Peak
68
Weeks
1
Score
91
Chart Year
2023
Polo G grew up in the Chicago hood and has faced trauma throughout his life. "Barely Holdin' On" is a meditative trap ballad where he lays down bars about pulling strength from the darkest struggles. The song opens with the chorus, where Polo vents about his mind being on thin ice. Barely holdin' on This life gets scary as it goes on Burdens while we carry on I ain't perfect, spare me if I'm wrong Life's thrown him curveballs and he's struggling to handle the heat. Polo is seeking some leeway and a nod for the wrong turns he's taken. In the opening verse, Polo pays homage to his childhood buddy, Devonshay Lofton, also known as Tim Tim or TGucci. Tragically, he got caught in a drive-by at just 16 on September 18, 2014. The pain still feels fresh in Polo's heart. Sometimes I miss them days when me and bro was off it, tweaking I hate September 18th, that's when we lost a demon Why the real ones always leave? That's what I get exhausted thinking Can't be ungrateful 'bout this life, you know we fought to see it Polo G has kept Devonshay's memory alive through his music and has said that the G in his name stands for his homie Gucci. In the next verse, Polo spits out his story like a soldier recounting war tales from the front lines. Shots from that steel nine, ain't from that hillside I'm from the trenches where they murder just to kill time A heavy heart, eyes rollin', through dark times, soulless Sorry that they took your son, I'm sendin' my condolence Polo stands with those who've lost sons in these cold, dark days, where some folks kill for kicks. As the outro rolls in, Luna LePage's soulful vocals bring Polo some much-needed uplift. Ooh, there's a power in your soul Ooh, and I wanted you to know Luna LePage's vocals are sampled from Interupt's 2020 track "Power." Southside, Dr. Luke, and Noah Goldstein's production blends mellow guitars and keyboards with a twitchy beat, creating an overall vibe that's both serene and unsettling. Polo G released "Barely Holdin' On" as the lead single off Hood Poet on August 18, 2023, via Columbia Records. Arrad directed the video, which shows scenes of Polo G at a piano as well as real individuals struggling with addiction, poverty, and violence. Polo chose the video's narratives himself. Iranian-American filmmaker Arrad's visual for Polo G's "RAPSTAR" was VMA nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video.
Huh, uh, uh, uh (808 Mafia) Huh, huh, uh, uh Huh, huh, uh, uh Barely holdin' on This life get scary as it goes on Burdens while we carry on I ain't perfect, spare me if I'm wrong Hope my secrets get buried when I'm gone Starin' at the writin' on these headstones They keep on tryna tell me, but I'm strong That's what you wanted to tell me all along Ain't hard to figure him out 'cause all his thoughts was tweeted We blew some shots and shot him up, that's why his top was leakin' 'Cause I ain't never seen a nigga from his coffin speakin' We picked that nigga off, he ain't think that we saw him creepin' Sometimes I miss them days when me and bro was off it, tweakin' I hate September 18th, that's when we lost a demon Why the real ones always leave? That's what I get exhausted thinkin' Can't be ungrateful 'bout this life, you know we fought to see it I'd rather you hate me while I'm here than love me when I'm dead They sent that text that Twinnem check, can't stomach what I read Like life been pushin' me too far and I'm stuck on their ass Don't wanna party, I stay in this lonely room instead And I'm just Barely holdin' on This life get scary as it goes on Burdens while we carry on I ain't perfect, spare me if I'm wrong Hope my secrets get buried when I'm gone Starin' at the writin' on these headstones They keep on tryna tell me, but I'm strong That's what you wanted to tell me all along Death in the air, that shit'll leave you with a chilled spine Even though my spirits down, like, I'm okay, I feel fine Shots from that steel nine, ain't from that hillside I'm from the trenches where they murder just to kill time A heavy heart, eyes rollin', through dark times, soulless Sorry that they took your son, I'm sendin' my condolence Gotta face the facts when the truth unfoldin' I hope you know this That I'm just Barely holdin' on This life get scary as it goes on Burdens while we carry on I ain't perfect, spare me if I'm wrong Hope my secrets get buried when I'm gone Starin' at the writin' on these headstones They keep on tryna tell me, but I'm strong That's what you wanted to tell me all along Ooh, there's a power in your soul Ooh, and I wanted you to know
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 2, 2023 | 68 | 58 |