"Research" is a song by Big Sean which features Ariana Grande for the deluxe version of his third album, Dark Sky Paradise. This song is Grande's second explicit song, with the first being "Get On Your Knees."
Background
Ariana and Big Sean first met in the summer of 2012 at Wango Tango. After that, they became good friends and began working on music together. Before the release of "Research" they had collaborated on three songs ("Right There," "Problem" and "Best Mistake"). In October 2014 Big Sean confirmed a song with Ariana that would make his album. He said, "She's on a song on my album. It's a real song. It's something fresh. I feel like she hasn't really done anything like... It's kinda more my element."[1] This song is about Big Sean's ex-girlfriend Naya Rivera. Big Sean said it was interesting how Ariana and him both acted and got into character because the song isn't about their own lives or relationship.[2]
Lyrics
[Intro: Big Sean]
Ah-ha
Ah-ha
Woah
[Hook 1]
These hoes be doin' research
I swear she like: this piece of hair off in the sink
Ain't come from me first, no, no
[Verse 1: Big Sean]
The way you stressin' got me blowin' indo outdoor
Everytime you intro that's my queue to outro
And I know all my n*ggas call you crazy, you just misunderstood though
Through all the evil in your eyes swear I can still see the good though
But you unlockin' my cell like you is a cop
How you decode all my V-mails, G-mails even P.O. boxes got me P.O.'d
You saw my emails with CeCe when you wasn't CC'd
I'm on my way to halfway, my baby, I need you to meet me
You, you talkin' bout I had the key to your heart
Then I got my first European you took that key then you keyed it
What type of shit do we be in? Blowin' up TNTn'
Hella drama, TMZ'n, bitch I'm leavin', and then she switched the shit like:
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Big Sean]
What you got to hide, hide, hide, hide? (Ah-ha)
Lying next to me at night, night, night, night (Ah-ha)
You test me all the time, time, time, time
Say, I know what you like (Woah), like I did the last time
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Do you remember
Do you remember?
Do you remember?
When you had nothing to hide, hide, hide, hide
[Hook 2: Big Sean]
Watch out, these hoes be doin' research
I swear she like: this piece of hair off in the sink
Ain't come from me first, no, no
You hang around too God damn long it's like you need work
Man, these hoes be doing research, doin' research
[Verse 2: Big Sean]
Okay, I know you did some research, well shit I did too
I saw you wearin' Drake's chain, like you was part of his crew
I saw you chillin' with Meek Mill, up at the summer jam, oooh
I hope my eyes the one that's lying to me girl and not you
I know we all have got a past, but there's shit that I can't pass
Seein' you at the SoHo house, I know you can't afford that tab
When I run into Chris Brown and he laugh, cause he know what you know
When I don't it make me feel, like I don't know your ass
Now you sayin' shit like:
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Big Sean]
What you got to hide, hide, hide, hide? (Ah-ha)
Lying next to me at night, night, night, night (Ah-ha)
You test me all the time, time, time, time
Say, I know what you like (Woah), like I did the last time
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Do you remember
Do you remember?
Do you remember?
When you had nothing to hide, hide, hide, hide
[Outro: Big Sean]
These hoes be doin' research
I swear she like: this piece of hair off in the sink
Ain't come from me first, no, no
You hang around too God damn long it's like you need work
Man, these hoes be doing research, doin' research
[Intro: Big Sean]
Ah-ha
Ah-ha
Woah
[Hook 1]
These girls be doin' research
I swear she like: this piece of hair off in the sink
Ain't come from me first, no, no
[Verse 1: Big Sean]
The way you stressin' got me blowin' indo outdoor
Everytime you intro that's my queue to outro
And I know all my n****s call you crazy, you just misunderstood though
Through all the evil in your eyes swear I can still see the good though
But you unlockin' my cell like you is a cop
How you decode all my V-mails, G-mails even P.O. boxes got me P.O.'d
You saw my emails with CeCe when you wasn't CC'd
I'm on my way to halfway, my baby, I need you to meet me
You, you talkin' bout I had the key to your heart
Then I got my first European you took that key then you keyed it
What type of shit do we be in? Blowin' up TNTn'
Hella drama, TMZ'n, b**** I'm leavin', and then she switched this sh** like:
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Big Sean]
What you got to hide, hide, hide, hide? (Ah-ha)
Lying next to me at night, night, night, night (Ah-ha)
You test me all the time, time, time, time
Say, I know what you like (Woah), like I did the last time
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Do you remember
Do you remember?
Do you remember?
When you had nothing to hide, hide, hide, hide
[Hook 2: Big Sean]
Watch out, these girls be doin' research
I swear she like: this piece of hair off in the sink
Ain't come from me first, no, no
You hang around too God damn long it's like you need work
Man, these girls be doing research, doin' research
[Verse 2: Big Sean]
Okay, I know you did some research, well sh** I did too
I saw you wearin' Drake's chain, like you was part of his crew
I saw you chillin' with Meek Mill, up at the summer jam, oooh
I hope my eyes the one that's lying to me girl and not you
I know we all have got a past, but there's sh** that I can't pass
Seein' you at the SoHo house, I know you can't afford that tab
When I run into Chris Brown and he laugh, cause he know what you know
When I don't it make me feel, like I don't know your a**
Now you sayin' sh** like:
[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande & Big Sean]
What you got to hide, hide, hide, hide? (Ah-ha)
Lying next to me at night, night, night, night (Ah-ha)
You test me all the time, time, time, time
Say, I know what you like (Woah), like I did the last time
[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
Do you remember
Do you remember?
Do you remember?
When you had nothing to hide, hide, hide, hide
[Outro: Big Sean]
These girls be doin' research
I swear she like: this piece of hair off in the sink
Ain't come from me first, no, no
You hang around too God damn long it's like you need work
Man, these girls be doing research, doin' research