Know No Better (song)


"Know No Better" is a song by American musical trio Major Lazer featuring fellow American musicians Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, and Quavo. It was released on June 1, 2017, as the lead single of the former's EP of the same name. The song was written by the featured artists alongside Starrah, Major Lazer member Diplo, and King Henry, the latter two producing it with Jr Blender.

Composition

"Know No Better" comprises grand piano chords, dancehall rhythms and pitch-shifted vocal samples.

Critical reception

"Know No Better" received positive reviews from music critics. Jake Woolf of Pitchfork wrote that "Know No Better is a fine 2017 summer dance song. It’s guaranteed to be a hit, and it shows that Major Lazer can indeed make lightning strike twice," He added, "Using the same general song structure as 'Cold Water,' 'Know No Better' doesn’t feature a traditional chorus but a dance break led by a bubbly, buzzing synth. The bouncy piano-driven verses and the almost vocal-less chorus make for a sound that seems built for Ibiza vacations, rooftop raves, and 4AM DJ sets in the Hamptons—in other words, the places you’re likely to find Diplo and his fans all summer. Travis Scott, who has in the past year pivoted to become one of hip-hop’s best sing-first rappers, has never sounded more pop, using his signature ad-libs more sparingly than ever. He also swaps out traditional hip-hop bravado for boilerplate party lyrics ". Jonah Bromwich of Pitchfork also gave the song a positive review, stating that: "And as fun as it is at times, 'Know No Better' doubles as a testament to the result of spreading a handful of good ideas too thin."

Music video

The official lyric video for "Know No Better" was uploaded to Major Lazer's YouTube channel on June 1, 2017.
The song's music video premiered on July 11. The clip follows a young aspiring dancer who is going through an awkward adolescent phase, morning routines and bullying at school, but dreams of being one of Major Lazer's back-up dancers. It features cameos by Cabello, Scott and Major Lazer members. Daydreaming works as his escape, since the one constant between both worlds is his love of dance, as noted by writer Ryan Reed of Rolling Stone. An interactive version of this video, directed by Philip Andelman, was released on July 28 and hosted by interactive-video people Eko, where users can switch between the "dream" and "reality" storylines.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Know No Better.
Publishing
Recording
  • Recorded at Blenders Ends
  • Camila Cabello vocal recorded at Lazer Sound Studio
  • Quavo vocals recorded at Lazer Sound Studio
  • Mixed at Mixstar Studios
  • Mastered at Derkart Mastering
Personnel