White Bitches (Pat My Weave)

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"White Bitches (Pat My Weave)"
KenyaWhiteBitches.png
Single by Kenya
from the album Harlem Renaissance
Released December 6, 2010
Format CD, digital download
Recorded 2010
Genre Hip–hop
Label Saturdays Records
Writer Kenya Harlem · Loretta Lambert · Thomas Wesley Pentz
Producer Diplo
Chart position #3
CertificationGold
Kenya chronology
"White Bitches (Pat My Weave)"
(2010)
"Vodka Bomb"
(2011)


"White Bitches (Pat My Weave)" is the debut single by American recording artist Kenya Harlem, a member of hip–hop girl group Tiger Tiger. The song was written by Kenya and Thomas Wesley "Diplo" Pentz, with the latter producing the track. Loretta Lambert provided songwriting and vocals for an additional guest verse. It is a hip hop song and features military horns, hissing synthesizers, sharp beats and piano chords. Upon its release, it received critical acclaim, with critics praising Kenya's vocal performance and Lambert's collaboration.

The song became Kenya's first top three single as a solo artist. It also became Kenya's first number one single on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. An accompanying music video, directed by Melina Matsoukas, was filmed in Los Angeles in November 2010. Rihanna performed the song on her first headlining tour, the Harlem Renaissance Tour (2011).

Background and composition[edit | edit source]

After releasing the multiplatinum album From Rags to Bitches (2009) with hip–hop girl group Tiger Tiger, Kenya began working on her debut solo album. Kenya had become the breakout star of Tiger Tiger, even appearing as the sole face of the group for their Tango Challenge release with Paige White. "White Bitches (Pat My Weave)" was written by Kenya herself with assistance from Thomas Wesley Pentz. It was produced by Pentz under his stage name Diplo. The song expresses aggression towards white Americans, specifically women, which was a recurring theme throughout Tiger Tiger's debut album and is a sentiment that Kenya has echoed throughout her solo career. Diplo, in an interview with Rap-Up, spoke about the song before its title or any details were released, describing the song as "edgy" and a "club banger."

"White Bitches (Pat My Weave)" incorporates musical elements of hip hop and features militant horns, hissing synths, sharp beats and piano notes. Ryan Dombell of Pitchfork Media wrote that the song is "a strutting statement of power". Kenya approached Loretta Lambert about featuring on the song, which would be her debut solo release, to which Lambert agreed. The single was released on December 6, 2010.

Critical reception[edit | edit source]

"White Bitches (Pat My Weave)" received acclaim from music critics. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune said that Kenya lashes out on the song, with "help from seasoned MC, Loretta Lambert." Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called "White Bitches" and "Who You Is?" the highlights of Harlem Renaissance, and wrote, "both of which exploit Kenya's most appealing vocal style, a sulky, icy, monotone". Ryan Dombell of Pitchfork Media wrote, "the bulletproof guise is good for the record's high point on 'White Bitches (Pat My Weave)', a strutting statement of power bolstered by a roiling undertow of a beat from M.I.A. producer Diplo."

Chart performance[edit | edit source]

The single entered the official singles chart at number three and sold moderately. By the end of its chart run, "White Bitches (Pat My Weave)" had shifted 210,073 copies and thus received a gold certification. "White Bitches (Pat My Weave)" reached number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, becoming Kenya's first number one on the chart.