Format Digital download Genre Hip hop
R&B Label Roc Nation, Columbia | Recorded 2011 Length 3:54 | |
Released June 15, 2011 (2011-06-15) | ||
"Work Out" is a song by American hip hop recording artist and record producer J. Cole, and released as the lead single from his debut studio album Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011).The song was officially released on June 27, 2011 through Roc Nation and Columbia. Nas voiced his displeasure with the song, which inspired Cole to create the song "Let Nas Down" for his album Born Sinner . It samples the chorus from "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul, Abdul would later sample "Work Out" for her song "Dream Medley."
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Background
J. Cole released "Work Out" on June 15, 2011, in honor of the second anniversary of his highly acclaimed mixtape The Warm Up. The song, produced by Cole himself, samples "The New Workout Plan" by Kanye West and interpolates "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul. The song is featured as a bonus track on Cole World: The Sideline Story.
Music video
The music video, shot in Brooklyn, New York, was directed by Clifton Bell. The video depicts J. Cole playing basketball, when a girl (Bernice Burgos) catches his eye and he begins to try to win her over. At the end, it went reversed.
Chart performance
"Work Out" charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on the week of July 23, 2011 at number eighty-five. "Work Out" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 on week of September 24, 2011 at number ninety-eight. The song has since peaked at number thirteen. As of September 2013, the song has sold 1,853,000 downloads in the United States.