Body Language
by Kid Ink (featuring Usher & Tinashe)

Album: Full Speed (2014)
Charted: 46 72
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features Kid Ink's RCA Records labelmates Usher and Tinashe crooning the hook. It was the rapper's first collaboration with both the singers.
  • The song was produced by Norwegian DJ and producer Cashmere Cat, who has also worked with Ariana Grande ("Be My Baby") and Charli XCX ("Break The Rules"). The beatmaker's fellow countrymen Stargate created the catchy loop.
  • The phrase 'body language' refers to various forms of non-verbal communication, where a person conveys, mostly unconsciously their intention or feelings by their physical movements. Both Queen and Jesse McCartney have also released songs with the same title.
  • The song's music video was shot in Atlanta. It was directed by Darren Craig, who has also filmed clips for Rihanna, Shakira and Kesha. The visual is full of twerking and booty. Ink told The Boombox: "I actually didn't see much of it though because I was getting my haircut in the back. But my girlfriend comes up to me and she's like 'It is crazy out there!' Then my security guard comes up to me and he's like 'Did you see what's happening outside?' Everyone was coming in like 'Yo outside is nuts.' So I went out there for two seconds for a quick peak and I was like 'OK.'"

    "But Usher was having a good time though," he added. "It was a lot of Usher's influence. He directed the whole thing; I was watching him."
  • Kid Ink told Billboard magazine how the song came together. "I was in the studio with Stargate and Cashmere Cat, getting my creative juices and vibing," he said. "We heard Usher was also working on his new stuff and sent that one over. It got an instant response from his camp."

    "I had this idea to link up - from the female vocal I wrote on the record - with Tinashe, who I know from running in the same circles, being on the same label," Kid Ink added. "It was an easy go."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.