Pop sensation Dua Lipa has released a remix of her hit single "Illusion," featuring Japanese hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts. The track, which appears on Lipa's latest album "Radical Optimism," has been given a fresh twist with the duo's signature style.
"Illusion (Creepy Nuts Remix)" marks the latest remix of the song, which originally reached the top spot on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart and cracked the top 10 on the UK Official Singles Chart. The song has also been streamed over 250 million times worldwide and garnered over 35 million views on its music video.
The collaboration with Creepy Nuts, known for their viral hit "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born," which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Global 200 chart, was born out of mutual admiration. The duo's global success caught Lipa's attention, leading her team to reach out to them for a remix.
"It all started when Creepy Nutsâ 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born' reached the top 10 on the Billboard Global 200 chart in March," explains a source close to Lipa. "The catchy hip-hop banger became the fourth song by a Japanese artist to break into the top 10 on this tally, and Dua was impressed."
The remix, which is Creepy Nuts' first collaboration with an artist outside of Japan, blends Matsunaga's infectious melodies with R-shitei's rapid-fire lyrics. The duo even paid homage to Lipa's past hits by incorporating their titles into their verses.
"The track turned out well, and it was a fresh challenge that brought out a new side of us as well," says Matsunaga, while R adds, "I looked to the original lyrics of Dua Lipaâs 'Illusion' and participated in the world it depicted, letting the illusionist in me appear in the lyrics that I wrote."
Lipa, who is set to return to Japan for the first time in six years in November for two arena shows that sold out on the day tickets went on sale, is excited about the collaboration. The "Dance the Night" singer, recently recognized by Spotify as the first artist in history to hold five songs with over 2 billion streams, is thrilled to share the remix with her global fanbase.
"Be sure to listen to the remix by these two amazing talents," encourages Lipa.
Meanwhile, Creepy Nuts, who recently dominated Billboard Japan's mid-year Japan Songs chart by topping the lists for six countries, are also eager for their fans to hear the result of this unique collaboration.
"[The remix] is precisely us, and itâs also a new side of us that was brought out because the song was Dua Lipaâs 'Illusion,'" the duo shares. "Itâs in both English and Japanese but turned out smooth; we hope you enjoy it."
"Illusion (Creepy Nuts Remix)" is available to stream now on all major platforms.
