"Don't Think They Know"
Single by Chris Brown featuring Aaliyah
from the album X (Deluxe edition)
ReleasedJune 17, 2013
Recorded2001 (Aaliyah's Vocals); 2012-2013
GenreR&B
Length4:01
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Mel & Mus
Chris Brown singles chronology
"It Won't Stop"
(2013)		 "Don't Think They Know"
(2013)		 "Love More"
(2013)
Aaliyah singles chronology
"Enough Said"
(2012)		 "Don't Think They Know"
(2013)		 "Poison"
(2021)
Music video
"Don't Think They Know" on YouTube

"Don't Think They Know" is a song by American singer Chris Brown featuring a posthumous appearance from fellow American singer Aaliyah. It was released on June 17, 2013, as the second official single from Brown's sixth studio album X. The song, produced by Mel & Mus, contains an interpolation from the Tim & Bob produced single "They Don't Know" by Jon B. The song peaked at number 81 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Background

"Don't Think They Know" was originally a duet between Aaliyah and Playa member Digital Black, recorded in 2001 and produced by J-Dub. The song was later released in 2005 on Black's Memoirs of a R&B Thug album.[1] The 2013 version, first introduced as "They Don't Know", with Chris Brown as the lead singer, features not only previously heard Aaliyah's part, but also vocals that were not used in Black's version. "Don't Think They Know" was released to digital retailers on June 17, 2013[2] and was sent to Rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on July 1, 2013.[3]

Music video

The music video for the song was shot in Los Angeles, California and was released in correspondence to the single on June 17, 2013.[4] Aaliyah appears as a hologram which are actually scenes from Aaliyah's 2000 video "Try Again" and 1996's "If Your Girl Only Knew".[5]

Theme

The themes of the video are unity and peace, raising awareness of the widespread poverty and gun violence in African American neighbourhoods.[6] Brown, when talking to MTV News about the video said: "When I did the video I wanted to do kind of like the Boyz n the Hood theme, also bringing an aspect of the side of the world that people never really talk about anymore. Gun violence or stuff that we deal with in our neighborhood or community that we could just stop".[6]

Synopsis

The video is shot in a grey filter however some objects in the video such as Brown's hair is shot in red and blue which is supposed to represent the Bloods and Crips.[6] The video begins with a quote by Brown:

Every two hours in America today a child dies of a gunshot wound. Unity is what we are afraid of so fear is insanity, lets love each other.

— Chris Brown, [7]

Its visuals start with the R&B singer sitting in a car alongside 3 other men driving in a neighborhood looking for trouble. Brown then asks them to stop the car as he gets out as he walks off out into another block. The music begins as Brown is singing in front of Aaliyah who is shown as a hologram from stock footage. In the plot scenes, Brown is seen leading a group of people while this group is seen walking around the neighborhood leading a peace walk during the entire video. Brown puts up a message saying rest in peace to late Compton rapper Michael "Lil Frogg" Reshard, Jr. who was shot and killed on March 27, 2013 in the end of the video. As the video fades to black a message appears saying:

Dear Aaliyah, we love and miss you. Thank you for inspiring us all.

— Chris Brown, Don't Think They Know Official Music Video

Track listing

Digital single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Don't Think They Know" (featuring Aaliyah)
  • Mel & Mus
4:01

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[8] 121
Germany (Deutsche Urban Charts)[9] 12
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 94
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[11] 16
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 81
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 29

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Radio and release history

Country Date Format Label
United States June 17, 2013 Digital download[2] RCA
July 1, 2013 Rhythmic contemporary radio

References

  1. ↑ Kyle (June 26, 2013). "Interview: Digital Black Talks "Don't Think They Know", Aaliyah, Chris Brown, Playa Legacy – New R&B Music, R&B Videos, R&B Interviews, R&B Concert Coverage". YouKnowIGotSoul. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Don't Think They Know (feat. Aaliyah) - Single". itunes.apple.com. June 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Archived from the original on June 28, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ Baker, Soren (May 14, 2013). "Chris Brown Features Aaliyah On New "They Don't Know" Single | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Video: Chris Brown f/ Aaliyah – 'Don't Think They Know'". Rap-Up.com. June 17, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Chris Brown Didn't Want The 'Wealthy Or Rich' In 'Don't Think They Know' Video - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. June 25, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Chris Brown Uses Aaliyah in 'Don't Think They Know' Vid to Call Out Gang Violence". MTV.
  8. ↑ "Chris Brown feat. Aaliyah – Don't Think They Know" (in French). Les classement single.
  9. ↑ "Die Deutschen Trend Charts". Deutsche Urban Charts. Trendcharts.de. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  11. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  12. ↑ "Chris Brown Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  13. ↑ "Chris Brown Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  14. ↑ "American single certifications – Chris Brown – Don't Think They Know". Recording Industry Association of America.
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