Don't Play with It
{{Short description|2021 single by Lola Brooke featuring Billy B}}
{{Infobox single
| name = Don't Play with It
| cover = Lola Brooke - Don't Play With It.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Lola Brooke featuring Billy B
| EP =
| released = May 14, 2021
| recorded =
| genre = Brooklyn drill
| length = 2:11
| label = * Team Eighty
| writer = * Shyniece Thomas
- Jahdira Atkins
| producer = * Tsunami
- Semibeatzz
- Dizzy Banko
| chronology = Lola Brooke
| prev_title = Back to Business
| prev_year = 2021
| next_title = Work
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Billy B
| type = single
| title = Don't Play with It
| year = 2021
| next_title = Bachata
| next_year = 2021
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|skHwjaZPKfs|"Don't Play with It"}}}}
{{External music video|header=none|{{YouTube|ZuCnKQZ7_AE|"Don't Play with It (Remix)"}}}}
}}
"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."{{cite web |last1=Kalil-Barrino |first1=Marisa |title=Here She Comes: Lola Brooke is the Aspiring Queen of Kings County Rap |url=https://www.bkmag.com/2022/11/28/lola-brooke-718-princess/ |website=Brooklyn Magazine |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=November 28, 2022}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Fondren |first1=Precious |title=Brooklyn drill artist Lola Brooke steps up to the major-label league |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/brooklyn-drill-artist-lola-brooke-steps-up-to-the-major-label-league |website=Gothamist |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=January 11, 2023}}
Release and promotion
The song was released on May 14, 2021,{{cite web |title=Don't Play With It (feat. Billy B) - Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/dont-play-with-it-feat-billy-b-single/1646691986 |website=Apple Music |access-date=27 January 2023 |date=May 14, 2021}} along with a music video.{{cite web |title=New York Femcee Lola Brooke Releases "Don't Play With It" |url=https://www.hypefresh.co/new-york-femcee-lola-brooke-releases-new-single-and-video/ |website=Hypefresh |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=May 18, 2021}} Lola Brooke garnered further recognition for the song with a performance on "From the Block" in November 2021.{{cite web |last1=A. |first1=Aron |title=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 |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/610082-lola-brooke-dont-play-with-it-rapper-interview |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=December 13, 2022}} It caught widespread attention via TikTok in 2022; by October of that year, the video surpassed over 500,000 views.{{cite web |last1=Ju |first1=Shirley |title=Meet Lola Brooke: Here To Become The New Face Of New York City |url=http://www.sheenmagazine.com/meet-lola-brooke-here-to-become-the-new-face-of-new-york-city-2/ |website=Sheen Magazine |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=October 14, 2022}} The song considerably increased in streams on Spotify, amassing two million streams in November 2022.{{cite web |last1=High |first1=Kemet |title=The Break Presents – Lola Brooke |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/lola-brooke-interview-the-break/ |website=XXL |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=November 14, 2022}} 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,{{cite web |last1=Saponara |first1=Michael |title=Lola Brooke Signs to Arista Records in Collaboration With Team Eighty Productions |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/lola-brooke-signed-arista-records-team-eighty-productions/ |website=Billboard |access-date=13 February 2023 |date=January 9, 2023}} 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,{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Shawn |title=Lola Brooke Drops Official "Don't Play With It" Remix Feat. Yung Miami and Latto |url=https://thesource.com/2023/03/24/lola-brooke-drops-official-dont-play-with-it-remix-feat-yung-miami-and-latto/ |website=The Source |access-date=5 April 2023 |date=March 24, 2023}} 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!"{{cite web |last1=O |first1=Drea |title=Lola Brooke Is Not to Be Played With |url=https://www.complex.com/music/lola-brooke-interview-dont-play-with-it |website=Complex |access-date=5 April 2023 |date=March 27, 2023}} The video sees the rappers in the streets{{cite web |last1=Callas |first1=Brad |title=Lola Brooke Taps Latto and Yung Miami for "Don’t Play With It" Remix |url=https://www.complex.com/music/lola-brooke-interview-dont-play-with-it |website=Complex |access-date=5 April 2023 |date=March 24, 2023}} and under a freeway overpass,{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Aaron |title=Lola Brooke Goes Hard With Latto And Yung Miami In The ‘Don’t Play With It (Remix)’ Video |url=https://uproxx.com/music/lola-brooke-dont-play-with-it-remix-video-latto-yung-miami/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=5 April 2023 |date=March 24, 2023}} with a large entourage and across the city from Harlem to Brooklyn.{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Brycen |title=Lola Brooke Enlists Latto and Yung Miami for "Don’t Play With It" Remix |url=https://hypebeast.com/2023/3/lola-brooke-latto-yung-miami-dont-play-with-it-remix-watch |website=Hypebeast |access-date=5 April 2023 |date=March 25, 2023}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for "Don't Play with It" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 23, 2023}}
| 67 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Don't Play with It"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Lola Brooke|title=Don't Play with It (feat. Billy B)|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|access-date=July 28, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}