Drop That Kitty

Last updated

"Drop That Kitty" is a "club-friendly," [6] hip hop song. [5] It features "bouncy" synthesizer production, [7] finger snaps, and a minimal, "stinging" beat. [5] Sign raps the track's main verses, [8] XCX sings its chorus hook, [6] while Tinashe sings its bridge and chorus pre-hook. [8] [9] Sign and Tinashe solicit a crooning technique in their vocal delivery, [6] with Tinashe's being more melodically influenced, [5] while XCX incorporates her characteristic, [10] pop punk "cheerleader-esque" chanting. [8] [11] [12] The Source wrote, "There's $ign's signature sleaze, XCX’s Top 40, pep rally hook voice, and Tinashe's sexy steez". [13] Musically, "Drop That Kitty" has been compared to Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" (2014), [5] and the works of DJ Mustard. [14] "Drop That Kitty" serves as a departure from Sign's accustomed sound, with some critics stating that his previous single "Stand For" (2014) catered to his core audience, and "Drop That Kitty" to a crossover audience. [15]

The track's lyrical content serve as a four-step dance instructional, consisting of the lines: "Drop that kitty down low," "Pop that kitty down low," "Shop that like a window" and "Take that video phone". [5] It contains several euphemisms and innuendos, [6] [16] namely in Sign's lyrics, "Shake it like a salt shaker" and "Make it clap for a stack". [6] [9] It also includes Sign boasting, "I got a pit bull, make the kitty run from it". [16] The track's lyrics discuss a scenario of meeting someone attractive in a club and communicating basest desires to them, while extolling the virtues of physical flexibility. [17] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard observed, "The command 'pop that kitty down low' is reason to believe that these three are singing about more than domestic pets". [16] While Brenna Ehrlich of MTV News said the track was "decidedly not about mistreating felines". [18] Ian Servantes of Complex noted that "Drop That Kitty" was "highly sexualized" and fitting for clubs of both the stripping and non-stripping variety. [11]

Critical reception

Critics compared the song to "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea. Iggy Azalea performing at the ACL Music Festival in 2014.jpg
Critics compared the song to "Fancy" by Iggy Azalea.

The song garnered positive reviews from music critics. Jezebel's Jia Tolentino called it "basically 'America the Beautiful' at the club, and of every variety," and added, "I'm just going to be reasonable here and say this is the best song I've ever heard". [19] Paper felt "Drop That Kitty" was "infectious" and an "undeniable jam," and praised XCX's chant and Tinashe's "soulful" crooning. [12] Similarly, Bradley Stern of MuuMuse said the track was a "thumper" and described Tinashe's vocal on it as "beamed in directly from the stars above". In his review of the song, Stern went on to opine, "'Kitty' isn't something any of them would likely drop solo: It's a combined effort of feisty pop hooks, cool crooning and hip-hop heat all in one go". [5] Fuse's Zach Dionne viewed it as "the new ode" to "dropping, popping, clapping, etc". [10] Writing for XXL , Paul Thompson stated that "Drop That Kitty" should become "an inescapable club song" for the Spring of 2015. [17] Ehrlich called it "sexy" and opined that its release would have been fitting to coincide with Valentine's Day. [18] HotNewHipHop's Kevin Goddard, and Rap-Up commended XCX and Tinashe's "commanding" and "catchy" delivery. [2] [6] Robin Murray of Clash commented: "Could it strike big? Well, with a chorus like that there's certainly no reason why it wouldn't...". [20]

Writing for Time , Nolan Feeney said that "Drop That Kitty" was a "worthy successor to 'Fancy'" and called it "the 'Fancy' sequel you didn't know you needed". [21] Feeney, however, opined that XCX and Tinashe did the "heavy lifting" on the track while Sign was "a mere footnote". [14] Conversely, Music Times writer Ryan Middleton felt that Sign "[brought] it home" with the track's main verses. [8] Hip-Hop Wired's Chris Thomas wrote, "Though this record isn't what we're accustomed to hearing from Ty Dolla, don't be surprised if it makes him a more renowned name". [15] Zara Golden of The Fader said the track was "a wash of the wit and unabashed raunch we've come to expect from Ty—but it certainly is more radio-friendly". [22] In a mixed review, Vulture's Dee Lockett felt that the track's collaborators had the potential to produce a song "considerably better" and found the track to have "probably the worst sexual innuendo for pussy poppin' you've ever heard". However, Locket said that the song was "so bad" that it is "almost...good" and commented, "It's like the semi-G-rated-strip-club anthem you never asked for, and we can't stop dancing". [23] In a negative review, James Rettig of Stereogum dismissed "Drop That Kitty" as "pretty lame" and "a poor showing". He criticized XCX for not fitting the song and Sign's "tired lines," but complimented Tinashe's "killer bridge". Rettig went on to comment, " With all of the talent that's involved on the track, it sucks that they didn't use it for something more substantial than a thinly veiled euphemism and a weak hook". [9]

Live performances

Ty Dolla $ign performed the song at the 2015 MTV Movie Awards with Charli XCX and Tinashe. The background dancers wore pink oversized cat masks. Shortly after the performance, Charli XCX released the teaser to the official music video. [24] [25]

Track listing

  1. "Drop That Kitty" (featuring Charli XCX and Tinashe) – 3:36

Charts

"Drop That Kitty"
Drop That Kitty Cover Art.png
Single by Ty Dolla Sign featuring Charli XCX and Tinashe
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2015
Genre Hip hop
Length3:36
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Ty Dolla Sign singles chronology
"Stand For"
(2014)
"Drop That Kitty"
(2015)
"Only Right"
(2015)
Charli XCX singles chronology
"Doing It"
(2015)
"Drop That Kitty"
(2015)
"Famous"
(2015)
Chart (2015)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [26] 18
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders) [27] 37
France (SNEP) [28] 187
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles ( Billboard ) [29] 4
US Rhythmic ( Billboard ) [30] 32

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabelRef.
CanadaFebruary 17, 2015 Digital download Atlantic [31]
United States [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Dolla Sign</span> American singer (born 1982)

Tyrone William Griffin Jr., known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign, is an American singer, songwriter and record producer from Los Angeles, California. He first gained recognition for his guest appearance on hometown rapper YG's 2010 single "Toot It and Boot It", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 as his first minor hit. He signed with Atlantic Records in 2012, and Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Entertainment the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paranoid (Ty Dolla Sign song)</span> 2013 single by Ty Dolla $ign featuring B.o.B

"Paranoid" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla $ign featuring American rapper B.o.B, released on September 10, 2013 as the first single from the former's debut EP, Beach House EP (2014). Written by the artists alongside producer DJ Mustard, "Paranoid" is a hip hop song that lyrically describes being in fear of getting caught cheating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fancy (Iggy Azalea song)</span> 2014 single by Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX

"Fancy" is a song by Australian rapper Iggy Azalea featuring British singer Charli XCX, taken from the former's debut studio album, The New Classic (2014). It was released on 17 February 2014 by Def Jam Recordings as the fourth single from the album. "Fancy" was described as an electro-hop, electropop, and pop rap song. It was written by Azalea and XCX, composed and produced by production team the Invisible Men, alongside additional producers the Arcade. It was leaked under the title "Leave It" in December 2013.

<i>Free TC</i> 2015 studio album by Ty Dolla Sign

Free TC is the debut studio album by American singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was released on November 13, 2015, by Atlantic Records. As executive producers, Ty Dolla Sign and Wiz Khalifa enlisted a variety of collaborators; including DJ Mustard, DJ Spinz, Cardo, Johnny Juliano, Kendrick Lamar, Brandy, Rae Sremmurd, E-40, Future, and Kanye West, among others.

The 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards was held on October 14, 2014 at Atlanta Civic Center in the ATL. The nominations were announced on September 4, 2014. Snoop Dogg returned as the event's host. Canadian rapper Drake leads the nominations with 8 nominations, while Jay-Z, Pharrell and Future follow him with six. DJ Mustard won the most awards with 4 wins, followed by Drake with 3 wins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Dolla Sign discography</span>

The discography of American singer Ty Dolla Sign consists of three studio albums, two extended plays (EP), seven mixtapes and forty-four singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Hands on Deck (song)</span> 2015 single by Tinashe

"All Hands on Deck" is a song recorded by American singer Tinashe for her debut studio album, Aquarius (2014). It was written by Tinashe, Bebe Rexha, Stargate, and Cashmere Cat, and produced by the latter two. An uptempo crunk&B and snap song, "All Hands on Deck" contains a prominent pan flute breakdown, a thick bassline and "club-friendly" beat, and has been described as the "sister song" to the album's lead single "2 On." The track's lyrical content comprises a dance instructional and portrays a scenario of retaining confidence, and rebound dating after a break-up, and contain themes of girl power and self empowerment. On February 22, 2015, a remix version of the song premiered online featuring Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, and received a digital-only release on February 24. Serving as the third single from Aquarius, it impacted urban contemporary radio and was released as a digital download in the United States on February 24, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinashe discography</span>

American singer Tinashe has released seven studio albums, four mixtapes, two extended plays and fifty-eight singles, including twenty-seven as a featured artist. Tinashe's debut album, Aquarius, was released in 2014. The lead single from the album was "2 On" and featured rapper ScHoolboy Q. "2 On" peaked at 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the US rhythmic chart and was certified platinum in the US by the RIAA and in Australia by the ARIA. In September 2015, Tinashe announced the tentative title of her second album, Joyride. Following delays in the album's release, Tinashe released the digital album Nightride in 2016. On January 18, 2018, Tinashe released the lead single from 2018 album Joyride, titled "No Drama" featuring Offset. Two more singles, "Faded Love" featuring Future and "Me So Bad" featuring Ty Dolla Sign and French Montana preceded the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Famous (Charli XCX song)</span> 2015 single by Charli XCX

"Famous" is a song by English singer Charli XCX, released as the fourth and final single from her second studio album, Sucker (2014). A music video for the single was released 23 March 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blasé (song)</span> 2015 single by Ty Dolla Sign featuring Future and Rae Sremmurd

"Blasé" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign featuring rapper Future and hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd, taken as the lead single from the former's debut studio album Free TC on June 26, 2015. Produced by DJ Spinz, Ty and Future split singing the chorus back and forth followed by an outro from Future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wavy (Ty Dolla Sign song)</span> 2016 single by Ty Dolla Sign featuring Joe Moses

"Wavy" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign featuring American rapper Joe Moses, included as a bonus track on the former's debut studio album, Free TC (2015). The track was released on January 16, 2016, as the fourth and final single from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zaddy</span> 2016 single by Ty Dolla Sign

"Zaddy" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was released on August 25, 2016, as the third single from his ninth mixtape, Campaign (2016). The song was written by Tyrone Griffin, Jr., Jay Cummings, Adam Feeney, and Jahaan Sweet, with the production being helmed by the latter two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money Showers</span> 2016 single by Fat Joe and Remy Ma featuring Ty Dolla Sign

"Money Showers" is a song recorded by American rappers Fat Joe and Remy Ma. It was released on November 11, 2016, as the third single from their collaborative album, Plata O Plomo. The song, produced by Cool & Dre, features guest vocals from American singer Ty Dolla Sign. It samples Ralph Tresvant's 1991 R&B hit "Do What I Gotta Do" & Bobby Brown's 1988 single Rock Wit'cha. The music video for the song premiered on January 12, 2017, via Tidal.

<i>Beach House 3</i> 2017 studio album by Ty Dolla Sign

Beach House 3 is the second studio album by American singer Ty Dolla Sign. It was released on October 27, 2017, by Atlantic Records. The album serves as the third installment in his Beach House series. It features guest appearances from Pharrell Williams, Lil Wayne, Tory Lanez, The-Dream, YG, Future, Swae Lee, Wiz Khalifa, Damian Marley, and Lauren Jauregui, among others. The album's production was handled by Mike Will Made It, DJ Mustard, Skrillex, Mike Dean, Apex Martin, MariiBeatz, Dun Deal and James Royo, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psycho (Post Malone song)</span> 2018 single by Post Malone featuring Ty Dolla Sign

"Psycho" is a song by American rapper and singer Post Malone featuring fellow American singer Ty Dolla $ign. It was released through Republic Records on February 23, 2018, as the third single from Malone's second studio album, Beerbongs & Bentleys (2018). The artists wrote the song with Louis Bell, who produced it with Malone. Lyrically, the song discusses the artists' lifestyle and explores the theme of excessive fame and trust issues. The song entered at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 behind Drake's "God's Plan", and reached number one in June 2018, becoming Malone's second and Ty's first chart-topper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OTW (Khalid, Ty Dolla Sign and 6lack song)</span> 2018 single by Khalid, Ty Dolla Sign and 6lack

"OTW" is a song by American singers Khalid, Ty Dolla Sign, and 6lack. The artists wrote the song with Brian Alexander Morgan, Idan Kalai and producer Nineteen85. It was released by RCA Records on April 20, 2018 as a stand-alone single, before being added as a bonus track to the vinyl of Khalid's EP Suncity (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bottled Up</span> 2018 song by Dinah Jane

"Bottled Up" is the debut solo single by American singer Dinah Jane, featuring fellow American singers Ty Dolla Sign and Marc E. Bassy. It was written by A.CHAL, Ty Dolla Sign, Bassy, and Jane. It was released on September 21, 2018. The song was noted for having a similar sound to Jane’s former group’s, Fifth Harmony, music. It is an R&B song with tropical and hip-hop influences, while lyrically, it is about someone who bottles up their feelings and uses alcohol and drugs to hide them.

JaQuel Knight is an American choreographer and dancer. Born in North Carolina and raised in Atlanta, he has worked with Beyoncé on many of her most notable dances, including on "Single Ladies", "Formation" and the historic Coachella performances which she headlined.

"Everything We Need" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his ninth studio album, Jesus Is King (2019). The song features guest appearances from American singers Ty Dolla Sign and Ant Clemons, and additional vocals by the Sunday Service Choir. It was come up with during a freestyle session in the fall of 2018, inspired by a conversation West had with Clemons about Jesus and religion. The song was recorded as a new version of the leaked track "The Storm".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ego Death (song)</span> 2020 single by Ty Dolla Sign featuring Kanye West, FKA Twigs, and Skrillex

"Ego Death" is a song by American singer Ty Dolla Sign featuring American rapper Kanye West, English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs, and American DJ Skrillex, released for digital download and streaming through Atlantic Records on July 1, 2020, as the lead single from the former's third studio album, Featuring Ty Dolla Sign (2020). It contains additional vocals by Serpentwithfeet, Angela Davis, and Jariuce "Jehreeus" Banks. Ty Dolla Sign, Skrillex, and BoogzDaBeast produced the song. According to Ty, the song expands on West's "Fade", which he was featured on alongside Post Malone. Initially previewed after the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2019, the former experienced an internet leak in March 2020.

References

  1. "Free TC by Ty Dolla $ign". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "New Music: Ty Dolla $ign feat. Charli XCX & Tinashe – 'Drop That Kitty'". Rap-Up . February 16, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  3. Stern, Bradley (February 10, 2015). "Tinashe And Charli XCX, Dream Team, Shot A Video For A Ty Dolla $ign Song Called 'Drop That Kitty'". MuuMuse. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Drop That Kitty (feat. Charli XCX and Tinashe) - Single by Ty Dolla $ign". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on March 17, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stern, Bradley (February 17, 2015). "'Drop That Kitty': Get Down Low With Ty Dolla $ign, Charli XCX And Tinashe". MuuMuse. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Goddard, Kevin (February 17, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign - Drop That Kitty Feat. Tinashe & Charlie XCX". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  7. Hughes, Josiah (February 17, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign 'Drop That Kitty' (ft. Charli XCX and Tinashe)". Exclaim! . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Middleton, Ryan (February 17, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign Teams Up With Charli XCX & Tinashe On 'Drop That Kitty'". Music Times. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Rettig, James (February 24, 2014). "Ty Dolla $ign – 'Drop That Kitty' (Feat. Charli XCX & Tinashe)". Stereogum . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Dionne, Zach (February 17, 2015). "Charli XCX and Tinashe Team with Ty Dolla $ign on 'Drop That Kitty'". Fuse . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Servantes, Ian (February 17, 2015). "Listen to Ty Dolla $ign's 'Drop That Kitty' f/ Charli XCX and Tinashe". Complex . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Ty Dolla $ign, Tinashe and Charli XCX's 'Drop That Kitty' Is Your New Jam". Paper . February 17, 2015. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  13. "Listen To Ty Dolla $ign's New Single, 'Drop That Kitty,' Featuring Tinashe & Charli XCX". The Source . February 17, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Feeney, Nolan (February 17, 2015). "Hear Ty Dolla $ign, Charli XCX and Tinashe Team Up on 'Drop That Kitty'". Time . Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  15. 1 2 Thomas, Chris (February 17, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign ft. Charli XCX & Tinashe - 'Drop That Kitty'". Hip-Hop Wired. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 Lipshutz, Jason (February 17, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign, Charli XCX, Tinashe Drop 'Drop That Kitty': Listen". Billboard . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  17. 1 2 Thompson, Paul (February 17, 2015). "Listen to Ty Dolla $ign Feat. Charli XCX and Tinashe, 'Drop That Kitty'". XXL . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  18. 1 2 Ehrlich, Brenna (February 17, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign Gets Sexy With Charli XCX And Tinashe On 'Drop That Kitty'". MTV News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  19. Tolentino, Jia (February 17, 2015). "I Can't Stop Dropping My Kitty to This Charli XCX/Ty Dolla $ign Song". Jezebel . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  20. Murray, Robin (February 18, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign - Drop That Kitty (ft. Charli XCX, Tinashe)". Clash . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  21. Feeney, Nolan (February 23, 2015). "Hear Iggy Azalea Join Tinashe on a Remix of 'All Hands on Deck'". Time. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  22. Golden, Zara (February 17, 2015). "Ty Dolla $ign, Charli XCX, And Tinashe Get Rude On 'Drop That Kitty'". The Fader . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  23. Lockett, Dee (February 17, 2015). "Charli XCX, Tinashe & Ty Dolla $ign = Weird". Vulture . Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  24. "CHARLI XCX'S MOVIE AWARDS PERFORMANCE WAS KITTY-LICIOUS: WATCH". MTV News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  25. "- YouTube". YouTube .
  26. "Ty Dolla $ign feat. Charli XCX and Tinashe – Drop That Kitty" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  27. "Ty Dolla $ign feat. Charli XCX and Tinashe – Drop That Kitty" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  28. "Ty Dolla $ign feat. Charli XCX and Tinashe – Drop That Kitty" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  29. "Ty Dolla $ign – Chart History: Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  30. "Ty Dolla $ign Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  31. "Drop That Kitty (feat. Charli XCX and Tinashe) - Single by Ty Dolla $ign". iTunes Store (CA). Archived from the original on March 6, 2015.