Help A Sista Out

"Help A Sista Out"
220px
Single by Aurora Reed featuring MIDNIGHT & Loretta Lambert
from the album Haute Mess
Released	November 19th, 2012
Format	Compact Disc single
Recorded	2012 New York City, New York (Roc the Mic and Jungle City Studios) Los Angeles, California (Westlake Recording Studios) London, United Kingdom (The Hide Out Studios)
Genre	Hip hop, Urban, Contemporary R&B
Length	5:09
Label	Fusion Records
Writer(s)	Aurora Reed, Ernest Wilson, Loretta Lambert, Victoria Rios
Producer	No I.D.
Aurora Reed Singles chronology
"Queen N Country" (2012) "Help A Sista Out" (2012) "Mutate" (2013)

"Help A Sista Out" is a song recorded by London recording artist Aurora Reed for her upcoming second studio album Haute Mess (2012). The song features and was co-written by Loretta Lambert together with MIDNIGHT and No I.D, while the production was helmed by the latter. The single was premiered on the 21st September, 2012 via Radio 1. "Help A Sista Out" is an uptempo urban banger, that utilizes classical hip hop styles (such as the uses of beatboxing, heavy percussion and synths), merged with Aurora's own soul style. "Help A Sista Out" is Aurora's conscious attempt to create a 'ladies anthem' for this generation - with a Ladies Night Remix possibly ensuing.

Music journalists have so far produced a positive review of the song; complimenting Aurora's natural ability to take on such an urban heavy song, with heavy praise being put on MIDNIGHT for stepping so well out of her comfort zone. Popshots commented that the song was "Awe inspiring... will empower every single female worldwide - and strike fear into the remaining male population."

Background

Writing and production

The song started off conceptually between Aurora and the songs producer No I.D. As Aurora wrote the song, she realised that she needed to build this track up to become a female empowerment single. Aurora first contacted MIDNIGHT, who has also previously worked with No I.D. in the past, and explained the basics of the song. In an interview with Vevo Lift, Aurora stated "MIDNIGHT has been amazing to me during my career - I featured on her second album, she took me on tour with her, she's done a lot for me. So I really needed her on this track. It had always been my idea to have this song as a woman's anthem, but the beat I had crafted was so hard and aggressive and definitely urban. But I knew I wanted MIDNIGHT on it." MIDNIGHT sent a rap back to the studio, then asked Aurora if she could re record and improve her rap. Aurora admits that MIDNIGHT 'killed it' on the track. Aurora then reached out to Loretta, someone who she had never spoken to on a personal level, but had a lot of respect for professionally. She claimed she needed someone to match her on her own terms with an aggressive rap, which she was delighted that Loretta was able to do. According to Aurora, the song was not intended to be the first single from the album, but when she heard the song put together all as one, she was unable to pick any other song from 'Haute Mess' as her first choice.

Release

Aurora began working on her 2nd album in early 2012. On August 21st, 2012, Aurora announced that her new single would be titled "Help A Sista Out", and teased two female collaborators. On September 18th, 2012, those collaborators identities were revealed to be MIDNIGHT & Loretta. The song was released on November 19th, 2012 - debuting at #1 in the chart. To date, the track has sold 629,780 copies.

Composition

"Help A Sista Out" is an uptempo urban banger,which uses a mixture of hip hop, soul, urban and industrial beats. It had a length of five minutes and nine seconds, although the radio edit is shortened down to three minutes twenty nine seconds. It features heavy 80's inspired drums, beatboxing, eerie and heavy synthesizers and sparse keyboard sounds accompanied with Aurora, MIDNIGHT & Loretta's vocals. Aurora mixes singing with rap on this track, as does MIDNIGHT. Loretta raps the middle 8. The songs lyrical structure discusses the hunger and righteousness Aurora, MIDNIGHT & Loretta feel to conquer and remain strong in this industry, world domination created by helping a sister out.

The first verse shows Aurora introduce herself, claiming "Smoky eyes, dripped jewellery, bleach blonde hair, are you looking at me or are you looking at her?". Aurora goes on to describe her collaborators in a similar way, introducing MIDNIGHT as "High heels, huge rep, damn drop dead killer", and Loretta as "Big talk, bigger dolla, frenzied like guerilla. During the chorus, Aurora claims that she is "Damn ready for it", and that she is "Able to go it alone" but would like "to help a sista out." MIDNIGHT's verse then follows, in which she plays on her media perceived role as a dominatrix and mankiller, rapping "Sisters, if he's done you wrong, then you gotta find a way to put it right / Seems that dirty dog don't know that the bitch might bite", whilst Loretta focuses her verse on the double standards within genders, rapping lines such as "How many rivers she cried, how many times she lied / begged, borrowed, stolen, beaten down, thank God she survived"

Video

The video was shot by controversial director Romain Gavras, known for his aesthetically gripping and politically fuelled videos. It was shot on a 5 day shoot in Prague, Czech Republic, and all three performers on the song were available for the shooting. In an interview with SOUND, Aurora commented that the video was inspired by the recent arrest of punk demo group Pussy Riot in Russia, explaining "I thought it was a big thing that in the 21st century, a group of women who perform songs about a government they hate and prevalent sexism can be arrested and detained. And I love that the rest of the world have provided support for this small little protest outfit, it really played on my mind when planning the music video."

Aurora then confirmed via VEVO that the video would feature clips of male vs female riotting, Aurora on a motorbike, driving a monster truck, and in a strip club. On October 19th, 2012, a prequel to the video was posted - showing a montage of clips that led to The Big Bad Three (Aurora, MIDNIGHT & Loretta)'s arrest.

The video was released on the 22nd of October, and caused controversy for the glorification of strip clubs and violence.

Format and track listing

• Digital download

1. "Help A Sista Out" - 5:09
2. "Help A Sista Out" (radio edit) - 3:29

• Physical Format

1. "Help A Sista Out" - 5:09
2. "& It Was You" - 3:04