2023 single by Dave and Central Cee
"Sprinter " is a song by British rappers
Dave and
Central Cee . The single was released 1 June 2023 through record labels Neighbourhood and Live Yours, and was included on the artist's collaborative EP
Split Decision , released four days later. The song's instrumental has been characterized as a "
guitar -led, subtle
drill " beat with
Latin influence.
[2]
[3]
Sprinter debuted at number one in the
UK Singles Chart , becoming Dave's third number-one single and Central Cee's first. The single became the longest-running number-one rap song in the UK, holding the position for 10 weeks.
[4] It also topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Switzerland. Sprinter was ultimately the most streamed song on
Spotify in the United Kingdom in 2023.
[5]
The work won the PRS for Music Most Performed Work
Ivor Novello Award on Thursday 23 May 2024.
[6]
Background
The song was first teased by Cee on his
Instagram stories on 18 March 2023, revealing that Dave had just sent him an audio file.
[7] They were also spotted in the studio together on 10 May.
[8]
Sprinter marks only the second time the two have teamed up on a song, the last one being a remix of "Spirit Bomb" (2016) by
AJ Tracey .
[9] Additionally, Dave helped produce the song "End of the Beginning" on the
23 mixtape in 2022.
[10]
Composition
"Sprinter" sees the rappers trading "laid-back" verses over a "
Latin -tinged, summer-ready"
[3] beat characterised by "chopped-up
acoustic guitars and wordless
operatic vocals".
[11]
David Renshaw of
The Fader thought the track was distinguished by "bright wordplay and good vibes", while the lyrics talk about the "age-old problem" of partying with too many girls that a whole van is needed to transport them.
[12] Robin Murray of
Clash opined that the song "sits somewhere between
drill and broader UK rap flavours" and allows the rappers "to do their thing".
[13]
Music video
The music video, released on 2 June, switches between
London and
South France . Scenes in
Monaco were filmed in late May 2023.
[14] The video features a cameo by Nigerian artist Slawn.
[7] The rappers are seen showcasing the perks of their lifestyle, showing off diamonds and other valuables.
[15]
Commercial performance
United Kingdom
"Sprinter" debuted at number one on the
UK Singles Chart , marking the biggest opening week of the year.
[16] The track opened with 108,200 chart units in its first tracking week alongside 13.4 million streams, the biggest week of streams for a rap single ever in UK history.
[16]
[17]
[18] By December 2023, Sprinter had received over 500 million streams on Spotify.
[19]
The track peaked at number one in Australia after selling 13,000 units in its first tracking week.
[20]
[21] The track also peaked at number one in Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Switzerland. In the
United Arab Emirates , the song peaked at number 11.
[22]
In the United States, the song peaked in the top ten of the
Billboard Global 200 and the U.S.
Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
[23] In Canada, "Sprinter" debuted at number five on the
Canadian Hot 100 on 17 June 2023, becoming the highest peaking
British hip hop single of all-time, surpassing
M.I.A. 's 2008 song, "
Paper Planes " which reached number seven.
Reception and legacy
The song was declared "song of the summer" for 2023 by
UK Charts .
[24] In August 2023, a video of American rapper
J. Cole rapping along to Sprinter at record producer
T-Minus ' wedding went viral on social media.
[25] Former U.S. President
Barack Obama included the song on his annual playlist, which was released in December 2023.
[26] At the
MOBO Awards 2024 , "Sprinter" won the award for best song.
[27] At the
2024 Global Awards "Sprinter" was nominated for Best Song.
[28]
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
^
Dave And Central Cee’s ‘Sprinter’ Takes the Lead In U.K. Chart Race Billboard
^ Rouhani, Neena; Lee, Cydney (5 June 2023).
"R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Dave, Toosii, CHIKA & More" . Billboard . Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^
a
b Stickler, Jon (2 June 2023).
"Dave And Central Cee Team Up For New Single Sprinter" . Stereoboard . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Brandle, Lars (7 August 2023).
"Dave and Central Cee's 'Sprinter' Snags U.K. Chart Record" . Billboard . Retrieved 12 September 2023 .
^
"In 2023, "Sprinter" was the UK's biggest and best export" . British GQ . 19 December 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^ Brown, Anna (23 May 2024).
"Winners of The Ivors with Amazon Music announced" . The Ivors Academy . Retrieved 28 May 2024 .
^
a
b A., Aron (2 June 2023).
"Central Cee & Dave's Highly Anticipated Single "Sprinter" Is Here" .
Rolling Stone UK . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Keith, James (1 June 2023).
"Dave & Central Cee Reveal Hotly-Anticipated Visuals For "Sprinter" " .
Complex . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^
"Dave & Central Cee 'Sprinter' lyrics meaning revealed" .
Capital Xtra . 2 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^
"Dave and Central Cee have too much of a good thing on "Sprinter" " . The FADER . Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^ Breihan, Tom (2 June 2023).
"Central Cee & Dave – "Sprinter" " .
Stereogum . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Renshaw, David (2 June 2023).
"Dave and Central Cee have too much of a good thing on "Sprinter" " .
The Fader . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Murray, Robin (2 June 2023).
"It's Here! Central Cee, Dave Spar On 'Sprinter' " .
Clash . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ A., Aron (2 June 2023).
"Central Cee & Dave's Highly Anticipated Single "Sprinter" Is Here" .
HotNewHipHop . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^ Okon, Wongo (1 June 2023).
"Dave And Central Cee's Opulent 'Sprinter' Video Weighs The Pros And Cons Of Their Playboy Lifestyles" .
Uproxx . Retrieved 3 June 2023 .
^
a
b
"Record Breaker! Dave & Central Cee debut at Number 1 with Sprinter: Duo land biggest streaming week for any rap song in UK chart history" .
Official Charts Company . 9 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 .
^
"Dave and Central Cee: Sprinter scores a record-breaking number one" .
BBC News . 9 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 .
^
"Dave And Central Cee Sprint to U.K. Chart Title, Set Streaming Record" .
Billboard . 12 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 .
^ Coste, Jonathan (7 December 2023).
"Taylor Swift announced as the most streamed artist of 2023 by Spotify" . Birmingham Eastside . Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^
"Dave & Central Cee Spend Second Week At #1 With 'Sprinter' " .
The Music . 19 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 .
^
"Kerser, Dave & Central Cee Lead Australia's Charts" .
Billboard . 30 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 .
^
"This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20: from 15/09/2023 to 21/09/2023" .
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . 15 September 2023. Archived from
the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023 .
^
"Stormzy & Fredo eye highest new entry on the Official Singles Chart, Dave & Central Cee sprinting for full month at Number 1" .
Official Charts Company . 25 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023 .
^ Glynn, Paul (8 September 2023).
"Dave and Central Cee track Sprinter named UK song of summer 2023" . Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (14 August 2023).
"J. Cole Turns Up To Nicki Minaj & Central Cee At T-Minus' Wedding" . HipHopDX . Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^
"Dave, Central Cee and Victoria Monét Make It Onto Barack Obama's 2023 Playlist" . Hypebeast . 29 December 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben; Vinter, Robyn (7 February 2024).
"Mobo awards 2024: Central Cee tops winners thanks to megahit Sprinter" . The Guardian .
ISSN
0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 February 2024 .
^
"The Global Awards 2024: Full list of nominees & how to vote" .
Capital XTRA . 4 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024 .
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved 9 June 2023.
^
"ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart" .
Australian Recording Industry Association . 12 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023 .
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in German).
Ö3 Austria Top 40 . Retrieved 21 June 2023.
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in Dutch).
Ultratop 50 . Retrieved 18 June 2023.
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in French).
Ultratop 50 . Retrieved 20 August 2023.
^
"Dave Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" .
Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023.
^
"Dave Chart History (Croatia Songs)" .
Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023 .
^ "
ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202330 into search . Retrieved July 31, 2023.
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
Tracklisten . Retrieved 14 June 2023.
^ "
Dave, Central Cee: Sprinter" (in Finnish).
Musiikkituottajat . Retrieved 14 August 2023.
^
"Top Singles (Week 35, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 4 September 2023 .
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in German).
GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 9 June 2023.
^
"Dave Chart History (Global 200)" .
Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023.
^ "
Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian).
Single (track) Top 40 lista . Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
^ "
Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian).
Stream Top 40 slágerlista . Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
^
"Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50" .
Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 June 2023.
^
"Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 30" (in Italian).
Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 29 July 2023 .
^
"Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 30. nedēļa" (in English and Latvian).
LAIPA . 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023 .
^
"The Official Lebanese Top 20 – Dave" .
The Official Lebanese Top 20 . 12 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023 .
^
"2023 30-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian).
AGATA . 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023 .
^
"Dave Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)" .
Billboard . Retrieved 13 June 2023 .
^
"This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20: from 16/06/2023 to 22/06/2023" . theofficialmenachart.com .
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . 27 June 2023. Archived from
the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023 .
^ "
Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 2023 " (in Dutch).
Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 15 July 2023.
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in Dutch).
Single Top 100 . Retrieved 1 July 2023.
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
Top 40 Singles . Retrieved 10 June 2023.
^
"Singel 2023 uke 24" .
VG-lista . Retrieved 17 June 2023 .
^
"OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 21.07.2023–27.07.2023.) (in Polish).
OLiS . Retrieved 3 August 2023 .
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
AFP Top 100 Singles . Retrieved 30 June 2023.
^
"Dave Chart History (Romania Songs)" .
Billboard . Retrieved 21 June 2023 .
^ "
ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202330 into search . Retrieved 31 July 2023.
^ "
Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10 Week 23-2023" .
The Official South African Charts . Retrieved 27 May 2024.
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
Singles Top 100 . Retrieved 2 September 2023.
^ "
Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
Swiss Singles Chart . Retrieved 11 June 2023.
^
"UAE: 2023 - W39 - 09/22 to 09/28" . The Official MENA Chart .
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 June 2024 .
^
"Official Singles Chart Top 100" .
Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 June 2023.
^
"Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40" .
Official Charts Company . Retrieved 9 June 2023.
^
"Dave Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)" .
Billboard . Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^
"Dave Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" .
Billboard . Retrieved 3 August 2023.
^
"ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart for 2023" .
Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 12 January 2024 .
^
"Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2023: Singles" . Ö3 Austria Top 40. 8 November 2019.
Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023 .
^
"Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch).
Ultratop . Retrieved 7 January 2024 .
^
"Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2023" .
Billboard . Retrieved 22 November 2023 .
^
"Track Top-100 2023" .
Hitlisten . Retrieved 13 January 2024 .
^
"Jahrescharts 2023" (in German).
GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved 10 December 2023 .
^
"Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2023" .
Billboard . Retrieved 22 November 2023 .
^
"Single Top 100 - digitális és fizikai értékesítés alapján - 2023" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
Archived from the original on 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024 .
^
"TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – 2023" . plotutidindi.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2 January 2024 .
^
"Jaaroverzichten – Single 2023" . dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 January 2024 .
^
"Top Selling Singles of 2023" .
Recorded Music NZ . Archived from
the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023 .
^
"Årslista Singlar, 2023" .
Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved 18 January 2024 .
^
"Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2023" . hitparade.ch . Retrieved 31 December 2023 .
^ Griffiths, George (29 December 2023).
"The Official Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2023" .
Official Charts Company . Retrieved 29 December 2023 .
^
"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023" .
Billboard . Retrieved 23 November 2023 .
^
"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF) .
Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 30 March 2024 .
^
"Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2023" .
Ultratop . Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 December 2023 .
^
"Canadian single certifications – Central Cee, Dave – Sprinter" .
Music Canada . Retrieved 11 July 2023 .
^
"Danish single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
IFPI Danmark . Retrieved 18 October 2023 .
^
"French single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in French).
Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved 21 September 2023 .
^
"Italian single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (in Italian).
Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 30 October 2023 .
^
"New Zealand single certifications – Dave and Central Cee – Sprinter" .
Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 4 November 2023 .
^
"OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish).
Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 May 2024 . Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Sprinter in the search box.
^
"Portuguese single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" (PDF) (in Portuguese).
Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa . Retrieved 8 January 2024 .
^
"Spanish single certifications – Dave / Central Cee – Sprinter" . El portal de Música .
Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 16 January 2024 .
^
"British single certifications – Dave & Central Cee – Sprinter" .
British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 8 January 2024 .
^
"American single certifications – Dave, Central Cee – Sprinter" .
Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 27 March 2024 .
^
"IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 40/2023" (in Greek).
IFPI Greece . Retrieved 18 October 2023 .
Studio albums Extended plays Singles Featured singles Other songs
Mixtapes EPs Singles Other songs