"Provide" is a song by American rapper G-Eazy featuring American singer-songwriter Chris Brown and English singer-songwriter Mark Morrison; the latter being credited as a feature due to the sampling of his 1996 single "Return of the Mack", from his debut studio album of the same name.[1] It was released through RCA as a standalone single on February 5, 2021, later being included on the deluxe edition of G-Eazy's fourth studio album These Things Happen Too.[2][3] The artists, Gabrielle Nowee, Benjamin Wilson, Douglas Ford, Drew Love, and producers Cardiak, Hitmaka, & Paul Cabbin all have writing credits.
Background and composition
G-Eazy has collaborated with Chris Brown twice before "Provide" was released, the first time on G-Eazy's 2015 single "Drifting" and the second time on Brown's 2019 single "Wobble Up", with additional features from Canadian rapper and singer Tory Lanez and Trinidadian-born rapper and singer Nicki Minaj, respectively. However, it serves as the first collaboration between either artist and Morrison.
Release and promotion
On February 1, 2021, G-Eazy revealed the collaboration between himself and Chris Brown that would be released that same week through an Instagram post.[4] The following day, the cover art for the song was revealed, and that also revealed that Mark Morrison would be a part of the collaboration and then confirmed the release date with a comment on his own post.[5] Finally, two days before the song was released, he revealed a small clip of the accompanying visuals.[6]
Music video
The official music video for the song premiered alongside its release on February 5, 2021.[7] It was directed by Edgar Esteves and shot in Los Angeles, California.[8] It contains a large house party that shows them in the company of women and dancing. [9]
Critical reception
Brandon Caldwell from HipHopDX claimed that the video shows G-Eazy "wooing a woman he met at a burger stop, taking her on a shopping spree in a send-up to the '90s coming of age comedy Clueless" and Chris Brown "being one of the main stars of the party, going from inside to the front yard to roof and more".[9]
