Workin Me

"Workin Me"
The cover consists of a black-and-white image of a man being chloroformed, a hand with gold jewelry wrapped with a bare one by a rubberband, and the song title written in cursive lettering.
Single by Quavo
from the album Quavo Huncho
ReleasedAugust 10, 2018
Genre
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Quavo singles chronology
"No Brainer"
(2018) 		"Workin Me"
(2018) 		"Lamb Talk"
(2018)
Music video
"WORKIN ME" on YouTube

"Workin Me" (stylized in all caps) is a song by American rapper Quavo from his debut solo and second overall studio album Quavo Huncho (2018). It was released on August 10, 2018 as the lead single from the record, alongside the singles "Lamb Talk" and "Bubble Gum". "Workin Me" peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and outside the top 50 of the Hot 100. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over a million units in the United States. The song also charted in Canada, reaching number 48 on the Canadian Hot 100. The accompanying music video for the single, directed by Quavo, Joseph DeRosiers Jr. and Edgar Esteves, involves Quavo interacting with a mob boss and his niece, played by rapper Saweetie (Quavo's then-girlfriend).

Critical reception

Kassandra Guagliardi of Exclaim! called it "one of the few tracks where Quavo holds his own without any features."[1] Luke Fox of XXL put it alongside "Bubble Gum" and "Big Bro" as part of the album's "easily forgettable filler".[2]

Music video

The music video was released on August 22, 2018, via Migos' YouTube channel Migos ATL. It was directed by Quavo, Joseph DeRosiers Jr. and Edgar Esteves.[3] The visual starts off at a mobster's mansion, where Quavo is having a discussion about loyalty with his mob boss while they are playing pool. As the boss's niece, played by Quavo's then-girlfriend Saweetie, walks to them, Quavo keeps his eyes on her. However, the boss threatens his life if he ever "goes after" her.[4] After Quavo ignores the threats, he and Saweetie are kidnapped by the mob boss, who ends up getting killed by his own security guard.[5]

Commercial performance

On the week of August 25, 2018, "Workin Me" debuted at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] It peaked at number 52 the week of September 8, and stayed on the chart for fifteen weeks.[7][8] That same week, the song debuted at number 32 on the Streaming Songs chart (with 13.1 million streams), giving Quavo his first solo single to appear on that chart after nineteen previous appearances as a part of Migos.[9] It was certified platinum by the RIAA in the US on August 21, 2019.[10] In Canada, the track debuted at number 79 on the Canadian Hot 100 the same week it first appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.[11] Two weeks later, it peaked at number 48 the week of September 8, and left the chart.[12] It reappeared at number 60 the week of October 27, and remained on the chart for ten weeks.[8][13]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 48
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 52
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[16] 18

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Guagliardi, Kassandra (October 15, 2018). "Quavo – Quavo Huncho". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Fox, Luke (October 15, 2018). "Quavo's Experimentation Pays Off on 'Quavo Huncho' Album". XXL. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Cohen, Trace William (August 22, 2018). "Quavo Gets Kidnapped With Saweetie in New "Workin Me" Video". Complex. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Arevalo, Lydia (August 24, 2018). "Quavo, Saweetie Release 'Workin Me' Video". Vibe. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Quavo "Workin Me" Video: Saweetie Acts as Leading Lady". XXL. August 22, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Hot 100: August 25, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Hot 100: September 8, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "W O R K I N M E by Quavo". aCharts.co. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Rutherford, Kevin. "Quavo's 'Workin Me' Becomes Migos Star's First Streaming Songs Chart Entry as Solo Artist". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 27, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "American single certifications – Quavo – Workin Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
  11. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: August 25, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: September 8, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  13. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: October 27, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  14. ^ "Quavo Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  15. ^ "Quavo Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  16. ^ "Quavo Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2018.