Friends with Benefits (song)
{{short description|2016 song by KSI and MNDM}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Friends with Benefits
| cover = KSI - Friends With Benefits.jpeg
| alt = The title "Friends With Benefits" and its initials "FWB" appear in white font in the centre of a light blue background, with the artists' names in dark blue font above.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = KSI and MNDM
| EP = Jump Around
| released = {{Start date|2016|07|29|df=yes}}
| genre =
| length = 2:46
| label =
| writer =
- Olajide Olatunji
- Derek Safo
- Tumai Salih
- Charles Cook
- Faried Jhauw
- Kris Coutinho
| producer =
- MNDM
- Sway
- DJ Turkish
- Charles Cook
- Faried Jhauw
| chronology = KSI
| prev_title = Goes Off
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Jump Around
| next_year = 2016
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|Zzpg8qbSJIE|"Friends with Benefits"}}}}
}}
"Friends with Benefits" (commonly abbreviated to its initials "FWB") is a song by British YouTuber and recording artist KSI and Dutch record production trio MNDM. It was released on 29 July 2016 by Island Records as the second single from KSI's second extended play (EP), Jump Around (2016). The song's lyrics centre around engaging in a no-strings-attached relationship.
"Friends with Benefits" debuted at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart. The song's music video was released on 5 August 2016 and stars KSI alongside a no-strings-attached friend in a series of silly vignettes which show the pair dressing up as various characters to illustrate some choice lyrics from the song. Scenes include KSI dressing up as Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Kendrick Lamar.
Background and release
{{Listen
| filename = KSI - Friends with Benefits sample.ogg
| pos = right
| title = "Friends with Benefits"
| description = A 16-second sample of the chorus, performed by KSI, in which he sings about engaging in a no-strings-attached relationship with a ladyfriend.
| format = Ogg
}}
"Friends with Benefits" was written and recorded during a recording studio session in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in February 2016, as documented in KSI's YouTube vlog titled "Amsterdam Music Trip".{{Cite web|date=27 February 2016|title=Amsterdam Music Trip|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjhbtdUsVGc|access-date=29 July 2016|via=YouTube}} On 18 July 2016, KSI revealed the song's title, cover art and release date via his social media pages.{{Cite web|last=MNDM|date=18 July 2016|title=#Repost @ksi with @repostapp ・・・ 29th July...|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BIBEU2QAfZ2/|access-date=29 July 2016|via=Instagram}}{{Cite web|last=MNDM|date=25 July 2016|title=#Repost @ksi with @repostapp ・・・ This Friday...|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BISe_60gR-k/|access-date=29 July 2016|via=Instagram}} "Friends with Benefits" was released for digital download and streaming on 29 July 2016 by Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group.
Music video
The music video for "Friends with Benefits" was filmed in the United States in the summer of 2016. It was released to KSI's YouTube channel on 5 August 2016 and has received 50 million views.{{Cite web|date=5 August 2016|title=KSI & MNDM - Friends with Benefits (FWB) Official Music Video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzpg8qbSJIE|access-date=5 August 2016|via=YouTube}}{{Cite web|last=MNDM|date=5 August 2016|title=Video is online now!! Check it out, Link in Bio! @KSI vs @OfficialMNDM - Friends With Benefits #FWB #KSI #NetflixAnthem|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BIuj6pVA1vd/|access-date=5 August 2016|via=Instagram}} The video's opening scenes show KSI and several of his Laid in America (2016) co-stars, including Caspar Lee, Alex Wassabi and Gerry Bednob, exiting a limousine upon arrival at a premiere of their film, before walking down a red carpet.{{Cite web|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=25 July 2016|title=Raunchy Comedy 'Laid in America' With YouTube Stars KSI, Caspar Lee Gets Release Dates|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/laid-in-america-ksi-caspar-lee-1201822440/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726132326/https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/laid-in-america-ksi-caspar-lee-1201822440/|archive-date=26 July 2016|access-date=5 August 2016|website=Variety}}
The remainder of the video stars KSI alongside American model Jena Frumes, who plays the role of his no-strings-attached friend, in a series of silly vignettes which show the pair dressing up as various characters to illustrate some choice lyrics from the song.{{Cite web |last=Velez |first=Cat |date=4 October 2020 |title=KSI & MNDM 'Friends With Benefits' by Harrison Boyce |url=https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2016/10/04/ksi-mndm-friends-benefits-harrison-boyce/43908 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127191632/https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2016/10/04/ksi-mndm-friends-benefits-harrison-boyce/43908 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |access-date=4 October 2016 |website=Promonews}} Scenes show the pair dressing up as penguins, a bride and a groom and a pimp and his girl, as well as KSI dressing up as an old man, Tony Montana from Scarface, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and Kendrick Lamar.{{Cite web|date=5 August 2016|title=Check Out KSI's Music Video For 'Friends With Benefits (FWB)' Here|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/xikg4s/check-out-ksis-music-video-for-friends-with-benefits-fwb-here|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807004140/http://www.mtv.co.uk/ksi/news/check-out-ksis-music-video-for-friends-with-benefits-fwb-here|archive-date=7 August 2016|access-date=5 August 2016|publisher=MTV}} At the end of the music video, there is a 15 seconds-long teaser of the music video for KSI's next single "Jump Around" (2016), featuring American rapper Waka Flocka Flame, which was later released on 3 October 2016.{{Cite web|last=Trendell|first=Andrew|date=3 October 2016|title=KSI unveils video for 'Jump Around' featuring Waka Flocka Flame|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-2578-1193362|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607075956/https://www.nme.com/news/music/nme-2578-1193362|archive-date=7 June 2020|access-date=3 October 2016|website=NME}}
Commercial performance
In the United Kingdom, "Friends with Benefits" debuted at number 69 on the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|title=KSI {{!}} full Official Chart History|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/48106/ksi/|access-date=5 August 2016|publisher=Official Charts Company}} The song dropped to number 78 the following week, before dropping out of the chart. "Friends with Benefits" also debuted at number 12 on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and spent a total of seven weeks on the chart.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{Cite web|date=29 July 2016|title=KSI vs MNDM / Friends With Benefits / Credits|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/63264060/credits|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116230659/https://listen.tidal.com/album/63264060/credits|archive-date=16 January 2021|access-date=29 July 2016|publisher=Tidal}}
- KSI{{spaced ndash}}songwriting, vocals
- MNDM{{spaced ndash}}production
- Sway{{spaced ndash}}production, songwriting
- DJ Turkish{{spaced ndash}}production, songwriting, mixing, mastering
- Charles Cook{{spaced ndash}}production, songwriting
- Faried Jhauw{{spaced ndash}}production, songwriting, drums, recording engineering
- Kris Coutinho{{spaced ndash}}songwriting, drums, recording engineering
- Rutti Cruise{{spaced ndash}}recording engineering
- Denise Kroes{{spaced ndash}}additional vocals
- Gia Re Lodge-O'Meally{{spaced ndash}}additional vocals
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Chart performance for "Friends with Benefits" ! scope="col" | Chart (2016) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| {{single chart|Scotland|43|date=20180209|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 August 2016}} |
| {{single chart|UK|69|date=20180209|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 August 2016}} |
| {{single chart|UKdownload|45|date=20180209|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 August 2016}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|12|date=20160805|rowheader=true|accessdate=5 August 2016|refname=UKR&B}} |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Friends with Benefits" ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| Various
| 29 July 2016 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web|date=29 July 2016|title=Friends With Benefits ‒ Single by KSI & MNDM|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/friends-with-benefits-single/1444865364|access-date=29 July 2016|publisher=Apple Music}}{{cite web|date=29 July 2016|title=Frends With Benefits ‒ Single by KSI & MNDM|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3a0M9zcRXkG7E0kwVBEc6W|access-date=29 July 2016|publisher=Spotify}} |
|---|