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Save Dat Money

"ave Dat Money" (stylized as ave Dat Money) is a novelty song by American rapper , featuring fellow rappers and , released on June 10, 2015, as the third single from 's debut studio album, Professional Rapper. The track humorously explores themes of financial and the music industry's excesses through 's comedic storytelling, blending beats with satirical lyrics that poke fun at extravagant spending habits common in rap culture. The song gained significant attention upon its release, debuting at No. 71 on the chart dated October 10, 2015, marking Lil Dicky's first entry on the ranking, driven by 13,000 digital downloads and 4.1 million U.S. streams during its tracking week. It also entered at No. 25 on the chart and propelled the album to No. 10 on the Rap Albums chart. The accompanying , directed by Tony Yacenda and released on September 17, 2015, went for its innovative zero-budget concept, where Lil Dicky recruits celebrities and friends to appear without compensation, cleverly tying into the song's money-saving message and amassing millions of views on . Over time, "$ave Dat Money" achieved commercial success, earning a double-platinum certification from the RIAA in 2019 for combined sales and streaming equivalent to 2 million units in the United States. The track's blend of humor, collaborations with rising stars like and at the time, and its relatable economic commentary solidified its place as a standout in Lil Dicky's catalog, contributing to his reputation as a comedic force in .

Background and recording

Development

Lil Dicky conceived "$ave Dat Money" as a satirical commentary on within the , where ostentatious spending is a common trope, drawing directly from his personal experiences as an independent artist who bootstrapped his career through resourceful, low-cost strategies such as a successful 2013 campaign that raised $113,000 for touring and production. This idea stemmed from his genuine pride in cost-saving habits, which he viewed as a to the genre's typical , aiming to create an ironic yet relatable track that highlighted financial savvy amid hip-hop's evolving . In late 2014, decided to feature and on the track to merge his comedic, novelty approach with the mainstream appeal of , selecting them specifically because their verses often celebrated lavish expenditures, providing a stark and humorous contrast to the song's thrift-themed narrative. To secure their involvement, he initiated direct outreach efforts, including offering substantial payments for the features. These choices were intended to enhance the song's radio potential and broaden its reach beyond niche comedy rap audiences. The track was included on Lil Dicky's debut studio album , released in July , reinforcing the album's overarching themes of navigating financial prudence and entrepreneurial hustle in the business.

Recording process

The recording of "$ave Dat Money" occurred primarily during 2014 and early , with Lil Dicky and his team utilizing a mix of professional studios in for core sessions while emphasizing cost-saving measures throughout the process. To align with the track's frugal theme, Lil Dicky handled the bulk of his primary verses using a setup, allowing for flexible iteration without incurring high studio fees. This approach enabled quick adjustments to his comedic delivery and flow, reflecting his independent production style prior to signing with a major label. Collaboration with featured artists was managed remotely to accommodate their schedules and locations, streamlining logistics across distances. and recorded their parts in their respective home areas before sending the files back to the team for integration. This method minimized travel expenses and disruptions, a practical choice given the artists' rising demands at the time. Producer Money Alwayz oversaw the beat construction and final assembly, layering trap-influenced elements such as booming and patterns drawn from contemporary sounds. Post-initial vocal takes, comedic elements were incorporated to underscore the song's satirical take on wealth, adding polish without additional recording time. These enhancements were refined in mixing sessions, ensuring the track's radio-ready bounce while preserving its humorous edge.

Music and lyrics

Composition

"Save Dat Money" is classified as a track incorporating influences, blending humorous rap delivery with rhythmic elements typical of Southern . The song runs for 4:51 and proceeds at a of 98 beats per minute, allowing for a laid-back yet bouncy suited to its satirical . Structurally, the track opens with an intro by and , followed by two primary verses from that drive the narrative. Hooks are prominently featured, with handling the recurring chorus emphasizing thriftiness and contributing a contrasting that shifts into a hook-like . A incorporates ad-libs from the artists, building tension before resolving into the outro, which recaps the central motif through layered vocals. The production, handled by Money Alwayz, features warm, clang-like lines.

Lyrical content

The of "$ave Dat Money" center on the theme of and financial prudence, presented through a satirical lens that mocks the ostentatious often glorified in . Lil Dicky contrasts everyday penny-pinching tactics with the genre's typical boasts of , using absurd, relatable scenarios to highlight thriftiness, such as exploiting programs for free items or avoiding unnecessary expenditures. This approach satirizes excess by flipping on luxury flexing, emphasizing instead a humorous rejection of wasteful spending in favor of smart saving. Lil Dicky's first verse focuses on daily budgeting hacks, detailing personal habits like wearing the same jeans daily, redeeming stamps for free sandwiches, booking flights months in advance for deals, opting for generic drugs, and sharing family logins to cut costs. In his second verse, he shifts to industry hustles, portraying cost-saving maneuvers within the music business, such as using for leases while rarely being present, relocating a to for tax benefits, snagging happy hour deals on food and dates, and timing purchases like summer sweaters during sales. These verses employ a narrative style that builds comedic momentum through escalating examples of miserly ingenuity, underscoring the song's novelty as a of rap's high-rolling ethos. Fetty Wap's reinforces thrift in relationships and lifestyle choices, questioning the need for jewelry, clothes, or extravagant displays of ("Ayy, where the at, baby? (Fuck I need for man?)"), and affirming that stays in the to avoid blowing it on superficial items. The recurring "I'm tryna save dat " (adapted in the as "we gon' save dat ") serves as a catchy, ironic that ties the together, blending Fetty Wap's melodic delivery with Lil Dicky's comedic edge. Rich Homie Quan's brief provides a contrasting layer of irony, opening with boasts of luxury like luggage and intimidating women with his status, which directly undercuts the song's saving theme. An interlude from interrupts to call out the disconnect ("Quan, what's this have to do with saving money though?"), humorously noting that a full verse would be "too expensive anyways," amplifying the on rap's contradictory flexing. This juxtaposition highlights the track's playful critique of wealth displays while maintaining the central frugal narrative. Throughout, the lyrics incorporate humorous wordplay integrating financial terms into rap flows, such as "check the check" for scrutinizing bills, "do the math" to avoid being overcharged, and "overpaying for it" to mock rappers' bragging about pricey items. The outro extends this with a skit-like rant about contesting a double-charged at a , negotiating down to the "ice cube's worth" and threatening a review, exemplifying the song's absurd, detail-oriented humor on consumer vigilance.

Release and promotion

Single release

"Save Dat Money" was released as a digital download and for streaming on June 10, 2015, through Commission Music and Dirty Burd Music. It marked the third single from Lil Dicky's debut studio album , succeeding "Lemme Freak" and "White Crime". The track received initial promotion exclusively through Lil Dicky's YouTube channel and SoundCloud platforms, reflecting a deliberate digital-first approach that omitted physical formats in favor of online accessibility.

Promotional efforts

Following the single's release in June 2015, Lil Dicky's promotional efforts centered on leveraging the song's frugality theme through viral content and live engagements to sustain momentum. A key strategy involved building hype via early live performances, such as an intimate show at YouTube Space LA on June 28, 2015, where he debuted "$ave Dat Money" for fans to gauge reactions ahead of wider rollout. These appearances tested audience engagement with the track's comedic elements, informing subsequent marketing. The campaign escalated with the music video premiere on September 17, 2015, which served as a major media push, aligning with the song's theme and resulting in millions of YouTube views in the weeks following its release, propelling the track onto the Hot 100. A behind-the-scenes documentary released on September 29, 2015, extended this by sharing -focused clips of the production process, further amplifying buzz and fan interaction on platforms like and . Radio promotion targeted urban contemporary stations through appearances and airplay pushes, including a studio performance on ' Power 106 in 2015, which highlighted the song's features with and to broaden reach. Complementing this, the track gained traction via editorial playlists, such as RapCaviar, aiding algorithmic discovery and streaming growth in late 2015. Tie-ins with Lil Dicky's 2015 tour integrated the song into live sets, where comedic renditions at venues like Toronto's in reinforced the promotional narrative and tested refinements based on crowd responses.

Music video

Production

The music video for "$ave Dat Money" was directed by Tony Yacenda and produced by , with cinematography by Alan Gwizdowski. Principal filming took place in the area, including door-to-door in Beverly Hills for mansion scenes, without obtaining any permits to minimize expenses, with additional filming in for Rich Homie Quan's part. The principal shoot in the Los Angeles area was completed in a single day, relying on quick persuasion tactics to secure brief windows for scenes, such as 15-minute slots at private properties, with additional filming conducted separately. Embracing an ultra-low-budget approach that echoed the song's theme of , the production avoided all paid locations and employed a minimal crew of just two for camera operations, alongside editors. Total expenses remained under $1,000, primarily covering minor costs like feeding the team, while the project generated $600 in earnings from product placements with brands such as MeUndies and . Coordinating cameos presented significant challenges, as celebrities including , , and were recruited through personal networks and direct outreach rather than formal agencies, adding to the improvisational nature of the production.

Synopsis and cameos

The music video for "Save Dat Money" depicts embarking on a day of extreme to produce an elaborate video without spending money, beginning with small acts like obtaining free coffee and progressing to negotiating access to luxury assets. Intercut with these efforts are performance sequences where and his crew utilize borrowed high-end locations, including mansions in Beverly Hills, a , and a yacht, to create the illusion of opulence while emphasizing resourcefulness and haggling for favors. This narrative underscores the song's theme of financial prudence in the rap industry, contrasting everyday penny-pinching with ironic displays of borrowed extravagance. The visual style employs a comedic, approach that blends raw, on-the-ground footage of Lil Dicky's negotiations with polished scenes in lavish settings, highlighting the absurdity of achieving a "baller" aesthetic through sheer persistence rather than expenditure. Premiered on on September 17, 2015, the video maintains a lighthearted tone, using quick cuts and humorous interactions to juxtapose cheap tactics against glamorous backdrops. As of November 2025, the video has garnered over 200 million views on . Notable cameos enhance the video's star power, with celebrities appearing in brief, playful roles that align with the frugal theme. makes an appearance during a filming crossover moment, features as a server in a scene, joins for a basketball-related bit, and contributes to the comedic ensemble. Additional guest spots include as a DJ, and from , in a business context, and in a musical nod, among several other athletes and entertainers who participated for free.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release, "$ave Dat Money" received praise from music publications for its satirical examination of rap's materialistic tropes and emphasis on frugality. similarly highlighted the track's comedic ingenuity, placing it among the funniest rap songs and noting how Lil Dicky "sets the bar high" with the video's appeal, underscoring his "undeniable talent behind the mic" and natural flair for . Critics offered mixed assessments of the song's humor, with some appreciating its lighthearted execution while others found it uneven in addressing cultural dynamics. commended the "gorgeously engineered" production, including Fetty Wap's memorable , and Lil Dicky's competent rhymes that capture rap flows effectively, but critiqued the as "irresponsible gaming of the system" reliant on white privilege, arguing it detached from hip-hop's roots in minority escapism and fiscal pressures. Aggregated critic scores for Lil Dicky's surrounding Professional Rapper, which features the single, stood at 53/100 based on three reviews, reflecting divided opinions on his hit-or-miss comedic style. The music video drew particular acclaim for its low-budget creativity and celebrity cameos, including , , and , which called "absurd" yet "pretty much perfect," positioning it as a standout in rap visuals for ingeniously borrowing luxury items without spending a dime. This resourceful approach amplified the song's thematic impact, blending entertainment with a clever of industry excess.

Commercial performance

"Save Dat Money" debuted at number 71 on the US in October 2015, marking Lil Dicky's first entry on the chart, and spent a total of 19 weeks on the listing. The track achieved strong commercial success, ultimately earning a double platinum from the RIAA in 2019 for combined sales and streaming equivalent to 2 million units in the United States. Digital sales were bolstered by platforms such as , while streaming played a key role in its popularity on services like and . The song has surpassed 278 million streams on as of November 2025, contributing significantly to its overall consumption metrics. The official , released in September 2015, has garnered approximately 200 million views on as of November 2025, further amplifying its reach. Internationally, the song experienced limited but notable traction, peaking at number 54 on the Canadian Hot 100 and earning a gold certification in .

Personnel

Lil Dicky contributions

, whose real name is David Andrew Burd, was the primary songwriter for "$ave Dat Money," crafting the verses and developing the song's central concept of satirizing culture's by advocating for financial thriftiness. His writing credits the track's humorous narrative, which revolves around forgoing lavish spending to "save dat money," as evidenced in the lyrics he authored for the intro, Verse 1, Verse 3, and outro. As the lead performer, delivered the rap sections that drive the song's comedic tone and structure, including the opening monologue and closing lines that tie the theme together. His vocal contributions emphasize the track's playful critique of wealth display in , performed over a beat produced by Money Alwayz. Beyond the audio, originated the innovative concept for the music video, aiming to create a high-production-value visual on a zero-dollar by borrowing items and locations from celebrities and acquaintances. He also starred as the on-screen lead, portraying himself in the narrative where he negotiates for resources to stage an over-the-top rap video without spending. This approach not only aligned with the song's theme but saved an estimated $30,000 in production costs. briefly collaborated with featured artists and for their vocal parts in the and 2. The song "$ave Dat Money" prominently features American rappers and , both of whom were rising stars in at the time of its release in 2015. , known for his melodic style, delivers the infectious chorus and bridge, emphasizing the track's central theme of saving money with lines like "Save dat money, make dat money." His contribution adds a catchy, sing-along element that aligns with his signature auto-tuned delivery, helping to broaden the song's appeal beyond Lil Dicky's comedic rap approach. Rich Homie Quan provides a concise and , injecting high-energy flows that contrast 's narrative style. In annotations on the track, explains that Quan's full verse was recorded but shortened due to high costs, tying into the song's ironic premise about —this limited role still showcases Quan's charismatic presence and ad-libs, enhancing the collaborative dynamic without overshadowing the lead artist. The production of "$ave Dat Money" was handled by Money Alwayz (real name Matthew ), a San Francisco-based producer whose beat incorporates upbeat, synth-driven elements with a playful, economical vibe to match the . also receives a writing credit alongside (David Burd), (Willie Maxwell II), and (Dequantes Devontay Lamar). The track was mixed by at The Fortress of Amplitude in , with engineering assistance from David Baker, ensuring a polished, radio-ready sound that contributed to its viral success.

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