Back To The Streets

Album: Pretty Bitch Music (2020)
Charted: 58
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Having traded in her lowly boyfriend for her new man, Quavo, Saweetie is sending the ex back to the streets where he belongs. On the first verse, the Bay Area rapper recounts her past mistakes.

    My ex used to act like he owned me
    Ain't enough just to treat me like a trophy
    I had that, passed that, knew I had to trash that


    Saweetie boasts in the chorus about how her rich new beau can provide her the finer things in life. However, she's learned her lesson and has put her "new man on a leash."
  • Jhené Aiko croons the second verse of the sing-songy cut. She too has sent her ex back to the hood after upgrading to a new man with deeper pockets.
  • This is the second time Saweetie has worked with Aiko, following the "My Type" remix with City Girls.
  • The role of money in relationships is a familiar one for Saweetie. She previously talked on "My Type" how she goes or rich guys with a "new wrist, new whip." Also on "Tap In," Saweetie brags about what it takes to bag an "eight-figure" man.
  • Timbaland co-produced the track with Angel López, Federico Vindver, DRTWRK, and MTK. Saweetie told Billboard she was able to easily connect with the star producer's instrumentation.

    "I know a beat is good for me when I can just start rapping," she explained. "It's usually hard for me to do that. I might even mumble something. I feel like his sound is cohesive with mine. I like that 808 and bass in his production, and he makes sure there's a lot of that inside the beats he gives me."
  • The animated lyric video stars Saweetie and Aiko as two Tinkerbell-like fairies in a Technicolor forest.
  • Saweetie explained her vision for the song in a Genius video. "I wanted to take a different approach to a breakup song, so I wanted something to celebrate your independence, getting back to self-love," she said. "And if someone's toxic, throw him back to the streets."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.