Don't Play with It

"Don't Play with It" is a single by American rapper Lola Brooke featuring American rapper Billy B. It was released in May 2021 and produced by Dizzy Banko. The song was a sleeper hit, gaining traction through the video-sharing app TikTok in 2022 and becoming the breakout hit of both artists.

"Don't Play with It"
Single by Lola Brooke featuring Billy B
Released	May 14, 2021
Genre	Brooklyn drill
Length	2:11
Label	Team Eighty Arista
Songwriter(s)	Shyniece Thomas Jahdira Atkins
Producer(s)	Tsunami Semibeatzz Dizzy Banko
Lola Brooke singles chronology
"Back to Business" (2021) "Don't Play with It" (2021) "Work" (2021)
Billy B singles chronology
"Don't Play with It" (2021) "Bachata" (2021)
Music video
"Don't Play with It" on YouTube
"Don't Play with It (Remix)" on YouTube

Background

In an interview with Brooklyn Magazine, when asked how the song came about, Lola Brooke stated, "I was tired of people playing with me, for real. That's really what it was." Brooke was at home when Dizzy Banko was playing her some beats over the phone, and after hearing one of the beats, immediately told him to send it to her. She said, "I was listening to that and I was like 'Don't play with it, don't play with it, don't play with it!'" The song was originally a freestyle; according to Brooke, "I was walking back and forth in the house, and I was like, 'Don't play with it, don't play with it' and I just kept going."^[1] After recording the song in the studio, she left an open verse, eventually choosing rapper Billy B for a guest appearance because they were both from Brooklyn.^[1][2]

Release and promotion

The song was released on May 14, 2021,^[3] along with a music video.^[4] Lola Brooke garnered further recognition for the song with a performance on "From the Block" in November 2021.^[1][5] It caught widespread attention via TikTok in 2022;^[5] by October of that year, the video surpassed over 500,000 views.^[6] The song considerably increased in streams on Spotify, amassing two million streams in November 2022.^[7] As a result of its success, Brooke received cosigns from various celebrities, including rappers Missy Elliott, Cardi B, Meek Mill, JT of City Girls, Saucy Santana and Pusha T, Ella Mai, Kim Kardashian and Shaquille O'Neal,^[5][6][8] and eventually signed to Arista Records.^[2][8]

Remix

An official remix of the song featuring American rappers Latto and Yung Miami of City Girls was released on March 24, 2023 with an accompanying music video,^[9] which was filmed on March 20 in New York City. In an email to Complex, Brooke stated, "I wanted to bring more cities to my world. You have Latto from Atlanta and Yung Miami from Miami and they both go hard for their cities like I do for Brooklyn. The energy was to the ceiling while shooting the music video. We shot it in one day this past Monday, actually. I'll tell y'all this, the NYPD tried to shut my video down twice but we still were able to all do the things we like to doooo. Don't play with us!"^[10] The video sees the rappers in the streets^[11] and under a freeway overpass,^[12] with a large entourage and across the city from Harlem to Brooklyn.^[12][13]

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Don't Play with It" Chart (2023) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100^[14] 69 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[15] 21 US Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)^[16] 2 US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)^[17] 7 US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[18] 16

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Don't Play with It" Chart (2023) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[19] 67

Certifications

Certifications for "Don't Play with It"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[20]	Platinum	1,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Kalil-Barrino, Marisa (November 28, 2022). "Here She Comes: Lola Brooke is the Aspiring Queen of Kings County Rap". Brooklyn Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
2. Fondren, Precious (January 11, 2023). "Brooklyn drill artist Lola Brooke steps up to the major-label league". Gothamist. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
3. "Don't Play With It (feat. Billy B) - Single". Apple Music. May 14, 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
4. "New York Femcee Lola Brooke Releases "Don't Play With It"". Hypefresh. May 18, 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
5. A., Aron (December 13, 2022). "Lola Brooke Wants To Make Jay-Z Proud: The "Don't Play With It" Rapper On Brooklyn Drill, Kim Kardashian & Pusha T Co-Signs & More". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
6. Ju, Shirley (October 14, 2022). "Meet Lola Brooke: Here To Become The New Face Of New York City". Sheen Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
7. High, Kemet (November 14, 2022). "The Break Presents – Lola Brooke". XXL. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
8. Saponara, Michael (January 9, 2023). "Lola Brooke Signs to Arista Records in Collaboration With Team Eighty Productions". Billboard. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
9. Grant, Shawn (March 24, 2023). "Lola Brooke Drops Official "Don't Play With It" Remix Feat. Yung Miami and Latto". The Source. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
10. O, Drea (March 27, 2023). "Lola Brooke Is Not to Be Played With". Complex. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
11. Callas, Brad (March 24, 2023). "Lola Brooke Taps Latto and Yung Miami for "Don't Play With It" Remix". Complex. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
12. Williams, Aaron (March 24, 2023). "Lola Brooke Goes Hard With Latto And Yung Miami In The 'Don't Play With It (Remix)' Video". Uproxx. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
13. Saunders, Brycen (March 25, 2023). "Lola Brooke Enlists Latto and Yung Miami for "Don't Play With It" Remix". Hypebeast. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
14. "Billboard Hot 100: Week of April 8, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
15. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Week of April 8, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
16. "Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Chart: Week of April 22, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
17. "Lola Brooke Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
18. "Rhythmic Airplay: Week of April 22, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
19. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
20. "American single certifications – Lola Brooke – Don't Play with It (feat. Billy B)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 28, 2023.