"Break Up"
Single by Mario featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett
from the album D.N.A.
B-side"How Could You"
ReleasedApril 28, 2009
Recorded2008–2009
StudioBangladesh Studios[1]
(Atlanta, Georgia)
Length4:10
LabelJ
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bangladesh
Mario singles chronology
"Choosin"
(2009) 		"Break Up"
(2009) 		"Thinkin' About You"
(2009)
Gucci Mane singles chronology
"Ridiculous"
(2009) 		"Break Up"
(2009) 		"Wasted"
(2009)
Sean Garrett singles chronology
"I Did It For Love"
(2009) 		"Break Up"
(2009) 		"Get It All"
(2010)
Alternative cover

"Break Up" is the first single from Mario's fourth studio album D.N.A.. It features and was co-written by Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett with production and additional writing from Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford.[2] The single was first premiered on the radio station V-103 at March 30, 2009 with Greg Street.[3]

Background and composition

According to Mario, "it's a little bit of everything on this record. That's why I love it. Sean is like a brother to me. He knows me. So, when he did this record, he was definitely thinking about me. It’s a club record and every man has experienced this situation before. It's like why would you want to break up with me when you gon' get the same thing with the next man. But, he ain't gon do it as fly as I can. I can't wait to perform it. It's going to be a movie. Look for the movie! We're not calling this a single or a video, we're calling it a movie."[2]

The song, mixed by Fabian,[4] was composed using a loop from Image-Line's FL Studio software named "flute riff". The drums are simplistic and resemble Bangladesh's previous productions such as Beyoncé's "Diva" and Lil Wayne's "A Milli". Some vocals in the chorus sample Surf Club's "I Can't Miss".

Critical reception

Burmy from DjBooth.net speaks that "While Gucci Mane's guest verse (no, this is not some late April Fools' joke) might seem unnecessary to some, Sean Garrett's writing and background vocals, together with Bangladesh's repetitive, percussion-heavy beat (similar to his work on A Milli and Diva) add up to what could be one of the most widely-spun singles of spring/summer '09!".[5]

Other versions

Various unofficial remixes were made with Mario, Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett still included: one with Bow Wow, another with Nicki Minaj and the last featuring Rick Ross and Young Breed.

American rapper Tyga made a freestyle of the song. R&B singer Trey Songz released a version called "Wake Up" with changed lyrics. Lil Wayne also did a remix on his No Ceilings mixtape.

Music video

The music video for "Break Up" was shot in the second week of June 2009, as Sean Garrett stated,[6] most of the video was filmed in a new complex, which boasted top-of-the-line architecture, was on the harbor, and had a view of the city of Baltimore with director Chris Robinson.[7] The scenes shot in the bedroom were in Mario's bedroom; he stated he felt a little feeling of invasion of privacy because he is not used to being with a girl in bed while having cameras around. Audra Simmons of RichGirl plays the role of Mario's girlfriend who wants to break up with him. In the video it is shown that they argue and he is not a trustworthy boyfriend, as he is seen flirting with another girl in a club. He still tries to look for her, however, remarking in the song that although he cheats he loves her.[8] Brave (Christina Williams), from RichGirl, also makes a short appearance in which she and Audra are shown catching Mario in the act with another girl. In Sean Garrett's part, model Rosa Acosta makes an appearance. In May, Mario stated that the video was coming soon.[9] On July 2, Mario announced on his Twitter that he would be on 106 & Park to premiere the music video,[10] although the video did not premiered and was set to premier on the following week.[11] On July 7, was announced on his website that the music video premiered on 9 of July exclusively on WorldStarHipHop.[8]

The song quickly rose on BET video countdown show 106 & Park it debuted at number 10,[12] moving to number 7. On July 22 the video moved up to number 3 on the countdown. By the end of the week, the video went to number 1 on the countdown.[13] Due its success, it was placed at number 7 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2009 countdown.

Chart performance

Mario asked to all his fans to request "Break Up". He said that he needed 2000 more spins before going for ads in three weeks.[14]

The song first appeared on the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart at number 11, peaking at 10 the following week. It later entered on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, peaking at number 2. Initially, the song charted on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 at number 17. On the chart week of July 4, 2009, the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 98 and peaked at number 14, becoming the highest-charting single to date for Sean Garrett. It has also become Mario's third highest-charting single in the US after "Let Me Love You" and "Just a Friend 2002". It got the position of number 7 on BET's Notarized.[15]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Break Up"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[23] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates for "Break Up"
Region Date Format Label
United States April 28, 2009[24] Digital download J, Sony Music
May 11, 2009 CD single[25] Promotional radio release
August 18, 2009 Full radio airplay

References

  1. ^ Mario Barrett (February 24, 2009). "In Atlanta in studio with Sean Garrett". Twitter. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Bossip Staff (February 23, 2009). "Exclusive* Studio News: Mario's "And Then There Was Me". Bossip. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  3. ^ Mario Barrett (March 30, 2009). "ATL tune in 5pm Graig Street V-103". Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  4. ^ Mario Barrett (March 30, 2009). "Mixing my first Single "Break Up" with my boy Fabian". Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  5. ^ Burmy. "Mario - Break Up ft. Gucci Mane & Sean Garrett". Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  6. ^ Sean Garrett (June 5, 2009). "we shootintg the video". Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  7. ^ "On the set of Mario's - Break Up video". June 22, 2009. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Behind the Scenes of Mario's new video "Break Up"". 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  9. ^ Mario Barrett (May 1, 2009). "VIDEO COMING SOON!!!". Retrieved May 2, 2009.
  10. ^ "Live on 106 & Park, walking on the video".
  11. ^ mariodaily:Cassie (July 3, 2009). "Music video set for next week". Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  12. ^ "Mario's "Break Up" Debuts on 106 & Park". Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  13. ^ ""Break Up" hits #1". Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
  14. ^ Mario Barrett (April 26, 2009). "Let's go!!!". Retrieved April 27, 2009.
  15. ^ Networks, B. E. T. "BET Unveils the Best 100 Music Videos of 2009 - NOTARIZED". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  16. ^ "Mario Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. ^ "Mario Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  18. ^ "Mario Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  19. ^ "Mario Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Year End Charts - Year-end songs - The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  21. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  22. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  23. ^ "American single certifications – Mario feat. Gucci Mane And Sean Garrett – Break Up". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  24. ^ Amazon.com: Break Up: Mario featuring Gucci Mane & Sean Garrett
  25. ^ "Mario Official Site". Archived from the original on 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
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