Switch Up (Big Sean song)

Last updated
"Switch Up"
SwitchUpBigSean.jpg
Single by Big Sean featuring Common
from the album Hall of Fame
ReleasedApril 6, 2013
Recorded2012
Genre Hip hop
Length5:10
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Big Sean singles chronology
"All That (Lady)"
(2013)
"Switch Up"
(2013)
"Wild"
(2013)
Common singles chronology
"Favorite Song"
(2012)
"Switch Up"
(2013)

"Switch Up" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Big Sean. It was released on April 6, 2013, as the second single from his second studio album Hall of Fame (2013). The song, produced by Mano [2] and No I.D., features a guest appearance from fellow rapper Common. The song had little success, peaking at number 50 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Contents

Background

The second single, "Switch Up", was announced along with its artwork by Big Sean on April 5, 2013 via Twitter, and shortly after was premiered on his official website.[ citation needed ] The single features fellow rapper Common, while the production was handled by No I.D. & Rob Kinelski. [3] The song was then released for digital download the following day. [4]

Theme

Big Sean made a statement saying how the song is for 'the fans of real rap and his believers'. In an interview he made, "When I put it out, I did it for the believers and the people that's been rocking with me, fans of just real rap." [5]

Controversy

"Switch Up" came to controversy after fans were asking Big Sean on Twitter if the song was a diss to Kid Cudi. [5] Kid Cudi left the GOOD Music label just four days before Big Sean released "Switch Up". [6] The lyrics rapped in the chorus "Who gon' leave you there when who gon' leave which ya?/ This is for the ones thats always ridin' with ya/ Ain't switch, I ain't switch up/ Naw, naw I aint switch up/ The same me, naw naw I ain't switch up/ The same team, naw naw I ain't switch up..." made fans think that Big Sean was angry towards Kid Cudi's departure from GOOD Music. Big Sean clarified the controversy with an interview with MTV News. Big Sean said in the interview that he was still friends with Kid Cudi as he stated "Motherfucker that's the dumbest shit somebody could ever say. That's my fam. When I lost my Jesus piece Cudi gave me his Jesus piece. That's my brother." [5]

Track listing

Digital single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Switch Up" (featuring Common) Sean Anderson, Lonnie Lynn Jr., Ernest Wilson, Rob Kinelski Mano,No I.D.5:10

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs [7] 50

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
United StatesApril 6, 2013 [4] Digital download GOOD, Def Jam

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOOD Music</span> American record label

GOOD Music was an American independent record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label entered an exclusive long-term worldwide distribution contract with the Island Def Jam Music Group in 2011. In 2012, the label released its only compilation album, Cruel Summer. In 2015, Pusha T was appointed president of the label by West, while record executive Steven Victor was appointed chief operating officer (COO). In late 2022, Pusha T stepped down from the position as he was no longer on speaking terms with West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No I.D.</span> American music producer

Ernest Dion Wilson, professionally known as No I.D., is an American record producer, DJ and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He is known for his early work with Chicago-based rapper Common, as well as his career mentorship of rappers Kanye West, J. Cole and Logic. Wilson first gained success for his role as an in-house producer for Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings—leading to largely uncredited work on Dupri's productions "My Boo" by Usher, "Outta My System" and "Let Me Hold You" by Bow Wow—before reaching commercial success with his solo productions. He worked with Jay-Z to produce his singles "Run This Town" and "Holy Grail," West to produce "Heartless," and Drake to produce "Find Your Love" and "Nonstop"; all of which have peaked within the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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

The discography of Common, an American rapper, consists of fourteen studio albums, one collaborative album, one extended play, two compilation albums, forty-nine singles and twenty-one music videos. It also contains the list of Common songs. Common sold more than 2.8 million albums in the United States. Common released his first album, Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992), and follow suit with his second album, Resurrection, which met with critical acclaim, calling the album as one of the classic of the 90s. Common released his third album, One Day It'll All Make Sense, which was a little commercial success, follow suit with his fourth album, Like Water for Chocolate, which was met with critical acclaim from music critics, calling it the best rap album of the year. The album was also a commercial success certifying it gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His fifth studio album Electric Circus was met with acclaim from music critics. However, it failed to meet the commercial success with Like Water for Chocolate, which only peaked at number 47 on the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kid Cudi</span> American rapper and singer (born 1984)

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, also known by his stage name Kid Cudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Cudi moved to New York City in pursuit of a musical career, where he first gained recognition for his song "Day 'n' Nite". Initially self-published on his MySpace page, the song became a hit online and served as a catalyst for Cudi to team up with record producers Plain Pat and Emile Haynie to record his first full-length project, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008). Its release helped Cudi rise to prominence and establish a fanbase, catching the attention of rapper Kanye West—who signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label by late 2008.

<i>Man on the Moon: The End of Day</i> 2009 studio album by Kid Cudi

Man on the Moon: The End of Day is the debut studio album by American rapper Kid Cudi. It was released on September 15, 2009, through Dream On, GOOD Music, and Universal Motown Records. A concept album, narrated by fellow American rapper Common, it follows the release of his first full-length project A Kid Named Cudi (2008), and is the first installment of the Man on the Moon trilogy. Production was handled by several high-profile record producers, including Kanye West, Emile Haynie, Plain Pat, and Jeff Bhasker, as well as contributions from Dot da Genius, Free School and The Kickdrums, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kid Cudi discography</span> Hip hop recording artist discography

The discography of American musician Kid Cudi consists of nine studio albums, one reissue, one compilation album, one box set, three extended plays (EPs), one mixtape, 32 singles, eight promotional singles and 32 music videos, the details of which are included in his videography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Make Her Say</span> 2009 single by Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West and Common

"Make Her Say" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kid Cudi, released as the second single from his debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009). The single was digitally released to iTunes on June 9, 2009. It features fellow American rappers Common and Kanye West, the latter of whom also produced the song. The song is perhaps best known for its sample of the US number-one hit single "Poker Face", as performed by American singer Lady Gaga. The song received a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

<i>Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager</i> 2010 studio album by Kid Cudi

Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager is the second studio album by American rapper Kid Cudi. It was released on November 9, 2010, through Dream On and GOOD Music, and distributed by Universal Motown Records. It serves as a sequel to his debut studio album Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009), and is the second installment of the Man on the Moon trilogy. Production for the album took place during 2009 to 2010 at various recording studios and was handled by long-time collaborators Emile Haynie and Plain Pat. It also featured contributions from Anthony Kilhoffer, Blended Babies, Chuck Inglish, Dot da Genius, Jim Jonsin, and Rami Beatz, among others. The album was supported by two singles: "Erase Me" and "Mr. Rager".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deuces (song)</span> 2011 song by Chris Brown

"Deuces" is a song written and performed by American singer Chris Brown featuring fellow American musicians Tyga and Kevin McCall. Produced by McCall, "Deuces" was released digitally on June 25, 2010, as the lead single from Brown's first collaborative effort with Tyga, titled Fan of a Fan (2010). The song is a slow, down-tempo R&B ballad featuring elements from the genres of house and pop music, while the song is lyrically about "breaking it off with a girl after failed attempts to make the relationship work". "Deuces" was later included on Brown's fourth studio album, F.A.M.E. (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erase Me (song)</span> 2010 single by Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West

"Erase Me" is a song by American musician Kid Cudi, released August 17, 2010, as the lead single from his second studio album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010). It features a guest appearance by his mentor, fellow American rapper Kanye West, and was produced by Jim Jonsin. The song proved to be another hit single for Cudi, with the song reaching the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Chip</span> American rapper from Ohio

Charles Jawanzaa Worth, known by his stage name King Chip, is an American rapper from Cleveland, Ohio. He is best known for his guest appearance on fellow Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi's 2013 single "Just What I Am," which received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Along with his association with Cudi, Worth has amassed numerous mixtapes tailored for the Cleveland area.

<i>Ambition</i> (Wale album) 2011 studio album by Wale

Ambition is the second studio album by American rapper Wale. It was released on November 1, 2011, by Allido Records, Maybach Music Group and Warner Bros. Records. This serves as the follow-up to his debut album, Attention Deficit, which was released in 2009. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Lex Luger, T-Minus, Tha Bizness, DJ Toomp and Diplo among others. The album also features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Lloyd, Ne-Yo, Big Sean, Miguel, Meek Mill, Kid Cudi, and Jeremih.

<i>WZRD</i> (album) 2012 studio album by WZRD

WZRD is the debut studio album by American alternative rock duo WZRD, composed of musicians Dot da Genius and Kid Cudi. It was released on February 28, 2012, via Universal Republic Records and GOOD Music, also in conjunction with Cudi's then-newly founded label imprint, Wicked Awesome Records. The album was supported by the lead singles "Brake" and "Teleport 2 Me, Jamie".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercy (Kanye West song)</span> 2012 single by Kanye West

"Mercy" is a song by American rapper Kanye West featuring fellow American rappers Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz. The song was released April 3, 2012 through GOOD Music and Def Jam as the lead single from the compilation album Cruel Summer (2012). The song's production was handled by Lifted, with additional production from West, Mike Dean, and Mike Will Made It, and additional instrumentation from Hudson Mohawke. The song heavily samples the dancehall song "Dust a Sound Boy" by Super Beagle. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics who praised the bombastic production, the varying quality of the verses, and the wordplay of the individual rappers. The song was featured on the soundtrack for NBA 2K13.

<i>Indicud</i> 2013 studio album by Kid Cudi

Indicud is the third studio album by American rapper Kid Cudi. It was released on April 16, 2013, by GOOD Music, Wicked Awesome Records, and Republic Records. It was the first album of Cudi's solo career to not be an installment of his Man on the Moon series. The album's cover artwork was designed by Kid Cudi himself, who also served as an executive producer of Indicud. It was Cudi's goal to make more uptempo and positive music with the album. He described it as a completely new format compared to his previous albums.

<i>Hall of Fame</i> (Big Sean album) 2013 studio album by Big Sean

Hall of Fame is the second studio album by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on August 27, 2013, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Nas, Jhené Aiko, Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Jeezy, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and Juicy J, while the production on the album was primarily handled by Key Wane, Hey DJ, No I.D., Da Internz, Mano and Young Chop, among others. It was supported by five singles: "Guap", "Switch Up", "Beware", "Fire" and "Ashley".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jahlil Beats</span> American record producer

Orlando Jahlil Tucker, better known by his stage name Jahlil Beats, is an American hip hop record producer. He has produced for artists such as Puff Daddy, Lil Wayne, Fabolous, Meek Mill, Chris Brown, Tyga, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Bobby Shmurda, T.I., and 50 Cent among others.

<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>Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever</i> 2013 mixtape by Logic

Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever is the fourth mixtape by American rapper Logic. It was released as a free online download by Visionary on May 7, 2013 and is the third installment in the Young Sinatra series, following Young Sinatra and Young Sinatra: Undeniable. The mixtape was downloaded over 100,000 times on DatPiff in less than a day and has garnered over 1,000,000 downloads on DatPiff since its release. This project was followed by Logic's fourth studio album YSIV , with the latter not being credited as a mixtape.

<i>Speedin Bullet 2 Heaven</i> 2015 studio album by Kid Cudi

Speedin' Bullet 2 Heaven is the fifth studio album by American musician Kid Cudi. The album was released on December 4, 2015, through Republic Records and Cudi's Wicked Awesome Records imprint. The album is a complete departure from his previous projects, excluding WZRD, a 2012 collaborative effort which was his first venture into rock music. Inspired by the 1990s indie music scene, Cudi included commissioned skits featuring Mike Judge voicing the titular characters of his '90s animated sitcom, Beavis and Butt-Head.

References

  1. File:Big sean Hall of fame album credits.png
  2. File:Big sean Hall of fame album credits.png
  3. "New Music: Big Sean x Common "Switch Up"". Rap Radar. 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  4. 1 2 "iTunes - Music - Switch Up (feat. Common) - Single by Big Sean". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-04-06. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  5. 1 2 3 "Big Sean Says 'Switch Up' Timing Is 'Just Ironic,' Not A Kid Cudi Dis - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. 2013-04-09. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  6. "Kid Cudi: "I'm No Longer on G.O.O.D. Music"". Complex. 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  7. https://www.billboard.com/artist/big-sean/chart-history/r%26b/hip-hop-songs