I Don't (Mariah Carey song)

"I Don't" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey featuring American rapper YG. The song was written by Carey, YG, Johntá Austin, Crystal Nicole Pompey, Donell Jones, and Kyle West and produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. Carey previewed the track during the final episode of her E! docuseries, Mariah's World, on January 29, 2017. Epic Records released it as a single five days later on February 3.^[5] The song samples Jones's song "Where I Wanna Be".^[6]

"I Don't"
Single by Mariah Carey featuring YG
Released	February 3, 2017 (2017-02-03)
Genre	Trap^[1] R&B^[2]
Length	4:16
Label	Epic
Songwriter(s)	Mariah Carey Keenon Jackson Johntá Austin Crystal Nicole Pompey Donell Jones Kyle West^[3]
Producer(s)	Jermaine Dupri Bryan-Michael Cox^[4]
Mariah Carey singles chronology
"Infinity" (2015) "I Don't" (2017) "With You" (2018)
YG singles chronology
"One Time Comin'" (2016) "I Don't" (2017) "Childish" (2017)
Music video
"I Don't" on YouTube

Production and release

He was very focused in the studio. He wrote his rhyme and then out of nowhere, he came up with the "I know you love me" part and I loved that [singing] section. I feel like he was a perfect collaboration because he really focuses on what he's doing.

—Carey on working with YG.^[7]

Carey debuted "I Don't" during an episode of her E! docuseries, Mariah's World, on January 29, 2017.^[8] Footage of Carey recording a snippet of the song in a studio booth was broadcast during the episode, which Hugh McIntyre of Forbes described as "perfect timing as far as promotion goes".^[4][6] Two days later on January 31, the cover art was revealed by Carey via her official Twitter; it shows the singer in the backseat of a white car with red leathers and accompanied by the track's featured rapper, YG, riding shotgun.^[6] Epic Records subsequently released the track for download on February 3, 2017.^[9] On March 24, 2017, a remix featuring Remy Ma was released.^[10][11]

Critical reception

Mike Wiss of Idolator described the song as being as "legendary" as the artwork: "Mariah Carey has had a really tough year. She literally rang in 2017 with one of the worst (not-quite) live performances of all time and endured the various humiliations of Mariah's World. He added: "Happily, everything else is spot on. Mariah's voice is in fine form and the decision to interpolate Donnell Jones' "Where I Wanna Be" is inspired."^[12] Hugh McIntyre from Forbes wrote that the song "doesn’t see the pop star stepping too far out of the comfort zone she’s created over the past decade, opting for a laid back vibe that may please her true devotees, but which might not be uptempo enough to catch the attention of fairweather fans".^[4]

Music video

The music video for the song premiered via Carey's Vevo channel on February 3, 2017.^[13] It depicts Carey forlorn by her breakup, wearing a wedding dress only to eventually burn it. She moves in and out of a car in various outfits, from latex to lace. At one point, Carey wears an engagement ring on her middle finger, before pointing it at the camera.^[14] Carey directed the video herself and executive-produced the video with her former manager, Stella Bulochnikov.^[13]

Live performances

Carey and YG performed "I Don't" live on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 15, 2017.^[15] A few days later, she performed the song live at Dubai Jazz Festival.

Track listing

Digital download^[5][9]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Don't" (featuring YG)	4:16

Remix – Digital download^[10][11]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Don't" (featuring Remy Ma and YG)	3:42

Charts

Chart performance for "I Don't"

Chart (2017)	Peak position
Australia Urban (ARIA)^[16]	17
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[17]	96
France (SNEP)^[18]	102
Hungary (Single Top 40)^[19]	10
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)^[20]	60
US Billboard Hot 100^[21]	89
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[22]	35

Release history

Release history and formats for "I Don't"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref
United States	February 3, 2017	Digital download	Epic	^[5]
United Kingdom				^[9]
United States	March 24, 2017	Remix – Digital download	Epic	^[10]
United Kingdom				^[11]

References

1. Mic (February 3, 2017). "Mariah Carey "I Don't" feat. YG — and 5 more of her best hip-hop collaborations".
2. Spanos, Brittany (February 3, 2017). . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
3. "I Don't – Mariah Carey – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
4. McIntyre, Hugh (February 3, 2017). "Mariah Carey Returns With New YG-Assisted Single 'I Don't'". Forbes. from the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
5. "I Don't (feat. YG) - Single by Mariah Carey". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved April 24, 2017.
6. Platton, Adelle (January 31, 2017). "Mariah Carey Reveals Cover Art for YG-Assisted 'I Don't'". Billboard. from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2017.
7. "Mariah Carey Talks Collaborating With YG on 'I Don't' & Wanting to Burn a Wedding Dress in the Video". Billboard. February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
8. Kaufman, Gil; Romaine, Jenna (January 30, 2017). "Mariah Carey Premieres Break-Up Ballad 'I Don't'". Billboard. from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
9. "I Don't (feat. YG) - Single by Mariah Carey". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved February 5, 2017.
10. "I Don't (feat. Remy Ma & YG) [Remix] – Single by Mariah Carey". iTunes Store (U.S.). Retrieved April 24, 2017.
11. "I Don't (feat. Remy Ma & YG) [Remix] – Single by Mariah Carey". iTunes Store (UK). Retrieved March 24, 2017.
12. "Mariah Carey's "I Don't" Is As Epic As The Cover - Idolator". February 2, 2017.
13. . Your Voice Media. February 3, 2017. Archived from the original on February 7, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
14. "Mariah Carey's new music video 'I Don't' shows her burning her wedding dress". News.com.au. February 4, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
15. "Mariah Carey Sings in First Live Performance Since Disastrous New Year's Eve Gig". Us Weekly. February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
16. "ARIA Urban Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
17. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
18. "Mariah Carey feat. YG – I Don't" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
19. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
20. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
21. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
22. "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2017.