We’ve been patient and we’ve waited for new music from Imani Williams for some time, and gosh it was so worth the wait! Her brand new single dropped today, titled “Dumb”, which samples the awesome 00’s classic of the same name by The 411 and features rising UK talents Tiggs Da Author and Belly Squad. Now, this is a sure-fire hit!
Imani Williams first came to our attention when she was just 16 years old by featuring on Sigala’s 2016 song “Say You Do” alongside DJ Fresh, which was an international summer anthem and peaked at number five on the UK Charts. She followed it up with her own solo song, “Don’t Need No Money” which featured Sigala and Blonde, which became Radio 1’s Tune of the Week, but only peaked at number 67 in the UK. We later saw her perform at The Nightingale in Birmingham, and she really is incredible live. She took some time out and featured on Mike Perry’s 2017 track “Body To Body“, which managed to chart at number 56 in Sweden. Apparently, she’s been penning tracks for Mike Perry and Pixie Lott while she was finding her sound, and now she’s back more fierce and on pure fire than ever, with this brand new single “Dumb”.
Featuring on the song is Tiggs Da Author, a rising rapper who is best known for his single “Georgia” which has 9 million Spotify streams. He has worked with KSI on “Smoke ‘N’ Mirrors”, Tinie Tempah on “If You Know”, JHus on “Good Luck Charlie”, Nines on “Oh My”, and Stefflon Don on “Pretty Girl”. He hasn’t released a solo album just yet, but we believe it’s just around the corner. As for Belly Squad, they are a three-piece afrobeat group consisting of Ross Jombla, Ty Jombla, and Yung Max. Their songs “Missing” featuring Headie One, and “Long Time” both have over 6 million Spotify streams. They are definitely a group to watch out for.
Talking about this song in a press release, Imani Williams said: “Early 2000’s music really influences my sound and I love a beat I can dance to so we fused the two together”. The song is about dating someone that you like who you find out is a player, she went on to say that the song is “a play on how ‘dumb’ their excuses can be and how ‘dumb’ that person must think you are to believe them.”
The song was produced by Show N Prove, Sigala, and ADP, while Spotify claims that the songwriters were Carolyn Owlett, Chiara Hunter, Ellis Taylor, Imani Williams, Josh Thompson, Remmi John Pierre Maxwell, Susie Furlonger, Tanya Boniface, Theodore Jombla, Tisha Martin, and Titus Neltom Jombla; some of the credits come from the sample track “Dumb” by The 411, who consisted of Carolyn Owlett, Tisha Martin, Susie Furlonger, and Tanya Boniface. The original song hit number three in the UK Charts and is a total 00’s classic about being tempted to cheat but deciding not to. Imani Williams has totally switched the meaning of the song and brought her own spin to things by making the guy she’s dating, the player.
Watch Imani Williams’ Music Video For “Dumb” Featuring Tiggs Da Author & Belly Squad Here:
The song is ready to hit the clubs, Imani Williams has found herself a brand new sound that still is in touch with her club vibes of “Say You Do”, “Don’t Need No Money“, and “Body To Body” but spices it all up with the R&B of the 00’s that was a total killer back in the day. It’s totally ready for some amazing remixes, and we can so see the clubs loving this – they loved Raye’s “Decline” featuring Mr Eazi, which sampled “Always On Time” by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti, we totally can see this becoming just as big of a hit.
Imani Williams’ vocals are on point from start to finish and the song is beyond catchy, we can’t stop singing along to it. It’s set to alight dancefloors up and down the country. Tiggs Da Author brings some relaxing rap to the track in time with the music, proving he deserves his place in the industry, and then Belly Squad comes along shooting sparks in this already-fire track adding a much-needed spin on the song. We love how the two features swap the narrative of the song, giving two sides to the story and yet Imani Williams is giving off female empowerment vibes throughout.
As for the music video, we watch Imani Williams phone the guy she’s dating at the start of the video, where he’s with another girl and he ends the call, this launches the visual. Next, we see her with her friends who cheer her up and take her clubbing. As the chorus kicks in again, she nails the dance choreography assuring us that she’s someone we want to see live – we can totally attest to that. Tiggs Da Author and Belly Squad appear in the video, but the spotlight is on Imani Williams throughout. The end sees the guy she’s dating, come up to her in the club, but she walks on right past him, as her girls throw some looks his way. Boy bye.
“Dumb” is available to download and stream via RCA Records. We can’t get enough of this song and it’s currently on repeat, we’re sure you’re going to love this. We cannot wait to see what Imani Williams releases next.