"Chillin" is the debut single by American hip hop artist Wale, from his debut album Attention Deficit, which was released on September 22 2009, by Interscope Records/Allido Records. "Chillin" premiered on March 20, 2009, on 93.9 WKYS in Washington, D.C. The song currently has two pages registered on BMI. First, under the name, "Lookin' On Me", and second, "Chillin".
Writing and background[]
While in the writing process, Wale needed a single and wrote the lyrics after Cool played him a beat. Chillin samples Steam’s 1969 song “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” and was produced by hip hop producers team Cool & Dre. Wale manager's, Daniel Weisman made a list of artist from Interscope to be featured on the song with big names like Nelly Furtado, Gwen Stefani and the still unknown Gaga at that time but they didn't pick anybody yet. In December 2008, a rough demo leaked on the internet without Gaga's verses. When Gaga's career was better established, Wale's team chose her and she accepted.
| “ | Mark Ronson [Wale's mentor] phoned me while I was on tour about Wale. He wanted me to feature and write the hook for “Chillin’.” When I heard the track, I knew it was something I’d be into. Wale and I worked on it together, and I recorded it in London with Mark [in january 2009]. Wale not only has talent, but his integrity to his roots is enviable. "Chillin’" is a smash, and I'm excited to see Wale make waves in hip hop. | ” |
—Lady Gaga | ||
The single was released in two versions (Explicit/Clean) for digital download on April 14, 2009. Chillin was released on August 4, 2009 for the U.S. radio and August 31, 2009 in the United Kingdom. The album version has an extra verse sung by Gaga and the lyrics are also switched up.
Critical reception[]
Critical reception of the song has been mixed to positive. MTV praised Gaga's verse in the song to one that could be sung by M.I.A.. The Greyhound gave the song a negative review and said, "...with a lackluster hook and the repetition of the name 'Wale,' the airplay and sales of this single will depend greatly upon the vocals of Lady Gaga.
Commercial release[]
Physical release[]
United Kingdom (27175171)[]
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Label: Allido/Interscope Format: Slimline jewel case Released: August 31, 2009 Barcode: 6022527175171 Photography: N/A Design: N/A  |
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| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chillin'" (feat. Lady Gaga) | 3:24 |
| 2. | "Nike Boots" | 4:20 |
United Kingdom (WALE1)[]
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Label: Allido/Interscope Format: Slimline jewel case Released: August 31, 2009 Barcode: None Photography: N/A Design: N/A |
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| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chillin (Clean)" (feat. Lady Gaga) | 3:18 |
| 2. | "Chillin (Main)" (feat. Lady Gaga) | 3:19 |
| 3. | "Chillin (Instrumental)" (feat. Lady Gaga) | 3:20 |
Digital release[]
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Label: Allido/Interscope Format: Digital Released: August 31, 2009 Barcode: N/A Photography: N/A Design: N/A |
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| # | Name | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chillin'" (feat. Lady Gaga) | 3:24 |
Lyrics[]
Single version[]
(Na Na Na Na)
(Na Na Na Na)
(Hey, Hey, Hey)
(Goodbye)
(Hey!)
Lookin' at, lookin' at, lookin' at me,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Eyes all sticky like honey on bees,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Yeah D-C chillin', P-G chillin',
My name Wale and I came to get It,
Came to get it, came to get it,
My name Wale
Shit, this how you start of '09
Kickin' in the door, and I'm e'erybody problem
Stuntin' in some other Jordan Nines
I got Phil Knight talkin' about "How you got them?"
Let's talk about the cars ya'll got
You say you got alotta whips, well I got a lot
I got the right to be cocky
Get so much cut disc jockeys jock me
You n***** mad that you not me
I remain a Giant and your Jeremy Shockey
And if you ain't heard me properly
If you speak garbage, then we no capice
D-C chillin', P-G chillin', floor to the ceilin'
Stuntin in my Billion-Air, gear on my
Millionaire frames, that's money on my mind, Wale!
Get 'em all, get 'em all, pack it all up
Stack up your funds like a million bucks
Across the pond, they all know us
International... Whoaaaa!
Driving my car to a foreign place
Lookin' at me, now they know my face,
We want it all now, we got all yes,
Look at that, look at how they lookin' at us
Yea, they keep sayin' whale but my name Wale
Ho's call me "Mr. Never Wear The Same Thing"
You redundant, you never ever change
And I'm the same way, M.I.A.
And me Cool and Dre get high like planes
Your man Wale in his own damn lane
Can't control the box, you are no Mills Lane
Ain't heard D-C since Sardines came
Ha! And I made ya'll love it
We don't cop plea's, but ya'll don't cop nothin'
Police come around don't nobody say nothin'
And you be with the cops, you n***** is McLovin'
Dark liquor till we busted
Til' I got a buzz like that n**** Chris Mullen
District of Columbia
You Bernie Mac funny, we ain't scared of none of ya!
Get 'em all, get 'em all, pack it all up
Stack up your funds like a million bucks
Across the pond, they all know us
International... Whoaaaa!
Driving my car to a foreign place
Lookin at me, now they know my face,
We want it all now, we got all YESSSS
Look at that, Look at how they lookin at usss
Yeah DC chillin', PG chillin',
My name Wale and I came to get it,
Came to get it, came to get it,
My name Wale
Dre, pick 'em, ah, pick'em, I'll shut 'em all down
Haters in the crowd, if you see 'em point them out
Stacks in my jeans, broads on the scene
Folarin' be ballin' for all ya'll to see
Ain't I something? The way I'm stuntin',
My material girls give 'em A-Rod money!
L-V on my luggage
Them Bammas goin' hate, and I love it, fuck 'em
Lookin at, lookin' at, Lookin' at me,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Eyes all sticky like honey on bees,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
DC chillin', PG chillin',
My name Wale and I came to get It,
Came to get it, came to get It,
My name Wale
Album version[]
(Na Na Na Na)
(Na Na Na Na)
(Hey, Hey, Hey)
(Goodbye)
(Hey!)
Lookin' at, lookin' at, lookin' at me,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Eyes all sticky like honey on bees
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Yeah D-C chillin', P-G chillin',
My name Wale and I came to get It,
Came to get it, came to get it,
My name Wale
Shit, this how you start of '09
Kickin' in the door, and I'm e'erybody problem
Stuntin' in some other Jordan Nines
I got Phil Knight talkin' about "How you got them?"
Let's talk about the cars ya'll got
You say you got alotta whips, well I got a lot
I got the right to be cocky
Get so much cut disc jockeys jock me
You n***** mad that you not me
I remain a Giant and your Jeremy Shockey
And if you ain't heard me properly
If you speak garbage, then we no capice
D-C chillin', P-G chillin', floor to the ceilin'
Stuntin in my Billion-Air, gear on my
Millionaire frames, that's money on my mind, Wale!
Lookin' at, lookin' at, lookin' at me,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Eyes all sticky like honey on bees,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Yeah D-C chillin', P-G chillin',
My name Wale and I came to get It,
Came to get it, came to get it,
My name Wale
Yea, they keep sayin' whale but my name Wale
Ho's call me "Mr. Never Wear The Same Thing"
You redundant, you never ever change
And I'm the same way, M.I.A.
And me Cool and Dre get high like planes
Your man Wale in his own damn lane
Can't control the box, you are no Mills Lane,
Ain't heard D-C since Sardines came
Ha! And I made ya'll love it
We don't cop plea's, but ya'll don't cop nothin'
Police come around don't nobody say nothin'
And you be with the cops, you n***** is McLovin'
Dark liquor till we busted
Til' I got a buzz like that n**** Chris Mullen,
District of Columbia
You Bernie Mac funny, we ain't scared of none of ya!
Lookin' at, lookin' at, lookin' at me,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Eyes all sticky like honey on bees,
Look at that, look how they lookin' at me
Yeah DC chillin', PG chillin',
My name Wale and I came to get it,
Came to get it, came to get it,
My name Wale
Get 'em all, get 'em all, pack it all up
Stack up your funds like a million bucks
Across the pond, they all know us
International... Whoaaaa!
Driving my car to a foreign place
Lookin' at me, now they know my face
We want it all now, we got all yes
Look at that, look at how they lookin' at us
Dre, pick 'em, ah, pick'em, I'll shut 'em all down
Haters in the crowd, if you see 'em point them out
Stacks in my jeans, broads on the scene
Folarin' be ballin' for all ya'll to see
Ain't I something? The way I'm stuntin'
My material girls give 'em A-Rod money!
L-V on my luggage
Them Bammas goin' hate, and I love it, fuck 'em
Flier than the boys,
Flier than the birds
Flyin' in the sky with money in herds,
We want it all now, we got it all yes
Look at that, look at how they lookin' at us
Flier than the boys,
Flier than the birds
Flyin' in the sky with money in herds,
We want it all now, we got it all yes
Look at that, look at how they lookin' at us
Music video[]
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The music video was shot May 4, 2009 in Boston. Director, Chris Robinson used an "under construction" type set showcasing Boston's waterfront district with the Tobin Bridge as a backdrop. The shoot at Eastern Minerals located at 37 Marginal St. in Chelsea involved Caterpillar cranes, lots of concrete, a pink-white-and-blue tarp-like backdrop and a sweet 2009 silver-metallic Mercedes-Benz V12.
Lady Gaga wore a killer silver-and-black outfit with lace black pantyhose, topped with a leather biker captain cap. This includes one scene in the famous hidden clothing store Bodega in Boston where Wale tries on various clothes. Gaga's trademark Great Danes also appear in the video in Beats by Dr. Dre headphones with Wale and Gaga and were featured in a later shoot at a Cambridge clothing shop called Concepts, located at 37 Brattle St. in Harvard Square. Several posters of Barack Obama and a banner which depicts a line from the famous Martin Luther King, Jr. speech "I Have a Dream" are also featured.
The video premiered on June 12, 2009 on YouTube. A early cut was uploaded by mistake on Interscope's YouTube on June 3, 2009 but was removed quickly.
Images[]
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- Jacket by Schott for Jeremy Scott, leggings by Kova & T, booties by Chanel, and sunglasses by Jean Paul Gaultier.
Complete gallery
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Credits[]
Personnel
- Produced — Cool & Dre
- Contains elements of “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” (G. DeCarlo/D. Frashuer/P. Leka), Unichappell Music, Inc. (BMI)
- All rights reserved. This track contains a sample of the recording “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye”, performed by Steam, courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group, under license from Universal Music Enterprises.
- This composition embodies portions of “Top Billin’”, written by K. Robinson, published by Evergreen Copyrights o/b/o Hot Butter Milk Music, Inc./First Priority Music [ASCAP]
- Recorded — Derek Pacuk at Allido Sound (London)
- Mixed — Serban Ghanea
Publishing
- Sony/ATV Songs LLC / House of Gaga Publishing LLC (BMI)
- Published by Deadstock Music/WB Music Corp
- [ASCAP] Inouye Music-EMI Music Publishing Ltd/Unichappell Music Inc/Dade Co Project Music/First Priority Music/Songs of Universal Inc/Hot Butter Milk Music
References[]
- Attention Deficit Booklet
- BMI | Repertoire Search