Background and release[edit]
Ciara released the singles "Jump", "Better Thangs" featuring Summer Walker, and "Da Girls", which were all expected to be singles from her then-untitled eighth studio album. On August 2, 2023, Ciara announced the single "How We Roll", in collaboration with Chris Brown. "How We Roll" marks the second collaboration for the two artists after their first collaboration on Ciara's album, Fantasy Ride (2009) on the track, "Turntables".[4] Prior to "Turntables", the two performed a dance sequence at the BET Awards in 2008 during Brown's performance of "Take You Down".[5][6]
In 2022, it was suggested that Ciara was slated to join Brown on stage for a Michael Jackson tribute at the American Music Awards that was unexplainably canceled by the show organizers.[7] Afterwards, Ciara posted a dance rehearsal video of her and Brown to her Instagram.[8][9]
On August 4, 2023, Ciara released the song, and announced her EP, CiCi.[10] The official remix of "How We Roll", featuring Lil Wayne, was released on November 3, 2023.[11]
Commercial Performance[edit]
"How We Roll" debuted at 18 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart on November 18, 2023 and peaked at 8 on January 13, 2024, spending 8 weeks on the chart.[12][13] It reached 9 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, becoming Ciara's fifteenth top ten hit and biggest hit on the chart since "I Bet" reached 8 in May 2015;[14] it also reached 9 on the US Rhythmic Songs chart, becoming her tenth top ten hit and first since "Like a Boy" in May 2007.[15]
Music video[edit]
The official music video was directed by Christian Breslauer, and released on August 4, 2023. It features Ciara and Chris Brown performing the song on moving trucks.[16] Marc Griffin, reviewing for Vibe, praised the video, stating it was "laidback" and "groovy", whilst noting the artists' obvious dance influences from Michael and Janet Jackson.[17]
Accolades[edit]
The music video received a nomination for Best Dance Performance at the 2023 Soul Train Music Awards. The song helped songwriter Theron Thomas win Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. At the 55th NAACP Image Awards, "How We Roll" was won for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) and was nominated for Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album in 2024.[18]