"Triumphant (Get 'Em)" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey, featuring rappers Rick Ross and Meek Mill. It was written by Carey, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Ross, and Mill and produced by Carey, Dupri and Cox. The song was released as a standalone single on August 3, 2012 by Island Records. Carey stated the song was written when her then-husband, actor Nick Cannon, was hospitalized with acute kidney failure in 2012, and was also inspired by the death of singer, and her friend, Whitney Houston.
The song is a mid tempo hip hop ballad that "mixes a soft beat with piano accompaniment." Its lyrics convey a message of self-worth and perseverance, with Carey urging listeners to "Reach for the stars / Be all that you are." The song received mixed reviews, with many saying the singer was overshadowed by the hip-hop duo, and should have had more presence on her comeback single. Two accompanying versions were released alongside the original, titled the "Pulse Club" and "Vintage Throwback" remixes. Commercial impact was also low, with the song charting at position 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart before dropping off. Most critics attributed this to the song's low appeal to Top 40 formats and mainstream channels.
An accompanying music video for "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" was shot in New York City. Directed by Nick Cannon, it officially premiered on August 21, 2012, on Carey's official website and the following day digitally. The video, featuring a victorious boxing theme, portrays Carey and Ross as promoters as they cheer Mill during his match. The clip was generally well received, due to its cinematography and ties with the song's theme of perseverance and being "triumphant". Carey performed the song live for the first time on September 5, 2012, at Rockefeller Center. The performance marked the beginning of the new NFL season, starting with the New York Giants Vs. Dallas Cowboys game at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Background and production In September 2011, less than six months after giving birth to twins, Carey tweeted a picture of herself and Jermaine Dupri in a recording studio working on new material for her then-untitled upcoming fourteenth studio album, with the picture's caption reading "So happy to be back in the studio with the one & only @Mr_Dupri Jermash! We are back together." Following more speculation of the singer's return to the studio, Carey posted photos of herself and Rick Ross in Miami during late April, where the song was produced. Originally intended as the lead single from the singer's fourteenth studio album, "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" was written and produced by Carey, Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, with Ross and Meek Mill providing their verses. Relaying several hints regarding the song to the media, Carey explained the song's conception in a series of tweets on July 30, 2012: "I wrote Triumphant when I was going through a difficult time and it helped me get through it. When u hear it, pay attention to the lyrics." In an interview with MTV, Cox explained what fans would be able to expect from the song and why he felt Ross and Mill were "the perfect fit." He expressed how the "inspirational song" is close to Carey's heart and thought fans would become "emotionally attached" to it. Cox also added that Carey had committed herself to working on the album before she knew she was pregnant, but decided to halt its production until after she had given birth. With regard to the inclusion of the hip hop duo, he explained how they became involved with the project:
In a conference call with Billboard, Carey revealed that she wrote "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" while her husband, Nick Cannon, was hospitalized receiving medical treatment for mild kidney failure, saying "There's a lot of things you can take from there that can keep you going in a tough situation." Carey also added that the song was written around the time her friend, singer Whitney Houston, had died. "'We were actually in the hospital together when we saw it on TV.'[...] It was important for me to write something that would...help me get through the moment. That’s where ‘Stay triumphant, keep on living’ came from." Carey also expressed why she chosen Ross and Mill, or any hip-hop artist in general on the track, claiming that they are "different" and how she is always experimenting on collaborations with varying and new artists. When asked why she chose not to release a lead single which was dance influenced, Carey explained how she felt regarding the current music scene; "I think it would be incredible if we could bring back the days when R&B records didn't have to cross over but be massive hits on their own," and that was the reason why she did not want to conform to what is currently on trend. Additionally, she felt that "Triumphant (Get 'Em)", potentially, would be able to generate cross-appeal, and not only cater Mainstream Top 40. With specific emphasis on the dance music scene and its popularity, Carey stated that while she was pregnant, the vast majority of music that was being released was dance and electronic music, saying "I was pregnant forever, and I was being tortured day and night by techno music. I was complaining to everyone who was listening. One time I made dinner for L.A. Reid, and we were both sitting there like 'What happened? It saddened Carey that R&B and hip-hop music was being "bowled over" by dance music, and therefore wanted to remain true to herself by making traditional R&B music:
Artwork and release Carey revealed the single's artwork via her Instagram account on July 30, 2012. A critic for the Belfast Telegraph also noted that Carey poses "seductively" for the shot. Robbie Daw for Idolator noted that it appeared as though the artwork had been photoshopped and that it is reminiscent of the cover art of Carey's tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi (2005). A writer from MTV found the shot "endlessly entertaining", while Declan Cashin of The Independent wrote: "Carey is depicted in golden hues as if she's radiating the precious shimmering element from her very being."
On August 1, a 30-second low quality snippet of Ross' verse was released, only one day prior to its scheduled release. Carey later confirmed via her official Twitter account that "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" would make its premiere on August 2, 2012, at 3:45pm on the B96 Chicago radio station. However, the station failed to premiere the song, and instead made its official debut on her website. The song received its official radio release later that day at 6:20pm CST on the B96 radio station, almost three hours later than scheduled. It was made available to download digitally via iTunes on August 3, 2012, in The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. On August 7, "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" made its stateside digital download premiere. Island/Def Jam serviced the hip-hop version to R&B/hip-hop radio on August 13, and currently "mapping out strategies to deliver other versions across dance formats."
Composition and lyrics
"Triumphant (Get 'Em)" is a mid tempo hip hop ballad that "mixes a soft beat with piano accompaniment." Written during a difficult time in Carey's personal life, the song boasts inspirational lyrics of self-worth and achievement. The song begins with an introductory verse from Mill, followed by Ross on the second verse. Though "cooing" throughout the chorus, Carey's begins singing during the song's bridge and final crescendo, where she displays her whistle register. Carey's vocals spans the tonal range of G2 to B5 belt and G7 high note. The track opens with Mill, whose verse quickly sums up the theme of the track: "The only way to make it to the top is if you go and get it from the bottom ... I remember they said that it ain't my turn/ Just look at me now/ Try to hold me down, but I ain't gonna stop/ 'Cause I'm gonna climb to the mountaintop." During the song's chorus, Carey sings of not being able to be torn down by others and "staying triumphant", before continuing: "Don't let 'em ever count you out/ Realize all things are possible/ In your heart who's the greatest/ Reach for the stars/ Be all that you are."
During the second verse, Ross' lyrics are somewhat different, "Red bottom Bawse house big as Baltimore" and "With a blonde bombshell trying to bond with your boy." Additionally, he makes reference to strippers, as well as driving with a suspended drivers' license. Throughout the bridge, Carey sings about achieving despite surrounding odds: "In spite of the chains that bind you/ You can see the mountain top/ It’s not too far." Additionally, towards the last chorus, the singer releases a series of her "signature" high notes. During an August 2, conference call, Carey described how she felt working with the duo, and how she felt Ross' voice blended well with her own: "Working with Ross and Meek on the same record was incredible. Obviously Ross is a star and everybody loves him. I'm a fan of his music," said Carey on the collaboration. "I really, really wanted to work with him. I love the tone of his voice. I think the contrast of his voice and mine would be something special. I always like to do collaborations that people might think are different."
Remixes
After the original version of "Triumphant (Get 'Em)" was released, Carey's official website premiered two other versions of the song, the "Vintage Throwback Remix" and the "Pulse Club Remix". While the song's initial release was tepidly received by critics, reviewers were more favorable towards the remixes. The remixes only feature Carey and eliminate the extensive rap verses with which many critics took issue. According to Carey's manager, Randy Jackson, three versions of the song were released in order to monopolize all radio formats and cater to multiple audiences. In an interview with Billboard, Jackson expressed how they would remind Carey's fans of her earlier remixes, which she would always re-do her vocals: "The vintage throwback mix will remind fans of remixes she did years ago, and she's had a lot of Billboard No. 1 dance hits as well. She went in and re-sang the vocals, knowing that the two verses on this first version of this single with Meek and Ross were going to be hip-hop verses where people were rapping. We wanted to have something for all of her fans."
During a press release for the single and its accompanying remixes, Carey said the following regarding the re-recorded vocals: "I’ve always had so much fun re-singing my songs for the club/dance mixes. It gives me the freedom to sing as powerfully as I want and to rewrite the songs specifically for the genre." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine, who was critical of the song's original version, praised the "Vintage Throwback Remix". He felt it was more of what the original "should have been" and concluded: "a rousing vocal arrangement at the song's climax sells Mariah's inspirational message of perseverance and harks back to her '90s heyday." Idolator's Becky Bain called the remix far more "captivating" than the original, and felt its re-recorded vocals showcased the singer's "one-of-a-kind range."
Reception Critical "Pop singer Mariah Carey has gone through some trials and tribulations in her life. Her journey through the music industry would be enough to make a lesser person end it all. But Mariah is a survivor and she will always remain triumphant in the face of opposition. Carey showcases her persevering spirit on the new song 'Triumphant (Get ‘Em).'" —The Daily Urbans, Jonathan Hailey