless, whatever the artist does next could make or break his newfound following, cementing him in the music world as more than a flash in the pan. While a full-length album is likely a ways away, the artist will almost surely have new music to please his growing base of listeners in the coming weeks. 4batz may have exploded onto the scene incredibly abruptly. Still, his incredible talent and newfound success have gone a long way toward securing his future in music.
5⃣
I STAND WITH PALESTINE (@pinkricksanchez)