Whatchamacallit (Ella Mai song)

"Whatchamacallit" is a song by British singer Ella Mai, featuring American singer Chris Brown, released on October 4, 2018 through Interscope Records as a promotional single from her 2018 self-titled album.^[1]

"Whatchamacallit"
Song by Ella Mai featuring Chris Brown
from the album Ella Mai
Released	October 4, 2018
Recorded	2017
Genre	R&B
Length	3:00
Label	Interscope Records
Songwriter(s)	Christopher Brown Dijon McFarlane Sam Hook Jordan Holt Mai
Producer(s)	DJ Mustard Holt[lower-alpha 1]
Audio video
"Whatchamacallit" on YouTube

Background and composition

Prior to the making of the song, Ella Mai mentioned Chris Brown as one of her biggest influences: “Vocally, he’s amazing,” she said. “If he didn’t come out the way he did and make the music that he did, I think I would be a completely different artist. He’s influenced an entire generation.”^[2] The two then collaborated on "This X-Mas", a track contained in the "Cuffing Season: 12 Days of Christmas" edition of Brown's eighth studio album Heartbreak on a Full Moon (2017).^[3] “Whatchamacallit” was originally teased in September 2017, before being released on October 4, 2018 through Interscope Records as a promotional single from Mai's self-titled debut album.^[4]

"Whatchamacallit" is an R&B song^[5] written by Brown, Sam Hook, Jordan Holt and Mai, while its production was handled by DJ Mustard. On the track the two artists serenade about a secret relationship.^[6][7]

Critical reception

HotNewHipHop praised the song, writing: "Because of the similarity in their voices, Ella Mai and Chris Brown sound absolutely gorgeous together. When one harmonizes with the other, it's almost as if it's just a double of the original vocal, introducing an interesting dynamic to the song that we rarely hear with other artists".^[1] The Guardian mentioned Chris Brown as an "A-list feature" on the track.^[8]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[9]	66
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[10]	21
UK Singles (OCC)[11]	84
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[12]	3

Certifications

Certifications for "Whatchamacallit"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13]	Platinum	70,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[14]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[15]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

1. Credited as co-producer

References

1. Zidel, Alex (October 4, 2018). "Chris Brown Features On Ella Mai's Latest Smash "Whatchamacallit"". HotNewHipHop.
2. "Ella Mai Recruits Chris Brown for New Single "Whatchamacallit"". Hypebeast. October 4, 2018.
3. Goddard, Kevin (December 13, 2017). "Chris Brown Releases Deluxe Edition Of "Heartbreak On A Full Moon" With 12 New Songs". HotNewHipHop.
4. "New Music: Ella Mai feat. Chris Brown - Whatchamacallit". October 5, 2018.
5. "New Song: Ella Mai & Chris Brown - 'Whatchamacallit' - That Grape Juice". thatgrapejuice.net.
6. Ichiki, Chase. "Ella Mai shares her newest collaboration with Chris Brown "Whatchamacallit"". REVOLT.
7. "New Music: Ella Mai feat. Chris Brown - 'Whatchamacallit'".
8. Kasambala, Natty (October 12, 2018). "Ella Mai: Ella Mai review – Boo'd Up singer's R&B statement of intent" – via The Guardian.
9. "Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
10. "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 22, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
12. "Ella Mai Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
13. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
14. "British single certifications – Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
15. "American single certifications – Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 3, 2023.