"Money" (stylized in all caps) is a song by Thai rapper, singer, and Blackpink member Lisa from her debut single album Lalisa (2021). It was released to US contemporary hit radio by Interscope Records as the second single from the album on November 9, 2021 after achieving viral success. The lyrics for the track were written by Bekuh Boom and Vince, with music being composed by them alongside 24 and R. Tee. It is an American rap style track over a laid-back horn beat with boastful lyrics about spending money and being rich.
Commercially, "Money" peaked at number ten on the Billboard Global 200, becoming Lisa's second top-ten hit and the longest-charting song by a K-pop soloist on the chart. It topped the national chart in Malaysia and entered the top ten in the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Singapore, and Slovakia. The track figured within the record charts of 26 countries, and became the longest-charting song by a K-pop female soloist on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart among others. It is the most-streamed song by a K-pop soloist and by a K-pop female act on Spotify and earned a Guinness World Record in 2023 for being the first K-pop track by a solo artist to reach 1 billion streams on the platform. The song has been certified gold in France, Poland, and Portugal.
Background and release
On August 25, 2021, YG Entertainment announced that Lisa would make her solo debut with the single album titled after her given name, Lalisa. "Money" was confirmed as the B-side track on the tracklist of the single album on September 5. The song was released alongside the album on September 10, and received a performance video on September 24. Following its release, "Money" trended on TikTok and Instagram Reels in the form of dance covers, transformation edits, and edits to the television series Squid Game, and began to rise in the international charts. In response to its viral success, the song was sent by Interscope Records to US contemporary hit radio as the second single from the album on November 9, 2021.
Composition
The song's lyrics were written by Bekuh Boom and Vince, and music was composed by them alongside 24 and R. Tee. Lyrically it is a boastful song about being rich and spending cash. The song is composed in the key of E minor and carries a tempo of 140 beats per minute, and is described as a dynamic hip hop song. Nolan Feeney from Billboard explained the music of the song is close to the "contemporary American rap" and is "built around a languid horn loop."
Critical reception
"Money" received mixed to positive reviews, with Lisa's performance and rapping receiving praise; on the other hand, some criticized the song's composition and lyrical content. Rhian Daly of NME criticized the lyrics as "cringe-y at best" and the sound as "obvious, safe and boring." In a more positive assessment, Starr Bowenbank of Billboard stated that the track exhibits the "full extent of her rap skills, star power and crossover appeal." Writing for Teen Vogue, Maddy Meyer similarly stated that "from the start, this song draws the listener in" and that it "has all the confidence Lisa is known for."
Year-end lists
Performance video
On September 20, 2021, release of a "exclusive performance video" for "Money" was announced. Initially scheduled for the release on September 23, at 12 a.m. KST, the release was postponed by a day because of the delay in the post-production of the video due to the Chuseok holiday. It became the fastest K-pop performance video to reach 500 million views on YouTube, doing so in less than six months. A dance practice video was released on October 11, 2021, which topped the worldwide trending list on YouTube and reached 10 million views in one day.
In the performance video, Lisa along with the backup dancers gives a choreographed performance for the song in two inter-changing settings. The video starts with Lisa dancing in the middle of an abandoned airstrip taxiway wearing a khaki-colored ensemble and green Celine chest. A billboard reading "money is a terrible master but an excellent servant" beams in the background. In the other setting, Lisa wears a checkered crop top and bralette combo, red tap shorts, and fur boots performing in a warehouse with a white LED screen at the back.