Beat Down

This article is about the song by Steve Aoki. For the EP by Para One, see Beat Down (EP). For the video game, see Beat Down: Fists of Vengeance.
"Beat Down"
Single by Steve Aoki and Angger Dimas featuring Iggy Azalea
from the album Wonderland (Remixed)
Released May 31, 2012 (US)
August 26, 2012 (UK)
Format Digital download
Recorded 2012
Genre Moombahton[1]
Length 4:04
Label Ultra Records, 3 Beat Records
Writer(s) Steve Aoki, Angger Dimas, Iggy Azalea, Brandon Salaam Bailey
Producer(s) Steve Aoki, Angger Dimas
Steve Aoki singles chronology
"Livin' My Love"
(2012)		 "Beat Down"
(2012)		 "Boneless"
(2013)
Angger Dimas singles chronology
"Beat Down"
(2012)
Iggy Azalea singles chronology
"Beat Down"
(2012)		 "Work"
(2013)

Beat Down is a song by American electro house musician Steve Aoki and Indonesian electro house musician Angger Dimas, featuring a guest appearance from Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.[2] The song was included on the re-release of Aoki's album, entitled Wonderland (Remixed), which was released on July 10, 2012.

Background

Aoki released his long awaited debut studio album, Wonderland, on January 10, 2012, featuring guest vocalists and musicians LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Kay, Travis Barker, will.i.am aka Zuper Blahq, Wynter Gordon, Rivers Cuomo, Lil Jon, Chiddy Bang, Lovefoxxx of CSS, Big John Duncan (former guitarist of the punk band The Exploited), and others, through his record label Dim Mak. A remix album was released shortly after, on July 10, 2012, Wonderland (Remixed), featuring a new original track that would become the lead single of the project, "Beat Down," with fellow Indonesian electronic producer/DJ Angger Dimas and also featured up-and-coming Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, who had been featured on the cover of hip-hop magazine XXL's buzzed-about annual "Top 10 Freshman List" and announced signing a deal with Southern rapper T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records.

Critical reception

Becky Bain of Idolator claimed the track is "a solid tune that is ready to pump you up" and complimented Azalea's guest appearance adding that "the Aussie rapper lays down some serious flow."[2] DJ Booth also praised it saying, "If you're a fan of EDM and a lover of 808s and snares, then you'll probably wear out the repeat button after listening to this single. Iggy does surprisingly well with the complex track as she professes that she's well versed in the art of the beat down with lyrics like, "It's a party on your face and I'm about to dance on it","[3] while Noisey drew comparisons to Major Lazer's 2009 single "Pon de Floor".[4]

Chart performance

While the song only made it to number 44 on the UK Singles Chart,[5] a comparative disappointment compared with Aoki's 2010 single "I'm in the House", featuring Zuper Blahq and his 2011 single "No Beef" featuring Afrojack and Alyssa Palma, it served as a platform for Azalea, who went on to have three Top 20 hits the following year.[6] "Beat Down" first entered the UK Dance Chart at number 21 and the UK Indie Chart at number 13 on June 2, 2012. It reappeared three months later with greater success peaking at number 44 in the UK Singles Chart and number 10 in the UK Dance Chart. A week later, it fell back down to number 22 in the UK Dance Chart.

Music video

The official music video, directed by Alex/2Tone of What You Steal productions, was released on July 19, 2012.[7] Aoki, Azalea and Dimas all make appearances in the visuals.

Track listing

Digital download - single
  1. "Beat Down" (Original Mix) – 4:04
Digital download - EP
  1. "Beat Down" (Explicit Mix) – 4:04
  2. "Beat Down" (Clean Mix) – 4:04
  3. "Beat Down" (Donaeo mix) – 4:42
  4. "Beat Down" (Devolution Remix) – 5:35
  5. "Beat Down" (Paris Esquire AfroRnBeat Mix) – 3:17
Digital download - Remixes
  1. "Beat Down" (Afrojack Remix) – 4:31
  2. "Beat Down" (Larry Tee & Attack Attack Attack) – 4:17

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012) Peak
Position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[8] 59
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 35
Belgium Dance Bubbling Under (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 59
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[10] 38
UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[11] 10
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[12] 13
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[13] 44
Ukraine (Top 40)[14] 16

Release history

Version Country Date Format Label
Single United States May 31, 2012[15] Digital download Ultra Records
EP United Kingdom August 26, 2012[16] 3 Beat Records
Remixes United States September 18, 2012[17] Ultra Records

References

  1. ↑ http://www.3beat.co.uk/releases/beat-down-feat-iggy-azalea.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Becky Bain (3 May 2012). "Iggy Azalea Teams Up With Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas For "Beat Down"". Idolator. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  3. ↑ WriterJones (25 October 2012). "Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas f/ Iggy Azalea - "Beat Down"". DJ Booth.
  4. ↑ WriterJones (20 July 2012). "Steve Aoki Feat. Iggy Azalea - "Beat Down"". Noisey. Vice.
  5. ↑ "LINKIN PARK & STEVE AOKI". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "IGGY AZALEA". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas Feat. Iggy Azalea - Beat Down (Official Video) (Ultra Music)". YouTube. 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Ultratop.be – Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas feat. Iggy Azalea – Beat Down" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  9. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas feat. Iggy Azalea – Beat Down" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  10. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-09-08". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  11. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-09-08" UK Dance Chart. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  12. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-06-02" UK Indie Chart. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  13. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2012-09-08" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  14. ↑ "Ukrainian Chart - September 30 - October 7, 2012". FDR. 2012-09-30. Retrieved 2013-08-30.
  15. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Beat Down (Original Mix) [feat. Iggy Azalea] - Single by Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas". iTunes. 2012-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-02.
  16. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Beat Down (feat. Iggy Azalea) - EP by Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas". iTunes. 2012-08-26.
  17. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Beat Down (Feat. Iggy Azalea) - Single (Remixes) by Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas". iTunes. 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2014-05-02.