{{Infobox song | name = The Search | cover = <!-- The single was uploaded to iTunes with the album cover art --> | alt = | type = single | artist = [[NF (rapper)|NF]] | album = [[The Search (NF album)|The Search]] | released = {{Start date|2019|05|30}} | recorded = <!-- Please source --> | studio = | genre = *[[Hip hop]] | length = {{duration|m=4|s=8}} (album version) <br>{{duration|m=3|s=17}} (edit) | label = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]] | writer = {{hlist|[[NF (rapper)|Nate Feuerstein]]|[[Tommee Profitt]]}} | producer = {{hlist|Feuerstein|Profitt}} | prev_title = [[If You Want Love]] | prev_year = 2019 | next_title = [[When I Grow Up (NF song)|When I Grow Up]] | next_year = 2019 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|fnlJw9H0xAM|"The Search"}}}} }} "'''The Search'''" is a song by American rapper [[NF (rapper)|NF]], released through [[Capitol Records]] on May 30, 2019, as the second single from the [[The Search (NF album)|album of the same name]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-search-single/1464688026|title=The Search – Single by NF|website=[[Apple Music]]|accessdate=June 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Variance">{{cite web|url=https://variancemagazine.com/sights/10322-nf-the-search|title=NF teases album, opens up about struggles in new song 'The Search'|website=Variance Magazine|last=Schmitt|first=Tyler|date=May 30, 2019|accessdate=June 11, 2019}}</ref> It was written and produced by NF alongside [[Tommee Profitt]], and lyrically discusses the negative impact of fame and commercial success on NF's mental and physical health. A music video was released the same day as the song. It debuted at number 70 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].
==Composition and lyrics== "The Search" lasts for a duration of 4 minutes and 8 seconds, with NF rapping 777 words throughout the track.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/nf-the-search-video/|title=NF explores the dark corners of his mind in "The Search" video|website=Alternative Press|last=Shoemake|first=Whitney|date=May 30, 2019|accessdate=June 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name="tidal">{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/109899211|title=The Search / NF – Tidal|website=[[Tidal (service)|Tidal]]|accessdate=17 June 2019}}</ref> The song's production features "prickly strings, choral backing chants and an unforgiving beat drop" and its structure contains a 30 second intro and lacks a chorus. Lyrically, it discusses the impact on NF's mental health as a consequence of his mainstream success. While the rapper initially understates the negative impact of fame on his life, he soon escalates his criticisms of commercial accomplishments, stating that "The sales can rise/ Doesn't mean much though when your health declines."<ref name="billboard">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/first-stream-new-music-from-katy-perry-miley-cyrus-cardi-b-and-more/|title=First Stream: New Music From Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Cardi B and More|website=Billboard|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="nyt">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/arts/music/playlist-cardi-b-rosalia-katy-perry.html|title=The Playlist: Cardi B Is Stressed, and 13 More New Songs|website=The New York Times|last1=Pareles|first1=Jon|last2=Caramanica|first2=Jon|last3=Ganz|first3=Caryn|last4=Russonello|first4=Giovanni|date=May 30, 2019|accessdate=June 17, 2019}}</ref>
==Meaning== The main message in this song is one of doing well. He starts off his song by “honestly answering the casual and frequent question, “How’s life?” NF continues to answer the greeting throughout the track by discussing recent changes in life, depression and the world itself.”{{citation needed |date=June 2023}}
==Critical reception== Danielle Chelosky of ''Substream Magazine'' described "The Search" as "introspective and unapologetic,"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://substreammagazine.com/2019/05/nf-the-search/|title=NF announces new album and North American tour, releases lead single|website=Substream Magazine|last=Chelosky|first=Danielle|date=May 30, 2019|accessdate=June 17, 2019}}</ref> while Tyler Schmitt of ''[[Variance (magazine)|Variance Magazine]]'' called it "blistering."<ref name="Variance"/> [[Jon Caramanica]], writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', commended NF's delivery, writing that he "raps tartly and with compelling angst."<ref name="nyt"/> Andrew Unterberger of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' wrote that the track "proves that fame is one long anxiety attack" and added that its production gives "the meltdown overtaking his mind operatic grandeur.".<ref name="billboard"/>
== Appearances in media == The song is featured in the trailer of season three of the video game [[Apex Legends]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apex Legends season 3 gameplay trailer gives us a song, ice, and fire|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/28/20888468/apex-legends-season-3-gameplay-trailer-crypto-worlds-edge-map-charge-rifle-ps4-xbox-one-pc|last=Good|first=Owen S.|date=2019-09-28|website=Polygon|language=en|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref> From October 19, 2020 to February 2022, the song was featured as the opening theme song for [[WWE]]'s [[Monday Night Raw]].{{citation needed |date=June 2023}}. The song also appeared in ''[[Fortnite]]'' in the ''Fortnite Festival'' mode and as a "Jam Track" emote for "Battle Royale" mode.
==Personnel== Credits adapted from [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]].<ref name="tidal"/> * [[NF (rapper)|Nate Feuerstein]] – composer, lyricist, producer * [[Tommee Profitt]] – composer, lyricist, producer, mastering engineer, mixer, studio personnel
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Canada|59|artist=NF|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Ireland3|69|artist=NF|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 11, 2019}} |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles ([[Recorded Music NZ|RMNZ]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2019-06-07|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|date=June 10, 2019|access-date=June 11, 2019}}</ref> | 12 |- {{single chart|UK|88|date=20190607|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|70|artist=NF|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 11, 2019}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|27|artist=NF|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 11, 2019}} |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2025|access-date=December 5, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|access-date=July 5, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2023|access-date=May 12, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2023|id=13355|access-date=December 31, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|access-date=January 30, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2024|id=13652|access-date=December 2, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=March 23, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2023|access-date=August 23, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2026|id=16548-4558-1|access-date=January 10, 2026}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=NF|title=The Search|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|number=2|certyear=2023|access-date=May 31, 2023}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{NF (rapper)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Search, The}} [[Category:2019 singles]] [[Category:2019 songs]] [[Category:NF (rapper) songs]] [[Category:Songs written by Tommee Profitt]] [[Category:Songs written by NF (rapper)]] [[Category:Capitol Records singles]]