The Culture Has Another Anthem: ‘IWTNT’ Climbs the iTunes Charts
How two North Carolina Artists turned an unexpected moment into a celebration of Black joy.
Summer may be winding down, but before we trade cookouts for tailgates, the culture has one more anthem up its sleeve. With Yung Miami’s Spend Dat and Saucy Santana’s Quiet on the Creek making major waves this Summer, there’s a new song climbing the iTunes charts just in time for Summer 26’s final stretch: IWTNT.
Dexter Jordan, photo courtesy of Dexter Jordan
A collaboration by Dexter Jordan and Jamison Bethea, IWTNT—I’m With The N****s Tonight—which peaked at No. 5 on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap charts and finished at No. 97 on the All Genres chart, is an audible expression of Black joy. Dexter describes the song as a celebration of Blackness, saying, “People have said it's the new Black national anthem.”
With lyrics like “every day is Juneteenth, it’s a celebration,” references to “blood cousins and fake ones,” and vocal arrangements reminiscent of the gospel choir music that many who grew up in the Black church can relate to, it’s no wonder the song has resonated with Black people across social media. Jamison expressed that the choir parts were non-negotiable, a sentiment Dexter echoed: “Everybody’s favorite part is that part [...] because that’s blackness, choir—soprano, alto, tenor, everyone does that in church.”
The sound has been shared on TikTok more than 46,000 times, with people using it to showcase themselves living their best lives on Carnival cruises, at cookouts, attending concerts, and just enjoying being Black. Among those using the sound are comedian KevOnStage and singer-songwriter Justine Skye. The song was also mentioned on Carlos King's “Monday Night Live.”
Comedian KevOnStage reacts to IWTNT on Instagram.
Image captured from Instagram @kevonstage
Ironically, the origin of the song was just as unplanned as its success. Dexter, an Alabama native who’s called North Carolina home most of his life, was out with his friends in Charlotte after wrapping Ari Lennox’s Vacancy tour; he sings background for the artist. After getting turned away from the bar for wearing a tank top, he and his friends decided to walk around Uptown Charlotte instead. “My friends were like, ‘Well, let’s just go,’ and we just started walking Uptown Charlotte, you know, just having fun and that was the reason why we were hooting and hollering,” he says. He recorded a video singing what would become the song’s chorus. Jamison, also from North Carolina, caught wind of Dexter’s video, and that’s where the idea for the collaboration was born. He reached out to Dexter and the two began working to turn the moment into a song. They had no idea it would take off the way it did, and Jamison, who’s had several of his remixes garner significant attention in the past, sees the moment as proof that you never really know what will resonate. “It’s really crazy what you think might work and it doesn't…then, what does work...you just really never know. You really always have to just post the content,” he says.
Jamison Bethea, photo by J. Lamar
Beyond a catchy beat and infectious melody, IWTNT has become a source of light heartedness and relief. In a time when the political climate feels heavy and conversations surrounding incidents like the death of Nolan Wells continue to circulate, Dexter says the song gives people a chance to simply have fun. “I think it’s the freedom to celebrate who we are as Black people. I think that's resonating the most. At a time like this, I guess this is the song that people needed to just have fun [...] I think when they hear it, it’s like, ‘You know what, I can keep going. I can keep striving. I’m able to be fully Black in myself in this life.’”
While both Dexter and Jamison have independent records of their own, IWTNT marks their first collaboration and hopefully not their last. We won’t reveal too much just yet, but there are talks of remixes and so much more. You’ll have to keep your ears and eyes open to see who’s next to join the collaboration.
If its momentum is any indication, IWTNT is more than just a viral moment. From Black History Month to Juneteenth, family reunions, cookouts and everything in between, this is a song that feels built to resurface wherever Black people gather to celebrate. The train is moving, so hop on. The new Black Anthem is just getting started.
For all things IWTNT, visit IWTNT.com
