Don't Play Nice

**Don't Play Nice** is the debut single by Verbalicious, released officially on February 21, 2005. The song was likely intended to be featured on her debut album, *Verbal Issues*, but the project was scrapped.

## Lyrics

**[Intro]**

Uh, uh

Here we go

**[Verse 1]**

I’m just steppin’ in the room like

Waitin’ for the tune like

Checkin’ for the boom right there

I’m just steppin’ in the room like

Waitin’ for the bassline

Speakers that can dry my hair

I’m just lookin’ in your eyes like

Ready when the time’s right

Poppin’ like we pop this snare

I’m just bangin’ on the beat like

Checkin’ out ya feet like

Tell it like you just don’t care

Dance like they never did dance before

Got love for the beat but hate for the floor

What you waiting for?

Stomp till your feet get sore

Till the core of your sole is raw

**[Chorus]**

This got you hypnotized

No beat too hard to ride

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice

This tune should be hittin’ you

Tune should be splittin’ you

So just close your eyes

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice, no

**[Verse 2]**

I’m just checkin’ out the battle and

Checkin’ out what’s happenin’

Checkin’ if the DJ’s hot

I’m just chillin’ like a rapper and

Got my ears a-hammerin’

DJ, put it down one notch

Boyfriend’s showing off the platinum

Girly girls are chatterin’

Waiting for my tune, then watch

Hear these lyrics that I’m yappin’-en

Hear the bass a-batterin’

Every little thing gets dropped

Drop to your knees over beats like these

Pick it up, bring it back, lemme take my siege

When I hit the joints, they all want a piece of me

So I spit it till you beggin’ for this track to cease

**[Chorus]**

This got you hypnotized

No beat too hard to ride

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice

This tune should be hittin’ you

Tune should be splittin’ you

So just close your eyes

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice, no

**[Transition]**

Yeah, let’s switch it up

**[Bridge]**

No damn beat is too hard to ride

Ride this beat like I surf the tide

Never been surfin’, but I’d like to try

Try to spit a lyric like this and in time

No damn beat is too hard to ride

Never been nasty, but I don’t play nice

Nice girls oughta be in bed this time

But spittin’ too early is considered a crime

**[Chorus]**

This got you hypnotized (Hypnotized)

No beat too hard to ride

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice

This tune should be hittin’ you

Tune should be splittin’ you

So just close your eyes (Yeah)

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice (No)

This got you hypnotized

No beat too hard to ride (Woah)

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice

This tune should be hittin’ you

Tune should be splittin’ you

So just close your eyes

The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’

‘Cause I don’t play nice, no

## Background

On June 24, 2013, songs from the *Verbal Issues* sessions leaked, with Don't Play Nice being leaked as the fourth track on the album. However, the track listing is most likely unofficial; for more information, see the album's page.

## Writing and Development

Don't Play Nice was written during the development of the unreleased studio album, *Verbal Issues*, sometime after winning a BBC Radio 1 MC Battle in 2003 and before the single was available for digital download in June of 2004.

Lines from Sweet as Pie were seemingly reworked for Don't Play Nice. However, it is possible the lyrics were originally written for Don't Play Nice before eventually being reworked for Sweet as Pie. Additionally, the phrase "playin' nice" also likely stemmed from Sweet as Pie.

*"Heads I’ll be shakin’... Busy makin’ beats so shook that the dead will be wakin’"* **(Sweet as Pie)** → *"The club got me shakin', dead will be wakin’"* **(Don't Play Nice)**
## Announcement and Release

Don't Play Nice was initially slated to only be released digitally. On or around June 10, 2004, the song was available to download online through Adventure Records' website. However, after the song began receiving airplay, Adventure Records began making strides toward pushing Don't Play Nice as a full-blown single.

Don't Play Nice was officially released as a single on February 21, 2005 in the UK, Ireland, and Italy.

## Official Versions

 Random Radio Mix
 Mowgli Radio Edit
 Mowgli Club Rub
 Melody Masters Remix

## Videography

* *§ Main article: Don't Play Nice (Videography)*

The official music video for Don't Play Nice was released on February 21, 2005, being included on some physical copies of the single. The music video was uploaded online officially by All Around the World on July 25, 2014.

## Photoshoot

* *§ Main article: Don't Play Nice (Photography)*

* Credits
* Gallery
* Media

 **Location** | United Kingdom

## Physical Releases

* CDs
* Vinyl

* UK
* Italy
* UK Promo 1
* 2
* 3

 **2.** Don't Play Nice (Random Radio Mix)
 **3.** Don't Play Nice (Mowgli Club Rub)
 **4.** Hey Boy
 **5.** Don't Play Nice (Music Video)

 **2.** Don't Play Nice (Random Radio Mix)
 **3.** Don't Play Nice (Mowgli Club Rub)

### Additional Images

 **2.** Don't Play Nice (Mowgli Radio Edit)

 **2.** Don't Play Nice (Original Edit)

## Award Nominations

Don't Play Nice was nominated for the Popjustice £20 Music Prize.

## Song Credits

#### Writing and Production

* **Written by:** Teddy Sinclair, Carlos Keery-Fisher, Hugo Lira, Thomas Gustafsson, Tobias Lindell
* **Produced by:** Thomas Gustafsson, Hugo Lira, Tobias Lindell (for Random Music)

#### Additional

* **Recorded by:** Thomas Gustafsson, Hugo Lira
* **Mixed by:** Tobias Lindell

#### Studio Information

* **Recorded at:** Random Studios (Gothenburg, Sweden)
* **Mixed at:** The Mixroom (Gothenburg, Sweden)

#### Publishing

* **Published by:** Stage Three Music, Sony ATV Publishing, Even More Songs (administered by Warner Chappell Music Corp.)

## References

1. ↑ "The unreleased debut album from Natalia Kills, Verbal Issues, has been leaked online!" June 24, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2022 via Leaving on Pop Hates Flops.
2. ↑ "she was signed soon after she won a Radio 1 MC competition when she was just 16." February 24, 2005. Retrieved February 25, 2022 via BBC.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 " Adventure Records were planning to release this as a download only but it has already been played to great applause on Radio 1" June 10, 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2023 via Record of the Day.
4. ↑ "Verbalicious's latest track, 'Don't Play Nice', can be downloaded at www.adventure-records.com" July 11, 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2023 via The Independent.
5. ↑ Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40 February 27, 2005 - March 5 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2023 via Official Charts.
6. ↑ Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 February 27, 2005 - March 5 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2023 via Official Charts.
7. ↑ Official Singles Chart Top 100 February 27, 2005 - March 5 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2023 via Official Charts.
8. ↑ Irish Charts Retrieved June 7, 2023 via Irish Charts.
9. ↑ Issue nr: 39/2005 (03 Octombrie - 09 Octombrie 2005) Retrieved June 7, 2023.
10. ↑ Popjustice Past winners Retrieved January 22, 2024.