TwoAM

Last updated

"TwoAM"
SZA - TwoAM.png
Single by SZA
Written2016
Released
  • May 18, 2016 (2016-05-18)
Recorded2016
Studio The Lake House (Michigan)
Genre
Length4:02
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
SZA singles chronology
"Sobriety"
(2014)		"TwoAM"
(2016)		"Drew Barrymore"
(2017)
Audio
"2AM" on YouTube

"TwoAM" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA. It is a remix of PartyNextDoor's 2016 single "Come and See Me" featuring Drake, whom SZA briefly dated in 2009. A downtempo song with an R&B instrumental, "TwoAM" is about a dysfunctional couple portrayed in "Come and See Me" and is written from the perspective of the woman in the relationship. She sings about her conflicted feelings for a neglectful boyfriend who values her only for sex; on one hand, she recognizes she must leave him, but on the other, she cannot bring herself to stop being attracted to him.

Contents

Released as a standalone single on SoundCloud on May 18, 2016, the song is part of a years-long series of indirect interactions between SZA and Drake in which they referenced each other in their music. Critics received "TwoAM" positively, with praise directed towards the vulnerable tone and what they deemed a faithful recreation of the original song's quality. It got its official release on June 9, 2022, as a song on the deluxe edition of SZA's debut studio album, Ctrl (2017), after it was scrapped from the standard version's tracklist.

Background

After self-releasing two extended plays (EPs) from 2012 to 2013, [1] American singer-songwriter SZA signed with the record label Top Dawg Entertainment headed by rapper Terrence "Punch" Henderson, whom she first met in 2011 during a concert sponsored by a street company where SZA was working at the time. [2] Her first EP under the label was Z (2014), [1] preceded by the single "Child's Play" (2014) featuring Chance the Rapper. [3] After the release of Z, SZA began work on her debut studio album, which had the working title A. During this time, SZA released the standalone single "Sobriety" (2014) and co-wrote songs for other artists such as Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. [4] [5]

Back in 2009, SZA had a brief relationship with Canadian rapper Drake, and after their break-up, they began to reference each other in their music back-and-forth, through lyrics and song titles. [6] Moises Mendez II of Time called their behavior an example of subliminal messaging. Their series of interactions began with SZA's "Child's Play", the title of which Drake later used for a track from his 2016 album Views . [7] While the completion and release of A was being teased through a series of snippets, SZA released a remix of a song featuring Drake, titled "Come and See Me" (2016), by PartyNextDoor. [8] [9]

Music and lyrics

"Come and See Me" is about a man who calls a woman late at night to invite her for sex. In "TwoAM", SZA shifts the perspective away from the man and assumes the role of the woman in the call, [10] [11] offering more seductive lyrics compared to the original. [12] [13] The line "It's after 2 a.m. and that's asking a lot of you right now" is where the title of SZA's song originates. [8] In "TwoAM", yearning thoughts of the man keep the woman awake at night, hence the title. [10] [12]

"TwoAM" inverts the story in "Come and See Me". [9] As observed by Erin Ashley Simon of Revolt, while PartyNextDoor's character insists that the woman "come and see [him] for once", SZA's rejects him and tells him that he should go see her instead: "it's my time, it's your turn." [11] In "Come and See Me", the man fails to properly care for the woman and makes her feel guilty for his own faults; [14] in "TwoAM", she eventually acknowledges that he values her only for casual sex and realizes that she must end the relationship. However, her attraction to him persists, making her struggle to do so: "All this time I've been playin' your side / I could've done better shit with my life." [14] [15] She tells herself that if she continued to stay, she would feel more "fucked up". [8]

"TwoAM" was produced by ThankGod4Cody, Carter Lang, and Scum, [13] and it was recorded in Lang's cottage near Lake Michigan. [note 1] The song is downtempo and features a stripped-down, R&B-influenced instrumental, [9] a reproduced version of the one in "Come and See Me". [8] Meanwhile, the outro features guitar strums [9] and the sound of chirping birds, [10] showing a snippet of an unreleased SZA song, "Inside Man". [18] In it, she sings, "I might be thirsty for you, how can you blame me?", and ends with "Do you need me?" [12]

Release

"TwoAM" was surprise-released through Top Dawg Entertainment's SoundCloud account on May 18, 2016. [19] It was slated to appear on A, now named Ctrl (2017), but intense anxiety surrounding the album's lengthy wait led SZA to scrap it from the final tracklist. [20] It received an official release on June 9, 2022, as a track on the deluxe edition of Ctrl. [21] The song peaked at number 45 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [22] [note 2]

Critics Marc Hogan of Pitchfork [9] and Sydnee Monday of NPR [23] were positive about the theme of vulnerability in "TwoAM". In a review of Ctrl's standard edition, Monday commented that "TwoAM" had connected her to SZA's music more than Z because it was less heavy on metaphors and more grounded and honest. [23] Meanwhile, Edwin Ortiz of Complex and M. Musa of The Source believed that it faithfully recreated the quality of the original "Come and See Me". [8] [24] Sydney Gore of Nylon , referencing the last line of the song, and Melissa Locker of Elle wrote that "TwoAM" would leave listeners very excited for more SZA music. [12] [25]

Credits

Adapted from Billboard [26] and Rap-Up [13]

Recording and management

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "TwoAM"
Chart (2022)Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [27] 15
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [22] 45

Notes

  1. ↑ Named in the album liner notes as The Lake House; some songs in the album like "Love Galore" and "Broken Clocks" were recorded here [16] [17]
  2. ↑ Charted as "2AM", with number two written in numerals instead of spelled out

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Top Dawg Entertainment</span> American record label

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) is an American independent record label. Specializing in hip hop and R&B artists, TDE is based in Carson, California. The label was founded in 2004 by record producer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, who is the chief executive officer. His son, Anthony "Moosa" Tiffith Jr., and Terrence "Punch" Henderson are the presidents of the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SZA</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1989)

Solána Imani Rowe, known professionally as SZA, is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained recognition through her self-released extended plays (EPs), See.SZA.Run (2012) and S (2013), which helped her become the first female artist to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment. Her third EP, Z (2014), was her first project to be released to digital retailers and reached the top-ten on the US Independent Albums chart.

<i>Z</i> (EP) 2014 EP by SZA

Z is the third extended play (EP) by American R&B singer-songwriter SZA. It was released on April 8, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment. After amassing two self-released EPs, See.SZA.Run and S, as well as meeting with members of Top Dawg Entertainment, she subsequently signed a recording contract with the indie label. The recording of the EP took place in Carson, California during the summer of 2013 with the help of her Top Dawg labelmate Isaiah Rashad, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come and See Me</span> 2016 single by PartyNextDoor featuring Drake

"Come and See Me" is a song by Canadian singer PartyNextDoor featuring Canadian rapper Drake, released as the lead single from the former's second studio album, PartyNextDoor 3 on March 23, 2016. The song was produced by frequent OVO Sound collaborator Noah "40" Shebib. "Come and See Me" has peaked at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming PartyNextDoor's highest-charting single at the time. It received a nomination for Best R&B Song at the 59th Grammy Awards in February 2017. The song is featured in the NBA 2K17 soundtrack.

<i>Ctrl</i> (SZA album) 2017 studio album by SZA

Ctrl is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records on June 9, 2017. The album features guest appearances from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, James Fauntleroy, and Isaiah Rashad. Production was handled by Craig Balmoris, Frank Dukes, Carter Lang, Scum, and ThankGod4Cody, among others. The album was supported by five singles: "Drew Barrymore", "Love Galore", "The Weekend", "Broken Clocks", and "Garden ", all of which are certified Platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Galore</span> 2017 single by SZA featuring Travis Scott

"Love Galore" is a song by American singer SZA featuring American rapper Travis Scott. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records as the second single from her debut studio album, Ctrl, on April 28, 2017. SZA the artists wrote the song alongside TDE President Punch and producers Scum, Lang, and ThankGod4Cody. "Love Galore" received widespread acclaim from music critics and a Grammy nomination at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. An alternate version of the song was included on the deluxe edition of Ctrl, released on the fifth anniversary of the album's release on June 9, 2022, which features an additional verse from SZA that replaces Scott's verse.

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

American singer-songwriter SZA has released two studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), one live album, and 44 singles. SZA debuted with her self-released EP See.SZA.Run in 2012, followed by the 2013 EP S, gaining the attention of the independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment. She signed to Top Dawg as the label's first woman artist in 2013 and released her third EP, Z, a year later. After Z, she began work on her debut studio album, Ctrl (2017), which debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, peaked at number two on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and has charted for more than five subsequent years. The album, alongside its Billboard Hot 100 top-40 singles "Love Galore" and "The Weekend", earned her three of her first five Grammy nominations, in 2018. All singles from Ctrl have been certified platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Weekend (SZA song)</span> 2017 single by SZA

"The Weekend" is a song by American singer SZA from her debut studio album, Ctrl (2017). It was written by SZA and its producer ThankGod4Cody. The song samples "Set the Mood (Prelude)" from FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006), written by Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, and Danja, who also received writing credits for "The Weekend". "The Weekend" is an R&B and neo soul record that uses a synth-line, hi-hats, drums, a high-pitched vocal sample and clocking key thumps. SZA sings about knowingly being her partner's mistress, comparing herself to the weekend.

"Garden (Say It like Dat)" is a song by American singer SZA. It was released as the fifth and final single from June 19, 2018, from her debut album, Ctrl (2017). The song was serviced to Urban radios on June 19, 2018, by Top Dawg and RCA. The song was produced by Bēkon and additionally produced by Craig Balmoris.

"Blind" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is a beatless R&B and folk-pop song, featuring an orchestral production that consists of acoustic guitars, violas, and trumpets. SZA's vocal performance combines a rap cadence and slow falsetto vocals, with added vocal runs. In the song, SZA explores the duality of love and muses on a former relationship, as she expresses her disappointment to a toxic past partner while also expressing her continued attraction to him. For the chorus, SZA admits her insecurities in spite of seeking validation through sex, feeling empty and unable to find self-love within herself as a result of a failed romance. "Blind" also incorporates several pop culture references to figures such as Bob Saget and Jesus.

"PSA" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA reported to be from her third studio album, Lana (2024). The song is backed by vocal harmonies, soft piano, and harps. On it, SZA raps with braggadocio, demanding people call her "number one", telling them to serve her, and angering someone to amuse herself.

<i>SOS</i> (SZA album) 2022 studio album by SZA

SOS is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter SZA. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records on December 9, 2022. The album features guest appearances from Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, Travis Scott, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. SZA worked with a variety of record producers and songwriters such as Babyface, Jeff Bhasker, Rob Bisel, Benny Blanco, Darkchild, DJ Dahi, Ant Clemons, and Lizzo. It serves as the follow-up to SZA's previous album Ctrl (2017).

Cody Jordan "ThankGod4Cody" Fayne is an American producer, songwriter, and musician, most known for his production work on SZA's acclaimed albums Ctrl and SOS, as well as his 2019 debut album Cody of Nazareth.

"Nobody Gets Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the fourth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It was sent to Italian radio on January 6, 2023, and US contemporary hit radio four days later. The song peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian Hot 100, and the Official New Zealand Music Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kill Bill (SZA song)</span> 2023 single by SZA

"Kill Bill" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA and the fifth single from her second studio album, SOS (2022). It is a pop and R&B murder ballad, built around a midtempo, groovy rhythm and a detuned melody. Guitars, a bassline, and a flute that was sampled from a Prophet-6 synthesizer constitute the song's production, which is influenced by the boom bap subgenre of hip hop. Mirroring the plot of the Kill Bill film duology (2003–2004) after which the song is named, the lyrics discuss a fantasy to kill an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend out of jealousy, and they employ humorous irony alongside violent imagery that contrasts with SZA's soft vocals. "Kill Bill" was sent to US radio on January 10, 2023, after achieving success on streaming services.

"Low" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second album, SOS (2022). The song features adlibs from American rapper Travis Scott. It charted in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, with a number 24 peak on the Billboard Global 200. The song received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th ceremony.

"F2F" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). "F2F" is a rock song that draws influence from genres such as country, pop rock, and grunge. SZA wrote the song with Lizzo, who provides background vocals, and producers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang. The song was one of around five rock-inspired songs SZA created for SOS, out of a desire to experiment with various genres outside of her usual R&B music. The song begins with acoustic guitar strums before transitioning into a chorus backed by drums and power chords from electric guitars. The lyrics talk about having sex with someone to cope with breaking up with a former partner.

"Smoking on My Ex Pack" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022). The second of the album's three rap tracks, it is a boom bap song with a chipmunk soul production style, fusing hard-hitting drum beats with a sped-up sample of Webster Lewis's "Open Up Your Eyes" (1981). Before SOS, SZA had been known as an R&B artist who made "sad girl" music, a narrative she wanted to dispel because she viewed it as reductive. Particularly, she believed her being categorized strictly as R&B was racially insensitive. As such, she wanted to experiment with "aggressive" hip hop music for SOS, leading to the conception of "Smoking on My Ex Pack". Its producer was Jay Versace, to whom SZA credited her first attempts at rap music.

"Open Arms" is a song by American singer-songwriter SZA from her second studio album, SOS (2022), featuring American rapper Travis Scott. It is a ballad backed by an acoustic guitar, conceived as part of an effort to explore soundscapes outside of SZA's usual R&B-leaning music. The lyrics are addressed to a former lover, whom the narrator leaves for the sake of her self-esteem despite her persistent feelings of attachment to him. A tribute to SZA's deceased grandmother, Norma Rowe, begins the song, done in the form of a skit. Rowe's vocals featured prominently on SZA's debut album, Ctrl (2017); "Open Arms" is the only SOS track on which she appears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Barrymore (SZA song)</span> 2017 single by SZA

"Drew Barrymore" is a song by American singer SZA, released as the lead single from her debut major-label album, Ctrl. The Dave Meyers-directed music video was released on June 20, 2017, and includes a cameo from actress Drew Barrymore, the song’s namesake.

References

  1. 1 2 Ugwu, Reggie (April 7, 2014). "SZA Talks Z Album & Being the Only Girl in Top Dawg Entertainment". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  2. ↑ Darville, Jordan (February 8, 2023). "SZA Wanted to Sign to Odd Future Before Landing at Top Dawg Entertainment". The Fader . Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  3. ↑ McDermott, Patrick D. (March 25, 2014). "Stream: SZA f. Chance the Rapper, 'Childs Play'". The Fader . Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ↑ "SZA Shares New Track 'Sobriety'". DIY . November 19, 2014. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ Nicholson, Rebecca (July 29, 2017). "SZA: 'The Record Company Took My Hard Drive from Me'". The Guardian . Archived from the original on December 20, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ Mamo, Heran; Lamarre, Carl (September 15, 2023). "Drake & SZA Drop 'Slime You Out' Collab: Stream It Now". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  7. ↑ Mendez II, Moises (September 15, 2023). "The Long History Behind SZA and Drake's New Single 'Slime You Out'". Time . Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Ortiz, Edwin (May 19, 2016). "SZA Plays Off of PartyNextDoor's 'Come and See Me' with 'TwoAM'". Complex . Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Hogan, Marc (May 27, 2016). "'TwoAM': SZA". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Skelton, Eric (May 19, 2016). "SZA Returns with a PartyNextDoor and Drake-Inspired Song, 'TwoAM'". Complex . Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "New Music Roundup: Cam'ron, SZA, Theophilus London, Banks & Steelz, & Hanz". Revolt . May 19, 2016. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Gore, Sydney (May 19, 2016). "SZA Is Back with a New Song for Your Booty Calls". Nylon . Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 Lazerine, Devin (May 18, 2016). "New Music: SZA – 'TwoAM'". Rap-Up . Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Pearce, Sheldon (June 16, 2022). "The Sideways Wisdom of SZA's Ctrl" . The New Yorker . Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  15. ↑ Goddard, Kevin (May 19, 2016). "'TwoAM'". HotNewHipHop . Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  16. ↑ SZA (2017). Ctrl (CD liner notes). Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. 88985449192.
  17. ↑ Harris, Hunter (June 14, 2017). "SZA Is Finally in Ctrl" . Vulture . Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  18. ↑ Hawkins, Autumn (November 2, 2023). "SZA: 13 of Her Best Songs Ranked". WPEG . Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  19. ↑ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (May 12, 2016). "SZA Flips PartyNextDoor and Drake's 'Come and See Me' for Her New Song 'TwoAM'". The Fader . Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ Ellis, Stacy-Ann (July 11, 2017). "How SZA Finally Made Peace with Her Vulnerability". Cosmopolitan . Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  21. ↑ Abraham, Mya (June 9, 2022). "SZA Drops Surprise Ctrl (Deluxe) Album, Maintains 5-Year Run on Billboard 200 Chart". Vibe . Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  22. 1 2 "SZA Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  23. 1 2 Monday, Sydnee; Donnella, Leah; Chow, Kat; Fullwood, Brandi; Gathright, Jenny (June 14, 2017). "Taking Ctrl: Why SZA's New Album Means So Much". NPR . Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  24. ↑ Musa, M. (May 19, 2016). "Sza Covers PartyNextDoor & Drake's 'Come and See Me' on 'TwoAM'". The Source . Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  25. ↑ Locker, Melissa (May 23, 2016). "9 New Songs to Heat Up Your Summer Playlist". Elle . Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of June 25, 2022" . Billboard . June 25, 2022. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  27. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 20, 2022. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
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.