"Ex" is a song by American singer Kiana Ledé, first released on July 12, 2018 from her EP Selfless (2018). It is considered her breakout single and also appears on her EP Myself (2019).
| "Ex" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Kiana Ledé | ||||
| from the EP Selfless and Myself | ||||
| Released | July 12, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | Late 2017-2018 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 3:42 | |||
| Label | Republic | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Kiana Ledé singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Ex" on YouTube | ||||
| Remix cover | ||||
.jpg) Cover art of the official remix featuring Lil Baby. | ||||
Background and content edit
Kiana Ledé first heard the song on her iPhone, after someone on her team had heard it. According to Ledé, it resonated with her because at the time she was going through a breakup and missed her partner, so he wanted to sing it.[1] She said in an interview with Genius:
After I heard the song, I said, "I fucking love it," and literally got on the mic the same day and recorded it. We reworked a couple of the lyrics a little bit just so it suited me a little bit more and was a little more tailored to me.[2]
In that interview, she also stated:
I think there's a certain sad sultriness that the song has that is really nice for girls or guys who are coming out of a relationship and they weren't necessarily finished with the person they were seeing. They still kinda miss them, but they're also on the like, "Ooh, I kinda have this little bit of freedom now and I'm riding with it and I feel good, but I'm also kinda sad." I think that's like the best emotion to feel when you're going through a breakup. It's like the weirdest time, but it's also kinda fun, and I think the song really brings that out, so I want people to feel that and be able to sing along to it and kind of sexy dance to it a little bit.[2]
Remixes edit
An official remix of the song was released on March 8, 2019. It keeps the original hook and verses and features American rapper Lil Baby, who details the hardships of a relationship as it ends.[3] A second remix featuring American rapper French Montana was later released. This version contains a sample of "Can't You See" by Total featuring The Notorious B.I.G.[4][5] On March 29, 2019, a three-track single consisting of the original song and both remixes was released.[6]
Charts edit
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[7] | 6 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 44 |
| US Rhythmic (Billboard)[9] | 10 |
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[10] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References edit
- ^ "Kiana Lede's "Ex" Is Filled with Many Emotions". MTV. August 1, 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ a b Rindner, Grant (October 2, 2018). "Kiana Ledé Breaks Down "EX" On Genius' Series 'Verified'". Genius. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ A., Aron (March 8, 2019). "Kiana Ledé Grabs Lil Baby For The "Ex" Remix". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ A., Aron (March 30, 2019). "French Montana Brings Bad Boy Vibes On Kiana Ledé's "Ex (Remix)"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ Folk, Antwane (April 1, 2019). "Kiana Ledé Releases 'Ex (Remix)' Featuring French Montana". Rated R&B. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "EX - Single". Apple Music. March 29, 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Kiana Lede Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "Kiana Lede Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "Kiana Lede Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Kiana Lede – Ex". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 18, 2023.