"No Lie" is a song by Jamaican rapper
Sean Paul featuring singer
Dua Lipa, from the former's first EP, Mad Love the Prequel (2018). The song was written by Paul, Andrew Jackson,
Emily Warren,
Sermstyle, and Pip Kembo. Production and co-production were handled by Sermstyle and Kembo, respectively. It was released through
Island Records on 18 November 2016 as the
lead single from the EP. The song was later included on Dua Lipa: Complete Edition (2018), the super deluxe
reissue of Lipa's eponymous debut studio album.
"No Lie" is an
R&B-tinged
reggae and
tropical pop song, with the lyrics seeing Paul express his attraction to a girl in a club scene. Several
music critics praised Lipa's vocal performance and the party-like qualities shown throughout the song. It became a successful single in Europe, entering the top 10 of the charts in 7 countries across the continent, including the
UK Singles Chart, becoming Paul's 12th and Lipa's first top 10 single in the United Kingdom. The song has since been certified gold or higher in eight different territories, including Italy, where it holds a quadruple platinum certification, and the UK, having received a platinum certification in the country.
"No Lie" was accompanied by a
music video, released in January 2017 that was directed by Tim Nackashi. It features Paul and Lipa dancing in several different mirrored rooms and halls. The two promoted the song with numerous live performances, including performing it at
BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, as well as
Capital FM's
Jingle Bell Ball and
Summertime Ball. Remixes of the song by
Sam Feldt and Delirious & Alex K, respectively, have been released.
"No Lie" was written by
Sean Paul alongside Andrew Jackson,
Emily Warren, its producer
Sermstyle, and co-producer Pip Kembo.[1] Paul had been doing many writing camps at the time of writing. Sermstyle originally played the rhythm for Paul, after which he expressed his admiration of it. He wrote onto the rhythm and recorded a demo for it, with Warren singing the
hook vocals on the demo, which she wrote. At the time, Paul could not imagine anyone else singing the hook. However, his management thought they should search for another vocalist and someone in the management group suggested
Dua Lipa, which led to her also recoding a demo of the song. After hearing the demo, Paul immediately fell in love with Lipa's voice and went on to finish the song with her vocals.[2][3][4][5]Engineering was handled by Paul Bailey, while James Royo was responsible for
mixing, and the song was
mastered by
Barry Grint at Alchemy Mastering in London.[1]
Musically, "No Lie" is an
R&B-tinged,[6]reggae and
tropical pop track,[7][8] that runs for 3:41.[9] The production makes use of a
keyboard and
beats,[10] while the opening
chords give off sensuality.[6] The song starts somewhat moody, before Lipa handles the chorus.[6][11] Paul uses
dancehall-like rapping and singing with a vocal rhythm, while Lipa's vocals were described as "deep" and "sultry" with a reggae-tinged accent.[7][8][12] Lyrically, the song is about having fun in a club scene. Paul comments on the physique of a woman and his attraction to her, eventually expressing to the woman what he can do for her. The title "No Lie" comes from a saying in Jamaica that is said when you want someone to believe you.[13]
Release and promotion
Paul announced the release of "No Lie" two days prior to its release, alongside sharing a 15-second preview of the song with both his and Lipa's vocals.[14] The song was released for
digital download and
streaming through
Island Records as a
single on 18 November 2016.[15] On 13 January 2017, the song was released on a
CD single in Germany, with Paul's single "Tek Weh Yuh Heart" that features
Tory Lanez as the
B-side.[16] "No Lie" was serviced to
rhythmic contemporary and
contemporary hit radio stations in the United States on 17 January 2017.[17][18] It was sent for
radio airplay in Italy three days later.[19] Remixes by
Sam Feldt and Delirious & Alex K were released on 27 January 2017.[20] The song serves as the
lead single and closing track from Paul's debut EP Mad Love the Prequel, released 29 June 2018.[21] It was later included as the seventh track on the second disc of the
reissue of Lipa's eponymous debut studio album Dua Lipa: Complete Edition, released on 19 October 2018.[22] "No Lie" was included on the soundtrack to the film Baywatch (2017),[23] as well as in the opening credits of Code Black Season 3, Episode 11: "One of Our Own", in 2018.[24]
The
music video for "No Lie" was directed by Tim Nackashi and released on 10 January 2017.[25][26] It was filmed at
West London's Sunbeam studios in the third studio, as well as the garden.[25][27] The visual showcases Paul and Lipa dancing in an assortment of mirrored rooms and halls, with Paul wearing several different parkas.[6][12][28] Critics viewed the video as stylish, hypnotic, and dizzying.[6][12][29] In April 2022, the video surpassed one billion views on
YouTube.[30] "No Lie" was promoted with several live performances. Paul and Lipa performed the song for the first time on 3 December 2016 at the
Jingle Bell Ball for
Capital FM.[31] On 27 May, the two performed it at
BBC Radio 1Big Weekend for 2017,[32] and Lipa also performed a solo version of the song as a medley with her track "Dreams" (2017) at the same event.[33] Paul and Lipa performed the song for the final time together at the
Summertime Ball for Capital FM 2017,[34] while the song was included on Paul's 2017
Pinkpop Festival,[35] 2017
RNB Fridays Live,[36] and
Glastonbury Festival 2019 setlists,[37] as well as Lipa's setlist at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball 2017.[38] The song was also included on the setlists of Lipa's Self-Titled Tour (2017–18), for which she occasionally performed it as a medley with "Dreams".[39] Both Lipa and Paul have a little reunion to performance at the
2018 UEFA Champions League final in
Kyiv, Ukraine.[40]
Reception
For Billboard, Kat Bein named the song a "totally replay-able [...] party jam," as well as calling it "real sexy" and the hook "rump-shaking."[6] In her review for V, Mariana Fernandez viewed the song as an "impressive morph of
dancehall, reggae, and
pop," while also praising the "infectious combination" of Paul and Lipa's vocals.[7] Robbie Daw of Idolator thought the song is "quite a jam," and "a step in the right direction" for Paul. He went on to compliment Paul's choice of Lipa as a featured artist, and noted how she mirrors the melody of "
Puttin' On the Ritz" (1929) by
Irving Berlin.[11] The staff of
Much named the song "an instant addition to your weekend playlist."[12]HotNewHipHop's Danny Schwartz thought it would be commercially successful on the radio.[41]The Singles Jukebox staff gave the song a rating of 4.25/10, with many complimenting Lipa's performance, but many criticizing how Paul was stuck in the past.[10] In April 2020, Christopher Rosa of Glamour ranked "No Lie" as Lipa's fourth worst song, stating it is "just off."[8]
The
music video for "No Lie" was directed by Tim Nackashi and released on 10 January 2017.[25][65] It was filmed at
West London's Sunbeam studios in the third studio, as well as the garden.[25][66] The visual showcases Paul and Lipa dancing in an assortment of mirrored rooms and halls, with Paul wearing several different parkas.[6][12][67] Critics viewed the video as stylish, hypnotic, and dizzying.[6][12][68] In April 2022, the video surpassed one billion views on
YouTube.[69]
^
ab"
ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201719 into search. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201711 into search. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201736 into search. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
^"
ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201707 into search. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
^"Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017" [Swiss annual hit parade 2017] (in German). Hung Medien.
Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.