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Square Biz
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| "Square Biz" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Teena Marie | ||||
| from the album It Must Be Magic | ||||
| B-side | "Opus III (Does Anybody Care)" | |||
| Released | 1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 6:26 | |||
| Label | Gordy | |||
| Songwriters | Teena Marie, Allen McGrier | |||
| Producer | Teena Marie | |||
| Teena Marie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Square Biz" is a 1981 song by American R&B singer, Teena Marie. Bass player and frequent collaborator Allen McGrier is credited as the co-writer along with Marie. The song was released as a single from the album It Must Be Magic, and became one of Marie's signature songs. The song includes a rap break, an unusual feature at the time.[4][5]
Cover versions and appearances in media
[edit]In 2002, a new version of this song, titled "Hollywood Square Biz", was used as the theme to the popular game show Hollywood Squares when it was known as H2 at the time from 2002 to 2004.[6]
In 2000, the song "Crip Hop" (Tha Eastsidaz featuring Snoop Dogg), featured on the Baby Boy soundtrack and released by Universal Records on June 19, 2001, sampled Square Biz.[citation needed]
In 2002, En Vogue performed a cover of the song on their concert DVD, Live in the USA.[citation needed]
Missy Elliott uses an interpolation of a verse from Square Biz in Ciara's 2004 hit single, "1, 2 Step".[7]
The Firm's "Firm Biz" contains a sample based on the song featuring Dawn Robinson from their first and only album The Album in 1997.[8]
"Real Love" by Master P featuring Sera-Lynn, 2002.[citation needed]
In 2022, a cover of the song was performed by JoJo[9] on YouTube.
Chart performance
[edit]The song managed to peak at #3 on Billboard's R&B Charts, becoming Marie's highest peak on the chart at the time. The song managed to peak at #12 on Billboard's Club Play Singles, while performing moderately on Billboard's Pop Singles, peaking only at #50, becoming her second single to chart on the Pop Singles chart.
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[10] | 50 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[11] | 12 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] | 3 |
References
[edit]- ^ Breihan, Tom (December 26, 2010). "Teena Marie R.I.P." Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Deggans, Eric (January 1, 1998). "Teena Marie". In Graff, Gary; du Lac, Josh; McFarlin, Jim (eds.). MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. pp. 374–375.
- ^ Eddy, Chuck (22 March 1997). "Everything Rock Vs. Collage Rock". The Accidental Evolution of Rock 'n' Roll: A Misguided Tour Through Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 138. ISBN 0-306-80741-6.
- ^ Weisbard, Eric (2007-11-01). Listen Again: A Momentary History of Pop Music. Duke University Press. p. 261. ISBN 978-0-8223-9055-8.
- ^ "Teena Marie, a hip-hop pioneer". The Virginian-Pilot. 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ Foley, Aaron (2010-12-27). "Playlist: Eleven of Teena Marie's best songs". mlive. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
- ^ "Ciara feat. Missy Elliott, '1, 2 Step'". Rolling Stone Australia. 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ^ "Billboard". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1997-10-18. p. 31.
- ^ JoJo (2022-09-27). JoJo - Square Biz (Teena Marie Cover - Live). Retrieved 2025-09-13 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Teena Marie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ "Teena Marie Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ "Teena Marie Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
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Square Biz
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Background
Development and writing
"Square Biz" was co-written by Teena Marie and her frequent collaborator, bassist Allen McGrier, with Marie serving as the lead songwriter. Drawing from her personal experiences in the music industry, particularly her deep affection for Motown's musical family and heritage, Marie infused the lyrics with references to influences like Sarah Vaughan, Johann Sebastian Bach, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni.[4] The song was composed in early 1981 during the creative sessions for Marie's album It Must Be Magic. McGrier provided the foundational music, including a bass line that Marie particularly admired, while the title stemmed from McGrier's habitual use of "Square Biz" as an affirmative expression in their conversations. Marie then developed the lyrics around this concept.[5] Inspired by evolving 1980s R&B trends and the nascent rap movement—such as the work of the Sugarhill Gang and Debbie Harry's performance in Blondie's "Rapture"—Marie innovatively incorporated a spoken-word rap section into the track, marking a pioneering blend of genres in her oeuvre. She later reflected that this addition contributed to her confidence in the song's potential success.[5][2][6] From the project's outset, Marie took on the role of producer, exerting complete artistic control to shape "Square Biz" in line with her vision for the album.[6]Recording process
The recording of "Square Biz" occurred in 1981 at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. studios in Hollywood, California, and Wonderland Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with Teena Marie serving as the primary producer and Allen McGrier contributing as bass player and rhythm arranger.[7][8][9][10] A pivotal production choice was the seamless integration of a rap break performed by Marie herself, supported by instrumentation including synthesizers and horn sections, which helped fuse traditional R&B elements with nascent hip-hop influences in a manner that felt organic to the track's funky groove.[7][2][11] The final version of the track was edited to a length of 6:40, while the B-side instrumental version of "Square Biz" was also captured during these sessions, sharing the same core production approach.[12][1] Key personnel included Teena Marie on lead vocals and keyboards, Allen McGrier on bass and synthesizer (as well as co-writer from the song's development phase), drummer Paul Hines, and Motown session musicians handling the horns under arrangements by Daniel LeMelle and Marie.[7][9]Composition and lyrics
Musical structure
"Square Biz" is classified as an R&B track incorporating funk and proto-rap elements, delivered through a mid-tempo groove at 114 beats per minute.[13][14][2] The song follows a verse-chorus form, building to an extended rap bridge that begins approximately at the 3:45 mark and extends the track's 6:40 duration, featuring layered vocals for depth, driving bass lines, and horn accents for rhythmic punctuation.[15][14] Instrumentation highlights include the prominent bass work by Allen McGrier, which anchors the funk groove; synthesizer contributions also from McGrier; and keyboards played by Teena Marie herself, adding melodic texture.[16][14] The chorus employs a call-and-response vocal pattern, with Marie's lead interacting with background harmonies she arranged, enhancing the song's communal energy.[4][14] Drawing from the 1980s Motown sound, "Square Biz" blends soulful melodies with rhythmic spoken-word sections, evident in its horn arrangements by Daniel LeMelle and Marie, evoking the label's polished yet groove-oriented style.[17][14]Themes and lyrical content
The lyrics of "Square Biz" revolve around the central theme of "square biz," a slang expression from the 1970s and early 1980s denoting honest, straightforward, and authentic communication in personal relationships and professional dealings.[18][19] This motif reflects Teena Marie's own encounters with maintaining integrity within the music industry, where she navigated authenticity amid contractual disputes and creative control issues that culminated in her departure from Motown in 1982 and her landmark lawsuit victory, known as the Brockert Initiative, which advanced artists' rights.[20][21] The song promotes empowerment through "real talk," urging openness in love and business to foster genuine connections. The lyrical structure employs autobiographical verses that delve into Marie's personal integrity and self-definition, portraying her as a multifaceted artist committed to unfiltered expression.[4] She shares intimate details of her identity, such as her petite frame—"less than five-foot-one, a hundred pounds of fun"—and everyday preferences like soul food staples including chicken, collard greens, and hot water cornbread, juxtaposed against glamorous misconceptions of her lifestyle. These elements underscore her grounded authenticity, rejecting superficial labels like "Casper" or "Vanilla Child" that could constrain her artistic voice. The narrative builds to a culminating rap section in the bridge, where Marie chronicles her career milestones and pays homage to key influences, including mentor Rick James, whom she endearingly addresses as "Cat daddy."[4] She also nods to her eclectic inspirations, from jazz icon Sarah Vaughan and composer Johann Sebastian Bach to literary figures like Shakespeare, Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni, illustrating the breadth of her cultural and musical worldview. This spoken-word passage serves as a manifesto of resilience, blending personal anecdote with professional reflection. Iconic lines amplify the themes of empowerment and candor, exemplified by the opening assertion "Square biz, that's the biz I'm in," which establishes Marie's dedication to transparent dialogue as her core ethos in both romantic and industry contexts.[4] The proto-rap delivery in this section marks an early pioneering effort in female-led spoken-word within R&B, anticipating broader hip-hop integrations while emphasizing unapologetic self-advocacy.[20][22]Release and promotion
Single release
"Square Biz" was released as the lead single from Teena Marie's fourth studio album, It Must Be Magic, on June 16, 1981, by Gordy Records, a subsidiary of Motown Records.[23] The album had been released on May 14, 1981, and the single served as a showcase for the project's funk and R&B elements. The primary format was a 7-inch vinyl single (catalog number G 7202F), pressed at 45 RPM, featuring the edited version of "Square Biz" on the A-side and the instrumental track "Opus III (Does Anybody Care)" on the B-side.[23][24] A 12-inch vinyl single (Motown M 35000V1) was also issued at 33⅓ RPM, including an extended version and instrumental on the B-side, targeted at club and radio play.[1] Over time, the track appeared on CD reissues of It Must Be Magic, such as the 1989 Motown edition and the 2002 expanded remastered version with bonus tracks including the 12-inch instrumental.[25][26] It is now widely available on digital platforms like Spotify and Amazon Music.[27][28] The single's packaging featured a cover image of Teena Marie in a confident pose against an urban backdrop, incorporating streetwise motifs like cityscapes and bold graphics to echo the song's themes of authenticity and personal expression.[29] This design aligned with Motown's visual style for R&B releases in the early 1980s, emphasizing the artist's dynamic presence.[24]Marketing and media appearances
Motown Records launched promotional efforts for "Square Biz" through targeted radio campaigns aimed at R&B stations, capitalizing on the song's funky groove and innovative rap verse to build early buzz in Black music communities. The single received substantial airplay on urban contemporary radio outlets, contributing to its rapid ascent on the charts. Pre-release promotion included performances on television, such as an appearance on Soul Train on April 18, 1981, where she delivered the track alongside Shalamar in a high-energy segment that showcased its danceable rhythm and lyrical flair.[30] She also featured the song on American Bandstand later that year, performing it in a live studio setting that highlighted her vocal range and the track's crossover appeal.[31] A music video for "Square Biz" was produced in 1981 under Motown's direction, presenting Marie in dynamic performance sequences within a vibrant club environment, with emphasis on the rap breakdown through synchronized dance routines. The video aired on emerging cable networks like BET, which had launched the previous year, helping to extend the song's reach beyond radio.[32][17] During her 1981-1982 It Must Be Magic tour, "Square Biz" was a staple in Marie's live setlists, frequently positioned as an energetic opener to engage audiences with its infectious hook and improvisational elements. The song's fresh rap integration drew attention in contemporary media.[33]Commercial performance
Chart positions
"Square Biz" achieved moderate success on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 50 in late 1981 and spending 12 weeks on the chart.[3] The track demonstrated stronger resonance within the R&B community, reaching number 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Teena Marie's highest peak there at the time.[2] It also performed well in dance music circles, climbing to number 12 on the Dance Club Songs chart.[34] The song entered the R&B chart during the summer of 1981, reflecting initial buzz from promotional appearances on urban radio and television, and maintained a presence for an extended period that underscored its enduring play in R&B markets.[2] Compared to other Motown releases of the era, "Square Biz" outperformed several peers on the R&B chart—such as certain singles by labelmates that failed to crack the top 10—while its pop crossover remained constrained, highlighting Marie's core audience in soul and funk genres.[3]| Chart | Peak Position | Year |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 50 | 1981 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs | 3 | 1981 |
| US Dance Club Songs | 12 | 1981 |