Watch Eric Bellinger Turn Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” Into An R&B Smash

Eric Bellinger has worked on music with Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, and Usher, but the Compton R&B artist's remix of Rae Sremuurd's "Black Beatles" was composed strictly out of love. The video, premiering today on The FADER, is shot in one take on a hill overlooking the city, with Bellinger sat comfortably in front of a studio mic, singing Swae Lee's lyrics with a few twists.

"When I heard this joint, I knew it had potential to be a bonafide R&B hit as well, Bellinger told The FADER over email. "I’m pretty crazy at formatting songs, I'd say I've mastered the basics and know the 101 behind making a song be the best it can be. With lyrics like Swae’s 'cream seats in the Regal / Rockin John Lennon lenses’ line, I was super hype to take this song to the next level... At least in my world, by highlighting their words and simply adding passion, pain, and clarity to each bar. I look at doing covers like that old MTV show ‘Pimp My Ride’ where they would lace someone’s car — this is like ‘Pimp My Song!' I’m adding all kinds of stuff and messing around with the tempo, the beat, and melodies etc. I really enjoy giving people a different version of a song they already love.”

Watch the video for "Black Beatles" above. Bellinger's new project Eric B. For President: Term 2 will be released in the first months of 2017.