I Deserve It

"I Deserve It"
Single by Faith Evans featuring Missy Elliott and Sharaya J
from the album Incomparable
ReleasedJune 25, 2014
Length3:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Faith Evans singles chronology
"Dumb"
(2012) 		"I Deserve It"
(2014) 		"Make Love"
(2015)
Missy Elliott singles chronology
"Niliria"
(2013) 		"I Deserve It"
(2014) 		"WTF (Where They From)"
(2015)
Sharaya J singles chronology
"Smash Up the Place"
(2013) 		"I Deserve It"
(2014) 		"Takin' It No More"
(2014)

"I Deserve It" is a song by American singer Faith Evans, featuring female hip-hop recording artists Missy Elliott and her protégé Sharaya J, from Evans' sixth studio album, Incomparable (2014). It was written by Evans, Elliott und Sharaya J along with Chucky Thompson, Andre Johnson, Toni Coleman, Achaia Dixon and Evans' daughter Chyna Griffin and samples Nina Simone's "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" (1969). Due to the sample, Simone and co-writer are also Weldon Irvine credited as songwriters on "I Deserve It."

The song was released via Evans' official SoundCloud account on June 25, 2014,[1] and went on to be officially released in Russia and North America via iTunes on August 25, 2014.[2][3] Released to generally favorable reviews with critics, it reached the top 20 of the US Adult R&B Songs chart in January 2015. "I Deserve It" marked the second time that both Evans and Elliott appeared on a release together, the first being Evans' remixed single "Burnin' Up" in 2002.

Background

[edit]

On August 6, 2013, Faith Evans confirmed in an interview with Studio Q that Missy Elliott would be one of the guest appearances on her sixth album Incomparable.[4] In February 2014, Elliott herself confirmed that she would be featured on Evans' album.[5] On March 14, 2014, Evans added that Elliott had contributed three tracks for the project and noted that one of them ("I Deserve It") happened to be "the last song on [the] album" that she recorded vocals for.[6] Evans also added that "I Deserve It" would feature Elliott's protégée Sharaya J and "declared" the song as a "perfect embodiment of being able to still maintain what people know you for and the era that you’re from — but not sound dated."[6]

Elaborating further on Missy Elliott's contribution to the single, Faith Evans disclosed: "When I first sent Missy [Elliott] the record, she was like, 'I don't know how to attack it,' and I'm like 'Girl bye' [...] Like, Missy do what you do. But she tried two other songs and went back to that one like, 'I like this one'."[6] On June 15, 2014, Evans began a ten-day countdown for the single via her official Instagram account,[7] and confirmed that the record would be released on June 25, 2014.[1]

Composition

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"I Deserve It" is a summertime R&B ladies' feel-good anthem that features "a piano and horn-driven beat",[8] which samples Nina Simone's 1972 recording, "To Be Young, Gifted and Black". The song narrates Evans' praise of herself as she "vows not to settle when it comes to a man."[9] Prior to the song's release, interviewers asked if the production to "I Deserve It" would be set in a mid-tempo or up-tempo style; Faith Evans replied that the song would be a "banger" and a "feel good" record.[6]

Critical reception

[edit]

The song has received generally favorable reviews with critics praising the track for being a "feel good" record laced with "summertime vibes".[9] Zach Frydenlund of Complex praised "I Deserve It" for being an "R&B feel-good anthem that will brighten up your morning."[10] Asada Nicome of The Source named the record a "catchy R&B [tune], that will have you bouncing and nodding your head".[11] Rich Terell of Examiner took note of Evans' approach for accumulating the attention of a much younger generation.[12] Terell also praised Evans for "snatching wigs first and asking questions later," with the release of "I Deserve It", which was described by Terell as a "summer-smash".[12] Julian Riedel of German magazine Ampya complimented the single's motto, "make it hot for the summer", and praised the song's production as "classic, timeless mid-tempo R&B" intertwined "with an airy piano-strumming" instrumental coupled with "the typical Missy [Elliott] touch."[13] Riedel also described Faith Evans' vocals as "smoky-sweet soprano" and noted "I Deserve It" as a "self-empower[ing] anthem".[13]

Critics also applauded Missy Elliott's guest appearance on the record, with Rap-Up noting Elliott "channel[ing] Salt-N-Pepa on her electrifying verse,"[8] and Frydenlund praising Elliott for "[going] in on her verse," and "reiterat[ing] the fact that [Elliott] hasn't lost a step."[10] DirectLyrics jokingly wrote, "Where's my oxygen mask? I'm hyperventilating," in response to Elliott's guest appearance on the record.[14] DirectLyrics also praised both Elliott and Sharaya J for "add[ing] a nice flavor thanks to their upbeat rap verses."[14] Additionally, the song and accompanying music video met favorable reception from musicians like Leondre Devries of teen boy band Bars and Melody, where he stated via YouTube that he "really loved" the record and branded Evans as being "dope".[15]

Chart performance

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On June 25, 2014, "I Deserve It" peaked at number one on Billboard Trending 140 chart, less than 10 hours after its premiere on Evans' official SoundCloud account.[16] While it failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 or the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the song peaked at number 19 on the Adult R&B Songs chart in the week of January 17, 2015.[17]

Music video

[edit]
The music video for "I Deserve It" was filmed at Suite Lounge in Atlanta, Georgia in August 2014.[18]

Shooting for the music video began sometime in early August 2014 and took place at Suite Lounge in Atlanta, Georgia. Directed by Derek Blanks and produced by Radiant3 Productions, the music video features choreographic dancing by Lisa Cunningham ("Icy", "Taurus Here") and club references to the Eddie Murphy film Coming to America (1988). The video also features cameo appearances by the likes of Stevie J, Joseline Hernandez, Terrell Owens and Evans' friend and R&B Divas co-star KeKe Wyatt.[18] On August 31, 2014, a sneak peek of the music video was released via Evans' official YouTube channel.[19] The full-length video premiered on VH1 on September 10, 2014.[20]

Charts

[edit]
Weekly chart performance for "I Deserve It"
Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[17] 19

Release history

[edit]
"I Deserve It" release history
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States June 25, 2014 SoundCloud premiere
[1]
August 25, 2014
[2]
Russia August 25, 2014 [3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Tom (18 June 2014). "Faith Evans to Release New Single "I Deserve It" With Missy Elliott on June 25th". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "iTunes - Music - I Deserve It (feat. Missy Elliott & Sharaya J)". iTunes. Apple.com. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b "iTunes - Music - I Deserve It (feat. Missy Elliott & Sharaya J)". iTunes. Apple.com. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Faith Evans Talks NEW Music, Whitney Houston and R&B Divas LA - Studio Q Exclusive". YouTube.com. August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  5. ^ Tardio, Andres (6 February 2014). "Missy Elliott Explains Hiatus & Confirms Faith Evans Collaborations". HipHop DX. hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d Folk, Antwane (March 14, 2014). "EXCLUSIVE: Faith Evans Calls New Missy Elliott Collaboration 'A Banger', Plays 'First & Last' Game". Rated R&B. ratedrnb.com. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  7. ^ Samuels, Keithan (16 June 2014). "Faith Evans Announces New Single 'I Deserve It'". Rated R&B. ratedrnb.com. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  8. ^ a b "New Music: Faith Evans f/ Missy Elliott & Sharaya J - 'I Deserve It'". Rap-Up. Rap-Up.com. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  9. ^ a b Lilah, Rose (25 June 2014). "Faith Evans - Deserve It Feat. Missy Elliott & Sharaya J". hnhh: HotNewHipHop. hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  10. ^ a b Frydenlund, Zach (25 June 2014). "Listen to Faith Evans' "I Deserve It" f/ Missy Elliott and Sharaya J". Complex. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  11. ^ Nicome, Asada (25 June 2014). "Listen To New Faith Evans "I Deserve It" Ft Missy Elliot & Sharaya J". The Source. TheSource.com. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b Terell, Rich (25 June 2014). "FIRST LISTEN: Faith Evans x Missy Elliott New Single 'I Deserve It'". Examiner.com. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  13. ^ a b Riedel, Julian (25 June 2014). "Faith Evans: Comeback-Single mit Missy Elliott". AMPYA. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  14. ^ a b "New Song: Faith Evans feat. Missy Elliott - 'I Deserve It'". DirectLyrics. DirectLyrics.com. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Faith Evans - I Deserve It (feat. Missy Elliott & Sharaya J) - YouTube > Linked Comment". VEVO. YouTube. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  16. ^ "Faith's New Anthem". Community - Langston Communication Group. LangstonCommunication.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Faith Evans Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  18. ^ a b Pearson, Joi (8 August 2014). "Faith Evans' 'I Deserve' BTS Atlanta video shoot". rollingout.com. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  19. ^ "Faith Evans - I Deserve It feat. Missy Elliott & Sharaya J [Official Teaser]". YouTube. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  20. ^ ""I Deserve It feat. Missy Elliott & Sharaya J" by Faith Evans". Vh1. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
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