CiCi (EP)
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = CiCi
| type = ep
| artist = Ciara
| cover = Ciara - CiCi.png
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2023|8|18}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = R&B
| length = 21:26
| label = Beauty Marks
| producer =
- Precision Productions
- Deli Banger
- Mr Kamera
- Flo Beats
- Theron Thomas
- Ciara Harris
| prev_title = Beauty Marks
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = CiCi
| next_year = 2025
| misc = {{Singles
| name = CiCi
| type = ep
| single1 = How We Roll
| single1date = August 4, 2023
| single2 = Forever
| single2date = August 18, 2023
}}
}}
CiCi is the first extended play (EP) by American singer Ciara, released on August 18, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/cici/1699432274|title=CiCi by Ciara|website=Apple Music|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=August 4, 2023}}{{cite web |last=Samuels |first=Keithan |date=August 4, 2023 |title=Ciara Announces New EP CiCi |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2023/08/ciara-announces-new-ep-cici/ |access-date=August 4, 2023 |website=Rated R&B}} It was promoted with the release of two singles: "How We Roll", and "Forever", which featured Chris Brown and Lil Baby respectively. In April 2025, Ciara announced that her eighth studio album, also titled CiCi, would be an extension of the EP; the album is slated for a July 11, 2025 release.{{cite web|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2025/04/ciara-announces-new-album-cici-sets-release-date/|title=Ciara Announces New Album ‘CiCi,’ Sets Release Date|website=Rated R&B|last=Samuels|first=Keithan|date=April 4, 2025|access-date=April 4, 2025}}
Background
Ciara's seventh studio album, Beauty Marks, was released on May 10, 2019, through her independent record label, Beauty Marks Entertainment. In July 2022, it was announced that Ciara had signed a new partnership between Beauty Marks Entertainment and major labels, Republic Records and Uptown Records, under which she would release her eighth studio album. Through the joint venture, Ciara released the singles, "Jump" (featuring Coast Contra) and "Better Thangs" (featuring Summer Walker), in July and September 2022. However, her next single, "Da Girls", was released solely through her label in March 2023.{{Cite web |last=Oatman |first=Alexis |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Ciara Drops Off New "CiCi" EP |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/704002-ciara-drops-off-new-cici-ep |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}
On August 2, 2023, Ciara announced the release of the single, "How We Roll" (with Chris Brown); on August 4, 2023, Ciara announced that she would be releasing the EP CiCi on August 18, with "How We Roll" as its first track.{{Cite magazine |last=Denis |first=Kyle |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Ciara Reflects on 20 Years of 'Goodies,' New Chris Brown Collab 'How We Roll' & K-Pop: 'I Feel Blessed' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/ciara-20-years-goodies-chris-brown-how-we-roll-k-pop-1235386679/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} She premiered the tracklist on August 11, 2023, revealing that Lil Baby and Big Freedia would also feature on the EP.{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=Jon |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Ciara keeps the party going with 'CiCi' EP |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2023-08-18/322778/ciara-cici-ep/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=Revolt |language=en}}
Composition
In an interview with Rated R&B, Ciara shared: "There's always an intentional tone of empowerment in my music [...] I always want to uplift my Queens and take them on my journey with me. There's no better platform to be able to accomplish that than through my music."{{cite web |last=Samuels |first=Keithan |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Ciara on 'CiCi' EP: Interview |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2023/08/ciara-cici-interview/ |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=Rated R&B}} The album's opening track, "How We Roll", is a collaboration with Chris Brown and "finds the pair expressing their affection for each other over a laidback and groovy beat." The second track, "BRB", is a "nod to Jersey club bounce", featuring "fast-paced rhythm and kick drums"; the song finds Ciara singing about missing her significant other. Apple Music described "Type a Party", "Forever" and "2 in Luv" as traditional R&B and "Low Key" and "Winning" as uptempo.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/cici/1699432274|title=CiCi by Ciara|website=Apple Music|date=August 4, 2023|access-date=August 4, 2023}}
Singles
On August 4, 2023, Ciara released the single "How We Roll", in collaboration with Chris Brown.{{Cite web |last=Horvath |first=Zachary |date=August 4, 2023 |title=Ciara And Chris Brown Party Together On "How We Roll" |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/700552-ciara-chris-brown-how-we-roll |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}} A remix, featuring rapper Lil Wayne, was released on November 3, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2023/11/ciara-lil-wayne-chris-brown-how-we-roll-remix/|title=Lil Wayne Joins Ciara and Chris Brown on 'How We Roll (Remix)'|website=Rated R&B|last=Samuels|first=Keithan|date=November 3, 2023|access-date=November 3, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0yMfdY4CCyG83pX3PFlLYC?si=NYdQWGcqQ8m4LNoBqegCjw|title=How We Roll (Remix)|website=Spotify|date=November 3, 2023|access-date=November 3, 2023}}
On August 18, 2023, Ciara released a music video for "Forever", the EP's second single, featuring Lil Baby.{{cite web |last=Grant |first=Shawn |date=August 17, 2023 |title=Ciara Announces New Single "Forever" Feat. Lil Baby |url=https://thesource.com/2023/08/17/ciara-announces-new-single-forever-feat-lil-baby/ |access-date=August 18, 2023 |website=The Source}} The video was directed by Taj and Dre.{{Cite web |last=Inman |first=DeMicia |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Ciara, Lil Baby Take Over A Wedding In "Forever" Music Video |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/videos/ciara-lil-baby-forever-music-video-1234781644/ |access-date=August 19, 2023 |website=VIBE |language=en-US}}
Commercial performance
In the United States, CiCi debuted and peaked at number 90 on the US Top Current Album Sales chart.https://www.billboard.com/artist/ciara/chart-history/hca/ In the United Kingdom, the EP debuted and peaked at number 42 on the UK Album Downloads Chart, spending one week on that chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-downloads-chart/20230825/7003/|title=Official Album Downloads Charton 25/8/2023 25 August 2023 - 31 August 2023|website=Official Charts|date=25 August 2023|access-date=5 April 2025}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = CiCi track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title_width = 25%
| writing_width = 45%
| extra_width = 30%
| title1 = How We Roll
| note1 = featuring Chris Brown
| writer1 = {{hlist|Ciara Harris|Chris Brown|Theron Thomas|Skrrt Skrrt}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Precision Productions|Deli Banger|Mr Kamera}}
| length1 = 3:19
| title2 = BRB
| writer2 = {{hlist|Calvin Lamar Tarvin|Wilson|Kevin Yancey|Yone}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Harris|TIGGI|I Am Kevo}}
| length2 = 2:27
| title3 = Low Key
| writer3 = {{hlist|Harris|J.R. Rotem|Jasper Cameron|Theron Thomas}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Harris|Rotem|Cameron}}
| length3 = 3:29
| title4 = Type a Party
| writer4 = {{hlist|Chalra Warmley|Harris|Dwight Florent|Kasey Phillips|Theron Thomas|William Hood}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Theron Thomas|Harris|Flo Beats|Precision Productions}}
| length4 = 3:45
| title5 = Forever
| note5 = featuring Lil Baby
| writer5 = {{hlist|Harris|Dominique Jones|Hood|Warmley|Timothy Thomas|Phillips|Theron Thomas}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|Harris|Jaydot|Precision Productions|Theron Thomas}}
| length5 = 2:55
| title6 = 2 in Luv
| writer6 = {{hlist|Harris|Theron Thomas|Jhaye McKie|Phillips|Warmley|Hood|Adam Duggins|Rafe Van Hoy|Maurice Young}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Theron Thomas|Jaydot|Precision Productions|Wilson}}
| length6 = 2:58
| title7 = Winning
| note7 = featuring Big Freedia
| writer7 = {{hlist|Warmley|Harris|Claudell Mosanto|Phillips|Theron Thomas|Hood}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Harris|Precision Productions|Deli Banger|Theron Thomas}}
| length7 = 2:30
| total_length = 21:23
}}
Notes
- "2 in Luv" contains a sample from "I'm a Thug", as written by Maurice Young, Adam Duggins and Rafe Van Hoy, and as performed by Trick Daddy.
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for CiCi ! scope="col" | Chart (2023) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| scope="row" {{album chart|UKDigital|42|date=20230825|rowheader=true|access-date=August 25, 2023}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)https://www.billboard.com/artist/ciara/chart-history/hca/
| 90 |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Edition ! scope="col"| Format ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| Ref. |
|---|
| scope="row" | Various
| August 18, 2023 | Standard | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | Beauty Marks |