Shakin' It 4 Daddy

Last updated
"Shakin' It 4 Daddy"
Robin Thicke - Shakin' It 4 Daddy.png
Song by Robin Thicke featuring Nicki Minaj
from the album Sex Therapy: The Session
ReleasedFebruary 8, 2011 (2011-02-08)
Studio Thom Thom Studios
Genre Club
Length3:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Polow da Don

"Shakin' It 4 Daddy" (sometime rendered as "Shakin' It for Daddy") is a song recorded by American singer Robin Thicke for his fourth studio album, Sex Therapy: The Session (2009). It features rap verses by hip hop artist Nicki Minaj. The song was written by Thicke, Jamal Jones, Ester Dean and Minaj, while production was handled by Jones under his stage name Polow da Don.

Contents

Background and production

Nicki Minaj provided rap verses on "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" Nicki Minaj cropped.jpg
Nicki Minaj provided rap verses on "Shakin' It 4 Daddy"

"Shakin' It 4 Daddy" was written by Robin Thicke, Jamal Jones, Ester Dean and Nicki Minaj, while the production was done by Jones under his stage name Polow da Don. [1] American rapper Jay-Z recommended Minaj to be a featured artist on Thicke's song on which she eagerly accepted, "[I] cannot put into words how I felt when he told me that. [2] [Robin] was like, 'By the way, let me tell you this great story.'" [2] In an interview with MTV News, Thicke also explained how the collaboration happened, "We were in the studio and I played him [Jay-Z] the whole album. He was like, 'You should get Nicki Minaj on that. She's got that voice. She's got that swag.'" [2] They immediately called her when she accepted to provide her vocals on the song. Thicke further commented on Minaj, "I can't wait to do a video with Nicki. There's a power in her. It's not just that she's sexy and that's the only way she can get you to like her. She's got charm – not just sex. Some women may use sex to get what they want; others have charm. She's got charm." [2] Jeremy Stevenson served as a recording engineer of "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" and recorded it at Thom Thom Studios. Minaj appears as courtesy of Young Money, Cash Money Records and Universal Motown Records. [1]

Although the song was originally planned to be released as a single in the United States, the release was later cancelled for unknown reasons. [3] A promotional CD single was released in the US in 2009 and featured the dirty version, clean version, and the instrumental of the song. [4] A digital remix by Manon Dave was released on February 8, 2011 via 7digital store, in several countries worldwide including Australia, [5] Canada, [6] France, [7] Germany, [8] Spain, [9] the United Kingdom [10] and the United States. [11]

Composition

"Shakin' It 4 Daddy" is a club song with a duration of three minutes and fifty-two seconds. [5] [12] A reviewer of MuchMusic described the song as "R. Kelly-meets-Usher party record that is Thicke's Southern-style hip-hop homage to the strip club and nightclub generation." [13] In "Shakin' It 4 Daddy", Thicke sings about a "booty-shakin' mami". [14]

Critical response

Andy Kellman of Allmusic called the song "humorously awkward". He explained that its "oft-repeated hook" ("She shakin’ it for daddy, she shakin’ it for me") could make some listeners "think of Thicke and his father instead of just Thicke". [15] According to Kyle Jarmon of Parlé Magazine , Thicke and Minaj work well together in the song. [16] Mark Edward Nero of About.com cited "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" as the only "real failure" of Sex Therapy, declaring the song to be out-of-character for Thicke, as it sounds more like a song that Justin Timberlake may have recorded. [14] Writing for PopMatters, Tyler Lewis declared that "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" contains "pretty standard Polow da Don production", but that it succeeds in "rendering all the lyrics meaningless". He concluded that "it's the rhythm of the language that you respond to", not its lyrics. [17] August Brown of the Los Angeles Times declared "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" to be déclassé by Thicke's standards. [12]

Live performances

Thicke and Minaj performed the song numerous times, including on BET's 106 & Park in December 2009 and on the Late Show with David Letterman in February 2010.

Track listings

  1. "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" (Dirty Version) – 2:52
  2. "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" (Clean Version) – 2:52
  3. "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" (Instrumental) – 2:52
  1. "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" (Manon Dave Remix) – 4:00

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Sex Therapy. [1] Locations

Personnel

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
Australia [5] February 8, 2011 Digital download (remix) Interscope
Canada [6]
France [7]
Germany [8]
Spain [9]
United Kingdom [10]
United States [11] Star Trak

Related Research Articles

Robin Thicke American musician, dancer, record producer, and actor

Robin Charles Thicke is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, musician and actor.

Jamal Fincher Jones, professionally known as Polow da Don, is an American record producer, songwriter, and rapper.

Robin Thicke discography Artist discography

American singer Robin Thicke has released eight studio albums, thirty singles and twenty three music videos. Thicke signed his first recording contract with Interscope Records as a teenager and found success as a songwriter, before he began concentrating on his career as a performer. In 2000, Thicke started recording his debut album, A Beautiful World, which was released in April 2003. The album debuted at number 152 on the US Billboard 200, selling 119,000 copies. The record also peaked at number 36 on the Mega Album Top 100 in the Netherlands. Two singles were released from the album; the first, "When I Get You Alone" became a top ten hit in the Netherlands and New Zealand. That single also peaked at number 17 in Australia and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). In 2006, Thicke released his second studio album The Evolution of Robin Thicke. The record debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard 200, topped it on the Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and became a certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album also charted in France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The Evolution of Robin Thicke produced four singles, all of which charted on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. "Lost Without U" became one of his biggest hits, peaking at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spending 11 weeks atop the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Lollipop Luxury

"Lollipop Luxury" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Jeffree Star. It is the only single from the album Cupcakes Taste Like Violence. The song was written by Jeffree Star and Nico Hartikainen in 2008 and it was produced by Smile Future. "Lollipop Luxury" was released on November 18, 2008, as Star's first official single.

Nicki Minaj Trinidadian rapper, singer, songwriter, actress, and model from New York

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-American rapper, singer, songwriter, actress, philanthrophist, and model. Born in the Saint James district of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and raised in the Queens borough of New York City, she gained public recognition after releasing the mixtapes Playtime Is Over (2007), Sucka Free (2008), and Beam Me Up Scotty (2009).

Ester Dean American singer, songwriter, record producer

Esther Renay "Ester" Dean is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dean has also written songs for many artists, with numerous Top 10 hits, including No. 1 hits for Rihanna and Katy Perry, earning the name "The Song Factory". At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Dean was nominated for Album of the Year as a producer on Rihanna's album Loud. Outside of music, she voiced two of the characters in the fourth film in the Ice Age franchise, Ice Age: Continental Drift, and also wrote a song for the movie, entitled "We Are (Family)". Dean made her acting debut in the film Pitch Perfect (2012) as Cynthia-Rose Adams, a role she reprised for the sequels, Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Pitch Perfect 3 (2017).

Sex Therapy (song) 2009 R&B single by Robin Thicke

"Sex Therapy" is a song by American R&B singer Robin Thicke. The R&B ballad is the lead single from his album Sex Therapy. The song was released to the radio on October 20, 2009. Its tune and some other elements were sampled from the 1963 number-one song "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore.

<i>Sex Therapy: The Session</i> 2009 studio album by Robin Thicke

Sex Therapy: The Session is the fourth studio album by American R&B recording artist Robin Thicke, released December 15, 2009 on Star Trak Entertainment in the United States. Sex Therapy also features guest contributions by Jay-Z, Game, Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj and Estelle. The album debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 123,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, Sex Therapy received generally positive reviews from music critics.

My Chick Bad 2010 single by Nicki Minaj and Ludacris

"My Chick Bad" is a song by American rapper Ludacris. The song features Trinidadian recording artist Nicki Minaj, who co-wrote the song with Ludacris, Samuel Lindley, and Derrelle Davidson. The track was produced by The Legendary Traxster. "My Chick Bad" serves as the second single from Ludacris' eighth album, Battle of the Sexes. An official remix to the song was also released, featuring female rappers Diamond, Eve, and Trina.

Lil Freak 2010 single by Usher featuring Nicki Minaj

"Lil Freak" is a song by American recording artist Usher, taken from his sixth studio album, Raymond v. Raymond. Featuring guest vocals by Trinidadian recording artist Nicki Minaj, the song was written by her, Usher, Ester Dean, Blac Elvis and Polow da Don, the latter two producing the track. Its hook is based on a manipulated sample of American soul musician Stevie Wonder's 1973 hit, "Living for the City". "Lil Freak" was released as the second single from the album in the United States and Canada on March 2, 2010.

"Woohoo" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera, featuring Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj. The song was written by Aguilera, Onika Maraj, Claude Kelly, Ester Dean and Jamal "Polow da Don" Jones, and produced by Polow da Don, for Aguilera's sixth studio album, Bionic (2010). "Woohoo" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary crossover airplay as the album's second radio single on May 25, 2010. The song, which samples the 1972 song "Add már uram az esőt" by Kati Kovács, is about oral sex.

Where Them Girls At 2011 single by David Guetta

"Where Them Girls At" is a song by French DJ and record producer David Guetta, featuring vocals from American rapper Flo Rida and Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj. The track was released on 2 May 2011, via Virgin Records, serving as the lead single from Guetta's fifth studio album, Nothing but the Beat. The track was written by Mike Caren, Jared Cotter, Rida, Guetta, Minaj, Juan and Oscar Silinas, Giorgio Tuinfort and Sandy Vee.

Turn Me On (David Guetta song) 2011 single by David Guetta

"Turn Me On" is a song by French disc jockey David Guetta from his fifth studio album Nothing but the Beat. Vocals are provided by Trinidadian-born American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj, whose second studio album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded features the song as a bonus song on its deluxe version. It was written by Ester Dean, David Guetta and Giorgio Tuinfort, with a rap written by Minaj, and is lyrically about addiction.

Somebody Else (Mario song) 2013 single by Mario featuring Nicki Minaj

"Somebody Else" is a song recorded by American R&B singer-songwriter Mario, featuring guest vocals from Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj. The song was released in the United States as a digital download on May 21, 2013, on RCA Records.

"Flawless" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé from her self-titled fifth studio album (2013). Knowles wrote the track with Rashad Muhammad, Terius Nash, Chauncey Hollis and Raymond DeAndre Martin, with production handled by Hollis, Knowles, Martin, Muhammad, and Boots. An early version of the song, titled "Bow Down / I Been On", was released onto the Internet by Beyoncé in March 2013.

Pills n Potions 2014 single by Nicki Minaj

"Pills N Potions" is a song by Trinidadian-American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj from her third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014). It was released on May 21, 2014 by Young Money, Cash Money, and Republic Records as the lead single from the album. Minaj collaborated with Cirkut, Dr. Luke, and Ester Dean during the songwriting process, while Cirkut and Dr. Luke produced it.

Anaconda (Nicki Minaj song) Nicki Minaj song

"Anaconda" is a song by Trinidadian-American rapper and singer Nicki Minaj, from her third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014). It was released on August 4, 2014 by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Republic Records as the second single from the album. The song was produced by Polow da Don, DJ Spydr, and Da Internz. The song prominently samples "Baby Got Back" (1992) by Sir Mix-a-Lot.

Back Together (song) 2015 single by Robin Thicke featuring Nicki Minaj

"Back Together" is a song by American singer Robin Thicke. It premiered on August 5, 2015. It was made available for digital download and released a single on August 6, 2015, by Interscope Records. The song, produced by Max Martin and Ali Payami, features a guest appearance from American rapper Nicki Minaj.

Swish Swish 2017 single by Katy Perry featuring Nicki Minaj

"Swish Swish" is a song by American singer Katy Perry featuring American rapper Nicki Minaj for Perry's fifth studio album, Witness (2017). It was written by Perry, Duke Dumont, Sarah Hudson, PJ "Promnite" Sledge, Minaj and Brittany Hazzard, while being produced by Dumont, with additional production by Sledge and Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy and vocal production by Passovoy. The song was initially released as a promotional single on May 18, 2017, and later as the album's third single. "Swish Swish" is a house-inspired EDM and hip hop song that samples "I Get Deep" by Roland Clark.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Sex Therapy (booklet). Robin Thicke. Interscope Records, Star Trak Entertainment. 2009.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 Reid, Shaheeem (February 5, 2010). "Nicki Minaj Gets 'Stamp Of Approval' From Jay-Z". MTV News . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  3. "Robin Thicke on Nicki Minaj: 'She's Gonna Have a Very Long Career'". Rap-Up . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy" (promo single liner notes). Robin Thicke feat. Nicki Minaj. Star Trak Entertainment, Interscope Records. 2009.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy (Manon Dave Remix) by Robin Thicke". 7digital (AU). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy (Manon Dave Remix) by Robin Thicke". 7digital (CA). Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy (Manon Dave Remix) by Robin Thicke" (in French). 7digital (FR). Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy (Manon Dave Remix) by Robin Thicke" (in German). 7digital (DE). Retrieved August 1, 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. 1 2 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy (Manon Dave Remix) by Robin Thicke" (in Spanish). 7digital (ES). Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy (Manon Dave Remix) by Robin Thicke". 7digital (UK). Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Shakin' It 4 Daddy (Manon Dave Remix) by Robin Thicke". 7digital (US). Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  12. 1 2 Brown, August (December 14, 2009). "Album review: Robin Thicke's 'Sex Therapy: The Session'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  13. "Who is Robin Thicke". MuchMusic . Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  14. 1 2 "Review: Robin Thicke - 'Sex Therapy'".
  15. "Sex Therapy: The Experience - Robin Thicke - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  16. Jarmon, Kyle. "ROBIN THICKE Sex Therapy album review". Parlé Magazine. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  17. "Robin Thicke: Sex Therapy".