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"Sober" is a song by American rapper G-Eazy, featuring vocals from American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth. It was released via RCA Records on December 8, 2017, as the third single from G-Eazy's third studio album, The Beautiful & Damned.[1][2][3][4] Puth produced the song with Dakari and the Futuristics, and they wrote the song with G-Eazy alongside Matt Dragstrem and Edgar Machuca.

"Sober"
Single by G-Eazy featuring Charlie Puth
from the album The Beautiful & Damned
Written	2015
Released	December 8, 2017 (2017-12-08)
Length	3:23
Label	RCA
Songwriter(s)	Gerald Gillum Charlie Puth Dakarai Gwitira Joe Khajadourian Breyan Isaac Ester Dean Alex Schwartz Matt Dragstrem Edgar Machuca
Producer(s)	Dakari Charlie Puth The Futuristics
G-Eazy singles chronology
"Him & I" (2017) "Sober" (2017) "1942" (2018)
Charlie Puth singles chronology
"How Long" (2017) "Sober" (2017) "Done for Me" (2018)
Music video
"Sober" on YouTube

Background

G-Eazy revealed the album's full track listing alongside the single release.[5][6] Talking about how the collaboration came together, Eazy told MTV News: "Charlie is one of the most talented individuals in music. He's a really special artist. We met a while ago when we're touring in Europe, and we're playing venues right next to each other. We clicked up that night and just talked and just vibed, and I found out he is a huge fan of the Bay Area hip hop, it was a huge new found respect for him on that level." He also explained his reasoning for the title of the song, saying: "I try to illustrate both sides, you know what I mean? There's definitely the fun side of going out and partying. I'm out all the time. But then there's also that reality of — I try to paint the picture of the other side, living with that [feeling], what did I do last night? But it's all about finding that medium, and I think that's ultimately [the meaning of] The Beautiful & Damned, is to not end up way out there, and to keep yourself in check and try to find that balance, find moderation, or whatever."[7]

In an interview with Billboard, Puth said that he wrote the song with Breyan Issac and Ester Dean in 2015, which was a dark point in his life, and that he had someone in mind when he wrote it. He continued: "You never know where these songs are gonna go. I had originally written verses, like sing-y verses, and it just didn't feel right. It felt like it needed an Eminem type story. When I heard G's verses on it, they just happened to be something similar to what I went through. There is no other person who could have done it better than G. I love G. Young Gerald, Eazy season. He's my tallest friend."[8]

Critical reception

Megan Armstrong of Billboard made the metaphor of G-Eazy's rapping being "the devil on one shoulder" and Puth's voice being "the angel on the other [shoulder]". She praised both artists for playing off their contrast in styles.[9] Deepa Lakshmin of MTV News felt "G-Eazy's rap verses blend perfectly with Puth's smooth vocals".[10] Mike Wass of Idolator regarded the song as "a bro-anthem" and "an ode to, and a cautionary tale about, drunken nights". He praised Puth for providing "an instantly hummable chorus".[11]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[12]

• G-Eazy – songwriting
• Charlie Puth – songwriting, production
• Breyan Isaac – songwriting
• The Futuristics – songwriting, production
• Ester Dean – songwriting
• Matt Dragstrem – songwriting
• Dakarai Gwitira – songwriting, production, record engineering
• Edgar Machuca – songwriting
• Jaycen Joshua – mix engineering
• Ben Milchev – engineering assistance
• David Nakaji – engineering assistance

Charts

Chart (2017–18)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[13]	4
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14]	80
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[15]	16
New Zealand Heatseeker (RMNZ)[16]	9
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[17]	6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18]	49
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[19]	33
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[20]	15

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21]	Gold	500,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	December 8, 2017	Digital download	RCA	[12]
Australia	March 16, 2018	Contemporary hit radio	Sony	[22]
United States	March 20, 2018		RCA	[23]
Italy	March 23, 2018		Sony	[24]

References

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