Normani channels Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez and Aaliyah in the booty-shaking throwback video for “Motivation,” a track she crafted with Ariana Grande.
“Imma break you off, let me be your motivation / to stay and give it tonight,” Normani sings. “And, baby, turn around / let me give you innovation.”
“Motivation,” which follows collaborations like “Love Lies” (with Khalid) and “Dancing with a Stranger” (with Sam Smith), was also written with Ilya Salmanzadeh, Max Martin and Savan Kotecha.
The video, directed by Dave Meyers and Daniel Russell, was shot earlier this summer in Los Angeles and pays tribute to videos like Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love,” JLo’s “I’m Real” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”
Grande is among those loving the video. “it’s almost six am where i am rn and my cheeks hurt from smiling, refreshing, watching a million times,” she tweeted. “enjoy this special moment. my heart is so full for u !!!!!!”
Normani replied: “i love you so much. thank you for believing in me the way that you have sis and for being my biggest cheerleader. we got a smashhhhh !!!!!!”
Check it out below: