"Down with the Clique" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah for her debut studio album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994). It was written and produced by R. Kelly. The song was released as the fourth single from Age Ain't Nothing but a Number exclusively in the United Kingdom on May 1, 1995, by Blackground Records and Jive Records.

"Down with the Clique"
Single by Aaliyah
from the album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number
Released	May 1, 1995
Recorded	November 1993
Studio	Chicago Recording Company (Chicago)
Genre	R&B hip hop reggae fusion
Length	3:24
Label	Blackground Jive
Songwriter(s)	R. Kelly
Producer(s)	R. Kelly
Aaliyah singles chronology
"Age Ain't Nothing but a Number" (1994) "Down with the Clique" (1995) "The Thing I Like" (1995)

"Down with the Clique" was met with mixed reviews from music critics, who praised Aaliyah's vocal delivery on the song but dismissed its lyrical content. A moderate commercial success, the song peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Aaliyah's fourth consecutive top-40 single in the United Kingdom.

Recording and production

While recording "Down with the Clique", Aaliyah developed an interest in producing, and she watched and helped R. Kelly develop the song. She said: "When we were recording 'Down With the Clique', I watched how Robert [Kelly] laid the drums and everything. He taught me to play the piano a bit, and I'm also trying to learn the mixing board, though it looks complicated. The studio is my first love."[1]

Music and lyrics

"Down with the Clique" is a hip hop-influenced song on which Aaliyah displays a "silky cooing" with her vocals.[2] Lyrically, the song sees her committing to a "junior-gangsta persona" with lines such as "Well now I guess it's time for me to wreck shop".[2] In February 1995, British producers Mafia & Fluxy produced a reggae remix of the song.[3]

Critical reception

Kenneth Partridge from Billboard gave "Down with the Clique" a mixed review, saying Aaliyah sounded unnatural singing lines such as "I guess it's time for me to wreck shop" and that the song was too much like an R. Kelly song, but described Aaliyah's performance as "adorable".[2] Bianca Gracie from Fuse felt that Aaliyah was embodying an "effortless swagger that guys twice her age could only dream of having", also praising Aaliyah's "mellow" and "deep" vocal performance.[4] Nakita Rathod from HotNewHipHop mentioned that despite the controversy surrounding Aaliyah's debut album, she was still able to be a young, free teenager with songs like "Down with the Clique".[5] In a review for Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, Tonya Pendleton from The Washington Post praised the production of the song by saying: "Kelly's hip-hop inserts provide a funky contrast that carries over to "Throw Your Hands Up" and "Down With the Clique", all paeans to the fun-loving good times of adolescence".[6]

Commercial performance

"Down with the Clique" was released as the fourth UK single from Age Ain't Nothing but a Number. It peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart dated May 13, 1995.[7] The song also peaked at number five on the UK R&B Singles Chart,[8] and at number 25 on the UK Dance Singles Chart, both on May 7.[9]

Track listings and formats

UK 12-inch vinyl[10]

1. "Down with the Clique" (Madhouse Mix Radio Edit I) – 3:10
2. "Down with the Clique" (Madhouse Mix) (instrumental) – 3:13
3. "Down with the Clique" (Dancehall Mix) – 3:30
4. "Down with the Clique" (Madhouse Mix Radio Edit II) – 3:28

UK maxi CD single[11]

1. "Down with the Clique" (Madhouse Mix Radio Edit I) (no chat) – 3:01
2. "Down with the Clique" (album version) – 3:24
3. "Down with the Clique" (Dancehall Mix) – 3:30
4. "Down with the Clique" (Madhouse Mix Radio Edit II) – 3:28
5. "Down with the Clique" (Madhouse Mix) (instrumental) – 3:13

Charts

Release history

References