Melanin Magic

"Melanin Magic", alternatively "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)", is a song by American rapper Remy Ma featuring American singer Chris Brown. It was written by the artists alongside Keirston Lewis, Ricky Kinchen, Stokley Williams, Atia "INK" Boggs, Jeffrey Allen, Lawrence Waddell, and producer Dallas Austin. The song was released via Reminisce Records on January 19, 2018, as the former second single from Ma's second studio album, Seven Winters, Six Summers (2018).[1] "Melanin Magic" was nominated for BET HER Award and BET Best Female Hip-Hop Artist Award.

"Melanin Magic"
Single by Remy Ma featuring Chris Brown
ReleasedJanuary 19, 2018 (2018-01-19)
Length2:57
LabelReminisce
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dallas Austin
Remy Ma singles chronology
"Wake Me Up"
(2017)		 "Melanin Magic"
(2018)		 "Company"
(2018)
Chris Brown singles chronology
"Either Way"
(2017)		 "Melanin Magic"
(2018)		 "Tempo"
(2018)
Music video
"Melanin Magic" on YouTube

Background and release

The collaboration was first revealed by Ma during her appearance on Total Request Live in November 2017. "The next single is with Chris Brown," she said. "'Melanin Magic', aka 'Pretty Brown', It's amazing."[2][3] On January 16, 2018, Ma shared a snippet of the song on social media. The song samples Mint Condition's "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)",[4][5][6] and was announced with a cover art contest, which allowed fans to vote on three different options.[7][8][9]

Ma explained in a video on Instagram that this song was meant to empower. "I just wanted to make something to let people know that you're beautiful, you're pretty," she said. "You can be brown skin, dark skin, light skinned. None of that is what makes you pretty or beautiful. It's what's inside."[10][11][12]

Commercial performance

Commercially, Melanin Magic peaked at #17 on Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop chart, #24 on Billboard Rhythmic chart, #18 on Billboard Rap Airplay chart, #29 on Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and was the #1 most added song on Urban Radio.

Critical reception

C. Vernon Coleman II of XXL opined that Ma "puts a new spin on an old classic", writing that "Austin chops the R&B track into something more suitable to spit over, and Rem takes the opportunity to talk a little greasy".[13] Eric Skelton of Complex thinks that the song shows Ma's "catchier, more radio-friendly side".[14] Jasmine Grant of VH1 described the song as "a ladies anthem and '90s tribute all wrapped into one", and wrote that Brown is "the perfect selection for the catchy hook".[15] Will Lavin of Joe felt that Ma and Brown "have created an ode to the regality of brown skin".[16] Mike Nied of Idolator deemed the song "a retro romance with an empowering message for women" which "has a bit more crossover appeal" over the album's lead single "Wake Me Up", calling it "another promising release" from Ma.[17] James Dinh of iHeartRadio regarded the song as "a romantic ode to loving your own body".[18]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[19]

  • Remy Ma – songwriting
  • Chris Brown – songwriting
  • Keirston Lewis – songwriting
  • Ricky Kinchen – songwriting
  • Stokley Williams – songwriting
  • Atia Boggs – songwriting
  • Jeffrey Allen – songwriting
  • Dallas Austin – songwriting, production
  • Lawrence Waddell – songwriting
  • Matthew Testa – mix engineering
  • Colin Leonard – master engineering
  • Alexander "Smitty Beatz" Smith – record engineering

Charts
Chart (2018) Peak
position
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[20] 24
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[21] 29

References
  1. Puckett, Lily (January 18, 2018). "Remy Ma shares "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)," featuring Chris Brown". The Fader. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  2. "Remy Ma Readies New Single with Chris Brown". Rap-Up. November 14, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  3. Post, Chantilly (November 14, 2017). "Remy Ma Says Chris Brown Will Be On Her Next Single". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  4. Robertson, Darryl (January 18, 2018). "Listen: Remy Ma Exercises Her "Melanin Magic" With Chris Brown". Vibe. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  5. "Listen To Remy Ma & Chris Brown's Snippet Of Their New Collaboration 'Melanin Magic'". Capital XTRA. January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  6. Post, Chantilly (January 18, 2018). "Remy Ma Grabs Chris Brown For New Single "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  7. "Remy Ma spreads some "Melanin Magic" with Chris Brown on new song, asks fans to choose single's cover art". ABC News Radio. January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  8. "Preview Remy Ma & Chris Brown's 'Melanin Magic'". Rap-Up. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  9. "Chris Brown & Remy Ma Team Up On Smooth New Single 'Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)'". Capital XTRA. January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  10. Garwood, Bianca (January 24, 2018). "ICYMI: Remy Ma and Chris Brown is Dripping "Melanin Magic"". Ebony. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  11. "New Music: Remy Ma feat. Chris Brown – 'Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)'". Rap-Up. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  12. O, Drea (January 20, 2018). "New Music: Remy Ma and Chris Brown celebrate "Melanin Magic"". Revolt. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  13. Coleman II, C. Vernon (January 19, 2018). "Remy Ma Taps Chris Brown on New Song "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)"". XXL. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  14. Skelton, Eric (January 19, 2018). "Remy Ma Links With Chris Brown on New Single "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)"". Complex. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  15. Grant, Jasmine (January 18, 2018). "Remy Ma Unleashes the New Ladies' Anthem "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)" Featuring Chris Brown". VH1. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  16. Lavin, Will (January 24, 2018). "Chris Brown joins Remy Ma to promote self-love on new single "Melanin Magic"". Joe. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  17. Nied, Mike (January 19, 2018). "Remy Ma And Chris Brown Get Romantic On "Melanin Magic"". Idolator. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  18. Dinh, James (January 19, 2018). "Remy Ma Nabs Chris Brown (And A Mint Condition Classic) For 'Melanin Magic'". iHeartRadio. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  19. "Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown) / Remy Ma TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  20. "Remy Ma Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  21. "Remy Ma Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
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