Don't Play with It explained

Don't Play with It
Cover:Lola Brooke - Don't Play With It.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Lola Brooke featuring Billy B
Released:May 14, 2021
Genre:Brooklyn drill
Length:2:11
Label:
Producer:
  • Tsunami
  • Semibeatzz
  • Dizzy Banko
Chronology:Lola Brooke
Prev Title:Back to Business
Prev Year:2021
Next Title:Work
Next Year:2021

"Don't Play with It" is a single by American rapper Lola Brooke featuring Billy B. It was released in May 2021 and produced by Dizzy Banko. The song was a sleeper hit, gaining traction through the video-sharing app TikTok in 2022 and becoming the breakout hit of both artists.

Background

In an interview with Brooklyn Magazine, when asked how the song came about, Lola Brooke stated, "I was tired of people playing with me, for real. That's really what it was." Brooke was at home when Dizzy Banko was playing her some beats over the phone, and after hearing one of the beats, immediately told him to send it to her. She said, "I was listening to that and I was like 'Don't play with it, don't play with it, don't play with it!'" The song was originally a freestyle; according to Brooke, "I was walking back and forth in the house, and I was like, 'Don't play with it, don't play with it' and I just kept going."[1] After recording the song in the studio, she left an open verse, eventually choosing rapper Billy B for a guest appearance because they were both from Brooklyn.[2]

Release and promotion

The song was released on May 14, 2021,[3] along with a music video.[4] Lola Brooke garnered further recognition for the song with a performance on "From the Block" in November 2021.[5] It caught widespread attention via TikTok in 2022; by October of that year, the video surpassed over 500,000 views.[6] The song considerably increased in streams on Spotify, amassing two million streams in November 2022.[7] As a result of its success, Brooke received cosigns from various celebrities, including rappers Missy Elliott, Cardi B, Meek Mill, JT of City Girls, Saucy Santana and Pusha T, Ella Mai, Kim Kardashian and Shaquille O'Neal,[8] and eventually signed to Arista Records.

Remix

An official remix of the song featuring American rappers Latto and Yung Miami of City Girls was released on March 24, 2023 with an accompanying music video,[9] which was filmed on March 20 in New York City. In an email to Complex, Brooke stated, "I wanted to bring more cities to my world. You have Latto from Atlanta and Yung Miami from Miami and they both go hard for their cities like I do for Brooklyn. The energy was to the ceiling while shooting the music video. We shot it in one day this past Monday, actually. I'll tell y'all this, the NYPD tried to shut my video down twice but we still were able to all do the things we like to doooo. Don't play with us!"[10] The video sees the rappers in the streets[11] and under a freeway overpass,[12] with a large entourage and across the city from Harlem to Brooklyn.[13]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[14] 69
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 21
US Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[16] 2
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[17] 16

Year-end charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] 67

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kalil-Barrino . Marisa . Here She Comes: Lola Brooke is the Aspiring Queen of Kings County Rap . . 13 February 2023 . November 28, 2022.
  2. Web site: Fondren . Precious . Brooklyn drill artist Lola Brooke steps up to the major-label league . . 13 February 2023 . January 11, 2023.
  3. Web site: Don't Play With It (feat. Billy B) - Single . . 27 January 2023 . May 14, 2021.
  4. Web site: New York Femcee Lola Brooke Releases "Don't Play With It" . Hypefresh . 13 February 2023 . May 18, 2021.
  5. Web site: A. . Aron . Lola Brooke Wants To Make Jay-Z Proud: The "Don’t Play With It" Rapper On Brooklyn Drill, Kim Kardashian & Pusha T Co-Signs & More . . 13 February 2023 . December 13, 2022.
  6. Web site: Ju . Shirley . Meet Lola Brooke: Here To Become The New Face Of New York City . . 13 February 2023 . October 14, 2022.
  7. Web site: High . Kemet . The Break Presents – Lola Brooke . . 13 February 2023 . November 14, 2022.
  8. Web site: Saponara . Michael . Lola Brooke Signs to Arista Records in Collaboration With Team Eighty Productions . . 13 February 2023 . January 9, 2023.
  9. Web site: Grant . Shawn . Lola Brooke Drops Official "Don't Play With It" Remix Feat. Yung Miami and Latto . . 5 April 2023 . March 24, 2023.
  10. Web site: O . Drea . Lola Brooke Is Not to Be Played With . . 5 April 2023 . March 27, 2023.
  11. Web site: Callas . Brad . Lola Brooke Taps Latto and Yung Miami for "Don’t Play With It" Remix . Complex . 5 April 2023 . March 24, 2023.
  12. Web site: Williams . Aaron . Lola Brooke Goes Hard With Latto And Yung Miami In The ‘Don’t Play With It (Remix)’ Video . . 5 April 2023 . March 24, 2023.
  13. Web site: Saunders . Brycen . Lola Brooke Enlists Latto and Yung Miami for "Don’t Play With It" Remix . . 5 April 2023 . March 25, 2023.
  14. Billboard Hot 100: Week of April 8, 2023. Billboard. April 4, 2023.
  15. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of April 8, 2023. Billboard. April 4, 2023.
  16. Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart: Week of April 22, 2023. Billboard. April 22, 2023.
  17. Rhythmic Airplay: Week of April 22, 2023. Billboard. April 18, 2023.
  18. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 23, 2023.

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