Better Days

Better Days by NEIKED X Mae Muller X Polo G: Chart History and Background

"Better Days" is a collaborative single uniting Swedish electronic duo NEIKED, British pop singer Mae Muller, and Chicago rapper Polo G, released in 2021. The track is a cross-genre collaboration that bridges European dance-pop with American rap, a format that had proven commercially viable through numerous prior collaborations between electronic producers and hip-hop artists. The song arrived during a period when streaming platforms were actively rewarding music that crossed genre lines, as algorithmic playlist placement often favored tracks that could satisfy multiple listener categories simultaneously.

NEIKED, the Swedish production duo behind the project, had established their commercial credentials with earlier international hits, particularly in the United Kingdom market where melodic electronic pop with guest vocalists had strong radio and streaming support. Mae Muller, a British singer-songwriter with a growing profile in the UK pop market, contributed the lead vocal hook, bringing a warmth and emotional directness to the production that anchored its emotional appeal. Polo G, whose full name is Taurus Tremani Bartlett, was in the midst of a significant career ascent following the success of his album "Hall of Fame," which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in June 2021.

Polo G's participation in "Better Days" was commercially strategic as well as creatively coherent. By 2021, he had demonstrated an unusual capacity for melodic rap and emotional vulnerability that set him apart from many of his peers in the Chicago drill scene he emerged from. His ability to bridge hard-hitting rap authenticity and melodic accessibility made him a natural fit for a production that leaned heavily into uplift and emotional resonance. The combination of Mae Muller's clean pop vocals and Polo G's rap delivery created a contrast that gave the song a dynamic range most purely genre-specific tracks lack.

The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100 during 2021, benefiting from international streaming figures alongside domestic numbers. NEIKED's European fan base contributed significantly to the song's global streaming count, and the track performed particularly well in markets where melodic pop-rap crossovers have historically found receptive audiences, including the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and Germany. This kind of geographic diversification is increasingly reflected in the Hot 100's methodology, which incorporates streaming data from all U.S. listeners but also benefits when an artist's international popularity drives additional domestic promotion and exposure.

The production was released through Columbia Records in the United States, giving it access to significant promotional infrastructure for radio and streaming pitching. The label's ability to position the track across multiple format radio stations, from pop to rhythmic, extended its potential reach considerably. The lyrical content, centered on optimism and perseverance through hardship, was well-suited to radio environments where thematic positivity tends to perform strongly, particularly during a period when audiences emerging from the pandemic were receptive to music with hopeful messaging.

Polo G's verse on "Better Days" was noted by critics as one of his strongest feature appearances, demonstrating his ability to adapt his style to a context that differed significantly from his solo output without losing the authenticity that made him compelling. This adaptability was recognized as a commercial asset, as it signaled that his appeal was not limited to the specific sonic contexts of Chicago drill or street rap but could translate across broader musical formats. The collaboration helped introduce him to pop audiences who might not have encountered his work through his solo catalog.

Critically, "Better Days" received positive coverage in music publications across both sides of the Atlantic. UK publications in particular noted Mae Muller's performance and the song's effective emotional construction, while American outlets focused on Polo G's contribution and the commercial logic of the cross-genre format. The song functioned as a kind of ambassador track, introducing each artist to the audiences of the others and generating the kind of cross-pollination that streaming-era collaborations are specifically designed to achieve.

The cultural timing of the song was also notable. "Better Days" arrived in 2021 as vaccination programs were accelerating in many Western countries and the possibility of returning to pre-pandemic social life was becoming tangible for many people. Music with optimistic themes about difficult times giving way to better circumstances resonated deeply in this context, and the song's chart performance likely benefited from this alignment between its message and the emotional needs of its audience at that specific historical moment.