Ciara Reflects on Leaking “Promise” After A Music Exec Told Her It Was The Worst R&B Song

Ciara knows a hit when she hears it. In a recent interview with Bustle, the singer shared the story behind her 2006 hit “Promise,” revealing how she leaked the track after her label didn’t believe in its potential. In fact, an executive at Sony called it “the worst R&B record.” Undeterred, Ciara took matters into her own hands and played the song at an Atlanta radio station, where it quickly became a massive success.

“We leaked it at an Atlanta radio station and literally the song took off and was a monster,” she recalled. The song helped propel her to her first No. 1 album, and she had a major week alongside other heavyweights like Gwen Stefani and Eminem.

However, Ciara admitted that her intuition doesn’t always lead to success. “There’s been times when maybe it doesn’t work as well as I thought it would,” she confessed. Despite occasional setbacks, her unwavering belief in herself remains a constant. “I’ve been pretty consistent in my belief, so I won’t stop believing.”

Reflecting on her career, Ciara shared that while accolades like chart-topping hits are nice, they don’t define her success. She pointed out how her 2013 song “Body Party” topped the R&B/Hip-Hop radio charts but still didn’t earn a Grammy nomination. “You would think that that metric would automatically classify you for a nomination, right?” she said, adding, “If I was basing it off of the metrics [of awards], then I would feel like I failed.”

Ciara’s ability to trust her instincts and push forward, even when the odds are against her, highlights her resilience and dedication to her artistry.