Ghetto_Supastar_(That_Is_What_You_Are)

Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)

Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)

1998 single by Pras featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa


"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" is a song by American rapper Pras, featuring rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard and R&B singer Mýa. Produced by Pras and Wyclef Jean, with co-production from Jerry 'Wonda" Duplessis and Che Pope, it interpolates Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream" as written by the Bee Gees. Also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Bulworth, the song was released as Pras' debut solo single and the second from his debut solo album Ghetto Supastar on June 6, 1998.

Quick Facts from the album, Released ...

A worldwide commercial success, the song became a number-one hit in New Zealand and throughout Europe, including Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In the United States, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" peaked at number 15 for five consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and in 1999, received a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 41st Grammy Awards.

Background

"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" was written by Pras, Wyclef Jean, and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The song contains an interpolation from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream." Due to the clip, its writers, brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, are also credited as songwriters on "Ghetto Supastar".[1] The song also samples from "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved," as written by James Brown, Bobby Byrd, and Ron Lenhoff and performed by the former.

According to Mya, Interscope Records tried to consult more established singers to sing the chorus on the song, including Mary J. Blige.[2] It was not until Ol' Dirty Bastard joined the project, that he – after listening to her self-titled debut album – persuaded Pras and Jean to use her vocals on the track.[2]

Critical reception

In his review for Entertainment Weekly, David Browne for wrote: "This left-field remake of the Kenny Rogers-Dolly Parton hit "Islands in the Stream" is a far better showcase for Mya; with her buttery rendering of the song’s hooky chorus, she paints herself as the world’s most streetwise, levelheaded groupie. As for the rest of the track, its combination of slinky guitar, scratching, and scratchy ODB growl (or is that now "scratchy Big Baby Jesus growl"?) makes it a dozen times more fun than Bulworth itself."[3]

Music video

Francis Lawrence directed the video, which features Bulworth stars Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, and Joshua Malina. In a play on the theme of the film, which is a prominent white politician acting like a Black American, Bulworth – as played by Beatty – in the music video begins to stretch his mouth, revealing himself to be Pras in a mask, who has just become the first African-American US president. Shortly after Pras gets pushed in an elevator, he takes off his suit and performs.

Apart from Mya and Ol' Dirty Bastard, Wyclef Jean also appears on the set playing the bass guitar riff at the end of the song. The music video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film. It also received three nominations at the 1998 Billboard Video Music Awards for Best New Artist Clip (Pop), Best New Artist Clip (Rap), and Best New Artist Clip (R&B).

Cover versions

"Weird Al" Yankovic included the song in his polka medley "Polka Power!" from his 1999 album Running with Scissors. The Bee Gees recorded a version of "Islands in the Stream" with the chorus of "Ghetto Supastar" replacing the final chorus for their retrospective 2001 compilation Their Greatest Hits: The Record. It also appeared on their 2004 Number Ones and on the 2010 Mythology box set.[4]

In August 2011, Taylor Swift covered "Ghetto Supastar" during the North American leg of her Speak Now World Tour. In each city, she chose to pay tribute to a homegrown artist. In Washington, D.C., she performed an acoustic version of "Ghetto Supastar", given that Mýa is from Washington, D.C. Swift referred to the song as her "seventh grade anthem".[5][6][7]

In 2017, singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens posted a video of herself singing "Ghetto Supastar" a capella on Instagram.[8]

Track listing

  • German CD single[9]
    1. "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
    2. "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
    3. "Ghetto Supastar" (Acapella) - 4:08
    4. "Don't Be Afraid" (performed by Mýa) - 4:48
  • UK CD single[10]
    1. "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
    2. "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
    3. "Don't Be Afraid" (performed by Mýa) - 4:48
  • 12" vinyl[11]
    1. "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
    2. "Ghetto Supastar" (TV Mix) - 4:26
    3. "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
    4. "Ghetto Supastar" (Acapella) - 4:08

Personnel

  • Written by P. Michel, W. Jean, B. Gibb, M. Gibb, R. Gibb, J. Brown, B. Byrd, R. Lenhoff
  • Contains a sample from "Under the Influence of Love" by Love Unlimited
  • Contains an interpolation of "Islands In The Stream" by the Bee Gees and samples "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown
  • Taken from the soundtrack of Bulworth
  • Engineered by Chris Theis and Phil Blackman
  • Soundtrack executive producer: Karyn Rachtman
  • Original sound recordings owned by Interscope Records
  • Universal Music (UK) Ltd. are exclusive licensees for the United Kingdom
  • Distributed by BMG Records (UK) Ltd.
  • Pras appears courtesy of Refugee Camp Entertainment / RuffHouse / Columbia Records
  • ODB appears courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
  • Mýa appears courtesy of University Music Entertainment / Interscope

Charts

More information Chart (1998), Peak position ...

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...

References

  1. "Dolly Parton: An Island In the Stream". Standpoint Consulting. March 29, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  2. Mukherjee, Tiarra (November 19, 1998). "Mya Hangs Tough With the Rough Boys". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. "Videos: Taylor Swift's Coast-to-Coast Cover Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  4. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  5. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 30. July 25, 1998. p. 14. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  6. "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 1998-08-01. p. 11. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 276 Vikuna 11.6.–18.6. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 12, 1998. p. 22. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  8. "Hits Of The World". Billboard. September 12, 1998. p. 74. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  10. "Hits Of The World". Billboard. October 24, 1998. p. 61. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  11. "Mya Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  12. "Mya Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  13. "Mya Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  14. "Mya Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  15. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1998". austriancharts.at. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  16. "Jaaroverzichten 1998". Ultratop. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  17. "Rapports Annuels 1998". Ultratop. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  18. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  19. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 51. December 19, 1998. p. 8. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  20. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1998" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  21. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  22. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1999. p. 34. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  23. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1998". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  24. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  25. "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  26. "Topp 20 Single Vår 1998" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  27. "Årslista Singlar – År 1998" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  28. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1998 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  29. "Best Sellers of 1998 - Singles Top 100" (PDF). Music Week. January 16, 1999. p. 7. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  30. "The Urban Top 40 of 1998" (PDF). Music Week. January 9, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  31. "Longbored Surfer". longboredsurfer.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-26.
  32. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  33. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved February 15, 2023.

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