Research (song)

Last updated
"Research"
Song by Big Sean featuring Ariana Grande
from the album Dark Sky Paradise (Deluxe Edition)
ReleasedMay 12, 2015 (2015-05-12)
Genre
Length3:50
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Sean Anderson
  • Dacoury Natche
  • Michael Carson
  • Ariana Grande
  • Leland Wayne
Producer(s)

"Research" is a song recorded by American rapper Big Sean featuring American singer Ariana Grande. It was written by Sean, Grande, Dacoury Natchel, Michael Carson, and Leland Wayne, and was produced by DJ Dahi and Metro Boomin. The track was initially set to be sent to radio as the fourth official single from Dark Sky Paradise , however, it was later revealed that "One Man Can Change the World" would serve in its place instead. The song appeared on the album’s deluxe version.

Contents

"Research" received mixed reviews from music critics, who appreciated the production and beat but were ambivalent towards the lyrical content, especially the use of derogatory words for women.

Composition

Lyrically, the song is about Big Sean "rapping about a suspicious lover, as Ariana plays detective." [1]

Sean's verses discuss his girlfriend being distrustful, as he raps, "'These hoes be doing research/I swear she like, 'This piece of hair off in the sink...'” [2] He also adds, “Okay I know you did some research, well shit I did too/I saw you wearin’ Drake’s chain like you were part of his crew/I saw you chillin’ with Meek Mill up at the summer jam oooh/I hope my eyes the one that’s lying to me girl and not you.”

In the chorus, meanwhile, Grande sings, “I still have to hide/Now you're next to me at night/You test me all the time/Say I know what you like, like I did the last time/Do you remember? Do you remember?/Do you remember?/When you had nothing to hide...”

Critical reception

"Research" received mixed reviews from music critics upon the release of Dark Sky Paradise. In a positive response, Shannon Weprin from Hypetrak called the song a "pop-esque duet" and "infectiously catchy." [3] Justin Charity from Complex called "Research" one of the album's pop high-points. [4] Eric Diep from HipHopDX described the track as "pop-rap perfected". [5]

The song also received reviews which were negative towards the lyrical content. John Mychal Feraren of FDRMX gave the song 2.7 stars out of 5 and criticized the use of "derogatory words as metaphor to women", but also added that "he [Sean] makes up for it by not completely objectifying them." [6] He went on to say that "women should not be denoted as bitches," and that "artists should also be careful in addressing the need for feminism in music." Also noting the use of derogatory feminine terms, DJ Pizzo from Medium commented, "he more or less calls her [Grande] a 'hoe' in the hook. 'These hoes being doing research,' he sings while Ariana validates his use of the term by simply appearing on the track." [7] However, he did compliment the production by stating that "the beat is dope."

Charts

Chart (2015)Peak
position
US Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles ( Billboard ) [8] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slaine (rapper)</span> American rapper

George Carroll, better known as Slaine, is an American rapper and actor. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, where he spent his childhood and teenage years, Carroll moved to New York City in the mid-1990s, where he adopted the moniker of Slaine and started to rap and record hip-hop. In the early 2000s, Carroll became a growing figure in the Boston hip-hop scene, releasing several mixtapes, and the LP Stereotypez (2007) with his group Special Teamz. Later, A Brand You Can Trust (2009) was released, by the rap supergroup La Coka Nostra, where Carroll is joined by Ill Bill, and House of Pain. Carroll’s first solo album A World With No Skies 2.0. (2011) peaked at 33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums it, 22 on the Top Rap Albums, 29 on US Independent Albums, and 4 on Top Heatseekers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Sean</span> American rapper (born 1988)

Sean Michael Leonard Anderson, known professionally as Big Sean, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He met high-profile rapper Kanye West as a teenager, and signed with his record label GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in 2007. He gained popularity following the release of his third mixtape, Finally Famous Vol. 3: Big (2010). His debut studio album, Finally Famous (2011) peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "My Last", "Marvin & Chardonnay", and "Dance (Ass)". His second album, Hall of Fame (2013) was supported by the top 40 single "Beware", and likewise peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.

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

American rapper Big Sean has released five studio albums, four mixtapes, thirty-one singles, eight promotional singles, and thirty-nine music videos. In 2008, Big Sean was discovered by American rapper and record producer Kanye West, who signed Sean to his record label GOOD Music—distributed through Def Jam Recordings. Since 2008, after signing a record deal to West's label G.O.O.D. Music, Sean's career continued through his mixtapes such as Finally Famous Vol. 2: UKnowBigSean (2009) and Finally Famous Vol. 3: BIG (2010). While he was releasing these mixtapes, he collaborated on various tracks and/or singles from West, Royce da 5'9" and Chris Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessings (Big Sean song)</span> 2015 single by Big Sean featuring Drake and Kanye West

"Blessings" is a song by American rapper Big Sean from his third studio album Dark Sky Paradise (2015). The song was serviced to urban contemporary radio by GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings on January 31, 2015, as the album's third official single. It features Canadian rapper Drake and GOOD Music label boss Kanye West, with production from Vinylz and Allen Ritter.

Dwane Marshall Weir II is an American hip hop/R&B producer and songwriter, professionally known as Key Wane. Wane has produced for artists such as Big Sean, Jazmine Sullivan, Beyoncé, Drake, Jhene Aiko, Wale, Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Juicy J, Ariana Grande, Logic, Ty Dolla Sign and Meek Mill among others. He is best known for producing Drake's "All Me", Beyoncé's "Partition", Jazmine Sullivan's "Let It Burn" & "Insecure", Meek Mill's "Amen", Big Sean's "Guap", "Beware", "IDFWU" and an extensive amount of his albums including Hall of Fame, Dark Sky Paradise, and Twenty 88.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beware (Big Sean song)</span> 2013 single by Big Sean featuring Lil Wayne & Jhené Aiko

"Beware" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Big Sean taken from his second studio album Hall of Fame (2013). "Beware" was released on June 25, 2013, as the album's third single, through GOOD and Def Jam. The song was written by Sean Anderson, Dwayne Carter, Dwane Weir II, and Alexander Izquierdo, while production was handled by frequent collaborator Key Wane and Mike Dean and features guest appearances from rapper Lil Wayne and singer Jhené Aiko.

<i>Yours Truly</i> (Ariana Grande album) 2013 studio album by Ariana Grande

Yours Truly is the debut studio album by American singer Ariana Grande. It was released on August 30, 2013, by Republic Records. The album's songs were recorded over nearly a three-year period, with Harmony Samuels, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Patrick "J. Que" Smith and Grande's Victorious co-star Leon Thomas III, as well as others, handling the album's music production. Featured collaborators include Big Sean, Mika, Mac Miller, and The Wanted's Nathan Sykes.

<i>Love and War</i> (Tamar Braxton album) 2013 studio album by Tamar Braxton

Love and War is the second studio album by American singer Tamar Braxton. The album was released on September 3, 2013, by Epic Records and Streamline Records. It is Tamar Braxton’s first studio album in 13 years. The album was a success, debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart selling 114,000 copies. Even though plans for a re-release of the album with a full version of the song "She Did That" and a rap remix of "One on One Fun" in 2014 with additional songs were announced, the idea was eventually scrapped as Love and War was never re-published. The album also received three 56th Annual Grammy Award nominations for Best Urban Contemporary album, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song for "Love & War".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Right There (Ariana Grande song)</span> 2013 single by Ariana Grande featuring Big Sean

"Right There" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande, featuring American rapper Big Sean. It was released on August 6, 2013 by Republic Records as the third and final single from Grande's debut studio album Yours Truly (2013), It was written by Grande, Harmony Samuels, H. "Carmen Reece" Culver, J. "Lonny" Bereal, James "J-Doe" Smith, Al Sherrod Lambert, Jeff Lorber and Sean. It features a prominent sample of the jazz instrumental song "Rain Dance" (1979) by The Jeff Lorber Fusion. The song is a throwback to R&B music of the 1990s, a sonority that predominates the production of Yours Truly and the first single "The Way", which Grande considered "Right There" as a sequel to, that uses heavy programmed snare drums, snaps and synthesizers as complement of its sound. In the lyrics, Grande expresses her passion to her love interest affirming that she will always be there for him, with Sean responding to her affirmation while using several double entendres in a more sexual perspective.

"The Language" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same (2013). "The Language" was produced by frequent collaborator Boi-1da, along with additional production by Allen Ritter and Vinylz. It also features an outro from Cash Money Records founder Birdman. The song was serviced to mainstream urban radio on October 29, 2013, as the fourth single from the album in the US and has peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"Sanctified" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Rick Ross, taken from his sixth studio album Mastermind (2014). The song, produced by Kanye West, Mike Dean, and DJ Mustard, featuring guest appearances by rappers Kanye West and Big Sean. It was written by the aforementioned rappers and producers and Betty Wright sang the hook. "Sanctified" garnered critical acclaim from music critics, with most praising the production and Kanye West's appearance. Despite not being released as a single, it is the highest-charting song on Mastermind to date, debuting at number 25 on the UK R&B Chart, number 78 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 99 on the Canadian Hot 100 upon the album's release.

"All Your Fault" is a song recorded by American rapper Big Sean featuring fellow rap artist Kanye West, from Sean's third studio album Dark Sky Paradise. It contains samples from Ambrosia's 1978 song "How Much I Feel" and features additional vocals from Travis Scott.

"Best Mistake" is a song by American recording artist Ariana Grande that features American hip hop recording artist Big Sean. The song served as a promotional single from Grande's second studio album, My Everything (2014), and was released at midnight on August 12, 2014. Written by Grande, Big Sean, and Key Wane with production being done by the latter, the song is a ballad with piano, string, and drum machine instrumentation that lyrically deals with a couple trying to decide on what their future, troubled relationship is going to be like.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Fuck with You</span> 2014 single by Big Sean featuring E-40

"I Don't Fuck with You", also known by the initialism "IDFWU", is a song by American rapper Big Sean featuring California rapper E-40, released on September 19, 2014, as the lead single from the former's third studio album Dark Sky Paradise (2015).

<i>Dark Sky Paradise</i> 2015 studio album by Big Sean

Dark Sky Paradise is the third studio album by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on February 24, 2015, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Kanye West, E-40, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla Sign, Jhené Aiko, Lil Wayne, and Ariana Grande, while the production was handled by a variety of collaborators, including Kanye West, DJ Mustard, DJ Dahi and Key Wane, who also serves as the album's executive producer alongside Big Sean himself. The album was supported by five singles: "I Don't Fuck with You", "Paradise", "Blessings", "One Man Can Change the World" and "Play No Games".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Man Can Change the World</span> 2015 single by Big Sean featuring Kanye West and John Legend

"One Man Can Change the World" is a song by American rapper Big Sean from his third studio album Dark Sky Paradise (2015). The song features fellow GOOD Music artists Kanye West and John Legend with production handled by Amaire Johnson and DJ Mustard. The song features uncredited background vocals from British singer Natasha Bedingfield. It was sent to United States rhythmic contemporary radio on June 19, 2015 as the album's fourth single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise (Big Sean song)</span> 2014 single by Big Sean

"Paradise" is a song by American rapper Big Sean, released on September 19, 2014 as the second single from his third studio album Dark Sky Paradise (2015). Originally the song was released as a single in October 2014 but was later placed on the album as an extended version with an extra verse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Play No Games</span> 2015 single by Big Sean featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign

"Play No Games" is a song by American rapper Big Sean from his third studio album Dark Sky Paradise (2015). It features American singers Chris Brown and Ty Dolla Sign with production handled by Key Wane and Jay John Henry. "Play No Games" also samples Guy's 1988 hit single "Piece of My Love." "Play No Games" was sent to US urban contemporary radio on September 22, 2015, as the album's fifth official single. The song peaked at number eight on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart while peaking at number 84 and number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Me Love You (Ariana Grande song)</span> 2016 promotional single by Ariana Grande featuring Lil Wayne

"Let Me Love You" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande featuring fellow American singer and rapper Lil Wayne from the former's third studio album Dangerous Woman (2016). It was written by the artists alongside Victoria Monét and producers TB Hits and Steven Franks. The song was released as the second promotional single from the album on April 18, 2016. A slow-paced, sultry R&B track, "Let Me Love You" features delicate piano chords, electro-beats, smooth, deep bass, trap-lite, hip-hop beats, and interspersed vocals. Lyrically, the song talks about getting over an ex and laying on the chest of someone new.

"Motive" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande and American rapper and singer Doja Cat. The two wrote the song with Victoria Monét, Nija Charles, Jeremy McIntyre, Steven Franks and its producers Murda Beatz and Tommy Brown. It was released by Republic Records on October 30, 2020, as the third track on the former's sixth studio album Positions.

References

  1. ↑ "'Research' Isn't The Big Sean/Ariana Grande Duet We Expected, And That's How They Planned It". MTV. 2015-02-27. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  2. ↑ "LISTEN: Ariana Grande and Big Sean's New Song 'Research'". Celebuzz.com. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  3. ↑ "Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise (Album Review)". Hypetrak. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  4. ↑ "Review: Big Sean "Dark Sky Paradise"". Complex. 2015-02-24. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  5. ↑ Diep, Eric (2015-02-24). "Big Sean - Dark Sky Paradise". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  6. ↑ "Big Sean feat. Ariana Grande: 'Research' Single Review". fdrmx.com. March 4, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-03-04.
  7. ↑ "Big Sean "Dark Sky Paradise" — 3/5 [Review]". Medium.com. July 22, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-22.
  8. ↑ "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles - March 14, 2015". Billboard. 2015-03-14. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.