BMF (song)

In the following article, we will thoroughly explore the topic of BMF (song) and analyze its impact on various aspects of society. From its origin to its evolution today, we will delve into its historical, cultural and social implications. Additionally, we will examine the different perspectives and opinions that exist around BMF (song) and how these have influenced his perception in society. Without a doubt, BMF (song) has been the subject of debate and controversy over time, so this analysis will seek to provide a comprehensive and objective view of its relevance today.

"BMF"
Single by SZA
from the album Lana
ReleasedJanuary 7, 2025
Genre
Length3:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Blake Slatkin
  • Carter Lang
  • Omer Fedi
SZA singles chronology
"Luther"
(2024) 		"BMF" and "30 for 30"
(2025)
Audio
"BMF" on YouTube

"BMF" (originally "Boy from South Detroit") is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from Lana (2024), the reissue of her second studio album SOS (2022). It is a pop and bossa nova song that interpolates the 1962 single "The Girl from Ipanema", composed by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim. Cheerful and whimsical, the lyrics are about SZA's attraction to a handsome and dark-skinned man, whose beauty makes her want to remove her underwear. "BMF" is titled after the television series BMF, centered around a crime syndicate that operates in the southern Detroit area. The song also references the fictional South Detroit mentioned in the 1981 Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'".

The song was released to radio stations in the United States on January 7, 2025, as a single from Lana. It debuted at number 55 on the country's Billboard Hot 100, rising on the chart due to its increasing viral popularity on social media. The song later peaked at number 29. Elsewhere, "BMF" was a top-10 song in Southeast Asia, peaking at number 4 in the Philippines, as well as New Zealand. It reached the top 40 in Canada, Australia, San Marino, and the UK. In reviews of Lana, critics focused on the song's upbeat sound and "Girl from Ipanema" interpolation. Two were complimentary; one felt that the interpolation was out of place.

Background

SZA's second studio album, SOS, was released on December 9, 2022.[1] Soon afterward, she posted on social media to tease a deluxe edition for the album.[2] In August 2023, she spoke to Variety and revealed that the deluxe edition became a "whole 'nother" project, a reissue she named Lana. It would consist of post-SOS songs alongside some anticipated outtakes that did not appear on the album.[3]

Around SOS's release, The Line of Best Fit reported that American rapper and singer Lizzo was to feature on a track from Lana, supposedly titled "Boy from South Detroit".[4] SZA addressed the song in a podcast episode for Rolling Stone, calling it "BMF" alongside the widely publicized title.[5] She told the interviewers that "BMF" was a fan-favorite outtake from SOS, which was scrapped by her manager Punch. According to SZA, he had told her that the song was not "exciting' enough to be on the standard SOS tracklist.[5][6] The released version of "BMF", which appears on Lana, is a solo track, with Lizzo nowhere in the credits.[7]

Music and lyrics

"BMF" is a pop and bossa nova song.[8][9] Its composition is upbeat, whimsical, and lighthearted, as are the lyrics.[8][10] In a review of Lana for Pitchfork, Shaad D'Souza wrote that "BMF" has a "TikTok pop" musical style.[11] The song's overall mood deviates from the more angsty and melancholic emotions that are present in other Lana tracks, as well as SZA's past ones.[8][9] "BMF" interpolates the melody of "The Girl from Ipanema" (1962), composed by Brazilian musician Antônio Carlos Jobim.[9][12] In particular, it uses the Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto rendition, which is interpolated by the song's hook.[9]

In the lyrics, SZA fantasizes about a man she finds attractive,[13] convincing him that she is the right woman for a romance.[14] She compliments the subject of the song by calling him "young and fine and dark and handsome".[14] For the "BMF" hook, not only is the melody interpolated, the lyrics of Getz and Gilberto's cover are as well. SZA sings in the hook: "The boy from South Detroit keep bossin' / And I can't keep my panties from dropping / He's so fly."[a] Later, she sings more seductively, inviting her love interest to have sex: "I'm just tryna hear you say my name."[16]

According to Sam Prance of Capital FM, the song gets its title from the television series BMF. The show is based on the drug trafficking syndicate Black Mafia Family, which operates in the southern neighborhoods of Detroit. Prance writes that the "BMF" lyrics are about SZA's attraction to men similar to those portrayed in the show.[16] Meanwhile, the hook in particular references the fictional South Detroit mentioned in the 1981 Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'".[17][18] Another location SZA mentions in "BMF" is a road in Los Angeles called Slauson Avenue. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone writes that it may be a tribute to Nipsey Hussle, a rapper raised in the nearby Crenshaw neighborhood and shot dead at the same road.[9]

Release

After the Variety interview, in September 2023, SZA performed "BMF" alongside two other Lana tracks at a concert in New York.[3] Leaks of the song circulated online, sometime before the reissue's release.[12]

"BMF" is the fifth track of Lana, released on December 20, 2024.[19] In the US, it was released to contemporary hit radio stations on January 7, 2025.[20] The same month, it was released to rhythmic contemporary radio as well.[21] The song received radio airplay in Italy on January 17, 2024.[22]

Critics who reviewed Lana and mentioned "BMF" tended to focus on the composition. In a track-by-track ranking for Billboard, Mackenzie Cummings-Grady wrote positively about the song's upbeat nature. According to him, the pop sound and lighthearted lyrics successfully provided Lana with enough levity to balance the heavier themes of its other tracks. He ranked it as the reissue's 11th-best song.[8] Variety journalist Jem Aswad, who highlighted its "Girl from Ipanema" interpolation, listed "BMF" as one of Lana's standouts.[12] Meanwhile, Pitchfork's D'Souza found the interpolation somewhat out of place, writing that it added "a wrinkle" to the pop composition.[11]

Commercial performance

"BMF" debuted at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart[23] and number 75 on the Philippines Hot 100.[24] Due to its increasing viral popularity on social media, it reached the Philippines' top 10 as soon as the second week.[24][25] It later peaked at number 4.[24] "BMF" also reached the top 10 in other Southeast Asian countries—Malaysia (8)[26] and Singapore (9)[27]—as well as New Zealand (10).[28] On the Canadian Hot 100, it was the highest-charting entry from the reissue (24).[29][30] Elsewhere, "BMF" was a top-40 song in Australia,[31] San Marino,[32] and the UK.[33] On the Billboard Global 200 chart, it peaked at number 24.[34]

"BMF" appeared on several US radio charts. The single reached the top 10 on both Rhythmic and Pop Airplay; respectively, it peaked at number 9 and number 7.[35][36] The song also charted on Dance/Mix Show Airplay and Adult Pop Airplay, peaking at numbers 23 and 25 respectively.[37][38] After being released to radio, "BMF" peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.[39]

Credits

Adapted from Tidal[40]

Charts

Chart performance for "BMF"
Chart (2024–2025) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[31] 16
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[41] 2
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[30] 24
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[42] 9
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[43] 41
Global 200 (Billboard)[34] 24
Ireland (IRMA)[44] 24
Italy Airplay (EarOne)[45] 12
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard Japan)[46] 19
Latvia Airplay (LaIPA)[47] 11
Lithuania Airplay (TopHit)[48] 83
Malaysia (Billboard)[49] 13
Malaysia International (RIM)[26] 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[28] 10
Philippines (Philippines Hot 100)[24] 4
San Marino Airplay (SMRRTV Top 50)[50] 11
Singapore (RIAS)[27] 9
Suriname (Nationale Top 40)[51] 16
UK Singles (OCC)[33] 21
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[52] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 29
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[38] 25
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[36] 6
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[37] 18
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[35] 6

Certifications

Certifications for "BMF"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[53] Gold 40,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "BMF"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 7, 2025 Contemporary hit radio
[20]
Italy January 17, 2025 Radio airplay Sony Italy [22]
United States January 2025 Rhythmic contemporary radio
  • Top Dawg
  • RCA
 [21]

Notes

  1. ^ The mentioned lines from the "BMF" hook are cited to Variety and Rolling Stone.[9][12] The interpolated lyrics are: "Tall and tan and young and lovely / The girl from Ipanema goes walking / And when she passes, each one she passes goes 'ah!'"[15]

References

  1. ^ Siregar, Cady (December 9, 2022). "On SOS, SZA Once Again Blows Expectations Out of the Water". Consequence. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  2. ^ Monroe, Jazz (December 17, 2024). "SZA Releasing New SOS Deluxe Album This Week, Enlists Ben Stiller for Teaser". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Aswad, Jem (December 21, 2024). "The Long Road to Lana: Why SZA Took Two Years to Drop the SOS Deluxe Album". Variety. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Kenneally, Cerys (December 9, 2022). "Lizzo Will Reportedly Feature on Deluxe Version of SZA's SOS Album". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Hiatt, Brian; Conteh, Mankaprr (December 18, 2022). "SZA Speaks! Inside Her New Album and Much More". Rolling Stone Music Now (Podcast). Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
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  37. ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  38. ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  39. ^ a b "SZA Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
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