"Flex" is a song co-written and performed by Jamaican dancehall recording artist Mad Cobra, issued as the first single from his eighth studio album Hard to Wet, Easy to Dry. It is his only song to date to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 13 on the chart in 1992. It also peaked at number one on the Billboard rap chart.[3]
| "Flex" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Mad Cobra | ||||
| from the album Hard to Wet, Easy to Dry | ||||
| B-side | "Yes or No" | |||
| Released | 30 July 1992[1] | |||
| Genre | R&B[2] | |||
| Length | 3:55 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Mad Cobra singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Flex" on YouTube | ||||
Composition
editMad Cobra stated that he was on a flight returning from New York, and was watching an exercise video on the in-flight entertainment system, and the lyrics "How this lady flex like she want to have sex?" came to him. He wrote the lyrics for the song on an air sickness bag in his plane seat and took them to the studio when he arrived in Jamaica. The song was meant to be an uptempo dancehall track in Mad Cobra's usual style, but became a slower R&B song when the backing tape accidentally slowed down and Mad Cobra slowed down his vocals to match the tape speed.[2]
Music video
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2021) |
The official music video for "Flex" was directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy.
Charts
edit| Chart (1992)[3] | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 13 |
| US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) | 12 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard) | 7 |
| US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) | 27 |
Decade-end charts
edit| Chart (1990–1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[4] | 63 |
References
edit- ^ "Flex [Single] - Mad Cobra – Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ a b Cooke, Mel (13 June 2017). "Story of the Song: 'Flex' a glorious musical trial". The Gleaner. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Mad Cobra | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". Jam!. Archived from the original on 29 August 2000. Retrieved 26 March 2022.