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The Worst (Jhené Aiko song)

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"The Worst"
Song

"The Worst" is a song by American recording artist Jhene Aiko released on her debut EP Sail Out (2013). The song was released as its second official single and was serviced to Rhythmic contemporary radio on January 14, 2014, through ARTium and Def Jam Recordings. The Worst was written by Aiko along with frequent collaborators Mac Robinson, Myron Birdsong and Brian Warfield. Birdsong and Warfield handled the songs production under the production name Fisticuffs. The song offers a sample of the 2003 single "Excuse Me Miss" by Jay-Z.

The Worst is an R&B and PBR&B song that lyrically explores Aiko's regret towards falling in love with someone not right for her.[2] Upon release the song received mixed reviews from critics, who noted that the song was "forgettable". However, "The Worst" won the Centric Award at the 2014 BET Awards. Commercially the song fared well, peaking at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100. "The Worst" peaked at number one on the airplay Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop charts, making Aiko the first female artist to top the chart as a lead with a debut single since Jazmine Sullivan in 2008.

An accompanying video directed by Danny Williams was released on November 11, 2013. The video depicts the aftermath of the murder of Aiko's boyfriend. Aiko performed the track on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” BBC Radio 1′s Future Festival and the “Ellen DeGeneres Show." The Worst was remixed by Jaden Smith, T.I. and Kirko Bangz. The single was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 digital downloads.[3]

Background

It was revealed in 2012 that Aikos debut EP would feature production from producer Fisticuffs, who helped produce the majority of Aiko's 2011 mixtape Sailing Soul(s).[4]

Reception

Upon release the song was met with mixed reviews from critics. Writing on behalf of Consequence of Sound BJ gave the song a mixed review calling the song "forgettable", continuing on to say that the song does not "stick".[5] Ryan B. Patrick of Exclaim! also gave the song a negative review stating that "The Worst" lacks "weight" and does not achieve the "intended trance effect," instead disappearing into the "ether" like "smoke."[6] "The Worst" was nominated and later won the Centric Award at the 2014 BET Awards.[7]

On May 2, 2014 "The Worst" rose from three to one on the airplay Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop. With this achievement Aiko became first female artist to top the chart as a lead with a debut single since Jazmine Sullivan reached the same feat with "Need U Bad" in 2008.[8] The Worst also rose forty seven to forty three on the Hot 100.[8] The song peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 at forty-three, becoming Aiko's first solo release to chart in the region, the song also peaked at number eleven on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[9][10]

Promotion

On November 11, 2013 Aiko debuted the song's accompanying music video.[11] The video depicts Aiko being driven to murder due to her bad relationship, the video continues with Aiko sitting in her kitchen while her boyfriend lies on the floor. After committing murder, she makes herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, applies her makeup, and puts on her jewelery.[11] She washes her hands of blood and calmly walks out of her house in lingerie to waiting cops. The video was described by Rap-Up as "dark and deadly."[11] Aiko said the video depicted fantasy.

“I’ve never killed a guy, and I’ve never went to jail, but those are the things I have to get out of my head some way. It’s writing a song and then turning my crazy thoughts into those moments where I’m like, I could really do that, but I’m not going to.”[12]

To promote the song Aiko performed it live on various occasions. On January 18, 2014 she performed the song on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” accompanied by The Roots. The performance was described as "emotional" by online publication Rap-Up.[13] On January 22, 2014 she performed the song at BBC Radio 1′s Future Festival in Maida Vale, London along with her band wearing a flowy white dress.[14] The following month on February 13, Aiko performed the song on Conan.[15] On May 27, 2014 Aiko performed the single on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show, the performance featured the lights turned low, and Aiko barefoot.[16] On July 22, 2014 Aiko released a video of her preparing to go on tour and rehearsals. During the video she sang an acoustic rendition of the song along with her guitarist Jeff, during the video Aiko also performed “Stay Ready (What a Life)” and "To Love & Die".[17]

Remixes

The song has been remixed by a variety of artists. The first came from fifteen-year-old rapper Jaden Smith, in which he lyrically deals with the "complexity of a relationship."[18] American rapper T.I. remixed the song for "DJ MLK’s Goodnight Don’t Exist in ATL 4," during the song the rapper draws on his own relationships and "responds to his scorned lover."[19] The song was later remixed by roy Ave who added a short verse to the song.[20] American rapper Kirko Bangz release a cover version of the song which featured Bangz free styling, Bannz also released an accompanying video to his free style.[21]

On May 18, The Robert Glasper Trio released an instrumental cover of the song as a promotional single for their upcoming album, "Covered".

Accolades

"The Worst" won the Centric Award at the BET Awards 2014, and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 2015 Grammy Awards.

Year Awards ceremony Award description(s) Results
2014 BET Awards Centric Award Won
2015 Grammy Awards Best R&B Song Nominated

Track listing

Digital download
  • The Worst - 4:14[22]

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[23] Platinum 1,000,000*

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Charts

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 40
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 43
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[26] 4
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 11
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[28] 10

Radio adds

Country Date Format Label
United States[29] January 14, 2014 Rhythmic radio Def Jam Recordings

References

  1. ^ Neasman, Brandon (October 4, 2012). "Changing of the guard: How Frank Ocean, Miguel and more helped R&B find its soul again". The Grio. NBC News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved October 25, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Mackenzie, Holly (November 21–28, 2013). Jhené Aiko: Sail Out (Def Jam/Universal). NOW. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  3. ^ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH Search "The Worst" in "title" box
  4. ^ "Jhene Aiko's Guide to Wining and Dining". Theboombox.com. 2012-10-24. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  5. ^ http://consequenceofsound.net/2013/11/album-review-jhene-aiko-sail-out/
  6. ^ B. Patrick, Ryan (December 9, 2013). Jhené Aiko Sail Out. Exclaim!. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  7. ^ "Beyonce & Jay Z Lead 2014 BET Awards". Billboard. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  8. ^ a b http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/6077278/chart-moves-katy-perrys-birthday-blasts-up-hot-100-jhene-aiko-tops-mainstream
  9. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. March 20, 2014.
  10. ^
  11. ^ a b c http://www.rap-up.com/2013/11/11/video-jhene-aiko-the-worst/#more-172476
  12. ^ http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/vibe-summer-2014-cover-story-jhene-aiko
  13. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/01/17/jhene-aiko-performs-the-worst-on-late-night-with-jimmy-fallon/#more-177329
  14. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/01/22/jhene-aiko-performs-the-worst-at-bbc-radio-1-future-festival/#more-177642
  15. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/02/13/jhene-aiko-performs-the-worst-on-conan/#more-179574
  16. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/05/27/jhene-aiko-performs-the-worst-on-ellen/#more-186703
  17. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/07/22/jhene-aiko-performs-acoustic-version-of-to-love-die/#more-190287
  18. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2013/11/25/new-music-jhene-aiko-f-jaden-smith-the-worst-remix/#more-173813
  19. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/05/06/new-music-ti-f-jhene-aiko-the-worst-remix/#more-185315
  20. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/05/28/new-music-jhene-aiko-f-troy-ave-the-worst-remix/#more-186769
  21. ^ http://thesource.com/2014/05/27/kirko-bangz-takes-on-jhene-aikos-the-worst/
  22. ^ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-worst/id730631386?i=730631867
  23. ^ "American single certifications – Jhené Aiko – The Worst". Recording Industry Association of America.
  24. ^ "Jhené Aiko – The Worst" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  25. ^ "Jhene Aiko Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  26. ^ "Jhene Aiko chart history: Adult R&B Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  27. ^ "Jhene Aiko Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  28. ^ "Jhene Aiko Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  29. ^ http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=16691

External links

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