“2 On” by Tinashe featuring ScHoolboy Q

song info

    “2 On” by Tinashe featuring ScHoolboy Q (official video) is an R&B song.

link to the static song information page for this song:
http://www.thissideofsanity.com/music/songs/2/2on.php

    Summary quotation from Wikipedia:

    “2 On” is a song by American singer-songwriter Tinashe, released on January 21, 2014, as her commercial debut single. The song, which was produced by West Coast hip hop producer DJ Mustard, Jon Redwine, and DJ Marley Waters, features a guest verse from Los Angeles-based rapper Schoolboy Q. The song also serves as the lead single from her debut album Aquarius (2014).

    “2 On” is an electronic R&B song, marking a slight departure from the murky alternative R&B from her mixtapes. The song features “effervescent keys”, “synth-string accents”, finger snaps, trap hi-hats, electro beats and distant chilly sighs.

Background and composition

    “2 On” is an electro-R&B song written by Tinashe, Schoolboy Q and Bobby Brackins and produced by DJ Mustard, Jon Redwine and DJ Marley Waters. It is nightclub-oriented, which contrasts with Tinashe’s previous work such as her 2013 mixtape Black Water. She stated: “I wanted ‘2 On’ to be transitional, so people get used to the idea of, ‘She can make songs that can play on the radio, and she can still make songs that I can vibe out to in my car.’” In May 2014, Drake and OB O’Brien released a remix of “2 On” titled “2 On/Thotful”. Although the song became her first hit and got a lot of people buzzing about the song, some listeners didn’t really understand the concept of the meaning of “2 On.” She spoke with VladTV to address this by saying “2 On is basically a new way of saying turn up. Being super hyped up with your friends when going out. I just wanted to come up with a fresh phrase that people can catch on to.” The song samples Sean Paul’s “We Be Burnin’” towards the end.

Release and critical reception

    “2 On” was released worldwide as a music download by RCA Records on January 21, 2014. It impacted US rhythmic contemporary and urban contemporary radio on March 18, 2014. The song has peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 53 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed at number 1 for four weeks on the Billboard Rhythmic Charts. As of August 8, 2014, “2 On” has sold 473,000 downloads in the US. As of October 2014, “2 On” has sold 603,000 downloads in the US.

    Upon release “2 On” was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. J. Leeds of the online publication Idolator praised the song’s production calling it a “It a club thumper” and comparing the music video choreography to Janet Jackson and Britney Spears. Tom Breihan of Stereogum commented on the throwback feel from the track saying “2 On recreates some of the tropes of the late-’90s/early-’00s teenpop/R&B crossover era, but it does it within quotes” and also comparing the video having an Aaliyah vibe on it.

Live performances

    Tinashe first performed the song at SXSW Festival 2014. Also, at the Power 106 LA concert, Capital Xtra, Rinse FM, V100.7/Milwaukee’s Family Affair, The Vipor Room and Hot 97’s Who’s Next. Drake also invited her on stage to perform the remix to the song in Houston. Tinashe performed the song on The Wendy Williams Show on July 21, 2014.

Music video

    The song’s official music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, was released on March 24, 2014.

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