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23 (Mike Will Made It song)

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"23"
Single by Mike Will Made It featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2013
Genre
Length4:12
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)[2]
Producer(s)
  • Mike Will Made It
  • P-Nasty
Mike Will Made It singles chronology
"23"
(2013)
"Buy the World"
(2014)
Miley Cyrus singles chronology
"Wrecking Ball"
(2013)
"23"
(2013)
"Real and True"
(2013)
Wiz Khalifa singles chronology
"We Own It (Fast & Furious)"
(2013)
"23"
(2013)
"Think About It"
(2013)
Juicy J singles chronology
"Bounce It"
(2013)
"23"
(2013)
"Clappers"
(2013)
Music video
"23" on YouTube

"23" is a song by American record producer Mike Will Made It featuring American singer & songwriter Miley Cyrus and American rappers Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J, released as the former's debut single on September 10, 2013, by Interscope Records. Written by the artists alongside R. City and fellow producer Pierre "P-Nasty" Slaughter, it is set to a midtempo beat and lyrically references Air Jordan sneakers and recreational drug use.

"23" received generally mixed reviews from music critics, who were ambivalent towards its production and Cyrus' rapping ability. It peaked at number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and performed moderately on international charts. An accompanying music video was filmed in Brooklyn on August 26, 2013, and premiered through Vevo on September 24, 2013. Cyrus performed the song during the first and second leg of her Bangerz Tour.

Production and composition

[edit]

During the production of "23", Mike Will Made It prepared a verse for himself to rap, which he originally planned to include alongside verses by Juicy J and Wiz Khalifa. However, after the latter two finished their respective recordings, Mike Will Made It decided that his contribution should be replaced by a woman. Mike Will Made It had recently finished producing Miley Cyrus' track "We Can't Stop" for her fourth studio album Bangerz (2013) when she first heard "23" and expressed interest in being included on the track. Mike Will Made It was initially hesitant of her suggestion, having met her earlier that day, although he "left her on there" after "she laid down the verse [and] killed it."[3]

"23" is a synth-driven hip hop song set to a midtempo beat and a "bass-heavy"[4] arrangement. It is distinguished in Cyrus' catalog as the first track in which she raps.[5] In the chorus, Cyrus mentions recreational drug use, particularly in the line "I’m in the club high off purp with some shades on".[6] The track later transitions into the repeated hook "J's on my feet" delivered by Juicy J, which references Air Jordan sneakers.[7]

Critical reception

[edit]

In a favorable review, Mike Wass of Idolator was complimentary of Mike Will Made It's "slick, multi-layered production" and was indifferent towards Cyrus' contributions.[8] Sharing a similar sentiment, a writer for That Grape Juice stated that the artists "[gave] fans just what they want", adding that they "[went] along to make the jam the smash that it is."[9] Complex ranked "23" at number 23 on their list of the 50 best songs of 2013, saying that Mike Will Made It knew that Miley would make this collaboration even better.[10] However, in a more mixed review, Danielle Cheesman of MSN opined that "the song sounds like everything else Mike WiLL's touched and turned to gold so it will be a smash but, much to Miley's chagrin, it won't be because of her", and criticized Cyrus' verses for "[stealing 2 Chainz's] whole flow."[11] Tony Maglio from The Wrap also questioned her lyrical content, specifically criticizing the lyrics "I back it up, cause I don’t give a fuck" and "I’m MC Hammer fly."[12] Jordan Sargent from Spin called the track "far from Mike Will's best work" and negatively compared Cyrus' delivery to that of Lil Debbie.[6]

Commercial performance

[edit]

In the United States, "23" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 70,[13] and later peaked at number 11.[14] It additionally peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs component chart.[15]

Elsewhere in North America, the track reached number 26 on the Canadian Hot 100.[16] In Europe, "23" respectively peaked at numbers 19 and 85 on the UK Singles Chart and the UK R&B Chart, both of which are organized by the Official Charts Company.[17][18] The track respectively peaked at numbers 27 and 1 on the Ultratip component charts in Flanders and Wallonia, representing the fifty songs that failed to reach the flagship Ultratop chart in each Belgian region.[19] It also peaked at number 30 on the French Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique, and number 44 on the Spanish Productores de Música de España.[19] In Oceania, "23" reached number 39 on the Australian ARIA Charts and number 22 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.[19]

Music video

[edit]

An accompanying music video for "23" was filmed at Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School in Brooklyn on August 26, 2013;[20] it was directed by Hannah Lux Davis.[21] An advertisement for a casting call posted to Juicy J's Instagram account requested "edgy, rebellious, sexy, [and] hood types" to appear as extras in the clip, and further stated that individuals "must wear [their] favorite pair of Jordans".[20]

The music video was premiered through Vevo on September 24.[22] The music video takes place in a high school; it begins with the school principal leaving his office, which Mike Will Made It enters and begins playing "23" on a Beats Pill over the intercom. Interspersed throughout are scenes of Cyrus wearing a bikini similar to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls basketball jersey; she is frequently shown smoking in the bathroom and writing on its mirrors with red lipstick. Khalifa raps his verse in a chemistry lab, while Juicy J's verse is rapped in a trophy room.[23] A school-wide pep rally later takes place, where Cyrus is gyrating against Mike Will Made It and notably wearing the foam finger used in her controversial performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in August.[22] Cash Money rappers Birdman and Mack Maine make cameos.

Critics were divided in their opinions for the music video. In a more favorable review, Zayda Rivera of Daily News stated that Cyrus is "undoubtedly the star of the video" and that the "ultimate cameo takes place when Cyrus brings back the infamous foam finger she waved and gyrated against during her MTV Video Music Awards performance".[24] Ray Rahman from Entertainment Weekly recognized the prominent 1990s influence throughout the clip, and felt it was "reminiscent" to the visuals for "Make 'Em Say Uhh!" by Master P.[25] In a more critical review, Carl Williott of Idolator opined that the music video was "sort of like a massive hip-hop version of the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video, with Air Jordans and Beats instead of anarchy symbols",[26] while Kayla Upadhyaya from The Michigan Daily called it a "pile of red and black vomit and a poorly edited mishmash of uninspired shots".[27]

Live performances

[edit]

Cyrus performed the song during the first and second legs of her Bangerz Tour. During the third leg of the tour, "23" was replaced with The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". During the performance, Cyrus wore black-and-red Jordan 1s, a striped fishnet bikini and crotchless leather chaps with "Miley" scrawled down the side, through which she paid homage to Christina Aguilera's "Dirrty" music video.[28] Aguilera herself approved of the outfit and named Cyrus her dirrty girl successor, writing, "Cheers from one dirrty girl to the next @MileyCyrus...wear em' loud & proud, girl- yes!!" on her Twitter account.[29] Jane Stevenson of the Toronto Sun praised the performance and wrote that it saw Cyrus finally twerk it out with her dancers.[30]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[52] 3× Platinum 180,000
Germany (BVMI)[53] Gold 150,000
Sweden (GLF)[54] Gold 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[56] 4× Platinum 4,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Country Date Format Label Ref.
The Americas September 10, 2013 Digital download Interscope [57]
Various September 13, 2013 [58]
United States September 17, 2013 Rhythmic contemporary [59]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mike Will Made-It feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, & Juicy J - 23". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  2. ^ "BMI | Songview Search".[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Jocelyn Vena (August 7, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Put 'Fresh' Twist On '23,' Says Mike Will Made It". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  4. ^ Lucas Villa. "Miley Cyrus raps with Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J on Mike Will Made It's '23'". AXS. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  5. ^ Chris Payne (September 10, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Tests Her Rapping Skills On Mike Will Made It's '23': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Jordan Sargent (September 10, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Raps Explicitly About Drugs on Mike Will Made It's Middling '23'". Spin. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  7. ^ Dharmic X (September 10, 2013). "Mike WiLL Made It – '23′ (Feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, & Juicy J)". The Boom Box. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  8. ^ Mike Wass (September 9, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Makes Her Rap Debut On Mike WiLL Made It's "23": Listen To The Full Song". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved December 29, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "New Song: Mike Will Made It – '23 (Ft Miley Cyrus, Juicy J & Wiz Khalifa)'". That Grape Juice. September 10, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  10. ^ Ahmed, Insanul; et al. (2013-12-02). "The Best 50 Songs of 2013". Complex Music. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  11. ^ Danielle Cheesman (September 10, 2013). "Miley Makes Her Rapping Debut on Mike WiLL Made It's "23"". MSN. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  12. ^ Tony Maglio (September 10, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Rap Song Touts Drug Use, Michael Jordan, MC Hammer (Audio)". The Wrap. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
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  25. ^ Ray Rahman (September 24, 2013). "Miley Cyrus goes wild at school in Mike Will Made It's '23' video: Watch it here". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  26. ^ Carl Williott (September 24, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Is All Class With Mike WiLL Made It, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J In School-Themed "23" Video". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  27. ^ Kayla Upadhyaya (September 26, 2013). "Music Video Review: Mike WiLL makes Michael Jordan lame". The Michigan Daily. University of Michigan. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  28. ^ Wilson, Gaby (February 18, 2014). "Miley Cyrus Kicks Off Bangerz Tour With Flurry Of Performance Outfits". MTV. Archived from the original on August 20, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  29. ^ Greenwood, Carl (February 23, 2014). "Christina Aguilera crowns Miley Cyrus as her dirrty girl successor". Daily Mirror. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  30. ^ Stevenson, Jane (March 31, 2014). "Miley Cyrus brings Bangerz fun to Toronto". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
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  43. ^ "Mike Will Made-It Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
  44. ^ "End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Urban Singles 2013". ARIA. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  45. ^ "Ultratop Belgian Flanders Year-end Charts". Ultratop.be/nl Hung Medien. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
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  48. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2014" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
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  51. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  52. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Mike Will Made-It – 23" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  53. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Mike Will Made It feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J; '23')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  54. ^ "Mike Will Made-It – 23 (feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J)" (in Swedish). Grammofonleverantörernas förening. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  55. ^ "British single certifications – Mike Will Made-It/Cyrus/Juicy – 23". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  56. ^ "American single certifications – Mike Will Made-It – 23". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  57. ^ "23 (feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J) - Single". iTunes Store (CA). Apple Inc. September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  58. ^ "23 (feat. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J) - Single". iTunes Store (AU). Apple Inc. September 13, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  59. ^ "Availalable for Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on February 21, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2013.