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"Case of the Ex" (sometimes subtitled "Whatcha Gonna Do"[1]) is a song performed by American singer Mýa. It was written and composed by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (with his songwriting partners Traci Hale and Thabiso "Tab" Nkhereanyne) for Mýa's sophomore studio record, Fear of Flying (2000). The up-tempopop-R&B track was inspired by a relationship Hale was going through at the time. It was released on July 11, 2000, as the second single from the album, following "The Best of Me" (featuring Jadakiss).
The song received mixed to positive reviews from contemporary music critics and became Mýa's breakthrough hit, both stateside and internationally. "Case of the Ex" became a top-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of December 2, 2000, peaking and spending three consecutive weeks at number two. Internationally, the single topped the Australian ARIA Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks in March 2001 and peaked at number three in the United Kingdom.
The accompanying music video for the single was directed by Diane Martel and choreographed by Tina Landon. The video, filmed in the Mojave Desert, featured the singer and her backup dancers performing with large poles as props, and dancing in the sand. The visuals drew comparisons to Janet Jackson's "You Want This" (1994) music video and Mel Gibson's 1979 film Mad Max. In addition, the video was nominated for a Washington Area Music Award for Video of the Year, while the song itself won in the Urban Contemporary Recording category in 2001.
"Case of the Ex" was composed by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Traci Hale, and Thabiso "Tab" Nkhereanyne in late 1999.[2] Initially, Mýa was working at the Redzone Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, when she heard an early instrumental of the song through the walls from the room next door. She stepped out of her session and was introduced to Stewart in the next studio.[3] Originally a rap song, Stewart rearranged the track to make it fit Mýa's persona.[3]
Speaking of its creation, Stewart said: "We got together to write a song specifically for Mýa. We kicked around some subjects which Mýa could potentially sing. We wanted to create a lyric theme that would keep her young, yet would show that she was growing up."[4] It was Hale who came up with the lyric idea, which was inspired by a relationship she was going through at the time and revolved around "a strong woman who won't tolerate her man returning to his ex-girlfriend."[4] While Tab and Hale contributed most of the lyrics, Stewart wrote the music and played all of the tracks, with Hale singing on the original demo."[4]
The initial demo also featured the percussive, keyboard hook which would become the song's musical trademark. "I followed an old philosophy, which is to try to catch the listener's attention," explained Stewart. "I wanted to make a statement with that hook, creating a special sound that people would react to and remember. It was like a loud horn blast, which was derived from a sampled sound, and then enhanced with my K-25 keyboard."[4] Soon after completing the demo, Stewart played the song for Mýa, and she "immediately loved it."[4] The following day, she recorded her vocals at Stewart's studio for the master version.[4]
"Case of the Ex" garnered mixed to positive reviews. Billboard magazine compared the song to Destiny's Child's "Jumpin', Jumpin'", and added: "With its quick-programmed drum track [...] Mýa's 'Case of the Ex' is on the right track. Production-wise, the song used some computer tricks to play with Mýa's vocals. [It] is set to be a hot track on radio and in the clubs all summer long."[5]Music Week said the song was "sultry R&B" and that it "should help lift sales of her album Fear of Flying."[6] Jacqueline Springer of NME gave the song seven out of ten stars, writing: "The stuttering arrangement of the original is cool and suits Mýa's brooding mood, but after a while it simply sits in the wind—there's no real build into a bassline leaving the track to run along a continuous pop/R&B vibe."[7] Writing for Yahoo! Music UK, Gary Crossing described "Case of the Ex" as a smooth and sassy if somewhat formulaic slice of R&B.[8]
In the United States, "Case of the Ex" debuted at number 72 on Billboard Hot 100 in the week of August 19, 2000.[1] The following week, it leaped from 72 to 57 in the week of August 26, 2000. It continued to climb the Hot 100, ascending from 42 to 31 during its sixth week, on September 23, 2000.[12] The song reached its peak at number 2 in the week of December 2, 2000.[13] From the weeks of December 2–16, 2000; it spent three consecutive weeks at number two.[14][15] "Case of the Ex" spent 30 consecutive weeks on that chart. The song became Mýa's second non-consecutive solo top-10 hit after 1998's "It's All About Me" (featuring Sisqó). It remains Mýa's second-biggest and second-highest-charting single on the chart to date (she topped the chart the following year when the "Lady Marmalade" remake featuring her, Lil' Kim, Christina Aguilera, and Pink climbed to number one). "Case of the Ex" became a top-10 hit on Billboard'sHot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart in the week of December 9, 2000, peaking at number ten and spent 28 consecutive weeks on that chart. It was Mýa's fifth and final top-10 hit on that chart.[16]
Globally, "Case of the Ex" debuted at number five on the Australian Singles Chart on the week of February 18, 2001.[17] It topped the chart and spent two consecutive weeks at number one, during the weeks of March 18–25, 2001.[18][19] In total, the song spent 23 consecutive weeks altogether on the chart. It was certified platinum by Australian Record Industry Association for shipment of 70,000 units. In the Netherlands, the song debuted at number sixty-two during the week of October 7, 2000.[20] It reached its peak of number eight in the week of November 4, 2000, and spent 18 consecutive weeks on the Dutch Single Top 100 chart.[21] "Case of the Ex" peaked at number seventeen in New Zealand during the week of January 28, 2001.[22] It debuted and peaked at number three in the United Kingdom on the week of February 10, 2001, and spent 13 consecutive weeks altogether on the chart.[23]
The video for "Case of the Ex" was directed by Diane Martel and filmed at Mojave Desert in California.[24] On filming "Case of the Ex," the singer laughed and remarked, "It was literally hell."[24] During filming, a wardrobe malfunction had occurred on set where the studs Mya and her dancers wore didn't have lining on the opposite sides, causing the crew to get cut up on their skin, while simultaneously getting sunburnt with sand getting in their sunburns and scrapes.[24] She noted: "So it was a very painful video regarding our skin and having to do take after take in hot weather."[24] Mya however, gushed and shared, "It was fun because I was so excited to do these really fierce dance moves and show personality."[24]
"Case of the Ex" music video "opens in a Mad-Maxish desert setting, where a posse of well-muscled girls stands before a group of somewhat nonplussed boys".[25] The girls then proceed "wielding their martial-arts sticks" at the men during their dance routine.[25] By the end of the video, Mya and her dancers exit, leaving their audience dusty and on their own.[25] Cynthia Fuchs from PopMatters compared the video to "Say You'll Be There" by the Spice Girls and "You Want This" by Janet Jackson.[25] The video first premiered on BET the week ending on June 26, 2000, later airing on MTV the week ending on July 24, 2000.[26][27]
British girl group IV Rox re-recorded "Case of the Ex" and released it as their debut single.[37][38] Their version was featured on the group's debut EPImperfections (2015).[39] Impressed by their cover, Mýa has expressed her appreciation and tweeted, "Lovely job ladies~xoxo."[38] With their version, the group auditioned for series 11 of The X Factor and received a standing ovation.[40]Out magazine included "Case of the Ex" as one of their most empowering, memorable and influential all-girl dance routines list.[41]VH1 recognized "Case of the Ex" in their list of Best R&B Music Video Choreography of the 1990s and 2000s.[42] Writing for Pitchfork, Marc Hogan suggested "Case of the Ex" as one of his choices for his 6 Millennium Era Hits That Top 40 Needs to Sample list, commenting, "A clear-voiced young singer with a strong sense of identity like Kehlani (or maybe Halsey in a pinch) could work wonders here."[43]Billboard ranked "Case of the Ex" as one their 100 Greatest Songs of 2000 list.[44] In September 2020, Spin magazine ranked "Case of the Ex" at number 19 on their "50 Greatest Songs of 2000" list.[45] In January 2024, Rolling Stone magazine ranked "Case of the Ex" as one of their "The 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21st Century" list.[46]
^ abCase of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do) (US 12-inch single vinyl disc). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2000. 069497457-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Case of the Ex (US CD single liner notes). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2000. 069497457-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Case of the Ex (UK CD single liner notes). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2001. 497 477.2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Case of the Ex (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2001. 497 477-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Case of the Ex (UK cassette single sleeve). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2001. 497 477.4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Case of the Ex (European CD single liner notes). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2000. 497 414-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Case of the Ex (Australian CD single liner notes). Mýa. Interscope Records. 2001. 497 415-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Fear of Flying (Media notes). University Music Entertainment, Interscope Records. 2000.
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