DFMU

"DFMU"
Single by Ella Mai
from the album Heart on My Sleeve
Released28 January 2022
GenreR&B
Length3:17
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Ella Mai singles chronology
"Not Another Love Song"
(2020)
"DFMU"
(2022)
"How"
(2022)

"DFMU" (initialism for Don’t Fuck Me Up) is a song by English singer-songwriter Ella Mai. It was released on 28 January 2022 through 10 Summers and Interscope Records from her second studio album, Heart on My Sleeve (2022).[1][2] It was produced by Mustard and co-produced by J. Holt.[3]

Background and composition

Following the release of the single "Not Another Love Song" (2020), Mai took a hiatus from recording and public life.[4][5] In October 2021, the singer revealed on her social media accounts that she had returned to the recording studio.[4] The song was written in 2020 during a writing session with Mustard.[6][7] In a interview with Apple Music 1 Mai explaining the meaning and writing proces of the song:[8]

"It was almost a therapy session when I was in the session. But I think that’s the best way. All the people that I grew up listening to are always very, very honest. And I’ve always just appreciated honesty. I think it’s the best way I think that people can relate to you also so. [...] I was having a very honest conversation with Prince Charlez who I wrote the song with about I was going through at that point. And it just was basically a conversation, and it just came together that way. And I think those are the best songs because storytelling is just conversation really. It was one of the ones during the recording process that I just knew it had to make"

Live performance

Mai performed a medley of "DFMU" and "Leave You Alone" at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2022.[9]

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Loris Russier, was released on 2 February 2022 through the singer's YouTube channel.[10]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "DFMU"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[11] 85
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12] 22
US Hot R&B Songs (Billboard)[13] 3
US Adult R&B Songs (Billboard)[14] 1

Certifications

Certifications for "DFMU"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Cho, Regina (28 January 2022). "Ella Mai returns with new "DFMU" single". Revolt. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  2. ^ Simmons, Ken (28 January 2022). "New Music Friday: Ella Mai, Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J, Da Baby and NBA Youngboy, and Quavo | ABC Audio Digital Syndication". ABC Audio. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Ella Mai Announces New Single 'DFMU'". Rap-Up. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b Aubrey, Elizabeth (30 January 2022). "Ella Mai returns with slow-burning new single, 'DFMU'". NME. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  5. ^ White, Caitlin (28 January 2022). "Ella Mai's 'DFMU' Is More Velvety R&B From The Rising Star". Uproxx. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  6. ^ Wang, Steffanee (28 January 2022). "Ella Mai On Her New Album: "It's My Life In Real Time"". Nylon. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  7. ^ Aniftos, Rania (2 February 2022). "Here Are the Lyrics to Ella Mai's 'DFMU'". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  8. ^ Price, Joe (28 January 2022). "Ella Mai Delivers Video for New Single "DFMU"". Complex Networks. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  9. ^ Bouza, Kat (18 May 2022). "Ella Mai Performs Sultry Medley of 'DFMU,' 'Leave You Alone' on 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  10. ^ Cho, Regina (3 February 2022). "Ella Mai goes for a late night drive in new "DFMU" video". Revolt. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Ella Mai Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Ella Mai Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Ella Mai Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Ella Mai Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  15. ^ "American single certifications – Ella Mai – DFMU". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 11 February 2026.