- 3 weeks ago
Ciara reflects on the biggest songs of her career for Billboard Chart History and shares the stories behind hits like “Goodies,” “1, 2 Step,” “Oh,” “Like a Boy,” “Promise,” “Love Sex Magic,” “Ride,” “Body Party,” “Level Up,” and more! From early breakout moments to career-defining collaborations, Ciara opens up about songwriting, dance, visuals, independence and the records that helped shape her legacy. She also talks about working with legendary collaborators including Missy Elliott, Ludacris, Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, Chamillionaire, Lil Jon, and more. Ciara shares how songs like “Goodies” and “Level Up” changed her life, why “1, 2 Step” remains a fan favorite, and what made records like “Body Party,” “Promise,” and “Ride” such important creative moments in her journey.
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MusicTranscript
00:00Hey guys, it's Ciara here, and this is my Billboard chart history.
00:20I mean, that was the beginning for me.
00:23That was a very important record, a very special record, but really important
00:28because I knew that that was the record.
00:33When I was writing Goody's, I started out in Miami, actually.
00:40It was me, Shakir Stewart, actually, who L.A. Reid had put me with.
00:44He was my A&R.
00:45He set us all up.
00:47It was me, Sean Garrett.
00:48Lil' John was in the room as well, but he was making beats.
00:52He made like several massive records.
00:54Goody's was the beat that Sean Garrett and I started on.
00:57And, you know, start playing around melodies, but didn't finish it in Miami.
01:01Went to Atlanta at Hitco and started writing the record more.
01:06And what I wanted to do was I was kind of using the idea of your love like being a
01:12cookie jar.
01:12Like, you know, it's your goodies, right?
01:15And, you know, your goodies are precious.
01:18So at that time, there was a song called Cookies.
01:21I was kind of playing with that word because it was a popular word.
01:23And I'm like, that word's too limiting.
01:26Like, it's like we need something broader to, like, express, you know, what I was trying to say.
01:33And what I just felt like Cookies was like, I bet you want those cookies.
01:36That's not right.
01:37It's not right.
01:38Don't sing right either.
01:39So I literally, after my session with Sean and I, we had a few sessions.
01:44I literally held onto this track and our bass ideas that we laid down for like a month.
01:49And it took me literally almost a whole month to complete the record.
01:53I would ride in my car.
01:54I would jam out.
01:55Like, every line was important.
01:58Like, I'm like, what am I singing?
01:59Like, me being this little girl, you know, just 17 years old, writing this record, being like, what do I
02:05want the world to feel?
02:06Like, how are you going to see Cece?
02:08Like, what is that going to be like?
02:09Like, I had this whole thing.
02:10So I'm like, every line matters.
02:12The craziest thing, you know, happened is I was signed to Airster Records, which was my dream label.
02:18And then changes happened within the system.
02:22L.A. left.
02:22I had to go and re-audition for another label at Jive.
02:25Okay.
02:25So all of his acts were going over to the Sony building RCA Jive system.
02:32And so I had to do another showcase for them to even say, we want to pick her up.
02:36Okay.
02:37So that was crazy.
02:38But I knew that this one song that I had in my briefcase kind of thing, you know, walking around
02:43with that briefcase for a month with that record, I knew that that song was going to be game-changing
02:48for me.
02:49And fast forward to Everything Works Out, I put out Good Ease, and it was a magical moment.
02:56It was exactly what I envisioned and more.
02:58So I'm so glad that I had that record to kick off my career because it was the perfect way,
03:05from my perspective as an artist, to do it.
03:07So, yeah.
03:08And I do feel like that's a gift that God has given me.
03:10I can hear when songs are truly special for me.
03:12And that was definitely one of them.
03:15Looking for the goodies, keep on looking, cause they stay in the job.
03:23Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up.
03:27So when I was making this record, I was pregnant as all Get Out with Level Up.
03:31And, you know, I was in the studio with J.R. Rodeman and Tehran.
03:37And I always give Tehran a hard time because when he talks about this record, I am putting this on
03:42record, T, just so you know.
03:44He'll be like, yeah, you know, I was thinking about this idea, da, da, da.
03:47And we really, honestly, he's like my brother.
03:49We really worked together on this song.
03:51He actually had brought up to me a challenge that was really popular.
03:55And I listened to it and I was like, level up, level up.
03:58I started playing with the words.
04:00And that was like, you know, where those words came from.
04:03But I was very meticulous about every line, knowing where I was in my life, you know, as a woman,
04:10you know, obviously taking the independent route, you know, just speaking to like the journey.
04:14It was kind of all encompassing for me with writing the record.
04:18And so we actually finished some of the song.
04:21I might have like, maybe had just given birth to Sienna.
04:25And I remember being on the phone with Teron and we finished a bridge on the phone as well.
04:29Like it took a little time to finish that record, to just make it perfect.
04:34But, you know, I'm glad we took our time with it to make it right.
04:38Because, again, it's a song that keeps on giving.
04:41So that's pretty cool.
04:42It marked the chapter of independence for me.
04:44And, you know, I really didn't know, I believed, but I didn't know exactly how it was going to fully
04:54turn out, you know, with taking such a big leap of faith.
04:57And, you know, somewhat a risky move because literally, you know, I had a meeting about this song with the
05:05label that I was signed to.
05:06And, you know, they didn't see the vision in the record.
05:10And that was kind of heartbreaking.
05:12And I was like, OK, but I believe in this song.
05:15Like, I think this song is like a special record.
05:17And I think this visual is like really magical.
05:21But it's like they were like, hmm, like, nah.
05:25When there was a big no in one moment, there was a huge yes on the other side that you
05:31can do this.
05:31That was when my label Beauty Marks Entertainment was born.
05:34And my idea behind Beauty Marks, I said, is that all the scars you get from the obstacles you face
05:39in life are your beauty marks.
05:41And so it's kind of like my way of, you know, looking back at life and, like, saying everything that
05:47I've gone through, even when it wasn't so pretty, it actually was beautiful.
05:53And, you know, leveled up, I could say, is a little bit of a representation of that, like the message
05:58of, like, not giving up.
06:00The message of believing in yourself, speaking life into yourself.
06:03Boy, oh, boy, did we rock it.
06:05You know, I got to shout my fans out because when I put out Level Up in a matter of
06:1248 hours, the trending was like a new thing then, like in reference to, like, viral videos going viral.
06:20That was kind of like the fresh era of all that happening.
06:23And so many people recreated my video.
06:25And it was crazy.
06:27Like, it was like, wait, what?
06:28You know, like, I have goosebumps, like, thinking about it because I was really vulnerable, you know?
06:34And I was, while I was sure, there was a little bit of like, I don't know, like, are they
06:39going to like it?
06:40And then they loved it.
06:41So it's just, again, another reminder of, like, stay the course, right?
06:47You know, the best asset you have for yourself, to me, is to just simply be you, you know?
06:53And sometimes things don't happen as fast as you want them to or exactly when you want them to.
06:58But if you stay the course and you do the work, it's always going to happen, you know, exactly how
07:05it's supposed to.
07:05And it's going to be great.
07:07And it's going to be on the best timing for you.
07:09So Level Up for me was that.
07:12It is another song in my career that keeps on giving.
07:15It is my most viewed video to date, which is pretty cool for me, you know, little old me, independent
07:21artist, you know?
07:23I feel so proud.
07:24We're almost four times platinum with that record and however many billions of streams.
07:29I don't like talking about myself in that way, but I do have to, you know, kind of sing out
07:34loud how proud I am.
07:36And more than anything, I just hope that people can see my journey through the 21, 22 years.
07:44Stay the course, you know?
07:46Don't stop believing in yourself.
07:48You know, I always say all it takes is one person to believe in that person is you.
07:51And the moment that you start believing in yourself is when opportunity begins for you.
07:57And it can be as unlimited as you want it to be.
08:15When certain holidays come around, you know, let's just say if it's New Year's or special party moments, it's always,
08:21it always touches me to hear people play this song.
08:25Or if I'm at an arena watching a game, I'll hear this song still.
08:29Another big moment for me because, mind you, I was this little girl singing, like, they asked me who I
08:34wanted to work with.
08:35Missy Elliott was top of my list, you know?
08:37And I was like, I really would love to work with her.
08:39Jazzy Faye knew I wanted to work with her.
08:42So he kept that note in mind.
08:44And he, unknowingly to me, sent her this beat.
08:47She sent it back.
08:49And she had a bass structure to the record.
08:52Like, you know, the hook was a little different than what it is today, but the words one-two-step
08:57were in the hook.
08:58And the melodies, it came through automatic, supersonic.
09:01So what I did was I, one, was beyond excited.
09:05I took the record and I put, like, the CC on it.
09:08I put my touch on it and then played with the melodies and the bass idea that was there.
09:15And it was almost like we were writing the record together virtually.
09:17We weren't together, but, you know, I could say at that time that I co-wrote a song with Missy
09:21Elliott.
09:22It was my song, which is kind of crazy.
09:24But just a very magical moment for me for so many reasons because even though a song peaked at number
09:32two, it still played like a number one record, right?
09:34And at that time, music was just at an all-time high, right?
09:37So, you know, the songs that were surrounding each other were just true heavyweight hit records.
09:42And for me to have, you know, my second record reach that point was very special.
09:47But to also be doing it with my sister, Missy, who eventually became like a big sister to me.
09:52The first time we met each other was on set, and that was crazy because I'm like, she's really here
09:57live and in person.
09:59She's like this little tiny, cute thing.
10:03She, you know, she had her lollipop, but she was such like the, you know, like you watch her music
10:08videos.
10:09She's like, she really is like that in person, you know?
10:12And then when you get to know her, she's like every girl's girl.
10:14Like, she's just super cool.
10:16But she really was like truly an artist form.
10:19When she and I vibed on set, we just really clicked.
10:22And I would say that's where our friendship began.
10:25You know, it was very like, you know, just a reminder of like how dreams can really come true.
10:29And still to this day, like I say, is a gift that keeps on giving.
10:49This visual was so much fun.
10:53Chris and I were actually rehearsing for another performance moment that was a tribute to Michael Jackson.
10:59In our session, we were just having fun.
11:02It was like little kids, you know, what we were like, because I knew Chris before I met him before
11:08the world got to know him.
11:09I met him as like this little, you know, baby, like coming up and, you know, Mark Pitts is like,
11:14this is going to be the next, you know, big thing, blah, blah, blah.
11:17And so, one, to see his evolution as an artist was really cool.
11:23And then obviously both of us have grown up, you know, we big kids.
11:26We ain't kids no more, you know.
11:27But coming together, you know, one at that time period was just super cool.
11:35You know, when you think about the journey that we've both gone on as artists and our evolution and like
11:41the timing of it all coming together was just perfect.
11:45You know, I played Chris this record in the rehearsals and he was like, say less, like I'm going in,
11:52like that's the one, you know, and he knew it too.
11:55So, I just love that he also believed in the song like I did.
11:59And when he recorded it, I was like, oh my gosh, like this is so magical.
12:05And we actually had a song together before called Turntables on my Fantasy Ride album.
12:11We never got to do a video together.
12:13So, it was really cool because we both were determined to make this visual incredible for the fans, you know,
12:21because it was going to be their first time seeing the both of us together, you know.
12:25I have to say, I was beyond proud of how the visual came out because it was like every box
12:31that we could check off that we want to in a collaboration as artists, we did.
12:35And at that time, I was actually three months pregnant, I think I was, with my baby Amora, I want
12:42to say.
12:42So, that was crazy because, I mean, I'm busting it in the hall.
12:45Like, you know, we going in, like we ain't holding back, you know.
12:48We want to make sure this visual is everything.
12:52And super cool, you know.
12:54We brought the world to our party, you know, and that's just how we roll.
13:11Coming off of the heels of my records and when Missy called me to join her on that record, I
13:16was so excited, wanted to work together again.
13:19But I knew this record was really special, too.
13:23And it just embodied, like, the energy that both she and I exude through our music.
13:28But we were bringing those forces together.
13:31Again, making the world dance.
13:33That's all I want.
13:34I want to make the world dance.
13:35And so, we were able to do that with that song.
13:39Fat Man Scoop was in the studio.
13:41There was a visual floating around.
13:43And he was reacting to me, like, kind of vibing out.
13:46He's like, let's go now.
13:47Let's go now.
13:48Woo!
13:48Let's go.
13:49Now bring it back.
13:50Hey!
13:51Like, it was so cool.
13:52You know, it was a magical moment.
13:53When we were making that song, that was special.
13:56I knew when I walked out, we did something magical again.
13:59And then shooting the video together with Dave Myers.
14:02I mean, like, again, here we go.
14:05Me and Missy back together again.
14:06Now I'm stepping into her magic.
14:08Because, you know, she was and is the queen of doing just everything is always, there's
14:14always a special touch in her videos that's, like, a little bit more than the normal.
14:19And it was really cool to be in her world.
14:22You know, she came in my world and then I was in hers.
14:25And I remember being in a harness on the set, like, in pain.
14:29But it was, like, one of those things where, you know, you say beauty is pain.
14:32Like, it was worth it.
14:33No pain, no gain in this case, right?
14:35We were committed to the cause.
14:37It was also fun doing the line dance in the middle of the desert.
14:39You know, that was a very, very special moment.
14:41Yeah, we had partner work.
14:43Partner work on the dance floor.
14:44And then when we were in the line, we were doing this kind of, this whole, like, moving
14:47with our bodies.
14:48And that was very, it was just, it was, it was like the video from start to finish was just
14:53so, like, magical.
14:56Like, it was so, the energy was just, like, special.
14:59It was, like, mission accomplished again.
15:02Yeah.
15:03And then we also won a Grammy with that record.
15:05So, I feel so thankful for songs like that because that's also another song that keeps on giving.
15:27This song was me being, you know, again, standing on a table again, like, repping for us women,
15:35you know, and, like, the double standards.
15:37This record definitely was speaking to that.
15:39This is one of those ones where I feel like I believed in it.
15:44Maybe my label didn't see my vision so much.
15:46But the record still ended up being a top ten record, which is pretty cool.
15:50I'm like, see, I told y'all.
15:53You know, like, if only they would put more love into the record.
15:56But it's also cool because this song keeps on trending.
15:58Even to this day, I see sororities, like, making visuals to it.
16:04But most importantly, the message, you know, I really was, it was about female empowerment
16:08for me in this song.
16:09And visually, I also wanted to embody that.
16:13So, I was in my super tomboy bag for this visual.
16:16You know, I danced with myself in the video as well.
16:19I had a softer side and I had, like, the feminine side playing the whole thing of, like,
16:23what if the roles were changed?
16:24Like, would this thing still, would the same thing still apply if we flipped it like that?
16:29You know, that whole reverse psychology thing that they'd be doing or, like, just don't
16:33be right, you know?
16:34So, this song was just me kind of speaking to that.
16:37So, when I started The Matrix, I did The Matrix, the first time I ever did it was in the
16:41Goodies video.
16:42And it was inspired from The Matrix movie.
16:44And I remember, like, trying to say, like, when I first tried it, like, how low can I
16:50make my body, like, go backwards?
16:53And then, I was in Japan and I was watching these breakdances from Japan, which, like,
16:58Japanese breakdancing is, like, insane.
17:01Like, it's kind of, like, on another level.
17:03Like, they'd be doing some crazy stuff.
17:05So, acrobatics and everything is in Japanese breakdancing.
17:08But I saw this guy break his body down like Matrix.
17:12And I was like, I kept playing the tape back.
17:15And I was like, I got to do that.
17:16So, I let it go to the rehearsal hall.
17:17And I'm, like, playing with it and playing with the locking on The Matrix.
17:21And then, fast forward to we're in the visual.
17:24And that was a special moment with me walking with my girls, creating that X.
17:27And then I'm in the center dropping back.
17:29You know, just another, I think, special moment was a necessary moment for us women, too, right?
17:35You know, and I felt really empowered through my process of making the song and also doing
17:40the visual and performing it on tour is always fun as well.
17:45And, yeah, I'm really proud.
18:01Hey, I wrote it just for myself.
18:06And it was, like, the feature track for the Step Up soundtrack.
18:10Gosh, I can't even remember how we did that placement.
18:11I feel like I actually met with the Step Up people to possibly be in the film at one point.
18:17That was a very awesome moment because that was also the birth of so many cool things.
18:22So, one, I worked with Joseph Kahn on this video.
18:27And he's, like, iconic in the video visual world.
18:32And we were doing, like, the Sin City thing for the visual.
18:36And my friend Vic, who taught me how to dance, basically, like, because I really, he taught
18:41me a lot of my dancing stuff.
18:42I got to give my dad some credit on my footwork, okay?
18:44Because my dad taught me in the house, as a little girl growing up, how to move my feet.
18:48But there's a more prominent moment of us.
18:50Like, when I'm going back, like, and you see him doing, like, the dance with me, that's
18:52my friend Vic.
18:54But this was also cool because you had Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan also in the video.
18:59And that was a big moment for them, too, because they were just fresh on the scene and film,
19:03you know?
19:04And I felt really proud to know that I could look back and be, like, I was a part of
19:10their
19:10special moment as well, you know?
19:12People being able to live out their dreams, you know?
19:16And to be, like, because I remember them being on set.
19:19And it was just super cool, right?
19:21Chameleon Air, you know, also rode the verse, like, just perfect.
19:25Just a really all-around fun time for me as an artist, you know, jamming out with my crew.
19:35You know, I'm really obsessed with, like, Japan a little bit.
19:39So you hear me sing Ichi Nisan.
19:43You know, I put a little dance breakdown in there because I also felt like, you know,
19:48there's no limit to how much fun you can have on a record.
19:50So I grabbed my crew in the studio with them and we were going, like, get in, get in, get
19:54out, get out, get in, get in, get out, get out.
19:57Like, that was also a little A-town.
19:58We were going, like, beat them down to the floor, beat them down to the floor.
20:02Like, that's a super A-town thing to do, you know?
20:05Yeek and choo-choo-choo-choo.
20:07Yeek!
20:07Like, that's a big thing that I grew up on.
20:09So for me, I always try to find ways to incorporate those, like, things that really resonated
20:15with me that I felt the world needed to see.
20:20I wrote this song in my car.
20:22I also co-produced this record, which I was super proud of.
20:24It was a big moment for me.
20:26I co-produced it with Jazzy and I'm really proud because this song, like, it did its big
20:32one, like, God did its big one and the song did its big one.
20:34So that was pretty cool.
20:35Bring me along.
20:37The club is jumping now.
20:49Okay, so this record is another one of those things that if you're from Atlanta, you get
20:55it, get it, okay?
20:56So the My Boob record was such a big song back in the days.
21:00And when I heard the beat, there was kind of a nod to the record.
21:04And I'm like, we can't ignore that.
21:06Like, that's so special.
21:08But then let me play around with, like, how I approach it, like, kind of go against the
21:13record.
21:13Crazy fact for you, this song, Top Line, and overall the Body Party idea, there was actually
21:21a beat.
21:22I've never said this.
21:23And I think I told J.R.
21:24Rotem, who I've had success with too, I wrote the Top Line for Body Party to another beat.
21:32And they never used it.
21:34I have to find the OG demo.
21:36I have to find it.
21:37But I had that idea in my mind.
21:39And so when this beat came on, I actually kind of played around with it a little bit.
21:44But again, I wanted to play the nod to the My Boo, the OG sample in this record.
21:52And, you know, it was another one of those ones that I knew it was going to be a special
21:58record.
21:58It's one of those ones that performing it on tour is always fun.
22:01You know, the fans, as soon as they hear that top of the record come on, those chords and
22:06the bass, they go crazy.
22:09I'm like, y'all want to have a party party?
22:11Like, yeah.
22:11And I'm like, let's go.
22:12All right.
22:13Let's go.
22:14Let's go.
22:15Let's go.
22:17Let's go.
22:38Let's go.
22:41And oh, I recorded these two songs in the last week of closing out my album.
22:47I dissected every line in this record because I felt like it was just so mean, so hard hitting.
22:51And I knew it was a special record.
22:54And I'm like, OK, let me make this thing CC.
22:56So if you find the old demo of this record, you'll hear the hook was like something more generic, like
23:01sexy girls in the club, something blah, blah, blah.
23:03And I flipped it to make it like about my hometown, like this kind of like a nod, you know,
23:09paying for me, paying homage to where I'm from.
23:11And just showing respect to the culture and my appreciation for like what makes us so special in Atlanta.
23:17And Luda's verse on this record was insane.
23:21You know, I remember I think there may have been a Jay-Z quote about how this was one of
23:26like the best verses ever in hip hop.
23:28It's one of them like turn your lip up, you know, get a little stank with it kind of thing.
23:32And that's like when it's me and my true CC form, the lip go get a little stank like that.
23:36You know, I felt really, really proud of, you know, that moment.
23:41And yeah, it was pretty cool.
23:43And then obviously climbing on top of the car, you know, I kind of freestyle.
23:48Something just told me, climb on the car, like go for it.
23:50And I just start vibing.
23:51Like we didn't even practice that actually, which was super cool.
23:54So it's always fun now.
23:56I'll see like this song sometimes peeks its head back out in the TikTok world of it all.
24:00And I'll see people like recreating, you know, the moment, which is always, you know, really funny and cute and
24:07also sweet, you know, to see.
24:09But yeah, just another special record.
24:25This was a really fun song.
24:28You know, I collaborated with Justin Timberlake.
24:31And he was another artist that I was really wanting to work with at that time.
24:35That was an exciting moment for me.
24:37Also being in the studio, creating together with him.
24:41Justin and his team reached out to me because he was in that time period.
24:44I want to say he was really pursuing making songs for other artists.
24:49And, you know, we talked about it.
24:51We actually at the time period shared the same management team too.
24:55And so it was a very easy connection and super cool because he also made another song together that was
25:02on my project as well.
25:03But just super dope.
25:05Like I think for our fans, kind of like an unexpected collaboration, which was super cool.
25:10I think it's always fun when you can surprise your fans and like kind of go a little unexpected for
25:15them.
25:15And this is one of those moments.
25:17He has a lot of soul.
25:19Like he understands soul, you know.
25:21And so it was just really fun.
25:24Like for me, sonically, it was also different, right?
25:28There's a bit more of a bass guitar kind of groove to the record, which I loved, you know,
25:33stepping outside of my normal creative zone and box and like trying something different.
25:38But still was a song that was warm and still melodic, which is always important to me.
25:42So it's still tapped into the sensibilities that I like and that make me who I am.
25:47But also me challenging myself and trying something different, which was also important to me at that time.
25:54It was my Fantasy Ride album where I was kind of trying to step out and like, you know, try
25:59a few more new things and like challenge myself.
26:04And, you know, just keep working on evolving as an artist.
26:08And I feel like a collaboration like this allowed me to do that.
26:11I was actually really obsessed at that time period with the Crazy Horse Show.
26:16So I used to go to the show in Vegas and watch it and kind of study it.
26:19And then I also saw it in Paris.
26:21And I was like, how can I like bring some of this energy and influence from this performance, the performances
26:28that I'm seeing into my video?
26:30And so I was able to do that with this video, another Diane Martell visual.
26:35And it was just really fun, you know, working with JT.
26:38You know, this song also, especially overseas, when it plays, the reaction is pretty special.
26:44But it's a classic record.
26:45And yeah, I'm so happy because, again, one of those records that just like you don't know exactly what it's
26:52going to be.
26:53Like, you never know what it's going to be when you release a song.
26:56But in this case, you know, especially us being two label mates at that time period, you know, the song
27:02like did its own natural thing.
27:05And especially had great success from me overseas, which was really important to me, too, because, you know, it's always
27:11fun when you can, you know, travel across the pond beyond your like native place.
27:17And until this day, it does play back like a really special song in that regard.
27:22So, super proud.
27:38That was a very big moment for me because I was wearing heels for the first time in a video.
27:44I was still a young girl, but walking into my womanhood.
27:48And, you know, I was kind of embracing myself in a different way.
27:53And it's a bit softer side of me.
27:56You know, Diane Martell also direct that video.
27:59And that was also another dream come true moment for me because I really loved her as a director.
28:06And she and I also had special magic as well.
28:10So it was like a three-day shoot back when we had massive video budgets.
28:15It was a three-day shoot.
28:17And I also wanted, while I was, you know, having my heels moment, I still had to have my baggy
28:22sweatpants moment.
28:23So we were saucing it up in the baggy sweatpants, which was important.
28:27Like I wanted to have some of that toughness still in my visual.
28:30And I'm also a tomboy.
28:30So I was able to do both things all in one with that visual.
28:34And that was me in my head.
28:37Like I said, there's always this little girl in me who's like, try this.
28:40I'm going to try this.
28:41Like, you know, I'm always like, well, what if I could do like this?
28:44Like, and, you know, I got to shout out Jamaica Craft.
28:48You know, she was my choreographer at the time.
28:49Now she's my creative director.
28:51And we were just like little kids in the rehearsal hall just creating and trying stuff.
28:55So this is one of those moments where, like, how do we do this?
28:58How do we make the microphone like magic?
28:59There was some guys in the green screen uniform, like outfits.
29:03Yeah.
29:04So not supposed to ever tell that, but fine, whatever.
29:07So we really had the visual, like, how can we make this microphone like move like this with us?
29:13And then a song took off.
29:16And that was pretty cool.
29:17And actually Lil Wayne wrote a verse of this record.
29:19Like, by the way, it's like Wheezy F Baby.
29:23But I'm like, wait, what?
29:24Like he put a verse on it.
29:26And that was crazy.
29:27Like, you know, it was it just lets you know how great the record was.
29:31Right.
29:31And everyone from the streets and the rest of the world was rocking with it.
29:37So that was pretty cool.
29:40And it was one of those songs that I was told it was like one of the worst R&B
29:43records by an executive at that time.
29:47And boy, oh boy, that's why you don't listen to what people tell you.
29:50Something ain't going to be, you know, you just got to, like, commit to what you know.
29:54And when you believe in something, you go for it.
29:56So this is one of those moments that reminded me, like, stand tall on your vision, you know, stand tall
30:01on, you know, your artistry, like in what you believe it to be.
30:06If it doesn't work, it's OK.
30:08You can still sleep with that.
30:09But when it does, like, man, like what a feeling.
30:12I don't feel like I don't get in my heart until you go.
30:25This record was another one of those ones that when we were in the studio making it, I knew we
30:31had something special and different for me.
30:33And it was even more urban based, like a bit more R&B heavy.
30:37Tricky produced this record.
30:39This project was like our first time actually working together on my project as an artist, which is crazy.
30:45Because I worked there working as, like, I was just working on my writing as a baby, like 15 years
30:51old in a studio.
30:52And then fast forward to three albums in for me, we finally started working on my music together.
30:58And then also the dream, you know, really, really came through with this idea for Ride.
31:05I put a little CC on it, but I got to, you know, give respect where it's due.
31:10It was just an incredible record.
31:13And even, like, playing with the voice, like how I sang, I was kind of, like, singing with, like, an
31:18effect on my voice.
31:20Like, like, I was singing different, like, really making it staccato, like, kind of staccato, but cutting through to make
31:27sure the song sounded a little different, you know?
31:29So everything about this song was intentional.
31:32I asked Luda to be on this record because I felt like he was going to be the best voice
31:35for it.
31:36Same thing, like, with O and other records that we've done.
31:39He just has a cadence that's going to move the record.
31:42Like, it's important that while it's a mid-up record, but you want to make sure it stays moving.
31:46Like, that's important for me.
31:47So we were able to accomplish that with this record.
31:50And also Diane Martell, again, shot this visual.
31:53One of my lowest budget videos, because it was just me, okay?
31:59So I called it.
32:00I said, I want to challenge myself.
32:01I want to be a one-woman show in this visual.
32:03I don't want all the extra bells and whistles.
32:05I'm going to challenge myself.
32:07Let the dance be the art.
32:08Let it speak for itself.
32:09Keep it simple, but still be, you know, impactful.
32:13The editing process was crazy for me.
32:15I edited, like, every detail in the visual to make sure all the dances, like, were, like, connected the right
32:20way.
32:21But I worked really hard to prepare for this visual as well.
32:25It was a very special moment for me as an artist.
32:29And I feel like in music, you know, there was a little bit of conversation surrounding this record, you know.
32:37But the fans spoke for me and rode for me with this song.
32:42Yeah, we riding.
32:45I'm getting up the way I ride, yeah.
32:52Nobody comes to life.
32:55Nobody comes to life.
32:56When you get real close.
32:59That's Girl Power on that.
33:01That's the remix of Ecstasy.
33:02And just a super urban, intentionally, like, I wanted to really, you know, tap into the urbanness of this record,
33:15the urban core of this record.
33:17And just, like, be in that fully.
33:21And so I got to shout out my girls, Normani and Tiana, for joining me on the remix of this
33:27song.
33:28And because, again, it's one of those ones, like, whenever I do slow songs, in most cases, I still want
33:33you to move to it.
33:34And we were able to do that with this record.
33:37Diane Martell actually directed the original video.
33:40And that was her last visual before she passed away.
33:45And so I'm just really glad I was able to do that.
33:49And it was just such a special moment, you know, being able to do that.
33:56And then also, again, like, knowing what this song felt like for me, you know, from an R&B standpoint.
34:03Like, I want to be in my R&B bag on that record.
34:05So, you know, it felt good being fully in that.
34:10And I got to shout out my boys, Teron, Cortland, Tommy Brown, Leather Jacket.
34:19You know, the boys, they be pulling up for me.
34:21I got to say that.
34:22My boys, they show up for me every time.
34:24And we just all, it's a feel-good record.
34:26That was the mission.
34:27We want to make people feel good while jamming out to the record.
34:29And obviously, you know, make the body come alive.
34:34So, yeah, playing along with the ecstasy part, too, like, about how, like, the love is, like, ecstasy as well.
34:39So, I think we were able to do that with this song.
34:43Norms, Normani, a.k.a. Norms, and Tiana, a.k.a. TT, those are my girls.
34:48And I just feel like those are true R&B queens.
34:52You know, they truly embody what it is to be an R&B queen.
34:57And, you know, we had all been talking about working together.
35:00They're also performing artists, which is, you know, what makes them special.
35:04And what I love about us all coming together, you know,
35:07you hadn't really heard remixes like this in a long time, especially for girls, you know.
35:12So, I was excited to be able to do something like that, to do it for, you know, for our
35:16fans, you know,
35:18you know, for true R&B lovers.
35:20I just feel like this would be the ultimate ecstasy for those that love R&B like that.
35:26And so, they were the perfect, perfect pieces of the puzzle.
35:32And all the girls, like, I mean, Normani and Tiana, they jumped in the booth so fast.
35:37So, for me, that was super dope, too, to feel that love that they gave me and how they were
35:44also excited about the record.
35:45It made me feel like, okay, I got something special here.
35:47Hotter than Hibachi, baby, come and try me, ready, set, go.
35:52I had to thank the world.
35:54I got to thank my fans.
35:55I got to thank the world.
35:56I got to thank everyone for going on this journey with me, believing with me, you know,
36:02and, like, also reminding me, too, like, hey, you can do this, you know.
36:06So, it's like, kind of feel like on this journey, I feel like it's an all-in-together kind of
36:11connection with my fans,
36:12you know, because I used to be, like, funny about social media, and I'm so glad that I actually took
36:19control of my world
36:20and built my own true connection with my fans because that platform that I've been able to create,
36:26you know, my fans show up for me, and it's the best thing I could have ever done.
36:30And I'm just incredibly proud of, you know, how far I've come and that, you know, we're still doing it.
36:42Level up, level up, level up, level up, level up.
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