Know No Better (song)
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"Know No Better" is a song by DJ trio
Major Lazer Major Lazer is an American electronic dance music DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. It originates from Kingston, Jamaica, and was founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving after ...
from their EP of the same name. The song is a collaboration with Cuban-American singer
Camila Cabello Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao (; ; born March 3, 1997) is a Cuban-born American singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, which became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. While in ...
and American rappers Travis Scott and
Quavo Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...
. It was released on June 1, 2017, as the EP's
lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...
. The song was written by the performers, Starrah,, and both producers, Major Lazer member Diplo and King Henry. Jr Blender served as an additional producer for the song.


Composition

"Know No Better" comprises grand piano chords, dancehall rhythms and pitch-shifted vocal samples.


Critical reception

"Know No Better" received positive reviews from music critics. Jake Woolf of ''
Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...
'' wrote that "Know No Better is a fine 2017 summer dance song. It’s guaranteed to be a hit, and it shows that Major Lazer can indeed make lightning strike twice," He added, "Using the same general song structure as ' Cold Water,' 'Know No Better' doesn’t feature a traditional chorus but a dance
break Break or Breaks or The Break may refer to: Time off from duties * Recess (break), time in which a group of people is temporarily dismissed from its duties * Break (work), time off during a shift/recess ** Coffee break, a short mid-morning res ...
led by a bubbly, buzzing
synth A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
. The bouncy piano-driven verses and the almost vocal-less chorus make for a sound that seems built for Ibiza vacations, rooftop raves, and 4AM DJ sets in the Hamptons—in other words, the places you’re likely to find Diplo and his fans all summer. Travis Scott, who has in the past year pivoted to become one of hip-hop’s best sing-first rappers, has never sounded more pop, using his signature ad-libs more sparingly than ever. He also swaps out traditional hip-hop bravado for boilerplate party lyrics (“Takin’ shots, pourin’ bottle after bottle after bottle/Yeah, hell nah, we ain’t sippin’ that, yah”)". Jonah Bromwich of ''Pitchfork'' also gave the song a positive review, stating that: "And as fun as it is at times, 'Know No Better' doubles as a testament to the result of spreading a handful of good ideas too thin."


Accolades


Track listing


Music video

The official
lyric video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...
for "Know No Better" was uploaded to Major Lazer's
YouTube YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
channel on June 1, 2017. The song's music video premiered on July 11. The clip follows a young aspiring dancer who is going through an awkward adolescent phase, morning routines and bullying at school, but dreams of being one of Major Lazer's back-up dancers. It features cameos by Cabello, Scott and Major Lazer members. Daydreaming works as his escape, since the one constant between both worlds is his love of dance, as noted by writer Ryan Reed of ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
''. An interactive version of this video, directed by
Philip Andelman Philip Andelman is an American music video director and photographer. Andelman has directed music videos for many notable artists, see below. He has received nominations for his works from the MVPA, VMAs, and CMT awards including MVPA Director ...
, was released on July 28 and hosted by interactive-video people Eko, where users (just like the boy does in the original) can switch between the "dream" and "reality" storylines.


Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of '' Know No Better''. Publishing * Published by I Like Turtles / SONGS Music Publishing ( ASCAP), Songs Music Publishing LLC o/b/o Duke City Music / Songs Music Publishing ( SESAC), People Over Planes/These Are Songs of Pulse (ASCAP), Huncho YRN Music (ASCAP) / Quality Control QC Pro (ASCAP) Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP), Maidmetal Limited / Milamoon Songs – Administered by Sony/ATV Songs LLC ( BMI), La Flame Enterprises (BMI) * Travis Scott appears courtesy of G.O.O.D. Music/ Def Jam, Epic Records/
Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment (SME), also known as simply Sony Music, is an American multinational music company. Being owned by the parent conglomerate Sony Group Corporation, it is part of the Sony Music Group, which is owned by Sony Entertainmen ...
,
Grand Hustle Grand Hustle Records (formerly Grand Hustle Entertainment), also known as Hustle Gang Music, is an Atlanta, Georgia-based hip hop record label, founded in 2003, by American rapper T.I. and his manager Jason Geter. Up until December 2012, the lab ...
*
Camila Cabello Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao (; ; born March 3, 1997) is a Cuban-born American singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence as a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, which became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. While in ...
appears courtesy of Epic Records *
Quavo Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...
appears courtesy of Quality Control Music Recording * Recorded at Blenders Ends (
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,
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
) * Camila Cabello vocal recorded at Lazer Sound Studio (
Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
) * Quavo vocals recorded at Lazer Sound Studio (Los Angeles, CA) * Mixed at Mixstar Studios (
Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous city ...
) * Mastered at Derkart Mastering (Los Angeles, CA) Personnel * Diplo – DJ,
songwriting A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...
, production * King Henry – DJ, songwriting, production * Travis Scott – vocals, songwriting * Camila Cabello – vocals, songwriting * Quavo – vocals, songwriting * Starrah – songwriting *
Serban Ghenea Șerban Ghenea (born October 13, 1969) is a Grammy award-winning Romanian-Canadian audio engineer and mixer. Early life and education Ghenea was born in Bucharest, Romania in 1969. In 1976 he moved to Montreal with his family. He later attended ...
 – mixing * John Hanes –
engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...
* Mike Dell – mastering * Jr Blender – additional production


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


References

{{authority control 2017 singles 2017 songs Major Lazer songs Travis Scott songs Camila Cabello songs Quavo songs Bad Bunny songs Songs written by Diplo Song recordings produced by Diplo Songs written by Starrah Songs written by Camila Cabello Songs written by Quavo Moombahton songs Songs written by King Henry (producer) Songs written by Travis Scott Music videos directed by Philip Andelman Dancehall songs