On September 4, 2013, Kid Ink appeared onLos Angeles'Power 106 to announce his major label debut studio album would be titled,My Own Lane, and premiered the first single titled "Show Me".[1] It was also revealed the song would be released fordigital download on September 17, 2013.[2]
The song features ahook andbridge recorded byRCA label-mateChris Brown,production byDJ Mustard, along with containing an interpolation ofRobin S.'s 1993 hit "Show Me Love".[3][4][5] The song's production features a bubbling trap instrumental with a slightR&B vibe, along with a booming beat and clapping snares that was described as being tailor-made for the clubs and radio alike.[6][7]
Kid Ink wrote and recorded his lyrics over the DJ Mustard production, prior to it being sent to Chris Brown. The song's originalrefrain was performed by West Coast singerTeeFlii, who also wrote the song's chorus.[8] Ink said, "I know before he had the record that it had a lot of single potential, but it just wasn't where it needed to be. When we linked up with Chris Brown, we played him the record and he kind of understood that. He put that extra... what the record needed to come to life."[9]
The recording session took place from 8PM to 9AM the next morning, and Brown and Kid Ink then recorded four other songs, one of which was included on Brown'sX Files mixtape. However, Ink said that none of the other songs would be featured on his debut album.[9] Nonetheless, their collaboration "Main Chick" appeared onMy Own Lane.[10]
"Show Me" was met with generally positive reviews frommusic critics. David Jeffries ofAllMusic called it a light, airy and attractive track.[11] Sheldon Pearce writing forXXL called it a clubby infectious hit.[12] Edwin Ortiz ofHipHopDX said, "His two collaborations with Chris Brown, "Show Me" and "Main Chick," display early and often Ink's penchant for tailoring melodies for the masses."[13] Brent Faulkner of Starpulse praised Brown's contributions to the song and called it one of the album's best songs.[14] AJ ofUproxx's SmokingSection called it one of the album's standout songs.[15] Grant Jones of RapReviews praised the song's production and called it one of the album's best songs.[16] In February 2014,Complex named it the third best song that DJ Mustard had produced.[17]
On the week ending October 5, 2013, the song debuted at number 82 on the USBillboard Hot 100.[19] In its tenth week on the USBillboard Hot 100, "Show Me" jumped from number 31 to number 21.[20] By its twelfth week on the chart, the song had reached number 19.[21] That same week, the song peaked at number one of the USBillboardRhythmic chart.[22] By its twentieth week the song reached a peak of number 13 on theBillboard Hot 100.[23] As of December 2014, the song has sold 1,160,000 copies in the United States.[24]
On January 7, 2014, Kid Ink made his late-night television debut performing "Show Me" onConan with the song's producer DJ Mustard and singer Eric Bellinger replacing Chris Brown.[25][26] On January 14, 2014, Kid Ink performed "Show Me" again with Bellinger onDJ Skee's SKEE Live.[27] Ink performed the song solo atPower 106's Yesi Ortiz's birthday event at The Belasco Theatre in Los Angeles, California.[28] Then in early April 2014, Ink performed the song, along with "Main Chick" duringMtvU's Spring Break 2014.[29]
On November 7, 2013, the behind the scenes video was released for the music video.[30] On November 12, 2013, the Chris Brown-directed music video was premiered onMTV.[31][32] The video features cameo appearances fromNyjah Huston,Terry Kennedy, Fuzzy andStevie Williams.[30] As of October 25, 2020, the music video has over 280 million views onYouTube.[33]
^ab"The Big 9 in 2014: RCA".HITS Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. December 11, 2014. Archived fromthe original on December 11, 2014. RetrievedDecember 11, 2014.
