Get a Grip (Sweet 16 song)

"Get a Grip" is a single by Kuboian rapper Sweet 16, released on 10th August 2003 as the fourth single to be released from her self-titled debut studio album. The song was written by Elise Revie and Mike P. Morrison, who originally wrote the song for Antonia Morales before giving it to Sweet 16 instead. The album version of "Get a Grip" is a solo song, although the single version features an additional verse by rapper Kool Teazer. It charted at number three on the Karuboia chart.

Background
"Get a Grip" was originally written in 1997 for Antonia Morales, with Revie originally imagining it as a "chorus-only acid house track". Morales recorded a demo of the track but ultimately never used it. When writing songs for the Sweet 16 album, Morrison gave the song to Sweet 16 so it could be reimagined into a pop number. In the song, Sweet 16 sings and raps about approaching her crush in the middle of a disco.

After the release of Sweet 16 in July 2003, Sweet 16 noted that it was amongst one of the most popular tracks on the album, and intended to release a music video for it as a result. On request of the album's executive producer Chrissie Spin however, it was ultimately decided that "Get a Grip" should be released as a single. The inclusion of Kool Teazer came around because Sweet 16's label wanted her to collaborate with him. In a retrospective interview in 2023, she mentioned how it was "clearly just a stunt to sell more copies" given Kool Teazer's high-profile status at the time, but she also said she enjoyed working with him.

Critical reception
An Open Eagle editor gave the song a favourable review stating "Sweet 16 is back with another hit, this time with a 70s-style disco beat featuring some short rap verses and a chanty hook where she insists that she must put her hands on the hips of the hottest boy in the disco. Yes, it's very Kuboian, but it works fairly well and it gives you an excuse to get down on the dancefloor." The review was critical in regards to Kool Teazer's verse however, citing it as "random, nonsensical lyrics that have nothing to do with the rest of the song". Pop Magazine cited it as one of the standout tracks on the album, awarding the single a B rating and calling it a "epic disco jam" but feeling that Kool Teazer's "daft rap" ruined the song.

Kuboian CD single

 * 1) "Get a Grip" (feat. Kool Teazer)
 * 2) "Get a Grip"
 * 3) "In the Making" (single mix)
 * 4) "Get a Grip" (instrumental)

Kuboian cassette single

 * 1) "Get a Grip" (feat. Kool Teazer)
 * 2) "In the Making" (single mix)