Before I Do
{{Infobox song
| name = Before I Do
| cover = Sevyn_Streeter_Before_I_Do_Single_Cover.jpg
| alt =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Sevyn Streeter
| album = Girl Disrupted
| released = December 2, 2016
| recorded = 2016
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = R&B
| length = 3:57
| label = Atlantic
| writer = {{hlist|Streeter|Felisha King|Jonathan Yip|Ray Romulus|Jeremy Reeves|Ray Charles McCullough II|Isley Brothers|Chris Jasper}}
| producer = The Stereotypes
| chronology = Sevyn Streeter
| prev_title = D4L
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Fallen
| next_year = 2017
}}
"Before I Do" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Sevyn Streeter from her debut studio album, Girl Disrupted (2017). The song was produced by Micah Powell, B Harv and The Stereotypes, Eric Nealante' Phillips. It was released as the album's second single on December 2, 2016 through Atlantic Records.{{cite web|title=Before I Do - Single by Sevyn Streeter|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/before-i-do-single/id1178213885|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203061100/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/before-i-do-single/id1178213885|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2016|website=iTunes (U.S. Store)|accessdate=2 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=Before I Do Sevyn Streeter MP3 Downloads|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N65K7A9/|website=Amazon (U.S. Store)|accessdate=2 December 2016}} The song samples "(At Your Best) You Are Love" by the late singer Aaliyah, which is an Isley Brothers cover.
Background and composition
The song was premiered at Rap-Up LIVE on October 18, 2016 along with songs "My Love for You", "D4L" and a soulful cover of Lauryn Hill’s "Ex-Factor".{{cite web|title=SEVYN STREETER DEBUTS NEW MUSIC, COVERS LAURYN HILL AT RAP-UP LIVE|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2016/10/21/sevyn-streeter-performs-at-rap-up-live/|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=18 October 2016|date=2 December 2016}} On December 2, 2016 "Before I Do" was released digitally as a single on iTunes. On December 4, 2016, Streeter posted three pictures taken from the set of the music video with lyrics from the song on and hashtags "#BEFOREIDO #VIDEOMONDAY #GIRLDISRUPTED" revealing the video would be released on December 5, 2016.{{cite web|title=Baby in my mind, we should be together.... #BEFOREIDO #VIDEOMONDAY #GIRLDISRUPTED|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BNk3zKnADWQ/|website=Instagram|accessdate=4 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=Cause I want u to be all over me, truthfully.... #BEFOREIDO #VIDEOMONDAY #GIRLDISRUPTED|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BNk4YLYgVAg/|website=Instagram|accessdate=4 December 2016}}{{cite web|title=But before I do, I wanna know before I go there with you... #BEFOREIDO #VIDEOMONDAY #GIRLDISRUPTED|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BNk4qmcAkmj/|website=Instagram|accessdate=4 December 2016}} In an interview with Fuse Streeter described the track to be influenced by the late R&B singer Aaliyah.{{cite web|title=Sevyn Streeter Discusses Aaliyah's Influence On Before I Do|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV6H0k2c1Gk|website=YouTube|accessdate=23 December 2016}}
Critical reception
The song was well received by critics. Rap-Up stated in a review "Sevyn Streeter is set to release her debut album next year, but before 2016 is over, she’s giving fans another taste of Girl Disrupted with “Before I Do.” The stripped-down R&B jam finds the Haines City songstress ready to take her relationship to the next level, but before she does, she wants to make sure her man is the right one."{{cite web|title=NEW MUSIC: SEVYN STREETER – 'BEFORE I DO'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2016/12/02/new-music-sevyn-streeter-before-i-do/|website=Rap-Up|accessdate=2 December 2016}} HotNewHipHop said in a review "Sevyn Streeter has a voice of velvet, and on her new single "Before I Do," she lets those uniquely soothing vocals loose. Over an old school 90's R&B beat, she investigates a potential lover before allowing him to smash."{{cite web|title=Sevyn Streeter - Before I Do [New Song]|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/sevyn-streeter-before-i-do-new-song.1972116.html|website=Hot New Hip Hop|date=3 December 2016|accessdate=3 December 2016}} Singersroom stated in a review "Sevyn Streeter continues to heighten anticipation around her forthcoming debut album, Girl Disrupted, with the release of the new record, Before I Do. On the stripped-down tune, the R&B songstress finds herself in the gray area of love: she’s trying to figure out if her boo is real or if he’s unfaithful.{{cite web|last1=JusMusic|first1=DJ|title=Sevyn Streeter – Before I Do|url=http://singersroom.com/content/2016-12-02/sevyn-streeter-before-i-do/|website=Singersroom|date=3 December 2016|accessdate=3 December 2016}}
Music video
A teaser video was released to Streeter's YouTube account on December 2, 2016.{{cite web|title=Sevyn Streeter - Before I Do Music Video Trailer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5F92zaxAO0|website=YouTube|accessdate=3 December 2016}} The music video was released to Streeter's YouTube account on December 5, 2016, directed by Mike Ho who previously directed "My Love for You.{{cite web|title=Sevyn Streeter - Before I Do [Official Music Video]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT0f-eSaf4M|website=YouTube|accessdate=5 December 2016}}
Live performances
During television network's Revolt Sessions Streeter performed tracks "My Love for You", "Before I Do", "D4L", "Prolly" from her upcoming album and "Shattered" from the extended play (EP) Call Me Crazy, But....{{cite web|title=REVOLT Sessions Sevyn Streeter|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoBMWuEoNJc|website=YouTube|accessdate=13 December 2016}} Streeter performed the song on The Wendy Williams Show on July 11, 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://onsmash.com/music/sevyn-streeter-performs-before-i-do-on-wendy/|title = Watch Sevyn Streeter Perform "Before I Do" on Wendy}}
Track listings and formats
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2017) !Peak |
| scope="row"| US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard){{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-airplay|title=Hip Hop/R&B Songs Airplay Chart|work=Billboard|access-date=2017-09-19}}
|15 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard){{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-adult-r-and-b-airplay|title=Adult R&B Songs & Music Chart|work=Billboard|access-date=2017-08-29}}
|1 |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Region
! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label ! scope="col" | Ref |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="1"| Worldwide
| December 2, 2016 | style="text-align:center;" | International releases of Before I Do:
|
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Sevyn Streeter}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Atlantic Records singles
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:Song recordings produced by the Stereotypes
Category:Songs written by Sevyn Streeter
Category:Songs written by Chris Jasper
Category:Songs written by Jonathan Yip
Category:Songs written by Ray Romulus