| "Sweat" | |
|---|---|
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| Promotional single by Ciara featuring 2 Chainz | |
| Released | June 18, 2012 |
| Genre | R&B |
| Length | 3:50 |
| Label | Epic |
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"Sweat" is a song recorded by American recording artist Ciara for her self-titled fifth album Ciara (2013), originally titled One Woman Army. Featuring guest vocals from rapper 2 Chainz, "Sweat" is Ciara's debut release under Epic Records after publicly asking to leave previous label Jive Records. The label failed to support Ciara creatively and financially on previous albums, Fantasy Ride (2009) and Basic Instinct (2010), contributing to poor performance of both albums. Ciara's contract with Epic Records reunited the singer with her mentor L.A. Reid, who is credited as originally signing the singer to his LaFace Records label during the beginning of her career in 2004, as well as having a hand in producing her debut album, Goodies (2004).
Initially touted as the lead single from Ciara, "Sweat" received mixed reviews from music critics, with some describing the song as a heavy club song, while others referred to the song as boring. "Sweat" was likened to previous urban singles "Goodies" (2004) and "Like a Boy" (2006). It was serviced to rhythmic radio stations on June 18, 2012; however, its planned digital release for June 19, 2012 was cancelled. Epic Records subsequently noted the song as a promotional single when it charted at number eighty-six on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was replaced by a ballad called "Sorry" as the lead single from Ciara but what when that underperformed too, both songs were scrapped from the album and replaced with an R&B midtempo song called "Body Party", subsequently touted as the album's new lead single.