He Ain't wit Me Now (Tho)
Encyclopedia
"He Ain't wit Me Now" is a song by R&B
girl group
RichGirl
. The song serves as the official first single off of the girls self-titled debut album, RichGirl. The single was produced by Rich Harrison
, who has additionally worked with Beyoncé on her chart-topping "Crazy in Love" and Amerie
on "1 Thing
," and written by each member of the group. The song was digitally released on June 2, 2009 on iTunes
, and released onto Rhythmic and Urban radio that following July.
Many critics have given positive reviews on the single, complimenting Harrison's beat as "hectic" and "blinding" and being in huge favor of the ladies vocal-performances, stating that when both are added together it creates a song as "dangerous" as "He Ain't wit Me Now (Tho)." A music video for the single was was shot and directed by Ray Kay
and released on May 22, 2009.
on "1 Thing
". Additional writing duties are seen by each member of the group. Instrumentally, the song features Harrison creating a blinding beat, built around a loop of mid-century Hungarian classical music, that has been described as being "inspired by absurdist literature". Vocally, the ladies of RichGirl perform "acrobatics" over Harrison's beat which has been additionally been described as thunderous. Harrison enhances the ladies’ vocals with a percussion-brass-cello combination that has been compared to that of an "NFL Films-esque instrumental."
stated "I do expect that this jam is gonna bounce your ass all the way through summer before you even notice school's out. Get wise to RichGirl and brace yourself for more high-drama R&B out of these ATL all-stars, coming your way soon." Ben Ratliff of The New York Times
put the song on a list of "Notable Dispatches From the Edge of Jazz and Beyond" that came in at #3 on the "Top Songs". With a rating of seven out of ten, NewMusicReviews named the single decent, stating that although it might not find multiple chart-success it may still receive plenty of "action."
as the opening act of the I Am... Tour, the girls included the song on their setlist, performing the single in outfits similar to the music video with ladders on stage. The song was additionally performed at many exclusive concerts held by certain radio stations including BB Kings and a Kiss FM
concert.
and directed by Ray Kay
. In a behind the scenes look, director Ray Kay commented on the video stating "What I wanted to do with it was to communicate all of their energy visually and I also wanted to created something that would give them their own sort of iconic edge to their visual when they first come out." Member Lyndriette commented on the songs video stating "The hardest thing about training for this video was just [the] how physical it was, dancing and getting choreography and having to become a 'dancer' for that period of time before you actually go in the shoot." The video seems to borrow aspects from Madonna
's 1995 music video "Human Nature
".
Daniel of MTV Buzzworthy
gave the video a very positive review stating "This 'He Ain't Wit You Now (Tho)' clip is so off-the-charts summer stanknasty, we gotta do it backwards and roll it right now. As you heard in the video above, all this adds up to some serious heat." Daniel additionally complimented the girls by comparing their choreography to that of Michael Jackson
and stating that they "create serious heat" once their vocals are added into the mix. Rap-Up
called the video "high-gloss" during its premiere.
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
RichGirl
RichGirl
RichGirl was an American R&B girl group consisting of four members, Audra, Brave, Lyndriette and SeVen. The group was formed with the help of record producer Rich Harrison, and is managed by Tina Davis...
. The song serves as the official first single off of the girls self-titled debut album, RichGirl. The single was produced by Rich Harrison
Rich Harrison
Rich Harrison is a Grammy Award-winning record producer and songwriter from Washington, D.C.. He is primarily an R&B/Hip-Hop producer...
, who has additionally worked with Beyoncé on her chart-topping "Crazy in Love" and Amerie
Amerie
Amerie Mi Marie Rogers , known professionally as Amerie or Ameriie, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She debuted in 2002 with the album All I Have, primarily co-written and produced by Rich Harrison, and was well-received in the urban market...
on "1 Thing
1 Thing
"1 Thing" is a song written by American R&B singer-songwriter Amerie and Rich Harrison for Amerie's second studio album, Touch . The song is influenced by go-go rhythms and features a prominent sample of The Meters' 1970 funk recording of "Oh, Calcutta!", written by Stanley Walden...
," and written by each member of the group. The song was digitally released on June 2, 2009 on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, and released onto Rhythmic and Urban radio that following July.
Many critics have given positive reviews on the single, complimenting Harrison's beat as "hectic" and "blinding" and being in huge favor of the ladies vocal-performances, stating that when both are added together it creates a song as "dangerous" as "He Ain't wit Me Now (Tho)." A music video for the single was was shot and directed by Ray Kay
Ray Kay
Ray Kay is a Norwegian director and photographer, based in Los Angeles.He is one of the most sought-after music video & commercial directors in the world now, and has directed the most watched video on YouTube, Justin Bieber's "Baby" . All in all, his videos have been viewed more than 1 billion...
and released on May 22, 2009.
Composition
"He Ain't wit Me Now (Tho)" has been paced at mid-tempo, seeing production duties by Rich Harrison, who has additionally worked with Beyoncé on her chart-topping "Crazy in Love" and AmerieAmerie
Amerie Mi Marie Rogers , known professionally as Amerie or Ameriie, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She debuted in 2002 with the album All I Have, primarily co-written and produced by Rich Harrison, and was well-received in the urban market...
on "1 Thing
1 Thing
"1 Thing" is a song written by American R&B singer-songwriter Amerie and Rich Harrison for Amerie's second studio album, Touch . The song is influenced by go-go rhythms and features a prominent sample of The Meters' 1970 funk recording of "Oh, Calcutta!", written by Stanley Walden...
". Additional writing duties are seen by each member of the group. Instrumentally, the song features Harrison creating a blinding beat, built around a loop of mid-century Hungarian classical music, that has been described as being "inspired by absurdist literature". Vocally, the ladies of RichGirl perform "acrobatics" over Harrison's beat which has been additionally been described as thunderous. Harrison enhances the ladies’ vocals with a percussion-brass-cello combination that has been compared to that of an "NFL Films-esque instrumental."
Release
The song serves as the lead single of the groups self-entitled debut album RichGirl. The song was released for digital download on June 2, 2009. In the month of July 2009, the single was released onto Rhythmic, Urban and Urban Club radio.Critical reception
The song received very positive reviews by critics most of which complimented the girls debuting with such an explosion of base and vocal power-houses. Daniel of MTV BuzzworthyMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
stated "I do expect that this jam is gonna bounce your ass all the way through summer before you even notice school's out. Get wise to RichGirl and brace yourself for more high-drama R&B out of these ATL all-stars, coming your way soon." Ben Ratliff of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
put the song on a list of "Notable Dispatches From the Edge of Jazz and Beyond" that came in at #3 on the "Top Songs". With a rating of seven out of ten, NewMusicReviews named the single decent, stating that although it might not find multiple chart-success it may still receive plenty of "action."
Live performances
The song has been performed multiple times by the girls, most of which have been at exclusive concerts and televised appearances. While touring with Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
as the opening act of the I Am... Tour, the girls included the song on their setlist, performing the single in outfits similar to the music video with ladders on stage. The song was additionally performed at many exclusive concerts held by certain radio stations including BB Kings and a Kiss FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
concert.
Music video
The music video was shot in studio in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and directed by Ray Kay
Ray Kay
Ray Kay is a Norwegian director and photographer, based in Los Angeles.He is one of the most sought-after music video & commercial directors in the world now, and has directed the most watched video on YouTube, Justin Bieber's "Baby" . All in all, his videos have been viewed more than 1 billion...
. In a behind the scenes look, director Ray Kay commented on the video stating "What I wanted to do with it was to communicate all of their energy visually and I also wanted to created something that would give them their own sort of iconic edge to their visual when they first come out." Member Lyndriette commented on the songs video stating "The hardest thing about training for this video was just [the] how physical it was, dancing and getting choreography and having to become a 'dancer' for that period of time before you actually go in the shoot." The video seems to borrow aspects from Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's 1995 music video "Human Nature
Human Nature (Madonna song)
"Human Nature" is the fourth and final single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from her sixth studio album Bedtime Stories, released on June 6, 1995 by Maverick Records.-Song information:...
".
Synopsis and reception
The music video for the single was released on May 22, 2009, revolving around the girls dressed in black costumes, dancing to the song in high spirit. The video begins with all the girls walking to the front of the frame wearing tight latex outfits. As the bass of the song increases the camera begins to shake and ceases whenever the base or vocals aren't as loud. The girls are later shown in full-length dancing, until the first verse starts. During Lyndriette's verse she is shown lying down in a large black square frame which cuts between her being in the frame by herself or with men or ladies of the group in it. The music video continues with each girl on top of a square figure during their verse. Seven and Audra pose in a white square frame that is standing up, and Brave sings her verse on top of a box that is being spun around by men as she keeps her face towards the camera. The music video ends with the girls walking away from the first shot as the lights close.Daniel of MTV Buzzworthy
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
gave the video a very positive review stating "This 'He Ain't Wit You Now (Tho)' clip is so off-the-charts summer stanknasty, we gotta do it backwards and roll it right now. As you heard in the video above, all this adds up to some serious heat." Daniel additionally complimented the girls by comparing their choreography to that of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and stating that they "create serious heat" once their vocals are added into the mix. Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
called the video "high-gloss" during its premiere.
Chart performance
The song debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number ninety-six on the week of August 8, 2009.| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 31 |
| Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 96 |
Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | June 2, 2009 | Digital Download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
Richcraft/Jive Jive Records Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African... |
| July 2009 | Rhythm Rhythmic Contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may... |
||
| Urban Urban contemporary Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music... |
|||
| Urban Club |