High Maintenance (Saweetie EP)

High Maintenance is the debut extended play (EP) by American rapper Saweetie. It was released digitally on March 16, 2018, by Warner Bros. Records and Artistry Worldwide. It is composed of nine tracks, with "Icy Grl" having been released as a single on October 2, 2017. The EP debuted at number 32 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales chart.

High Maintenance
Official cover art for the album featuring a photograph of Saweetie. This version does not include the Parental Advisory warning label.
EP by
ReleasedMarch 16, 2018 (2018-03-16)
Recorded2017–18
GenreHip hop[1]
Length22:07
Label
Producer
Saweetie chronology
High Maintenance
(2018)
Pretty Summer Playlist: Season 1
(2021)
Singles from High Maintenance
  1. "Icy Grl"
    Released: October 2, 2017
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
HipHopDX3.8/5[1]
Pitchfork6.7/10[2]

Background

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After graduating, Saweetie decided to pursue a rap career.[3][4][5] She began posting short raps on her Instagram account in 2016. One video featured her rapping over the beat from Khia's classic "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)", which would eventually turn into "Icy Grl".[6][5] She first released the song on her SoundCloud in the summer of 2017 and later released a music video for it in October of the same year.[7][5][8] The visual would go viral online.[3][5] To follow that up, Saweetie released in that same month a freestyle rap called "High Maintenance" accompanied by a short clip of herself rapping a verse to the song, all while in her kitchen. It would go viral on Instagram and Twitter as well.[7][5] In February 2018, she signed to Warner Records and her manager Max Gousse's record label Artistry Worldwide,[3] subsequently releasing the EP High Maintenance in March 2018.[9]

Composition and concept

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I do a lot of covers but this is the first time I'm actually doing original content. I leave the studio and I come home wanting to listen to really myself.

—Saweetie for XXL in October 2017.[5]

The songs "B.A.N." and "23" speak about relationships, and are speculated to be about her ex-boyfriends Justin Combs, who is P. Diddy's eldest son, and Keith Powers, whom she dated for up to four years.[10]

With "high maintenance", Saweetie reportedly doesn't mean only designer things. "The relationships I have with people are very high maintenance, meaning I nurture them," she says. "Essentially, I care for them. I also pray a lot, work out, and eat well so all aspects of my life are high maintenance... Since it's an introductory to the game, I feel like it's appropriate way to brand myself."[9]

Track listing

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High Maintenance
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"Saweetie0:30
2."B.A.N."
  • Harper
  • Borri
  • Konan
  • David Khaffaf
3:00
3."Agua"
Zaytoven3:10
4."Good Good"
3:21
5."Icy Grl"
  • Taz
  • Plat'num House
1:49
6."High Maintenance"Lil Jon0:49
7."23"
  • Harper
  • Nyrell Slade
Nyrell2:45
8."Respect"
  • Harper
  • Petit
CashMoneyAP2:44
9."Too Many"
  • Harper
  • Borri
  • Petit
  • Ryan Gladieux
CashMoneyAP3:58
Total length:22:07

Notes

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Personnel

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Credits adapted from AllMusic.[11]

  • Gino the Ghost – background vocals
  • Jonathan Cuskey – recording
  • Ryan Gladieux – recording, mixing
  • Jean-Marie Horvat – recording, mixing
  • Leon McQuay – mixing
  • Emerson Mancini – mastering

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
US R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales (Billboard)[12] 32

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various March 16, 2018 Digital download

References

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  1. ^ a b Eustice, Kyle (March 27, 2018). "Review: Saweetie Confidently Redefines "High Maintenance" On New EP". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Younger, Briana (March 21, 2018). "Saweetie: High Maintenance EP Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Lyle, Ashley (February 14, 2018). "Rising MC Saweetie Talks Viral Hit 'Icy Grl,' Signing With Warner Bros. Records & the Value of Education". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  4. ^ Aynalem, Tali (November 26, 2017). "If You Haven't Heard These Songs, You're Sleeping". HuffPost. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f C.M., Emmanuel (December 1, 2017). "The Break Presents: Saweetie". XXL. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  6. ^ Fresh, Mikey (November 8, 2017). "Interview: Saweetie Turned Her "Icy Girl" Video Into A Career Springboard". Vibe. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Fresh, Mikey (October 17, 2017). "Saweetie Is "High Maintenance" And She's An "Icy Girl"". Vibe. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  8. ^ Official Saweetie (October 2, 2017). "SAWEETIE - ICY GRL (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (March 16, 2018). "Stream Saweetie's Debut Project 'High Maintenance': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  10. ^ "26 facts you need to know about 'Tap In' rapper Saweetie". Capital XTRA. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  11. ^ "High Maintenance - Saweetie | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  12. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales : March 31, 2018". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2021. (subscription required)
  13. ^ "High Maintenance by Saweetie on Apple Music". iTunes. March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.