The song's accompanying music video was directed by Nev Todorovic and premiered on Vevo on May 30, 2014. To promote the song, Grande performed it first at the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards, followed by the 2014 iHeartRadio Music Awards, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards. "Problem" became the first song to top the UK Singles chart based on both sales and streaming. Internationally, the single debuted at the top of the charts in Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and the United Kingdom, while peaking within the top ten of the charts in most other territories, including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Denmark, and Greece. It topped the US Mainstream Top 40 and Rhythmic charts. "Problem" remained in the top ten of the Hot 100 for the first sixteen weeks of its chart run, making its number three debut on May 7, 2014, and dropping out of the top ten on August 27, 2014. It also became Azalea's second-highest-charting single in the US, after her own single " Fancy". The song later peaked at number two, surpassing " The Way" as her highest-charting single in the United States at the time. The song debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 selling 438,000 copies in its first week on sale, earning Grande her biggest digital song sales week ever. Lyrically, Grande has stated that the song is about "the feeling of being absolutely terrified to re-approach a relationship that's gone sour – but you want to more than anything." The chorus features uncredited background vocals from American hip hop artist Big Sean.
"Problem" is an uptempo dance-pop song with influences of R&B music, which comprises a melody based on drums, saxophone loops, and trumpets. The song was released by Republic Records on April 28, 2014, as the lead single from Grande's second studio album My Everything (2014). It was written by both alongside Savan Kotecha, Ilya and Max Martin, being produced by the latter two with Shellback, with Peter Carlsson serving as a vocal producer. " Problem" is a song by American singer Ariana Grande, featuring Australian rapper Iggy Azalea. Single by Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea 2014 single by Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea