"Fuck Apologies", alternatively titled "No Apologies" for the radio edit, is a song by American singer JoJo featuring American rapper Wiz Khalifa from the former's third studio album, Mad Love (2016). It was released on July 28, 2016, by Atlantic Records as the album's lead single and impacted American contemporary hit radio on August 16, 2016. The song was written by the artists with Tayla Parx, Whiskey Water, and producers Oscar Holter and Matt Friedman.

"Fuck Apologies"
Single by JoJo featuring Wiz Khalifa
from the album Mad Love
ReleasedJuly 28, 2016 (2016-07-28)
Recorded2016
Genre
Length3:15
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Holter
  • Friedman
JoJo singles chronology
"When Love Hurts"
(2015)
"Fuck Apologies"
(2016)
"FAB"
(2016)
Wiz Khalifa singles chronology
"Sucker for Pain"
(2016)
"Fuck Apologies"
(2016)
"Ain't Nothing"
(2017)
Music video
"Fuck Apologies" on YouTube

Background

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Following the simultaneous release of JoJo's "Tringle" in August 2015, JoJo embarked on her worldwide second headlining "I Am JoJo Tour". Which saw her visit 23 cities nationwide with several international dates in Europe. Initially the tour and release of "Tringle" release was a reintroduction for JoJo into the industry with a major label backing that had been lacking from her previous label. At the time a large portion of the album had already been recorded, while the "Tringle" was set to appear on JoJo's third album as the first three singles from the album that would each receive service to top 40 radio at different stages leading up to the impending album release. During the tour, Levesque's father Joel died in November due to struggles with addiction and she also broke up with her boyfriend of two years.[citation needed]

Following the tour in December 2015, Levesque took a 6-day rest from work during the first week of January, where JoJo booked a hotel and spent time with herself and re-evaluated her life. As a result, JoJo was unhappy with the approach the album was taking and decided to "take control" and begun re-recording and re-writing the entire album to fit her new feelings and emotions. The end result was the "Infectious" lead single.

Recording and composition

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"Fuck Apologies" is an up-tempo pop and R&B song that infuses twangy guitar rhythms, with a running duration of three minutes and 15 seconds. It was written by Joanna Levesque, Taylor Parks, Cameron Thomaz, Jason Dean, Oscar Holter, Matt Friedman and Joseph Kirkland while the song's production was handled by Matt Friedman and Oscar Holter for Wolf Cousins Productions.[1] Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy handled the song's vocal production along with Levesque,[1] which were recorded by Ryan Gladieux and Noah "Mailbox" Passovoy at Atlantic Studios and EastWest Studios in Hollywood, California.[1] The track was engineered for mix by John Hanes,[1] and mixed by Serban Ghenea at Mixstar Studios in Virginia Beach, VA.[1] It was mastered by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound in New York.[1]

Critical reception

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Idolator gave the song a positive review in which Rachel Sonis called the track a "smash" with an "infectious" chorus.[2] Bradley Stern of PopCrush praised the song for being "equal parts grown and gritty" and reminding fans why JoJo first rose to popularity.[3] Noting the authenticity with which JoJo expresses the song's anger, David Watt of UK music blog All Noise wrote that "Fuck Apologies" allows the singer to "realize her full potential."[4]

Music video

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The official music video for "Fuck Apologies" was released on July 28, 2016, through JoJo's YouTube channel.[5]

Promotion

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On June 6, 2016, prior to any official announcements for release of JoJo's third album. It was announced that JoJo would be joining Fifth Harmony on their 7/27 Tour as a special guest opener in promotion for their second studio album. The North American leg of the tour begun on July 27 in Manchester, New Hampshire before concluding on September 17 in Las Vegas.[6]

On July 26, 2016, JoJo debuted a short YouTube video that delivered a preview of new material to come from her forthcoming album. In it, scenes flash in and out, from present day to her past, showing what an impact music has had on her throughout the years. The video included a preview of a new emotional piano ballad titled "Music.". A more upbeat snippet of a song appeared at the end of the video later revealed to be the single.[7]

The following day, JoJo announced the release of her new album through a shot of a pregnancy test and announced the first official lead single "Fuck Apologies", through her official Facebook page. That same day, the song was released to all digital retailers for purchase. Following the release, the song's accompanying music video debuted on JoJo's official website the next day.[8]

Live performance

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JoJo performed "Fuck Apologies" for the first time live during her first stop on the 7/27 Tour closing her set with the song. She also performed a clean acoustic version of the song on the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show on August 1, 2016, along with a cover of Shawn Mendes' "Treat You Better". On September 30, 2016, JoJo made her first televised performance of the song along with Wiz Khalifa on MTV's newest music show Wonderland, where she also performed albums cuts for the first time including "FAB." and "Mad Love.". On October 14, 2016, she performed the song live on the Today show.

Track listing

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Explicit digital download[9]
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa)3:15
Clean digital download[10]
No.TitleLength
1."No Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa)3:15
The Remixes (EP)[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Fuck Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) (YesYou Remix)3:54
2."Fuck Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) (Onda Remix)3:29
3."Fuck Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) (Anevo Remix)3:50
4."Fuck Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) (Hellberg Remix)3:54
5."Fuck Apologies" (featuring Wiz Kalifa) (Jump Smokers Remix)4:56
Unplugged[12]
No.TitleLength
1."No Apologies (Unplugged)"3:23
No Apologies. - Tropical Remix[13]
No.TitleLength
1."No Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa & Nyanda) (The Kemist Remix)3:12
2."No Apologies" (featuring Wiz Khalifa) (The Wixard Remix)3:40

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Mad Love., Atlantic Records.[14]

Recording
Personnel
  • JoJovocals, writing, vocal production
  • Taylor Parks – writing
  • Jason Dean - writing
  • Oscar Holter – writing, production
  • Matt Friedman – writing, production
  • Joseph Kirkland - writing
  • Wiz Khalifa – writing, vocals
  • John Hanes – engineering
  • Seban Ghenea – mixing
  • Noah “Mailbox” Passovy – recording, vocal production
  • Ryan Gladieux - recording
  • Tom Coyneaudio mastering
  • Evan Lipschutz – A&R
  • Anne Declemente – A&R administration
  • Gita Willams – management
  • Katie Gallagher – management
  • Chris Smith – management

Charts

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Chart (2016) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[15] 56
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[16] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 104
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[18] 40

Release history

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List of releases, showing region, date, format, explicitness, and record label
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
United States July 28, 2016 Digital download
  • Clean
  • Explicit
Worldwide July 29, 2016 [9]
United States August 16, 2016 Contemporary hit radio Clean
[19]
August 26, 2016 Digital download – Remixes EP Explicit Atlantic [11]
Worldwide November 18, 2016 Digital download – (Unplugged) Clean [12][20]
December 16, 2016 Digital download – Tropical remixes [13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Mad Love (Booklet). JoJo (singer). Atlantic Records, Warner Bros. 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Daw, Robbie (July 28, 2016). "JoJo Returns With Sultry Single "Fuck Apologies" Featuring Wiz Khalifa: Listen". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  3. ^ Stern, Bradley (July 28, 2016). "'F--k Apologies': JoJo Kicks Off Her Comeback with Two Middle Fingers Up". PopCrush. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  4. ^ Watt, David (29 July 2016). "Watch "Fuck Apologies" Music Video by JoJo + Single Review". All Noise. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  5. ^ "JoJo - Fuck Apologies feat. Wiz Khalifa [Official Video]". YouTube. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
  6. ^ "JoJo to Open for Fifth Harmony on '7/27 Tour'".
  7. ^ "JoJo Previews New Music".
  8. ^ "Video: JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa – 'F**k Apologies'".
  9. ^ a b International releases of F*ck Apologies. (feat. Wiz Khalifa):
  10. ^ "No Apologies. (feat. Wiz Khalifa) - Single by JoJo". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  11. ^ a b "F*** Apologies. (feat. Wiz Khalifa) [The Remixes] - EP by JoJo". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  12. ^ a b "No Apologies. (Unplugged) by JoJo". iTunes Store (UK). Apple Inc. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  13. ^ a b "No Apologies (feat. Wiz Khalifa) [Tropical Remix] by JoJo". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  14. ^ Mad Love. (inlay cover). JoJo. Atlantic Records. 2016.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  17. ^ Chart Log UK: "CLUK Update 06.08.2016 (wk31)". UK Singles Chart. Zobbel.de. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  18. ^ "Chart Search: JoJo "Fuck Apologies"". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  19. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  20. ^ International releases of No Apologies. (Unplugged):