"It's a Wrap"
Mariah Carey smiling in a white dress behind the text "It's a Wrap – Mariah Carey"
EP cover
Song by Mariah Carey
from the album
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
ReleasedFebruary 10, 2023
Recorded2009
Studio
GenreR&B
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"It's a Wrap" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey for her twelfth studio album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009). It is a doo wop-inflected R&B breakup song with minimal instrumentation and features lyrics about dismissing a lover. The track samples "I Belong to You" by Love Unlimited, whose writer Barry White is credited on "It's a Wrap" along with Carey. She produced it with "Heatmyzer", her then-husband Nick Cannon, and previous collaborators Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and James "Big Jim" Wright. A remix features additional vocals by American singer Mary J. Blige.

Music critics disagreed on whether to categorize "It's a Wrap" among the best in Carey's discography or classify it as a mediocre effort. Carey performed the song on the television program Lopez Tonight in 2009. She reprised it throughout the Angels Advocate Tour in 2010 and received positive reviews that highlighted her vocals and energy. In early 2023, "It's a Wrap" went viral due to a TikTok dance challenge and was released on February 10 that year as part of a digital extended play. It peaked at number 24 on US Hot R&B Songs and entered charts in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and South Korea.

Background and release

Island Records released Mariah Carey's eleventh studio album E=MC² in April 2008.[1] It opened to her largest US first-week sales following appearances on American Idol and The Oprah Winfrey Show.[2] The lead single, "Touch My Body", become Carey's eighteenth number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[lower-alpha 2] She married American entertainer Nick Cannon shortly after the album's release and decreased its promotion to focus on her personal life.[3]

In early 2009, Carey began working on follow-up album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel with "Touch My Body" producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and "Fly Like a Bird" producer James "Big Jim" Wright.[4] Despite her marriage, Carey envisioned a women's empowerment theme with songs about not needing men in life.[5] One day at their home studio, Carey came in humming a melody while Cannon was toying with chords and samples. His suggestion that they conceptualize "if I came home hella late and you kickin' me out the house" formed the basis for the song "It's a Wrap".[6] It appears as the eighth track on the album[7] between two others of a similar theme, "Standing O" and "Up Out My Face".[8]

Mary J. Blige singing into a microphone on a stand with sunglasses on
Mary J. Blige features on the song's remix.

Carey is the sole artist on Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, which Island released on September 28, 2009.[9] In early 2010, she announced that a follow-up project, Angels Advocate, would feature remixes of tracks from the album as duets.[10] American singer Mary J. Blige, whom Carey had long admired,[lower-alpha 3] appears as a featured artist on the remix to "It's a Wrap".[12][lower-alpha 4] Universal Music Group cancelled Angels Advocate for unknown reasons[14] and the remix was included as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Carey's fourteenth studio album Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse (2014).[15][16] The song subsequently debuted at number 100 on the Gaon South Korea International Digital chart, which ranks the best-performing tracks by international artists based on streaming, downloads and background music sales.[17]

2023 resurgence

In early 2023, a sped-up edition of "It's a Wrap" became popular on social media with a viral dance challenge.[18][19] Carey posted a TikTok video lip syncing to the version and encouraged her fans to follow.[18][20] The clip received 10 million views and its audio was used for 650,000 others.[21] After the song's US streams increased 1,000 percent in one month,[18] Def Jam Recordings issued a four-track digital extended play containing the album version, remix, sped-up version and a shortened edit on February 10, 2023.[22][23] Carey continued promoting the song with additional TikTok dance videos featuring her children and Kim Kardashian, which collectively received over 35 million views.[24] A 12-inch vinyl of the EP is scheduled for release on December 1, 2023.[25][26]

Along with The Weeknd's "Die for You" and Lady Gaga's "Bloody Mary", "It's a Wrap" was one of several songs to appear on music charts in early 2023 due to viral sped-up versions.[27] After receiving 2,500 downloads, it debuted at number 22 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart dated February 25, 2023. "It's a Wrap" entered at number 24 on Hot R&B Songs the following week, aided by 3.6 million streams as calculated by Luminate.[28] On March 6, 2023, the sped-up version reached number 36 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart, which measures "the 40 fastest-moving tracks by sales, streams and airplay".[29]

Composition and lyrics

Musically, "It's a Wrap" is an R&B song[30] with doo wop inflections.[31][32] It contains elements from "I Belong to You" (1974) by the female vocal trio Love Unlimited and samples the performance by Love Unlimited Orchestra. The composer and lyricist, Barry White, is credited as a writer on "It's a Wrap" along with Carey. She produced the song with Heatmyzer,[lower-alpha 1] Stewart and Wright.[7] They integrate instrumentation sparsely in the arrangement.[33] Stewart, Wright, Leon Bisquera and Monte Neuble play the keyboards and Hammond B3, Alex Al performs the bass guitar and Ronnie Gutierrez provides percussion.[7]

Brian Garten and Brian "B-Luv" Thomas recorded "It's a Wrap" at Honeywest Studies in New York City and The Boom Boom Room in Burbank, California. Jaycen-Joshua Fowler and Dave Pensado mixed it at Larrabee Studios in Universal City, California, after which Brian Gardner conducted mastering at the Los Angeles-based Bernie Grundman Mastering. Luis Navarro aided during the recording process and Giancarlo Lina assisted in the mixing.[7] The album version of "It's a Wrap" lasts three minutes and fifty-nine seconds and an edited version is approximately one minute shorter.[23]

"It's a Wrap" is a breakup song[31] that incorporates two verses, a pre-chorus, chorus and bridge.[34] Its lyrics involve a hungover Carey decisively dismissing a lover from her life.[31] After beginning the song with a wail,[35] she sings with an open voice[36] in a high-pitched tone.[31] Carey describes both her inner thoughts ("I was oh, so acquiescent – but I learned my lesson")[37] and outward feelings ("I should crack you right in your forehead").[31] She threatens to call Maury Povich[7][lower-alpha 5] and declares of the relationship: "When it's gone, it's gone".[39]

The song received critical analysis. Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot and Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press described Carey's vocals as containing grit and attitude, respectively.[31][33] Writing in Between the Lines, Chris Azzopardi dubbed "It's a Wrap" a "fierce-girl anthem"[40] and The Boston Globe's Sarah Rodman labeled it a "saucy kiss-off".[32] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times and Michael Cragg of MusicOMH remarked the song recalls a girl group aura.[41][42] The Gazette's T'Cha Dunlevy felt the recording had a sense of swing[36] and The Village Voice's Clover Hope described it as retro.[43]

In the remix, Blige adds an introduction coercing Carey to leave the relationship: "Why don't you just cut this guy loose? Tell him it's a wrap cos you're better than that. And you Mariah Carey. Remember?"[12][44] News.com.au writer Cameron Adams considered it a "2014 celebrity update" of Charlene's "I've Never Been to Me" (1977) and thought the new lyrics resembled dialogue from Carey's 2001 film Glitter.[44] In an article for BET, Dominique Zonyeé felt the remix evokes "a women's-only club vibe".[45]

Critical reception

Music critics judged "It's a Wrap" against other songs in Carey's catalog. Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press considered it a classic comparable to "Always Be My Baby", "Vision of Love" and "We Belong Together".[31] In contrast, Cragg felt it lacked the nonchalant nature of "Fantasy" or "Honey".[42] Adams derided the lyrics as some of the worst in Carey's career.[44] Writing for Billboard in 2017, Everett Brothers deemed it "the most refreshingly creative song [she] has written and performed in recent memory".[15] The magazine placed the remix at number 22 in their 2020 list of Carey's 100 best songs.[12]

The song's composition and Carey's vocal performance were topics of commentary. For Time Out's Kim Taylor Bennett, "It's a Wrap" sounds "slick and sophisticated but bland".[46] Dunlevy perceived the production passé and Hope praised it as nostalgic.[43][36] Kot thought the production augmented Carey's vocal delivery.[33] According to Fekadu, the latter "is so sensuous and sweet, even the song's intended target will remain under her spell".[31]

The remix received reviews regarding the dynamic between Blige and Carey. Devone Jones of PopMatters said it is successful because, rather than outsing each other, the pair have complementary charm.[47] Zonyeé reckoned the duet superior to the original.[45] Billboard's Rania Aniftos considered the remix commanding; Brothers believed the delayed release stymied its effectiveness.[12][15]

Live performances

Carey performed "It's a Wrap" on television and tour. On December 17, 2009, she sang it during an episode of the US late-night talk show Lopez Tonight.[48] Carey reprised the track for the 2009–2010 Angels Advocate Tour in a choreographed routine with a male backup dancer acting as the man she dismisses.[49] Her performances garnered positive feedback from American newspaper critics, who considered it a successful vocal showcase.[49][50] Azzopardi felt "It's a Wrap" sounded better on stage[40] and The Washington Post's Chris Richards thought the live version gained a verve comparable to "Honey" and "Heartbreaker".[51] Rodman remarked Carey "dug giddily" into the performance[32] and The Press of Atlantic City's Scott Cronick described it as a highlight.[52] In 2023, Carey sang "It's a Wrap" during a headline performance at Los Angeles Pride.[53]

Track listing

2023 EP[23]

  1. "It's a Wrap" – 3:59
  2. "It's a Wrap (Sped Up)" – 2:44
  3. "It's a Wrap" (featuring Mary J. Blige) – 4:04
  4. "It's a Wrap (Edit)" – 3:01

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel unless otherwise noted.[7]

Recording

  • Recorded at The Boom Boom Room (Burbank, California) and Honeywest Studios (New York City)
  • Mixed at Larrabee Studios (Universal City, California)
  • Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Los Angeles)

Personnel

  • Songwriting – Mariah Carey and Barry White
  • Production – Carey, Heatmyzer, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and James "Big Jim" Wright
  • Recording – Brian Garten and Brian "B-Luv" Thomas
  • Recording assistant – Luis Navarro
  • Keys and Hammond B3 – Wright, Stewart, Leon Bisquera and Monte Neuble
  • Bass guitar – Alex Al
  • Percussion – Ronnie Gutierrez
  • Mixing – Jaycen-Joshua Fowler and Dave Pensado
  • Mixing (Sped Up, Edit versions) – Fowler, Pensado and Garten[23]
  • Mixing assistant – Giancarlo Lino
  • Mastering – Brian Gardner

Weekly chart performance

"It's a Wrap"
2023
Chart (Publisher)		 Peak
position
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[54] 24
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[55] 24
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs (Billboard)[56] 22
"It's a Wrap (Sped Up)"
2023
Chart (Publisher)		 Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[29] 36
"It's a Wrap" (featuring Mary J. Blige)
2014
Chart (Publisher)		 Peak
position
South Korea International Digital (Circle)[17] 100

Notes

  1. 1 2 Heatmyzer is an alias of Carey's then-husband Nick Cannon.[6]
  2. ↑ This made her the solo artist with the most number ones on the chart, surpassing Elvis Presley.[1]
  3. ↑ Carey once told collaborator Cory Rooney that "Mary doesn't have to sell 28 million records to be respected – people respect Mary, and I just want to be respected like her."[11]
  4. ↑ Blige had previously recorded a song with the same title and similar theme for her 2003 album Love & Life.[13]
  5. ↑ Povich hosts the American tabloid television talk show Maury, which features paternity test and lie detector results.[38]

References

  1. 1 2 Infantry, Ashante (April 15, 2008). "Mariah Carey: E=MC²". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (September 29, 2009). "Mariah Carey Finds Freedom Being 'Imperfect'". CTV News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Gardner, Elysa (September 25, 2009). "Mariah Finds Herself in a Happy Place". USA Today. p. 1D. ProQuest 409070036.
  6. 1 2 Rowley, Glenn (April 11, 2023). "Nick Cannon Calls This '90s Throwback His Favorite Mariah Carey Song". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Carey, Mariah (2009). Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (liner notes). Island Records.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ "アイ・ドント・ワナ・クライ" [Memoirs – Deluxe Edition [First Press Limited Edition]] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on July 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (February 26, 2010). "Mariah Carey Will Release Duet, Remix Album". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 6, 2011.
  11. ↑ Weiner, Natalie (April 12, 2016). "We Belong Together: Mariah Carey's Collaborators Share Untold Stories Behind 8 Classics". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Aniftos, Rania; et al. (October 5, 2020). "100 Greatest Mariah Carey Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ Light, Alan (August 24, 2003). "Lost and Found". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023.
  14. ↑ Trust, Gary (March 26, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Happy 40th, Mariah!". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 Brothers, Everett (March 10, 2017). "Mariah Carey's 10 Most Underappreciated Songs of All Time". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ Hampp, Andrew (May 1, 2014). "Mariah Carey Announces 14th Album, Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Digital Chart – 2014 Weeks 23". Circle Chart. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 Lipshutz, Jason (February 2, 2023). "Mariah Carey's 'It's a Wrap' Explodes at Streaming Thanks to TikTok Challenge". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023.
  19. ↑ Abraham, Mya (February 2, 2023). "Mariah Carey's 'It's A Wrap' Gets Streaming Surge Thanks to TikTok". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ Rowley, Glenn (January 27, 2023). "Mariah Carey Can't Get Enough of 'Lambs Serving Justice' for 'It's a Wrap' With TikTok Challenge". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023.
  21. ↑ Stone, Megan (February 2, 2023). "Mariah Carey's 'It's a Wrap' Enjoying Streaming Boom Thanks to Viral TikTok Dance". WQFM. ABC Audio. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
  22. ↑ Rowley, Glenn (February 10, 2023). "Mariah Carey Drops 'It's a Wrap' EP After Song's Viral Revival". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "'It's a Wrap' - Single by Mariah Carey". Jaxsta. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023.
  24. ↑ Abraham, Mya (February 21, 2023). "Kim Kardashian and Mariah Carey Crash Daughters' TikTok for 'It's A Wrap' Challenge". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023.
  25. ↑ "'It's A Wrap': 12" Vinyl EP". The Sound of Vinyl. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023.
  26. ↑ Schube, Will (October 16, 2023). "Mariah Carey's 'It's A Wrap' Set For First-Ever Vinyl Release". uDiscover. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  27. ↑ Leight, Elias (March 14, 2023). "With Sped-Up Songs Taking Over, Artists Feel the Need for Speed". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023.
  28. ↑ Anderson, Trevor (March 2, 2023). "TikTok Helps Mariah Carey 'Wrap' Up a New Hit on Hot R&B Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Hot 40 Singles – 06 March 2023". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023.
  30. ↑ Abraham, Mya (February 14, 2023). "Lizzo, Kelela, Mariah Carey and More Bring the Fresh and the Classic to New R&B Releases". Vibe. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fekadu, Mesfin (September 28, 2009). "Music Review: Carey's Imperfect Angel Is Perfect". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023.
  32. 1 2 3 Rodman, Sarah (February 1, 2010). "Carey Delivers like a Down-to-Earth Diva". The Boston Globe. p. G11. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. 1 2 3 Kot, Greg (September 29, 2009). "The Best Mariah Carey Music Since the '90s". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Mariah Carey – 'It's a Wrap' Lyrics". MetroLyrics. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018.
  35. ↑ Guerra, Joey (September 29, 2009). "Carey's Memoirs Hits an Early Stride". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
  36. 1 2 3 Dunlevy, T'Cha (October 2, 2009). "Music / New Releases". The Gazette. p. D4. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ Macpherson, Alex (November 12, 2009). "Mariah Carey: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel". The Guardian. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022.
  38. ↑ Thomas, Emily (2023). "Quare(-in) the Mainstream: YouTube, Social Media and Augmented Realities in Lil Nas X's Montero". In Rogers, Holly; Freitas, Joana; Francisco Porfírio, João (eds.). YouTube and Music: Online Culture and Everyday Life. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 65–89 [77]. ISBN 978-1-5013-8730-2.
  39. ↑ Bernard, Audrey J. (October 15, 2009). "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel Keeps 'Mimi's' Fans 'Obsessed' with Her". New York Beacon. p. 24. ProQuest 367898994.
  40. 1 2 Azzopardi, Chris (January 28, 2010). "Mariah's All Diva in Detroit". Between the Lines. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012.
  41. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (September 27, 2009). "New CDs". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023.
  42. 1 2 Cragg, Michael (November 16, 2009). "Mariah Carey – Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel". MusicOMH. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019.
  43. 1 2 Hope, Clover (October 6, 2009). "Mariah Carey Gets Cheesy, and Thank Goodness". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022.
  44. 1 2 3 Adams, Cameron (May 27, 2014). "To Celebrate Mariah Carey's New Album The Elusive Chanteuse Here Are Her Best Worst Lyrics". News.com.au. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020.
  45. 1 2 Zonyeé, Dominique (2014). "The Rundown: Mariah Carey, Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse". BET. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
  46. ↑ Bennett, Kim Taylor (October 1, 2009). "Album Reviews". Time Out. p. 97.
  47. ↑ Joness, Devone (July 7, 2014). "Mariah Carey: Me. I Am Mariah ... The Elusive Chanteuse". PopMatters. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022.
  48. ↑ "December 17, 2009 – Recap & Highlights". TBS. December 17, 2009. Archived from the original on March 5, 2010.
  49. 1 2 Stampone, David R. (January 4, 2010). "Mariah Carey at the Borgata". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021.
  50. ↑
  51. ↑ Richards, Chris (January 29, 2010). "Music Review: Mariah Carey Sparkles at DAR Constitution Hall". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014.
  52. ↑ Cronick, Scott (January 3, 2010). "Mariah Carey Surprisingly Dull in Show at Borgata". The Press of Atlantic City. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010.
  53. ↑ Calcagno, Michael; Denis, Kyle (June 12, 2023). "Mariah Carey, Carly Rae Jepsen & More: See Performance Photos from Pride 2023". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Official Physical Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  55. ↑ "Mariah Carey Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023.
  56. ↑ "Mariah Carey Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023.
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