Team (Iggy Azalea song)

"Team"
A portrait of a young woman with blonde hair looking straight at the camera, with a white cap. At the bottom center stands the song title, "Team", and the artist name, Iggy Azalea.
Single by Iggy Azalea
from the album Digital Distortion
Released 18 March 2016
Format Digital download
Genre Hip - Hop / Dance
Length 3:29
Label Def Jam
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Chordz
  • Nezzo
  • Omega
  • Avilez (add.)
  • Harden (add.)
  • Stix (add.)
Iggy Azalea singles chronology
"Pretty Girls"
(2015)		 "Team"
(2016)
Music video
"Team" on YouTube

"Team" is a song recorded by Australian rapper Iggy Azalea. It was released on 18 March 2016 as the lead single from her upcoming second studio album Digital Distortion. The single was a serviced to US contemporary hit and rhythmic contemporary radios on 5 April 2016. Azalea wrote "Team" with Bebe Rexha, Lauren Christy, among other credited composers, including the main producers, a part of the D.R.U.G.S. collective: Marlon "Chordz" Barrow, Alexander "Nezzo" Palmer and Michael "Omega" Fonseca, with additional contributors Ryan Anthony Avilez, Louis Harden and Brandon "Stix" Salaam-Bailey. The song contains an interpolation from the 1999 composition "Back That Thang Up", written and performed by Juvenile, Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh, receiving additional writing credits.

Azalea raps about self-confidence in the track, declaring, "Baby I got me, and that’s all I need, only friend I need," with the rapper later disclosing life and career struggles she had faced during the process of creating the album in an interview. It marked Azalea's first solo single in three years. The release was accompanied by the premiere of a dance video version on Azalea's Vevo channel, featuring a cast of dancers performing a choreographed routine, although Azalea herself is absent from the clip. The song's official music video premiered on 31 March 2016. "Team" debuted at number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background and release

In October 2015, Azalea announced her second studio album was titled Digital Distortion and set be released in the following year, along with a buzz track titled "Zillion" and the project's lead single premiering before its release.[1][2] In December, during a Twitter Q&A with fans, she revealed that the lead single would be titled "Team", later sharing a snippet of the track and clarifying: "lead is TEAM. meaning: I've got my own back, I am my own team. 20% meaningful 70% bop 10% ratchet."[3][4] In March 2016, she announced the song would be released on 18 March and unveiled the single's cover artwork, a "colorfully distorted" portrait of Azalea with a white cap.[5][6] She also shared a second snippet featuring Azalea chanting the lyrics: "Yeah, that's all I need/ That's all I need/ Baby I got me, only friend I need/ Playing on my team is someone like me."[7][8]

During an interview with etalk that same month, Azalea commented while talking about her upcoming album, "My first single has no feature on it which was my number one goal, to try to achieve a song which was strong without needing somebody else to sing it."[9] "It was good to get back to doing a song where I only had to consider myself when creating,"[10] elaborating later on how her experience influenced the making of the track, "If I'm gonna have everyone try to come at me, then I have to support my own self and I have to be strong on my own and I don't need all of that extra stuff. I'm just gonna rock it myself."[11] On 14 March, she continued teasing the track on Twitter posting another preview addressing: "Kylie Jenner, we know you're technically a Jenner, but you're still a Kardashian in our hearts," with the pun lyrics, "Watch a new car dash/ Call me Kylie."[12][13] On March 18, a "dance video" for "Team" was uploaded on Azalea's Vevo channel and the song became available for digital download on iTunes.[14][15] Following the release, it topped the real-time Billboard + Twitter Trending 140 chart, becoming the "most shared and discussed track on the social-media network for five straight hours through noon ET."[16]

Composition and production

Bebe Rexha co-wrote the song's hook with Azalea and Lauren Christy

"Team" is an electro hop song.[14] The chorus is sung by Azalea; lyrically it discusses the rapper's independence and self-confidence, sung over "commanding, head-knocking" drums according to Rap-Up.[17] Along with the independent woman theme, it also conveys a "warning to not mess with" Azalea's clique.[18] Lewis Corner and Amy Davidson at Digital Spy pondered the song to be "both lonely and inclusive," as Azalea positions herself as "both a one-woman army and a leader ready to recruit."[19] She detailed on the importance of the track by adding, "Looking at the bigger picture, I just think it was important for me to have my own voice – to show growth, to show that I can carry my own song."[20] While promoting the single, Azalea later elaborated in an interview the struggles she had faced in her life and career while working on the project.[21][22] The song also symbolizes Azalea's comeback to music, claiming she had redefined her focus and relating its message to her life, "That was always a criticism I had. 'She doesn't talk about her own life,' [...] It's just my record and we know what it's about. It's about me. It's very personal."[23]

Azalea wrote the song with Lauren Christy and Bebe Rexha after getting together to work on "some last minute hooks" in late 2015,[24][25] and was a result of three different meet-ups.[23] It was produced by Los Angeles-based collective D.R.U.G.S., who handled Azalea's 2011 breakthrough mixtape Ignorant Art, after she asked them to executive produce her second studio album, Digital Distortion, rekindling their relationship in 2015.[8][26] Marlon "Chordz" Barrow and Alexander "Nezzo" Palmer, who had previously produced Azalea's "Pussy" song together, have main producing credits with Michael "Omega" Fonseca. The track has additional production by Ryan Anthony Avilez and Louis Harden, while Brandon "Stix" Salaam-Bailey, who had worked with Azalea on her mixtapes and a part of the collective, also contributed.[21][27] "Team" contains interpolations during the bridge from the 1999 composition "Back That Thang Up," written and performed by Juvenile, Lil Wayne and Mannie Fresh.[28][29] Azalea clarified her single did not initially sample the track but sounded similar, prompting her to make "a couple of changes to it and it just felt right to me to embrace it since I felt like it already had that element that sounded like it, instead of trying to move away from it or take something from it. Mannie [Fresh] and everybody hit us up and said that they loved the record, so I'm excited to have like a childhood rap favorite in my new song."[23]

Critical reception

"Team" received mostly favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Carolyn Menyes of Music Times claimed the track "shows a new sense of independence for [Azalea], both lyrically and by releasing a single where she's the only star, and the hook is undeniable."[30] Writing for Fuse, Jason Lipshutz mentioned Azalea "declares, 'Baby I got me/And that's all I need,' in a moment of snarling independence; the sentiment would have made it impossible for anyone else besides Azalea to handle the song's hook."[31] Carl Williott of Idolator described the song "is built on a metallic, laser-bass throb-and-snap that totally lives up to the album's title, and even Iggy haters would have to admit this beat goes," also referencing the interpolation of Juvenile's "Back That Thang Up."[29] Robbie Daw of the same publication applauded Azalea for "focusing on her own brand of catchy rap-pop," while Mike Wass added the track is "palpably defiant" and praising Azalea's decision to reunite with her mixtape collaborators D.R.U.G.S. who acknowledge "her pop sensibility" with "laser-sharp trap beats."[32] Gerrick D. Kennedy of the LA Times pointed out its "bouncy, electro beat and an anthemic chorus," continuing "the motivational cut is a light foot stomper that will certainly wedge itself into rotation at pop radio."[33]

Vanessa Jackson from Bustle commented: "If "Team" is a good indication of what's to come, Digital Distortion will be chock full of dance beats and a few well placed disses, naturally."[34] Ian Monroe of V called it "anthemic," predicting she "adds another hit to her discography" while also praising the "impressive" dance video.[35] Angus Walker of HotNewHipHop considered the track "some of Iggy's hardest-sounding material since her early singles, as she delivers animated punchlines atop a glitchy, bass-heavy beat."[36] Matthew Donnelly from PopCrush stated the song is "an immediate sure-thing for radio, and features undulating buzzsaw-bass and Iggy’s own venture into rap-sung territory."[37] Melissa Ruggieri of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Azalea "is going directly to the club crowd with this sharply produced thumper."[38] James Grebey of Spin compared it as "a step back from her last release, "Azillion," which was surprisingly fun."[39] Sasha Geffen of MTV.com posted: "Unlike Lorde's "Team," Iggy’s newest track is all about looking out for yourself and being your own biggest cheerleader."[40] Craig Jenkins of Noisey praised its production, distracting from Azalea's delivery, "One minute "Team" is an uptempo EDM-rap hybrid, and the next, it turns into New Orleans bounce, then suddenly there's a trap breakdown."[41]

Music video

Azalea confirmed a music video for "Team" was under production in early March 2016,[42][43] offering an update on the visuals saying, "I finished the edit of "Team" last night and I'm feeling really good about how things turned out. The dancers in the video just give me eternal life. I can't wait for you to see these girls."[5] A "dance video" version premiered on 18 March, featuring some lyrics to the song and eleven "denim-decked dancers, of varying dance backgrounds break[ing] it down while running around in a massive loft space," with Azalea revealing on Twitter the music video would be released in the following week.[35][44] On 23 March, Azalea previewed the video on Good Morning America.[45]

On 31 March 2016, the music video was uploaded on Azalea's Vevo channel.[46] Directed by Fabien Montique, the visuals start off with Azalea making a break from a crowd in a Ferrari, narrowly escaping the stampede, performing donuts and burnouts to make her way to an airport where she heads through security before meeting up with her team, composed by dancers and supporters, on a private hangar. From there, everyone douses an aircraft in spray paint, covering it with graffiti tags related to her upcoming album "Digital Distortion". Azalea is then also featured in a dance breakdown. The police eventually show up and escort Azalea inside the jet where she comes face to face with an eerily familiar figure with a digitally distorted face that she had encountered along the clip and is now recognized by herself.[47][48][46]

Azalea said the clip revolves around several clones of herself and a central theme of "running away from your own self, but then [being] saved by your own self," elaborating that "you always have to mess yourself up and then have a realization and fix it yourself too." She explained the video was not released earlier along with the track as scheduled due to post-production work involving digital distortion on people's faces.[23]

Live performances

Azalea performed "Team" live for the first time on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 22 March 2016.[49] She also performed the song at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards on 3 April[50] and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on 7 April 2016.[51] Azalea performed "Team" on the Late Night with Seth Meyers on 28 April 2016.[52]

Track listing

  1. "Team" – 3:29
  1. "Team" – 3:29

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[55] 40
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[56] 33
Bulgaria (IFPI)[57] 40
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[58] 41
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[59] 40
France (SNEP)[60] 89
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[61] 6
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[62] 43
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[63] 62
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[64] 12
US Billboard Hot 100[65] 42
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[66] 8
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[67] 24
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[68] 36

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
United States 18 March 2016 Digital download Def Jam [15]
5 April 2016 Contemporary hit radio [69]
Rhythmic contemporary [70]

References

  1. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Teased Tons Of Info About Her New Music". MTV. 7 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Stutz, Colin (7 October 2015). "Iggy Azalea Announces Sophomore Album Title, Says Lead Single Out This Month". Billboard. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Nessif, Bruna (29 December 2015). "Iggy Azalea Teases New Single "Team" Off Upcoming Album Digital Distortion". E! Online. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (27 December 2015). "Iggy Azalea Says Next Single Is Titled 'Team'". Billboard. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 Platon, Adelle (8 March 2016). "Iggy Azalea Reveals Cover Art for New Single 'Team'". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "Iggy Azalea reveals cover art for new single 'TEAM'". Entertainment Weekly. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Shares Snippet of New Single 'Team'". Billboard. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Hear A New Snippet Of Iggy Azalea's "Team"". Idolator. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Iggy Azalea on her fashion and new album "Digital Distortion"". etalk (3:00). Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Iggy Azalea on New Single 'Team,' Teases Tour for Next Album This Year". iHeartRadio. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Clarifies Comments on Psychotic Breakdown". Radio.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  12. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Wants Kylie Jenner On Her "Team"". MTV. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  13. ↑ ""Team" Player". Hits. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Iggy Azalea Drops Lyric Video for New Track 'Team': Watch". Billboard. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Team by Iggy Azalea on iTunes". Apple Inc. 18 March 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016.
  16. ↑ "Iggy Azalea's 'Team' Tops Billboard + Twitter Trending 140 Chart". Billboard. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "New Music: Iggy Azalea - "Team"". Rap-Up. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  18. ↑ Baila, Morgan (18 March 2016). "Kylie Jenner Makes An Appearance In What Might Be Iggy Azalea's Best Song Yet". Refinery29. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  19. ↑ "Playlist: 10 tracks you need to hear - Iggy Azalea, Adam Lambert, Ariana Grande". Digital Spy. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  20. ↑ "Iggy Azalea's Journey To The U.S. and Sleepover Confessions With Demi Lovato". 92.3 AMP Radio. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Iggy Azalea releases new single 'TEAM'". Entertainment Weekly. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  22. ↑ Stutz, Colin (7 October 2015). "Iggy Azalea Pondered Suicide, 'Just Wanted To Quit Life'". Fuse. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 4 Dinh, James (31 March 2016). "INTERVIEW: Iggy Azalea On Social Media Bullying, 'TEAM' & 'Crappy 2015'". iHeartRadio. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  24. ↑ Wass, Mike (17 December 2015). "Iggy Azalea Gives Another Update On Her Sophomore LP, Reveals She Worked With Bebe Rexha". Idolator. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  25. ↑ "IGGY AZALEA on Twitter: "it was written by all women..."". Twitter (IGGYAZALEA). 18 March 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016.
  26. ↑ "Exclusive: Iggy Azalea as you've never heard her before". Elle Canada. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "All the writers it took to make Iggy Azalea's Team". Fusion. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  28. ↑ "LISTEN: Iggy Azalea Shouts Out Kylie Jenner And Chance The Rapper On Comeback Single 'TEAM'". Power 105.1. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  29. 1 2 "Iggy Azalea's "Team" Is Here: Listen". Idolator. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  30. ↑ "Iggy Azalea 'Team' Review: Can New 'Digital Distortion' Single Revive Her Career?". Music Times. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  31. ↑ "Iggy Azalea returns with 'Team': Hear the new single". Fuse. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "Pop Perspective: Iggy Azalea's "Team" Rated And Reviewed". Idolator. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  33. ↑ "Iggy Azalea is ready for her comeback - will you get on her 'Team'?". LA Times. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  34. ↑ "Iggy Azalea's 2016 Album Release Date For 'Digital Distortion' Isn't Quite As Clear As Fans Would Like". Bustle. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  35. 1 2 "Iggy Azalea Releases Anthemic New Track, Team". V. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  36. ↑ "Iggy Azalea "Team" Dance & Lyric Video". HotNewHipHop.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  37. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Stands in Solidarity With Herself on 'Team'". Popcrush.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  38. ↑ "Hear the new Iggy Azalea song, 'Team'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  39. ↑ "Iggy Azalea’s New Song "Team"". Spin. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  40. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Is Her Own MVP On New Single 'Team'". MTV. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  41. ↑ "Iggy Azalea's "Team" Kinda Slaps, But No Thanks To Her". Noisey. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  42. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Reveals "Team" Release Date And Video Details". Idolator. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  43. ↑ "Listen to a Snippet of Iggy Azalea's New Single 'Team'". Rap-Up. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  44. ↑ "Iggy Azalea's New Single "Team" References Kylie Jenner and Composer Hans Zimmer". Cosmopolitan. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  45. ↑ Daw, Robbie (23 March 2016). "Iggy Azalea's "Team" Video Previewed On ‘GMA’ While She Talks About Her Critics: Watch". Idolator. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  46. 1 2 "Iggy Azalea's 'Team' Video Is Compellingly Great, No Question About It". Spin. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  47. ↑ Morris, Jessie (31 March 2016). "Iggy Azalea Recruits Her "Team" for Some Payback in New Video". Complex. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  48. ↑ Lindner, Emilee (31 March 2016). "Iggy Azalea Gets in Trouble with the Law in 'Team' Video". Fuse. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  49. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Performs 'Team' on 'Tonight Show'". Rap-Up. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  50. ↑ "Iggy Azalea To Perform 'TEAM' At 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards". iHeartMedia. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  51. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Appearing, Performing On 4/8 "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"". HeadlinePlanet.com. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  52. ↑ "Iggy Azalea Performs 'Team' on 'Late Night'". Rap-Up. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  53. ↑ "Team [Clean]: Iggy Azalea". Amazon.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  54. ↑ "Team [Explicit]: Iggy Azalea". Amazon.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  55. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  56. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Iggy Azalea – Team" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  57. ↑ "10.04.2016-16.04.2016 - Bulgarian National Top 40". Bulgarian Association of the Music Producers. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016.
  58. ↑ "Iggy Azalea – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Iggy Azalea. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  59. ↑ "Canada CHR/Top 40: April 30, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved 19 April 2016. (subscription required)
  60. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Iggy Azalea – Team" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  61. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  62. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-04-15". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  63. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-04-28" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  64. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2016-03-25" UK R&B Chart. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  65. ↑ "Iggy Azalea – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Iggy Azalea. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  66. ↑ "Iggy Azalea – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for Iggy Azalea. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  67. ↑ "Iggy Azalea – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Iggy Azalea. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  68. ↑ "Iggy Azalea – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Iggy Azalea. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  69. ↑ "Top 40/Mainstream > Future Releases". allaccess.com. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016.
  70. ↑ "Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover > Future Releases". allaccess.com. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016.

External links

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