Melanin Magic
{{short description|2018 single by Remy Ma}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Melanin Magic
| cover = Remy Ma Melanin Magic.png
| type = single
| artist = Remy Ma featuring Chris Brown
| album =
| released = {{start date|2018|1|19}}
| genre =
| length = {{duration|m=2|s=57}}
| label = Reminisce
| writer = {{hlist|Keirston Lewis|Reminisce Mackie|Ricky Kinchen|Stokley Williams|Atia Boggs|Jeffrey Allen|Dallas Austin|Lawrence Waddell|Christopher Brown}}
| producer = Dallas Austin
| chronology = Remy Ma singles
| prev_title = Wake Me Up
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Company
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Chris Brown
| type = single
| prev_title = Either Way
| prev_year = 2017
| title = Melanin Magic
| year = 2018
| next_title = Tempo
| next_year = 2018
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|AOvCyD9bbDM|"Melanin Magic"}}}}
}}
"Melanin Magic", alternatively "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)", is a song by American rapper Remy Ma featuring American singer Chris Brown. It was written by the artists alongside Keirston Lewis, Ricky Kinchen, Stokley Williams, Atia "INK" Boggs, Jeffrey Allen, Lawrence Waddell, and producer Dallas Austin. The song was released via Reminisce Records on January 19, 2018. The song was nominated for the BET Her Award at the BET Awards 2018.
Background and release
The collaboration was first revealed by Ma during her appearance on Total Request Live in November 2017. "The next single is with Chris Brown," she said. "'Melanin Magic', aka 'Pretty Brown', It's amazing."{{cite news|title=Remy Ma Readies New Single with Chris Brown|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2017/11/14/remy-ma-readies-new-single-with-chris-brown/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Rap-Up|date=November 14, 2017}}{{cite news|last=Post|first=Chantilly|title=Remy Ma Says Chris Brown Will Be On Her Next Single|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/remy-ma-says-chris-brown-will-be-on-her-next-single-news.39558.html|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=HotNewHipHop|date=November 14, 2017}} On January 16, 2018, Ma shared a snippet of the song on social media. The song samples Mint Condition's "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)",{{cite news|last=Robertson|first=Darryl|title=Listen: Remy Ma Exercises Her "Melanin Magic" With Chris Brown|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/01/remy-ma-melanin-magic-chris-brown/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Vibe|date=January 18, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Listen To Remy Ma & Chris Brown's Snippet Of Their New Collaboration 'Melanin Magic'|url=http://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/chris-brown/music/remy-ma-melanin-magic-listen-download/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Capital XTRA|date=January 17, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Post|first=Chantilly|title=Remy Ma Grabs Chris Brown For New Single "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)"|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/remy-ma-grabs-chris-brown-for-new-single-melanin-magic-pretty-brown-new-song.1977027.html|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=HotNewHipHop|date=January 18, 2018}} and was announced with a cover art contest, which allowed fans to vote on three different options.{{cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/1/15/remy-ma-spreads-some-melanin-magic-with-chris-brown-on-new-s.html|title=Remy Ma spreads some "Melanin Magic" with Chris Brown on new song, asks fans to choose single's cover art|work=ABC News Radio|date=January 15, 2018|access-date=January 30, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Preview Remy Ma & Chris Brown's 'Melanin Magic'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2018/01/16/remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic-snippet/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Rap-Up|date=January 16, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Chris Brown & Remy Ma Team Up On Smooth New Single 'Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)'|url=http://www.capitalxtra.com/artists/chris-brown/music/remy-ma-melanin-magic-pretty-brown-full-stream/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Capital XTRA|date=January 19, 2018}}
Ma explained in a video on Instagram that this song was meant to empower. "I just wanted to make something to let people know that you're beautiful, you're pretty," she said. "You can be brown skin, dark skin, light skinned. None of that is what makes you pretty or beautiful. It's what's inside."{{cite news|last=Garwood|first=Bianca|title=ICYMI: Remy Ma and Chris Brown is Dripping "Melanin Magic"|url=http://www.ebony.com/entertainment-culture/remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic#axzz55fx1IRM7|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Ebony|date=January 24, 2018}}{{cite news|title=New Music: Remy Ma feat. Chris Brown – 'Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2018/01/18/new-music-remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic-pretty-brown/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Rap-Up|date=January 18, 2018}}{{cite news|last=O|first=Drea|title=New Music: Remy Ma and Chris Brown celebrate "Melanin Magic"|url=https://revolt.tv/stories/2018/01/19/remy-ma-chris-brown-celebrate-magic-melanin-single-melanin-magic-07002e41d7|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Revolt|date=January 20, 2018}}
Commercial performance
Commercially, Melanin Magic peaked at #17 on Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart, #24 on Billboard Rhythmic chart, #18 on Billboard Rap Airplay chart, #29 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and was the #1 most added song on Urban Radio.
Critical reception
C. Vernon Coleman II of XXL opined that Ma "puts a new spin on an old classic", writing that "Austin chops the R&B track into something more suitable to spit over, and Rem takes the opportunity to talk a little greasy".{{cite news|last=Coleman II|first=C. Vernon|title=Remy Ma Taps Chris Brown on New Song "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)"|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2018/01/remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic-pretty-brown/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=XXL|date=January 19, 2018}} Eric Skelton of Complex thinks that the song shows Ma's "catchier, more radio-friendly side".{{cite news|last=Skelton|first=Eric|title=Remy Ma Links With Chris Brown on New Single "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)"|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2018/01/remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic-pretty-brown|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Complex|date=January 19, 2018}} Jasmine Grant of VH1 described the song as "a ladies anthem and '90s tribute all wrapped into one", and wrote that Brown is "the perfect selection for the catchy hook".{{cite news|last=Grant|first=Jasmine|title=Remy Ma Unleashes the New Ladies' Anthem "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)" Featuring Chris Brown|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/l1794d/remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105232802/https://www.vh1.com/news/l1794d/remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic|url-status=live|archive-date=November 5, 2023|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=VH1|date=January 18, 2018}} Will Lavin of Joe felt that Ma and Brown "have created an ode to the regality of brown skin".{{cite news|last=Lavin|first=Will|title=Chris Brown joins Remy Ma to promote self-love on new single "Melanin Magic"|url=https://www.joe.co.uk/entertainment/remy-ma-chris-brown-promote-self-love-159123|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Joe|date=January 24, 2018}} Mike Nied of Idolator deemed the song "a retro romance with an empowering message for women" which "has a bit more crossover appeal" over the album's lead single "Wake Me Up", calling it "another promising release" from Ma.{{cite news|last=Nied|first=Mike|title=Remy Ma And Chris Brown Get Romantic On "Melanin Magic"|url=https://www.idolator.com/7673902/remy-ma-chris-brown-melanin-magic|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=Idolator|date=January 19, 2018}} James Dinh of iHeartRadio regarded the song as "a romantic ode to loving your own body".{{cite news|last=Dinh|first=James|title=Remy Ma Nabs Chris Brown (And A Mint Condition Classic) For 'Melanin Magic'|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2018-01-19-remy-ma-nabs-chris-brown-and-a-mint-condition-classic-for-melanin-magic/|access-date=January 30, 2018|work=iHeartRadio|date=January 19, 2018}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|title=Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown) / Remy Ma TIDAL|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/83368140|website=Tidal|access-date=January 30, 2018}}
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
- Remy Ma – songwriting
- Chris Brown – songwriting
- Keirston Lewis – songwriting
- Ricky Kinchen – songwriting
- Stokley Williams – songwriting
- Atia Boggs – songwriting
- Jeffrey Allen – songwriting
- Dallas Austin – songwriting, production
- Lawrence Waddell – songwriting
- Matthew Testa – mix engineering
- Colin Leonard – master engineering
- Alexander "Smitty Beatz" Smith – record engineering
{{div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|24|artist=Remy Ma|rowheader=true|access-date=March 27, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphopairplay|29|artist=Remy Ma|rowheader=true|access-date=March 6, 2018}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|_Ihg1_3-0os|Audio}}
{{Remy Ma}}
{{Chris Brown singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Remy Ma
Category:Songs written by Chris Brown