40 (single)

40 is a song by American artists Evilgiane, Nettspend, and Xaviersobased released under Surf Gang Records on January 11, 2024. The track was the lead single to Evilgiane's album #Heavensgate Vol. 1.

Upon release, the track received critical acclaim, with media sites such as HotNewHipHop, Pitchfork and The New York Times writing it as one of the best songs of 2024.

A DJ-Ess remix for "40" was released on March 15, 2024.

Background

The track's fruition first came when Xaviersobased's older brother gifted him a beat from Evilgiane, this was possible since the two were already close friends. The process behind "40", according to Xaviersobased, was that he was "fried" but “I just remember I was recording and my manager walked in and said Nettspend was there… That’s gang. I’m already knowing him through one of my best mans, [so] working with him is great.”

Composition

Coming in at a run time of one minute and four seconds, "40" is a trap song, which combines "glossy kick drums. According to Chris DeVille of Stereogum, he wrote how the track sees Evilgiane feature his "latest skittering, booming production", while Nettspend and Xaviersobased "criss cross" through the beat with their "BabyTron-esque dispassionate YouTube-rapper zone". Vivian Medithi of The Fader wrote how “40” sees Xaviersobased performing most of the track before Nettspend delivers a brief mid-verse appearance. The song has been described as reflecting a stylistic connection between different eras of SoundCloud rap, with Xaviersobased noting that while the overall vibe remained similar, the music had become “the vibe stayed the same, but musically, the music is just way more fried, way more bass, way faster

Alli Dempsey of Alternative Press wrote how the track saw Evilgiane " stir up an effervescent, lurching beat while new-gens Nettspend and Xaviersobased lay down breezy, back-and-forth bars." Brady Brickner-Wood of Pitchfork praised the track writing how it feels like a "sucker punch to the head", he also writes how Evilgiane's "squiggly synths, blown-out 808, and digi-drill drums, Nettspend and Xaviersobased deliver aggressively nonchalant flows and trade bars about toting TECs and skipping school." he ends the review off on a good note writing how the track sees the duo unapologetically remain themselves.

Critical reception

The reception for "40" was fairly positive. HotNewHipHop rated "40" at #47 on their "Top 50 hottest songs of 2024". The New York Times Jon Caramanica ranked it at #12 on his top 30 list, writing how "a reminder that the only thing more thrilling than one mischievous edge-pusher working without a net is two, or three." Pitchfork wrote how it's a "must listen" song, with them featuring "40" on their "Pitchfork Selects Playlist".