Dance (Ass)

"Dance (Ass)"
Single by Big Sean featuring Nicki Minaj
from the album Finally Famous
ReleasedSeptember 20, 2011 (2011-09-20) (radio)
October 18, 2011 (2011-10-18)
(Remix)
Recorded2011
Genre
Length3:17 (album version)
3:40 (remix)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Da Internz
Big Sean singles chronology
"Lay It on Me"
(2011) 		"Dance (Ass)"
(2011) 		"Mercy"
(2012)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Make Me Proud"
(2011) 		"Dance (Ass)"
(2011) 		"Turn Me On"
(2011)
Music video
"Dance (A$$) Remix ft. Nicki Minaj" on YouTube

"Dance (Ass)", often stylized "Dance (A$$)", is a song by American rapper Big Sean, released as the third single from his debut studio album, Finally Famous (2011). It was added to urban radio formats on September 20, 2011 as the album's third official single. The official remix of the song features Nicki Minaj.[1] It samples MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This", which in turn samples Rick James's single "Super Freak".

Critical reception

The Boston Globe said it is a "stale stripper anthem out of synch with what surrounds it. The production is heavy on vocal hooks, synths, and chattering beats, but the focus is Sean’s wit and insistent flow."[2] The New York Times complimented the song's use of MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" and further went on to say that the song "basically cribs its chorus (uncredited) from the oeuvre of DJ Assault, the Detroit ghettotech innovator. Nowhere does Big Sean sound more confident or hilarious."[3] The A.V. Club gave a positive review of the track and called it freewheeling, fast-footed, and full of swagger.[4] The Village Voice complimented Sean's performance on the track and said "he took his microphone and turned it into an extension of his phallus, waving it down there like a gleeful toddler as the track imbued new meaning to MC Hammer's signature phrase 'Hammer Time', released in 1990 to the artist Hammer Time."[5]

Ology called it a positive minority in the album and complimented the "flow-flip" and "low bass tones" in the song.[6] HipHopDX commented on the song and said that it "narrowly escapes formulaic territory by injecting enough personality, comedy and verbal gymnastics to ably complement Da Internz' pounding, dance-ready bassline."[7] Complex did not favor the track and called it repetitive and minimalist compared to most of the other tracks on the album.[8]

Music video

The music video of the song's remix version premiered on Vevo on November 1, 2011.[9]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Dance (Ass)"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] 5× Platinum 5,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Radio and release history

Country Date Format Label Version
United States September 20, 2011[22] Urban contemporary G.O.O.D. Music, Def Jam Album version
October 18, 2011[23] Remix version featuring Nicki Minaj
October 24, 2011[24] Digital download
October 25, 2011[25] Rhythmic radio Album version
January 10, 2012[26] Top 40/Mainstream radio

References

  1. ^ Listen: Nicki Minaj remixes Big Sean's 'Dance (A$$)' : Nicki Minaj Archived November 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Mypinkfriday.com (January 20, 2012). Retrieved on February 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "Big Sean Finally Famous". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  3. ^ Chinen, Nate; Ratliff, Ben; Caramanica, Jon (27 June 2011). "New Music". The New York Times. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  4. ^ "Finally Famous". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  5. ^ "Big Sean Heads Into the Spotlight". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2011-08-02. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  6. ^ "Album Review: 'Finally Famous: The Album' by Big Sean". Ology. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  7. ^ "Finally Famous: The Album". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  8. ^ "Album Preview: Big Sean "Finally Famous: The Album"". Complex. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  9. ^ Big Sean – Dance (A$$) Remix ft. Nicki Minaj since then it has received over 42 million views. YouTube (November 1, 2011). Retrieved on February 6, 2012.
  10. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  13. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  16. ^ "Big Sean Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  17. ^ "Best of 2012 - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  18. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 2012 Year End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  19. ^ "Rap Songs - 2012 Year End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  20. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  21. ^ "American single certifications – Big Sean – Dance (A$$)". Recording Industry Association of America.
  22. ^ "Mediabase Urban Adds". Mediabase. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  23. ^ October 18, 2011. webcitation.org
  24. ^ Dance (A*$) [Remix] (feat. Nicki Minaj) – Single by Big Sean. iTunes (October 24, 2011). Retrieved on February 6, 2012.
  25. ^ October 25, 2011. webcitation.org
  26. ^ Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! Archived July 23, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. FMQB. Retrieved on February 6, 2012.