It was late 2017. The air felt heavy for Harmonizers. Camila Cabello had famously departed the group via a midnight representative statement less than a year prior, leaving Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane, and Lauren Jauregui to figure out if a quartet could actually sustain the momentum of a global juggernaut. They did. And honestly, Fifth Harmony He Like That was the moment they stopped trying to prove they could survive and started proving they could evolve.
People forget how risky that self-titled third album felt. When "He Like That" dropped as the second single, it wasn't just another pop track. It was a pivot toward a stripped-back, reggaeton-infused R&B sound that felt more mature than anything on Reflection or 7/27. They weren't "Worth It" girls in matching outfits anymore. They were grown.
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The DNA of Fifth Harmony He Like That
The song itself is a masterclass in subtle production. Produced by Ammo and DallasK, the track leans heavily on a rhythmic pluck that mirrors the dancehall vibes dominating the charts in 2017. It’s catchy. Infuriatingly so. But it’s the vocal arrangement that really carries the weight here. Unlike their earlier hits where everyone screamed for the rafters, "He Like That" is breathy. It’s confident.
You’ve got the bridge—which, let’s be real, is the best part—where the tempo shifts and the girls trade lines with a chemistry that felt revitalized.
Many critics at the time, including those at Billboard and Rolling Stone, noted that the group seemed more cohesive as a four-piece. Without the need to balance five distinct powerhouse ranges, the harmonies in the "He Like That" chorus felt tighter. It was less about who could hit the highest note and more about the "pocket" of the groove.
The Music Video and the "Grown" Aesthetic
If the song was the message, the music video was the exclamation point. Directed by James Larese, the visuals for Fifth Harmony He Like That ditched the industrial sets of "Work from Home" for a sweaty, neon-lit club vibe. It was intimate.
The choreography was notably more complex. They weren't just doing "girl group" moves; they were leaning into professional-grade commercial dance. This was the era where Normani really started to emerge as a generational dance talent, a precursor to the solo stardom we’d see later with "Motivation." You can see it in the way she leads the breakdown. It’s effortless.
But it wasn't just about the dancing. The styling was a departure. They moved away from the "uniform" look. Each member had a distinct silhouette that reflected their individual brand, which, in hindsight, was a subtle nod to the fact that they were all preparing for their own paths while still being fiercely committed to the group’s final run.
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Why the Charts Didn't Tell the Whole Story
Look, we have to be honest about the numbers. "He Like That" didn't reach the Top 10 heights of "Work from Home." It peaked at number 33 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40. Some called it a flop. They were wrong.
Success in the streaming era is about longevity and cultural footprint. On platforms like Spotify and YouTube, the song became a "sleeper hit," racking up hundreds of millions of views and plays long after the initial radio cycle ended. It proved that the Fifth Harmony brand was elastic. They could do bubblegum, they could do trap-pop, and with "He Like That," they could do sophisticated, rhythmic pop that appealed to an older demographic.
The song also sampled "Pumps and a Bump" by MC Hammer, which was a brilliant move by the writers (including Ester Dean). It gave the track a nostalgic backbone that hooked people who didn't even know they were listening to a Fifth Harmony song. It was smart. It was calculated. It worked.
The Lasting Influence on Modern Girl Groups
When you look at the current landscape of girl groups, you see the fingerprints of this specific era. The "cool girl" nonchalance of "He Like That" paved the way for groups to stop being "perfect" and start being "vibe-heavy."
The industry learned something from this track: you don't always need a high-energy belt to have a hit. Sometimes, a rhythmic whisper is more powerful.
- Vocal Dynamics: The song utilized "whisper-pop" techniques before they became the industry standard.
- Genre Blending: It successfully merged Caribbean influences with American R&B without feeling like "tourist" music.
- Visual Agency: The members had more creative input on their image during this album cycle than ever before.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 5H Split
The narrative is often that the group fell apart because they couldn't handle the pressure. But if you listen to Fifth Harmony He Like That, you hear a group at the top of their game. They didn't break up because they were failing; they broke up because they had finished the mission.
They proved they could survive the departure of a founding member. They proved they could produce a self-titled album that was critically acclaimed. They proved they could handle adult themes with grace. "He Like That" was the victory lap.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're looking back at this era or trying to understand why this specific song still hits in 2026, here is how to appreciate it through a modern lens:
- Deconstruct the Bridge: Listen to the "He Like That" bridge with high-quality headphones. Notice the panning of the vocals. It’s one of the best-engineered moments in 2010s pop.
- Study the Rollout: This single was part of a rapid-fire release strategy. It’s a great case study for how to maintain momentum when a group’s lineup changes.
- Watch the Live Performances: Specifically, their performance on Good Morning America. It shows the raw stamina required to sing those breathy lines while performing high-cardio choreography.
- Analyze the Sample: Go back and listen to MC Hammer’s "Pumps and a Bump." Understanding how they flipped a 1994 rap track into a 2017 girl group anthem is a lesson in brilliant A&R work.
The legacy of the song isn't just about the catchy chorus. It’s about the fact that four women took a chaotic situation and turned it into a sleek, confident, and undeniably cool piece of pop history. It remains the high-water mark of their final chapter.