No Mediocre

"No Mediocre" is a song by American rapper T.I., released on June 17, 2014, through Grand Hustle and Columbia Records, as the lead single from his ninth studio album Paperwork (2014). The song, produced by DJ Mustard, features a guest appearance from Grand Hustle protégé, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea.[1]

"No Mediocre"
Single by T.I. featuring Iggy Azalea
from the album Paperwork
ReleasedJune 17, 2014 (2014-06-17)
Genre
Length3:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)DJ Mustard
T.I. singles chronology
"About the Money"
(2014)		 "No Mediocre"
(2014)		 "This Girl"
(2014)
Iggy Azalea singles chronology
"Problem"
(2014)		 "No Mediocre"
(2014)		 "Black Widow"
(2014)
Music video
"No Mediocre on YouTube

Background

On November 22, 2013, T.I. announced that he had signed a deal with Columbia Records, to release his upcoming ninth studio album.[2] T.I. revealed he recruited Pharrell Williams to executive produce the LP and planned to release the album in early 2014.[3] Originally, T.I. had planned to release Trouble Man II: He Who Wears the Crown, a sequel to his 2012 album, but since getting into the studio with the album's executive producer, Pharrell Williams, he changed his mind. He stated: "Since we started working on the project and the project started has taken a different shape, I think we're going to postpone that title. We're gonna rework that. I got a couple of things in mind."[4] While he still planned to release the sequel to Trouble Man, he said about the current project:

All I'ma say is, it's gonna be a motion picture, it's gonna be a theatrical-worthy title. Something that will definitely seem instant classic. I'm thinking something like "Trap Champion", "Paperwork", but whatever it is the subtitle will be "The Motion Picture".[4]

On December 16, 2013, it was reported that T.I. decided to name it Paperwork.[5] On June 17, 2014, T.I. released "No Mediocre", as the official lead single from Paperwork, which features his protégé Iggy Azalea and was produced by West Coast hip hop producer DJ Mustard. T.I. talked about the track on MTV News saying: "For me I think it was something to uplift women. It's a get-your-sh—together-type of-record".[6] He explained:

It's denouncing mediocrity, man; all things sub-standard or below average or even moderately average should be set aside, man, and I think it starts internally. You must first have confidence and security within yourself, it goes from the heart, to the mind and then it is conveyed through your actions and your presentation of yourself.[6]

He continued stating that men do not just look at physical attributes, but "social qualities" as well, and deep down "Every person knows what their strengths are, so showcase your strengths and not your weaknesses so much."[6] He later added, "I wanted one of those records that wasn't really really serious and a whole lot of thought-provoking messages behind it. I just wanted it to be something that women could dance to, that could be a club record, just get on the radio for urban as well as rhythmic, and something that didn't require a lot of thought, you know what I'm saying? A fun record."[7]

Commercial performance

The song debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 33. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 5, 2015. It also reached number one on Mediabase's Rhythmic top 40 chart.[8][9] On January 28, 2015, "No Mediocre" was certified Gold in Canada after peaking at number 59 on the Canadian Hot 100.[10] The song became T.I.'s first U.S. platinum song as a lead artist in 6 years following his 2009 single "Dead and Gone".

Music video

The music video for the song was shot in late May 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and premiered June 18, 2014, on MTV and VH1, and was later available on VEVO.[11][12] Directed by Director X, the visuals begin with T.I. in the Tavares Bastos favela and making his way through the village, playing a quick game of football before heading to his home, where some exotic-looking women await him. He then meets up with Azalea, as she dances alongside T.I. at an outdoor party.[13] It was named one of the sexiest videos of 2014 by VH1.[14] UK singer and actress Montana Manning appears in the video.[15]

On January 30, 2020, the music for the song passed 300 million views on YouTube. With this milestone, it became T.I.'s second and Azalea's sixth video, respectively, to cross the 300 million view milestone.

Live performances

T.I. and Azalea performed "No Mediocre" for the first time at the BET Awards 2014 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on June 29.[16]

In October 2014, T.I. performed the song alone on the Queen Latifah Show. Both T.I. and Azalea have regularly performed No Mediocre at their individual concerts.

Track listing

Digital download

  1. "No Mediocre (featuring Iggy Azalea)" [Explicit] – 3:21[1]
  2. "No Mediocre (featuring Iggy Azalea)" [Clean] – 3:21[17]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[38] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[10] Gold 40,000*
United States (RIAA)[39] Platinum 1,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history
CountryDateFormatLabel
United States June 17, 2014 Digital download[1][17]
Mainstream urban radio[40]
July 1, 2014 Rhythmic contemporary radio[41]
United Kingdom August 17, 2014 Digital download[42]

References
  1. "iTunes – Music – T.I. – No Mediocre (feat. Iggy Azalea) [Explicit] – Single". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  2. Harling, Danielle (December 9, 2013). "T.I. Says Columbia Records Deal Is Only For His Next Project | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  3. Ramirez, Erika. "T.I. & Grand Hustle Sign To Columbia Records --The rapper recruits Pharrell Williams to executive produce his upcoming 2014 album". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  4. "T.I. Postpones Trouble Man II For Something More 'Theatrical'". MTV. December 11, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  5. B.Dot (December 16, 2013). "T.I. Renames New Album". Rap Radar. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  6. Rob Markman. "T.I. And Iggy Azalea Go To Brazil For The 'No Mediocre' Video: Watch The Online Premiere". Mtv.com. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  7. Dan Rys (November 10, 2014). "T.I. Breaks Down Five Of The Biggest Songs Of His Career". Xxlmag.com.
  8. "Gold & Platinum: T.I." Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  9. "The Big 9 in 2014: Columbia". HITS Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. December 8, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  10. "Canadian single certifications – T.I. – No Mediocre". Music Canada.
  11. "T.I. Taps Iggy Azalea For New Single 'No Mediocre'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  12. "T.I. feat. Iggy Azalea – No Mediocre (Explicit)". Youtube.com. June 18, 2014.
  13. "Video: T.I. f/ Iggy Azalea – 'No Mediocre'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  14. "The 15 Sexiest Videos Of 2014". E! Online. December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  15. Foster, Leonard (September 15, 2014). "Who's that Girl? Montana Manning from T.I. No Mediocre ft. Iggy Azalea". FLAVOURMAG. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  16. "T.I. and Iggy Azalea Perform at the BET Awards". rap-up.com. June 29, 2014.
  17. "iTunes – Music – T.I. – No Mediocre (feat. Iggy Azalea) – Single". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  18. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles Chart". ARIA Charts. July 21, 2014. Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
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  21. "Ultratop.be – T.I. feat. Iggy Azalea – No Mediocre" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
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  23. "T.I. Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  24. "T.I. – No Mediocre (single) – Charts". chartsinfrance.net. SNEP. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
  25. "Deutsche Black Charts". Trendcharts. Media Control. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016.
  26. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – 30 June 2014 – The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  27. "Archived copy" (in Ukrainian). FDR Music Charts. Archived from the original on September 25, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  29. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  30. "T.I. Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  31. "T.I. Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  32. "T.I. Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  33. "ARIA Top 50 Urban Singles 2014". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
  34. "JAAROVERZICHTEN 2014: Urban" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  35. "2014 Year End Charts - Hot 100 Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  36. "2014 Year End Charts - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  37. "2014 Year End Charts - Rhythmic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  38. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  39. "American single certifications – T.I. feat. Iggy Azalea – No Mediocre". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 9, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  40. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. "Top 40/Rhythmic-Crossover > Future Releases – AllAccess.com !". AllAccess.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2016. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  42. "No Mediocre (feat. Iggy Azalea) by T.I." June 16, 2014.
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