Jack Ü

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Lore & Background

The first track to emerge from the duo was "Take Ü There" featuring Canadian musician Kiesza. In an interview with BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe, Skrillex explained that the making of this song had a unique process: He and Diplo were set to play a show in Ibiza when they saw Canadian pop singer Kiesza perform ahead of them. Impressed with her singing, they asked her to do the vocals for a song. They recorded her in their hotel room and finished the song in one night. During a set at Camp Question Mark of the Burning Man festival (one of eight different sets they played over the course of the festival), the duo played "Take Ü There" along with an unreleased track titled "To Ü", of the electro and future bass genres, featuring vocals from AlunaGeorge. "Beat Steady Knockin'", which features vocals by New Orleans bounce artist Fly Boi Keno, was also played. It was later re-titled "Beats Knockin'" for the album's release. In early 2015, Jack Ü played numerous unreleased tracks in a two-hour takeover mix on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Tracks played included "Febreze" featuring 2 Chainz, "Jungle Bae", "Cumbia" featuring Maluca and a new collaboration with Snails entitled "Holla Out". "Febreze", "Jungle Bae" and "Holla Out" were all included on the album, while "Cumbia" featuring Maluca was excluded from the album. Skrillex has also mentioned that Jack Ü has "got five songs that we made that aren't even released, and we'll end up releasing in 2014". On February 27, 2015, Skrillex and Diplo released the album on iTunes. Alongside the previously revealed six tracks, the album's release included unannounced songs "Where Are Ü Now" featuring Justin Bieber, "Mind" featuring Kai and vocals from Skrillex, "Don't Do Drugs Just Take Some Jack Ü" and a remixed version of "Take Ü There" with Missy Elliott.

In Their Own Story

The album received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which gives out a rating out of 100, the album received a score of 70 based on a number of 8 reviews, which says that they were "generally favorable reviews". Also, at Rolling Stone, which gives out a rating out of 5 stars to said criticised albums, the album received from the critic 3.5 out of 5 stars. Nick Murray of Rolling Stone went so far as to describe the album as "as forward-sounding as any dance release in recent memory." The Pitchfork review by Corban Goble, instead stated that "Jack Ü doesn't exactly roll the ball forward", but that the album should be praised for being "maximalist party music". Goble also noted the world-music influence that Diplo and "ragga soca artist Bunji Garlin" brought to the album, singling out Jungle Bae featuring Garlin as one of the record's best tracks. Once the album was released to the public, it entered into the Billboard 200 chart, debuting at number 26, selling a rounded 14,000 copies in its first week of release. On June 22, 2016, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for combined album sales, on-demand audio, video streams, track sales equivalent of 500,000.

Reader's Guide

The album features collaborations with a range of artists including Kiesza, AlunaGeorge, 2 Chainz, Missy Elliott and Justin Bieber. It also features the Trinidadian soca artist Bunji Garlin. "Take Ü There" featuring Kiesza was released as the lead single from the album on October 4, 2014, reaching number sixteen on the UK Dance Chart. "Where Are Ü Now" was released as the second official single simultaneously with the album on February 27, 2015. The song is a collaboration with Canadian musician Justin Bieber. The track has so far reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the duo's biggest hit on both charts thus far. Moreover, the song peaked at number three in Australia, currently the highest peak of the single worldwide. The song was hugely successful throughout Europe, reached the top-ten in Sweden and Finland, as well as the top-twenty in Norway, Czech Republic, Denmark and Slovakia. It has also charted in Bieber's native Canada, peaking at number 6. Although not released as an official single, "To Ü" was added to BBC Radio 1Xtra's C-Playlist on March 23, 2015. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album and "Where Are Ü Now" won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

Did You Know?

• The first track to emerge from the duo, "Take Ü There" featuring Kiesza, was recorded in a hotel room and finished in one night after Skrillex and Diplo saw Kiesza perform ahead of them in Ibiza.
• During the Burning Man festival, Jack Ü played eight different sets, including one at Camp Question Mark where they debuted "Take Ü There" and an unreleased track "To Ü".
• "Where Are Ü Now" peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart and number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the duo's biggest hit on both charts.
• The album debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200, selling 14,000 copies in its first week, and was certified gold by the RIAA on June 22, 2016.
• The track "Holla Out" samples "Train Sequence" by Geoffrey Sumner and interpolates "Headlines" by Drake.

Formation and Creative Process

The collaborative project Jack Ü emerged from the creative synergy between electronic music heavyweights Skrillex and Diplo, resulting in their sole studio album. The duo's workflow was often spontaneous and immersive, exemplified by the creation of 'Take Ü There.' After witnessing Canadian singer Kiesza perform in Ibiza, they were so impressed that they invited her to record vocals immediately in their hotel room, completing the track within a single night. This impromptu approach extended to festivals like Burning Man, where they debuted unreleased material including 'To Ü' and 'Beat Steady Knockin'' during multiple sets. In early 2015, the pair further teased their sonic direction through a two-hour radio takeover on BBC Radio 1Xtra, showcasing tracks like 'Febreze' with 2 Chainz and 'Holla Out.' By the time of the official release on February 27, 2015, via Owsla and Mad Decent, the album had expanded to include surprise additions such as a Missy Elliott remix and the globally recognized hit featuring Justin Bieber.

Singles and Chart Success

The commercial trajectory of Jack Ü was defined by two primary singles that showcased the duo's ability to bridge underground dance music with mainstream pop. The lead single, 'Take Ü There' featuring Kiesza, arrived in October 2014, securing a spot at number sixteen on the UK Dance Chart and setting the stage for the upcoming album. However, it was the second single, 'Where Are Ü Now,' released simultaneously with the full project in February 2015, that cemented their global status. Featuring Justin Bieber, this track became the duo's most significant commercial achievement, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. Its success was even more pronounced internationally, hitting number three in Australia and charting within the top ten across various European nations including Sweden and Finland. While not officially released as a single, 'To Ü' also gained traction by being added to BBC Radio 1Xtra's C-Playlist shortly after the album dropped.

Critical Reception and Artistic Style

Upon its release, Jack Ü garnered generally favorable reviews from music critics, earning a Metacritic score of 70 based on eight professional assessments. The album was praised for its maximalist approach to party music, with Rolling Stone awarding it 3.5 out of 5 stars and describing the record as one of the most forward-sounding dance releases in recent memory. Critics noted the unique blend of genres, particularly highlighting Diplo's incorporation of world-music influences and ragga soca elements through collaborations like 'Jungle Bae' with Bunji Garlin. While some reviewers, such as Corban Goble from Pitchfork, felt the album did not radically advance the genre, they still commended its energy and production value. The project successfully balanced experimental electronic sounds with accessible pop structures, creating a distinct sonic identity that resonated with both dance music purists and casual listeners alike.

Awards and Commercial Legacy

The impact of Jack Ü was formally recognized at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, where the album achieved significant accolades. It won the prestigious award for Best Dance/Electronic Album, validating the duo's artistic vision. Furthermore, their hit single 'Where Are Ü Now' took home the trophy for Best Dance Recording, underscoring its technical excellence and popularity within the electronic music community. Commercially, the album demonstrated strong staying power; it debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200 with approximately 14,000 copies sold in its first week. Its long-term success was confirmed when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the project Gold on June 22, 2016. This certification reflected a combination of traditional album sales and modern consumption metrics, including track sales and audio streams equivalent to 500,000 units, marking it as a definitive milestone in the careers of both Skrillex and Diplo.

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