"2 On" is the debut single by American singer

Tinashe Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe ( ; born February 6, 1993), known mononymously as Tinashe, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Tinashe moved to Pasadena, California, as a child, where she pursued w ...

, released on January 21, 2014 as her first commercial single and the lead single from her debut studio album '' Aquarius'' (2014). The song features a

guest A guest is person who is given hospitality. Guest or The Guest may refer to: * Guest (surname), people with the surname ''Guest'' * USS ''Guest'' (DD-472), U.S. Navy ''Fletcher''-class destroyer 1942–1946 * Guest appearance, guest actor, guest ...

verse from American rapper

Schoolboy Q Quincy Matthew Hanley (born October 26, 1986), better known by his stage name Schoolboy Q (stylized as ScHoolboy Q), is an American rapper. He began recording in 2007, and released his first two mixtapes, ''ScHoolboy Turned Hustla'' (2008) and '' ...

, songwriting credits from both artists alongside Bobby Brackins, and

production Production may refer to: Economics and business * Production (economics) * Production, the act of manufacturing goods * Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services) * Production as a stat ...

from

DJ Mustard A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at nightclubs or music festivals), mobile DJ ...

Jon Redwine Jon Redwine (born in Oak Cliff, Texas) is an American record producer. He is best known for his co-production on Tinashe's 2014 single "2 On", which peaked at number 24 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the R ...

, and DJ Marley Waters, who are also credited as songwriters. It also features an interpolation from the 2005 single " We Be Burnin'" by Jamaican recording artist

Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Paul's first album, ''Stage One'', was released in 2000. He gained international fame with his second album, ''Dutty Rock'', in 2002. Its single "Get Busy ...

, resulting in additional writing credits for Cezar Cunningham, Sean Paul, Steven Marsden, Delano Thomas, Michael Jarrett, and Craig Serani Marsh. An up-tempo R&B club and snap track that contains elements of electro and trap, the track is a party song with lyrics about living life to the fullest. Music critics mostly praised the song for its club-oriented sound and carefree lyrics, also noting it as a departure from Tinashe's murky

alternative R&B Alternative R&B (also referred to as alt-R&B, indie R&B, and originally known as PBR&B, hipster R&B, emo R&B, or R-Neg-B) is a term used by music journalists to describe a stylistic alternative to contemporary R&B that began in the mid 2000s and ...

that defined her previous songs. The single peaked at number 24 on the US ''Billboard''

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and number one on US rhythmic radio, was the second-most played song of 2014 on the latter format, was certified four-times platinum by the

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, and was Tinashe's only appearance on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 as a lead artist until the release of " Nasty" in 2024. The accompanying music video for the track, directed by

Hannah Lux Davis Hannah Lux Davis (born May 17, 1986) is an American music video, commercial and film director. She's known for her work especially with female artists, such as Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Christ ...

and released on March 24, 2014, features Tinashe dancing in several different scenes. To further promote the song, Tinashe made various live performances, including the

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, the

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LA concert,

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, V100.7/Milwaukee's Family Affair and ''

The Wendy Williams Show ''The Wendy Williams Show'' (often shortened to ''Wendy'') is an American Broadcast syndication, syndicated talk show created and hosted by Wendy Williams, and produced by Wendy Williams Productions, along with Perler Productions. The show was d ...

''. Canadian rapper

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals and creatures * A male duck * Drake (mythology), a term related to and often synonymous with dragon People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family ...

released an unofficial rework of the song to his

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account; the song consisted of two parts, the new version of "2 On" and "Thotful". An official Spanish

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featuring

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singer

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was released on November 18, 2014, and later included on his mixtape ''Under Doxis''.

Background

"2 On" was written by Tinashe, Schoolboy Q and Bobby Brackins and produced by

and DJ Marley Waters. It is

nightclub A nightclub or dance club is a club that is open at night, usually for drinking, dancing and other entertainment. Nightclubs often have a Bar (establishment), bar and discotheque (usually simply known as disco) with a dance floor, laser lighti ...

-oriented, which contrasts with Tinashe's previous work such as her 2013 mixtape ''Black Water''. She stated: "I wanted '2 On' to be transitional, so people get used to the idea of, 'She can make songs that can play on the radio, and she can still make songs that I can vibe out to in my car.'" "2 On" was released worldwide as a

music download A music download is the digital transfer of music via the Internet into a device capable of decoding and playing it, such as a personal computer, portable media player, MP3 player or smartphone. This term encompasses both legal downloads ...

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic R ...

on January 21, 2014. It debuted on both

rhythmic contemporary Rhythmic contemporary, also known as Rhythmic Top 20, Rhythmic Top 30, Rhythmic Top 40, Rhythmic CHR or rhythmic crossover, is a primarily American music-radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and upbeat R&B hit ...

and

urban contemporary Urban contemporary music, also known as urban music, urban pop, or just simply urban, is a music radio format. The term was coined by New York radio DJ Frankie Crocker in the early to mid-1970s as a synonym for Black music. Urban contemporary r ...

charts on March 18, 2014, and

contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (CHR, also known as contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top ...

on July 30, 2014.

Composition

"2 On" is an R&B song, marking a slight departure from the murky alternative R&B from her mixtapes. The song features "effervescent

keys Key, Keys, The Key or The Keys may refer to: Common uses * Key (cryptography), a piece of information needed to encode or decode a message * Key (instrument), a component of a musical instrument * Key (lock), a device used to operate a lock * ...

", " synth-string accents", finger snaps, trap

hi-hat A hi-hat (hihat, high-hat, etc.) is a combination of two cymbals and a pedal, all mounted on a metal stand. It is a part of the standard drum kit used by drummers in many styles of music including rock music, rock, popular music, pop, jazz, an ...

s, electro beats and distant chilly sighs, the latter which Bradley Stern of ''MuuMuse'' described as more reminiscent of her mixtape releases. The song features an interpolation of Sean Paul's 2005 single " We Be Burnin'", with the line "Just give me the trees and we can smoke it ya/Just give me the drink and we can pour it ya" featured in the middle eight. As a result, the song's writers (Cezar Cunningham, Sean Paul Henriques, Steven Marsden, Delano Thomas, Michael Jarrett, and Craig Serani Marsh) are credited. The song is written in the key of F♯ minor and has 101 beats-per minute. Lyrically, the song is a carpe-diem anthem about being "super hyped up, super extra out on whatever emotion that it is." Although the song became her first hit and got a lot of people buzzing about the song, some listeners didn't really understand the concept of the meaning of "2 On." She spoke with VladTV to address this by saying "2 On is basically a new way of saying turn up. Being super hyped up with your friends when going out. I just wanted to come up with a fresh phrase that people can catch on to."

Reception

J. Leeds of the online publication Idolator praised the song's production calling it a "club thumper" and comparing the music video choreography to

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...

and

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...

. Tom Breihan of ''

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'' commented on the throwback feel from the track saying "2 On recreates some of the tropes of the late-’90s/early-’00s teenpop/R&B crossover era, but it does it within quotes" and also comparing the video having an

Aaliyah Aaliyah Dana Haughton ( ; January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001) was an American singer, actress, dancer, and model. Known as the " Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop", she is credited with helping to redefine contemporary R&B, p ...

vibe on it. Gotty, a writer for ''The Smoking Section'', commented that "made me want to rollerskate. Maybe not as rhythmic and polished as Tip and them did in ATL but I could definitely hit the rink, do a little bop once I get some speed and cut the corners." Gotty also commended DJ Mustard's production, writing "it’s not necessarily what we’ve come to expect as his signature sound and that’s a good thing here." Bradley Stern of MuuMuse classified the song as a "female version of Tyga‘s “Rack City" and 2 Chainz‘ "I’m Different" (both also produced by Mustard) mixed with the icy flow of Cassie's "Me & U," blending #TurnUp club culture (TURN DOWN FOR WHAT?!) with hypnotic minimal beats – it's all sorts of sexy." Jon Ali, in his blog, appraised the song as "a hot slow-burning R&B number packed with an icy electro beat and a infectious chorus loaded with plenty of memorable sexual come-ons. The song works so well in its simplicity" and the sample used as "all sorts of perfect." A writer for '' Fact Magazine'' opined that "Tinashe and Mustard are a surprisingly potent pairing, but we hoped rappers would leave the “beat the pussy up" schtick in the bin." John Kennedy of ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' noted that "ScHoolboy Q's rambunctious bars give this feel-good smash just the right amount of scruffiness." "2 On" was labeled an album highlight by several critics. ''Pitchfork'' named "2 On" as one of the 200 best songs of the decade, praising the track as "widescreen and intricately sculpted: its curling, high-toned bassline seems to whir and chime, and its descending roll of pizzicato synth-drums are so ear-catching that they compete with the gorgeous vocal melody. ..Tinashe’s sensuous, slurred lingering over the chorus “''I luuuuu to get 2 on''" is joyous and life-affirming, a million miles from the deadened hedonism of so much trap. Dissolution has never sounded so delicious". Following its release the song has peaked at number 24 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 53 on the UK Singles Chart and stayed at number one for four weeks on the Billboard Rhythmic Charts. As of August 8, 2014, "2 On" has sold 473,000 downloads in the US. On June 16, 2025 the song was certified four-times Platinum by RIAA for selling 4,000,000 copies. The song also reached the top forty in Australia.

Promotion

The song's official music video, directed by

, was released on March 24, 2014. One of the songwriters, Bobby Brackins, makes a cameo. Speaking about the choreography, handled by JaQuel Knight, in the video, Tinashe listed

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

and

as her inspirations, "I was always super frustrated when people stopped dancing in their videos because I thought that was such a great part of it. I really want to bring that back." Tinashe first performed the song at SXSW Festival 2014. Also, at the

LA concert,

, V100.7/Milwaukee's Family Affair, The Vipor Room and

Hot 97 WQHT (97.1 FM, ''Hot 97'') is a commercial radio station, licensed to New York, New York, which broadcasts an urban contemporary music format. The station is owned by Mediaco Holding, a subsidiary of the Standard General hedge fund. WQHT's st ...

's Who's Next. Drake also invited her on stage to perform the remix to the song in Houston. Tinashe performed the song on ''

'' on July 21, 2014.

Cover versions

On May 12, 2014, OB O'Brien posted an unofficial rework of the song to his

account, featuring vocals from

. The song consists of two parts, the new version of "2 On" and "Thotful". The song begins with O'Brien singing a verse before Drake takes over. The cover transitions into "Thotful", the second part of the song which according to a writer for ''

Rap-Up ''Rap-Up'' is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the ...

'' magazine "toasts to the thots." The remix also features references to Wu-Tang and Flipmode and in regards to its production, J. Tinsley of ''The Smoking Section'' called it "an updated version of what a So Far Gone 2 would sound like." Reviews were positive towards Drake's take on the song. Chris DeVille of ''

'' called the track "an entertainingly moody passive-aggressive R&B/hip-hop mash the likes of which Drake patented sometime around late 2009." Jesse James of ''StupidDOPE'' lauded it as "dope showcasing of depth and lyrical prowess," adding that it "shall be heard in a number of rides, clubs, and much more very soon." Samantha Nelson of Examiner.com called his verse "classic Drake", deeming it a "smart take on the title of the song but makes it more dramatic" and that it "will please all of his fans." Recording artist and rapper

Brooke Candy Brooke Dyan Candy (born July 20, 1989) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and tattoo artist. Raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, she rose to prominence after starring in Grimes' music video for " Genesis" (2012). Following its success ...

released an unofficial remix on her

on June 17, 2015. It reached more than 8 million plays in the platform.

Credits and personnel

;Locations and sample * Mixed at Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, California * Contains elements of " We Be Burnin'", performed by Sean Paul and written by Cezar Cunningham, Sean Paul, Steven Marsden, Delano Thomas, Michael Jarrett and Craig Serani Marsh. ;Personnel * Songwriting – Bobby Brackins, Tinashe Kachingwe, Dijon "DJ Mustard" McFarlane, Jon Redwine, Brendon Waters, Quincey "Schoolboy Q" Hanley, Cezar Cunningham, Sean Paul, Steven Marsden, Delano Thomas, Michael Jarrett and Craig Serani Marsh * Production – Dijon "DJ Mustard" McFarlane, Redwine, DJ Marley Waters * Mixing – Jaycen Joshua, Ryan Kaul (assistant)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

External links

* {{authority control 2014 songs 2014 debut singles Tinashe songs Schoolboy Q songs Music videos directed by Hannah Lux Davis RCA Records singles Snap songs Songs about cannabis Songs about dancing Songs about parties Song recordings produced by Mustard (record producer) Songs written by Bobby Brackins Songs written by Mustard (record producer) Songs written by Nate Walka Songs written by Schoolboy Q Songs written by Sean Paul Songs written by Steven "Lenky" Marsden Songs written by Tinashe