"Don't Tell 'Em" is a song by American singer Jeremih from his third studio album, Late Nights. It features American rapper YG, and was released as the first single from the album. The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Don't Tell 'Em" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom, as well as the top twenty of the charts in Australia and Belgium.

"Don't Tell 'Em"
A black-and-white image of a woman holding her index finger to her lips. "Don't tell'em" is written on her cheeks.
Single by Jeremih featuring YG
from the album Late Nights
ReleasedJune 6, 2014 (2014-06-06)
RecordedJanuary 2014[1]
Genre
Length4:29
LabelDef Jam
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Jeremih singles chronology
"Party Girls"
(2014)
"Don't Tell 'Em"
(2014)
"Hold You Down"
(2014)
YG singles chronology
"nEXt"
(2014)
"Don't Tell 'Em"
(2014)
"Do It to Ya"
(2014)

Background and composition

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Jeremih wrote "Don't Tell 'Em" in January 2014, right after knowing that one song he co-wrote, Kid Ink's "Show Me" (2013), went number 1 on the Billboard Rap Airplay chart.[2]

The song's performers co-wrote the song with its producers, DJ Mustard and Mick Schultz.[3] "Don't Tell 'Em" is an electro-R&B song[4] with a hip hop production.[5] It contains an interpolation of Snap!'s 1992 single "Rhythm Is a Dancer".[6]

Remix

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The official remix of the song features American singer Ty Dolla Sign and rapper French Montana. A music video for the official remix directed by Eif Rivera was released on January 13, 2015.[7] Other remix versions include Pitbull, Rick Ross, Migos, G-Unit, Ace Hood and T.I.

Commercial performance

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"Don't Tell 'Em" peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in late October, becoming Jeremih's third top ten hit and YG's first. The song was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[8] As of April 2014, the song has sold over 1,170,000 copies in the United States.[9]

In the United Kingdom, "Don't Tell 'Em" entered and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart on October 12, 2014 – for the week ending date October 18, 2014 – becoming both Jeremih and YG's first top ten song in Britain, and Jeremih's first top 20 song on the UK Singles Chart since "Birthday Sex" peaked at number 15 on the chart in August 2009.

In spite of the song's commercial success, the song does not have a music video, making it the only song of 2014 to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 without a video. In an interview with the respective publication, Jeremih said that a video was scheduled, but he "did not show up for it".[10]

Cover versions

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New Zealand singer Lorde performed a slowed-down cover of the song for Live Lounge on BBC Radio 1, in the United Kingdom.[11][12]

Track listing

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Remixes digital download[13]
  1. "Don't Tell 'Em" (DaaHype Remix) [featuring YG] [Explicit] – 4:05
  2. "Don't Tell 'Em" (DaaHype Remix) [featuring YG] [Clean] – 4:02
  3. "Don't Tell 'Em" (DaaHype Instrumental) [featuring YG] – 4:07
  4. "Don't Tell 'Em" (Zoo Station Club) [featuring YG] [Explicit] – 6:10
  5. "Don't Tell 'Em" (Zoo Station Radio) [featuring YG] [Explicit] – 4:07
  6. "Don't Tell 'Em" (Zoo Station Club) [featuring YG] [Clean] – 6:09
  7. "Don't Tell 'Em" (Zoo Station Radio) [featuring YG] [Clean] – 4:06
  8. "Don't Tell 'Em" (Zoo Station Instrumental) [featuring YG] – 6:10

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] Platinum 70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[44] Gold 30,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[45] Platinum 90,000
Germany (BVMI)[46] Gold 200,000
Poland (ZPAV)[47] Gold 25,000
Sweden (GLF)[48] Gold 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[50] 5× Platinum 5,000,000
Streaming
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[51] Gold 1,300,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format Record label
United States[52] June 6, 2014 Digital download Def Jam
Australia[53] June 16, 2014
Austria[54]
Belgium[55]
Denmark[56]
Estonia[57]
Hungary[58]
Italy[59]
Kenya[60]
New Zealand[61]
Romania[62]
Russia[63]
Saudi Arabia[64]
Sweden[65]
Switzerland[66]
Turkey[67]
United States[68] June 24, 2014 Rhythmic contemporary
Japan[69] August 19, 2014 Remixes digital download
United Kingdom[70] October 5, 2014 Digital download

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "'I Only Blame Myself': Is Reclusive R&B Singer Jeremih Holding Back His Own Career?". Billboard. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. ^ "'I Only Blame Myself': Is Reclusive R&B Singer Jeremih Holding Back His Own Career?". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  3. ^ Jeremih featuring YG (2014). Don't Tell 'Em (Digital download notes). Def Jam Recordings.
  4. ^ Arnold, Chuck (April 11, 2016). "From Kendrick to Mariah, Our Weekly ESSENCE Fest Playlist Brings the Beats". Essence. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  5. ^ Coscarelli, Joe (December 8, 2015). "Jeremih's 'Late Nights' Receives Less Fanfare Than He'd Expected From Def Jam". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  6. ^ "New Music: Jeremih f/ YG – 'Don't Tell 'Em'". Rap-Up. May 15, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  7. ^ "VIDEO: JEREMIH FEAT. FRENCH MONTANA & TY DOLLA $IGN – 'DON'T TELL 'EM (REMIX)'". Rap-Up. January 13, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "American single certifications – Jeremih". Recording Industry Association of America.
  9. ^ "The Big 9 in 2014: Def Jam". HITS Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. December 9, 2014. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  10. ^ Gale, Alex (2014-11-21). "'I Only Blame Myself': Is Reclusive R&B Singer Jeremih Holding Back His Own Career?". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-05-03.
  11. ^ Payne, Chris (November 13, 2014). "Watch Lorde Groove Through Jeremih & YG's 'Don't Tell 'Em'". Billboard.
  12. ^ Walker, John (November 13, 2014). "Lorde Covers Jeremih's 'Don't Tell 'Em': Watch Now". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
  13. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em [Explicit]". Amazon.com. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  14. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  15. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  16. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  17. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  18. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  19. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  20. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em". Tracklisten. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  21. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  22. ^ "Deutsche Black Charts". Trendcharts. Media Control. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  23. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  24. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  25. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  26. ^ "Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2014.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  29. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
  33. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  34. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  35. ^ "Jeremih Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  36. ^ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2014" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  37. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2014". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  38. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  39. ^ "Dance/Mix Show Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  40. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  41. ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  42. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  43. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  44. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Jeremih – Don't Tell 'Em" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  45. ^ "Danish single certifications – Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  46. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Jeremith feat. YG; 'Don't Tell 'Em')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  47. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2021 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  48. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 4, 2015" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  49. ^ "British single certifications – Jeremih ft YG – Don't Tell 'Em". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  50. ^ "American single certifications – Jeremih – Don't Tell 'Em". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  51. ^ "Danish single certifications – Jeremih feat. YG – Don't Tell 'Em". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  52. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". United States: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  53. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Australia: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  54. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Austria: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  55. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Belgium: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  56. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Denmark: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  57. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Estonia: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  58. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Hungary: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  59. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Italy: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  60. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Kenya: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  61. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". New Zealand: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  62. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Romania: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  63. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Russia: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  64. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Saudi Arabia: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  65. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single" (in Swedish). Sweden: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  66. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single" (in German). Switzerland: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  67. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". Turkey: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  68. ^ "CHR: Available for Airplay". FMQB. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014.
  69. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (Remixes) [feat. YG]". Japan: iTunes Store (Apple). Archived from the original on November 14, 2014.
  70. ^ "Don't Tell 'Em (feat. YG) - Single". United Kingdom: iTunes Store (Apple).