Mia Martina "Beast": Why Waka Flocka was the perfect fit
Mia Martina released "Beast" with Waka Flocka Flame in September 2014, introducing a more hip-hop and R&B-leaning side of her sound. The lyrics stay firmly focused on physical attraction, while the production comes from songwriter and producer Breyan Isaac.
Martina later explained why she chose Waka Flocka for the collaboration and how she wanted its dark, sensual character carried into the music video.
Why did Mia Martina choose Waka Flocka for "Beast"?
"Beast" stands apart from the more straightforward dance material associated with Martina at the time. In a 2015 interview, she described the track as a different artistic direction, with more of a hip-hop/R&B sound, and said Waka Flocka was "perfect for the record." She credited him with bringing the extra energy the song needed and helping bring it to life.
The choice also came from an existing personal connection. Martina said Waka Flocka was "like family to us," rather than describing the collaboration as a purely label-driven pairing. That detail gives some context to a feature that otherwise might look like an unexpected meeting between a dance-pop singer and an Atlanta rapper.
What do the lyrics of "Beast" actually say?
There is no elaborate storyline in "Beast." Martina addresses a partner directly, with the verses built around physical closeness, attraction and an invitation to stop talking and act. One of the most revealing lines comes early in the song:
"You all over my skin, I'm anxious"
The chorus then introduces the title phrase. Martina sings,
"Cause when the sun goes down, the beast comes out"
The line returns several times alongside references to the night and the attraction between the two people in the song. Waka Flocka's verse makes the sexual subject even more explicit and adds a concise description of the relationship presented in the lyrics:
"Just attraction, no attachments"
Rather than developing a separate narrative, his section extends the same subject from his own perspective before the chorus returns.
What did Mia Martina say about the song?
Martina later described "Beast" to Billboard as "dark and sexy," referring to both its music and lyrics. She also said she wanted to preserve that atmosphere in the accompanying video, which explains why the visual campaign moved away from a conventional performance setting.
Her comments about the collaboration were similarly specific. In the 2015 interview with Toronto Paradise, she singled out Waka Flocka's contribution and said his involvement added the "sexy factor" she felt the record needed. She also named Breyan Isaac as one of the collaborators she particularly enjoyed working with on the EP.
Who wrote and produced "Beast"?
The songwriting credits are broader than the two voices heard most prominently on the record. Shazam credits Martine Johnson, Breyan Isaac, Manuel Mercado IV, Andre Marshall and J. Malphurs as songwriters, with Isaac also serving as producer. Manny Mercado is credited with recording engineering, while Manny Marroquin handled mixing.
The track is a compact recording at around three minutes and ten seconds. Its production keeps Martina's vocal sections and Waka Flocka's rap verse within the same dance-oriented framework, rather than separating the collaboration into two noticeably different musical sections.
Why does the "Beast" video look like a fairy tale?
The visual for "Beast" arrived on April 30, 2015, several months after the song's original release. Directed by Marc Andre Debruyne, it places Martina in a forest setting inspired by Grimm's fairy tales, complete with a red cape, while Waka Flocka appears as a lumberjack-like character. The forest scenes were filmed on the Walking Dead set in Los Angeles.
The concept was deliberate rather than an attempt to provide a literal explanation of the lyrics. Martina told Billboard that she wanted the video's atmosphere to match the track's "dark and sexy" character. The result gave the song a visual identity that was considerably more theatrical than a standard club-performance video.
"Beast" - The official music video
How was "Beast" released?
The track was brought back into focus during Martina's 2015 campaign, when Universal Music Canada announced that "Beast" would be serviced to Canadian radio. Martina and Waka Flocka later performed the song together at the 2015 MuchMusic Video Awards, while its video received a Dance Video of the Year nomination.
"Beast" reached No. 39 on the Canadian Hot 100 and No. 8 on Canada's CHR/Top 40 chart.Its Canadian certification history continued well beyond the original campaign. Music Canada lists a Gold Digital Download certification from January 27, 2016, followed by a Platinum Single certification dated June 26, 2024.
FAQ
When was "Beast" by Mia Martina released?
The original single was released on September 16, 2014. It received another release and renewed promotion in 2015.
Who features on "Beast"?
Waka Flocka Flame is the featured artist and delivers the song's dedicated rap verse.
Who produced Mia Martina's "Beast"?
Breyan Isaac produced the track and is also one of its credited songwriters.
Further Reading