Lock U Down

{{Infobox song

| name = Lock U Down

| cover = Lock U Down.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Mýa featuring Lil Wayne

| album = Liberation

| released = March 27, 2007

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 3:34

| label = Universal Motown

| writer = {{hlist|Jason Boyd|Dwayne Carter|Mýa Harrison|Scott Storch}}

| producer = Scott Storch

| chronology = Mýa

| prev_title = Ayo!

| prev_year = 2006

| next_title = Ridin'

| next_year = 2007

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Lil Wayne

| type = singles

| prev_title = You Ain't Know

| prev_year = 2007

| title = Lock U Down

| year = 2007

| next_title = Speaker/9mm

| next_year = 2007

}}

"Lock U Down" is a song by American singer Mýa on her fourth studio album Liberation (2007). It was written by Harrison along with Jason Boyd, Dwayne Carter, and Scott Storch, with production handled by the latter, and featured Young Money rapper Lil Wayne. The song was released as the album's official leading single after "Ayo!" failed to find success on the charts or at radio and eventually deemed a promotional single only.{{cite web|url=http://randb.about.com/b/2007/02/15/new-music-mya-feat-lil-wayne-lock-u-down.htm|title=New Music: Mya feat. Lil Wayne - "Lock U Down"|access-date=2012-04-19|work=About.com}} The lyrics of the R&B-collaboration speak of a woman locking her man down when she has found the right one.

The song received generally mixed reviews from contemporary music critics, who found that "Lock U Down" sounded dated and a poor choice as a single. The song was a commercial disappointment, it failed to chart on Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart; peaking below the chart at number one hundred and number one on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart only. The song's accompanying music video was filmed by director Benny Boom. It featured Harrison and Lil Wayne in abandon warehouse. The video made its world premiere on BET’s 106 & Park on April 25, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=194571&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=6649378|title=Mya Video Walk-On - 106 & Park: Top 10|access-date=2012-04-19|work=TV Guide}}

Background

Co-written by Mýa and produced by Scott Storch, "Lock U Down" featuring Lil' Wayne mixes a prominent Eastern harp sample with a guitar riff. A street-but-sweet hip-hop soul jam,{{cite web|date=2007-04-30|first1=Chuck|last1=Arnold|first2=Ralph|last2=Novak|title=Picks and Pans Review: Hot Downloads|work=People| url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20062040,00.html|access-date=2015-12-19}} it exposes what kind of man a woman wants and needs.{{cite web|date=2007-04-26|title=Mya Album Preview: Liberation|work=Rap-Up| url=http://www.rap-up.com/2007/04/26/mya-album-preview-liberation/|access-date=2015-12-19}} Following the commercial disappointment of "Ayo!," Universal Motown delayed Liberation{{'}}s release. Initially, "Lock U Down" leaked in late December 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2006/12/08/new-music-mya-f-lil-wayne-lock-you-down/|title=New Music: Mya f/ Lil' Wayne|access-date=2019-05-23|work=Rap-Up}}

Critical reception

File:Lil Wayne in Concert.jpg (pictured) is featured on the single.]]

Upon release "Lock U Down" garnered "mixed" reviews from music critics. Previewed by back in July 2006, the Miami Herald praised "Lock U Down," and described the song as "genius" while commenting,"a rippling rhythm that shows off the rich tones of the underrated singer's voice, with a Middle Eastern counter melody."{{cite web|url=http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/14990480.htm|title=Scott Storch Previews New Music|access-date=2019-05-23|work=Miami Herald}} Writing for Sentinel, editor Brandon Brooks gave "Lock U Down" a favorable review. Brooks deemed "Lock U Down" a sure fire hit; while complimenting on Harrison's vocal performance noting, "She has grown up over the years and sound rejuvenated than ever before."{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1223689541.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001165231/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1223689541.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-10-01|title=Bump It Or Dump It|access-date=2012-10-14|work=HighBeam Research}} The Guardian{{'}}s Rosie Swash dismissed Lock U Down as a "basic but generally likeable song."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jul/10/2|title=What's a girl to do with Bat For Lashes' new single? Play it|access-date=2017-07-13|work=The Guardian|date=10 July 2007 |last1=Swash |first1=Rosie }}

Music video

On April 24, 2007, a day prior to the video's official release, Universal Motown uploaded a 27-minute video teaser.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2007/04/24/video-mya-lock-u-down-teaser/|title=VIDEO: MYA – "LOCK U DOWN" TEASER|access-date=2017-07-13|work=Rap-Up}} The Benny Boom-directed music video for the track was premiered on 106 & Park on April 25, 2007. The heavy dance-laid video includes Mýa dancing in a seemingly abandoned warehouse. Mýa performs a dance routine with a few back-up dancers during the video. Lil Wayne stands next to Mýa when rapping his verses, and Mýa is sometimes seen mouthing the words to his rap. Towards the end of the video, Mýa is seen partying with a couple of friends.{{cite web|title=Director Videography|publisher=MVD Base|url=http://www.mvdbase.com/tech.php?first=Benny&last=Boom|access-date=2009-04-10}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = US 12" single{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Mýa-Feat-Lil-Wayne-Lock-U-Down/release/2828881|title=Mýa* Feat. Lil Wayne – Lock U Down(Vinyl)|access-date=2012-02-26|work=Discogs}}

| title1 = Lock U Down

| note1 = Clean

| length1 = 3:34

| title2 = Lock U Down

| note2 = Instrumental

| length2 = 3:34

| title3 = Lock U Down

| note3 = Main

| length3 = 3:34

| title4 = Lock U Down

| note4 = A cappella

| length4 = 3:28

}}

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of Liberation.{{cite AV media notes|title=Liberation|others=Mýa|year=2007|publisher=Universal Motown Records|type=booklet}}

Wayne "The Brain" Allison – recording engineer
Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd – writer
Dwayne "Lil Wayne" Carter – vocalist, writer
Vadim "Chise" Chislov – recording engineer assistance
Aaron "Franchise" Fishbein – guitar

Conrad Golding – recording engineer
Suha Gur – mastering engineer
Mýa Harrison – vocalist, writer
Fabian Marasciullo – mixing engineer
Scott Storch – producer, writer

Charts

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance ! scope="col"\| Chart (2007) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| Germany (Deutsche Urban Charts){{cite web\|title=DIE JAHRESCHARTS 2007 \|work=djcharts.de\|url=http://www.djcharts.de/jahrescharts2007/DBC/\|access-date=2017-06-25}} \|align="center"\|9
scope="row"\| US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (2007-05-12)\|magazine=Billboard\|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=May-12-2007&f=Bubbling%20Under%20R&B/Hip-Hop%20Singles&model.chartId=3083673\|access-date=2009-04-11}} \|align="center"\|1

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance

! scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Germany (Deutsche Urban Charts){{cite web|title=DIE JAHRESCHARTS 2007 |work=djcharts.de|url=http://www.djcharts.de/jahrescharts2007/DBC/|access-date=2017-06-25}}

|align="center"|9

scope="row"| US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (2007-05-12)|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/search/detailed_chart_display.jsp?g=s&cd=May-12-2007&f=Bubbling%20Under%20R&B/Hip-Hop%20Singles&model.chartId=3083673|access-date=2009-04-11}}

|align="center"|1

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance ! scope="col"\| Chart (2007) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\|Germany (Deutsche Urban Charts) \|align="center"\|64

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance

! scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"|Germany (Deutsche Urban Charts)

|align="center"|64

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+Release dates and formats for "Lock U Down" ! scope="col" \| Region ! scope="col" \| Date ! scope="col" \| Format ! scope="col" \| Label ! scope="col" \| {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\| United States \|March 6, 2007 \|Rhythmic contemporary radio \|rowspan="2"\|Universal Motown \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2007\|title=Available For Airplay\|access-date=2011-08-09\|work=FMQB}}
March 27, 2007 \|Digital download \|{{cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/lock-u-down-feat-lil-wayne/218796784\|title=Lock U Down (feat. Lil Wayne) – Single\|access-date=2011-08-09\|work=iTunes}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Release dates and formats for "Lock U Down"

! scope="col" | Region

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Format

! scope="col" | Label

! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row" rowspan="2"| United States

|March 6, 2007

|Rhythmic contemporary radio

|rowspan="2"|Universal Motown

|{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2007|title=Available For Airplay|access-date=2011-08-09|work=FMQB}}

March 27, 2007

|Digital download

|{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/lock-u-down-feat-lil-wayne/218796784|title=Lock U Down (feat. Lil Wayne) – Single|access-date=2011-08-09|work=iTunes}}

References

Category:2007 singles

Category:2007 songs

Category:Mýa songs

Category:Lil Wayne songs

Category:Universal Motown Records singles

Category:Music videos directed by Benny Boom

Category:Songs written by Poo Bear

Category:Song recordings produced by Scott Storch

Category:Songs written by Scott Storch

Category:Songs written by Lil Wayne

Category:Songs written by Mýa