Ain't No Nigga
| "Ain't No Nigga" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyJay-ZfeaturingFoxy Brown | ||||
| from the albumReasonable DoubtandThe Nutty Professor | ||||
| Released | March 19, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Genre | East Coast hip hop | |||
| Length | 4:03 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | Big Jaz | |||
| Jay-Zsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Foxy Brownsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Big Jazsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Ain't No Nigga"(censored as"Ain't No Playa") is the second single from American rapperJay-Z's first album,Reasonable Doubt,and is featured on thesoundtrackto the 1996 filmThe Nutty Professor.It was released on March 19, 1996. The track featuresFoxy Brownand contains uncredited vocals byJaz-O.
Background
[edit]The song's beat is produced byBig Jazwhosamples"Seven Minutes of Funk" by the funk band The Whole Darn Family. The song's chorus was sung by Jaz-O, andinterpolates"Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)"by theFour Tops.The "Ain't No Nigga" single goes under the clean alias"Ain't No Playa".Foxy Brownwas 17 at the time when the song was released.
Citing the funky production and lyrics about unfaithful relationships, Spence D. ofIGNdescribes it as "one of the better opposite sex rap duets ever laid on wax."[1]
"Ain't No Nigga" is cited as playing a significant role in securing Jay-Z's record deal[2]withDef Jam.According to Sony BMG A&RNick Raphael,"Will Socolof of Freeze Records sent me a CD and a video and said to me," This guy is incredible, but he needs a bigger label to take over. Are you interested? "The record he sent to me was" Ain't No Nigga "and I went crazy, thinking that I had to sign him!"[2]
Music video
[edit]The music video of the song, which was shot inMiami,starts with a scene similar to a scene of the filmScarface.It is the second time the album references the film, the first with the start of "Can't Knock the Hustle".The music video features cameos byThe Notorious B.I.G.,Irv Gotti,andMic Geronimo.
Formats and track listings
[edit]Vinyl
[edit]A-Side
- "Ain't No Playa (Rae & Christian Mix)"
- "Ain't No Playa (Original Mix)"
B-Side
- "Ain't No Playa (Fresh to Def Mix)"
- "Ain't No Playa (New York Street Mix)"
Vinyl (remixes)
[edit]A-Side
- "Ain't No Nigga (Ganja Kru Mix)"
B-Side
- "Can't Knock the Hustle (Desired State Remix)"
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboardHot 100[3] | 50 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs(Billboard)[4] | 17 |
| USHot Rap Songs(Billboard)[5] | 4 |
| USR&B/Hip-Hop Airplay(Billboard)[6] | 24 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Spence D."Reasonable Doubt Review"Archived2011-05-27 at theWayback Machine.IGN.com.November 10, 2003. Retrieved June 25, 2007.
- ^ab"Interview With Nick Raphael"Archived2016-06-27 at theWayback Machine,HitQuarters,25 May 2005.
- ^"Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^"Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^"Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^"Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)".Billboard.Retrieved December 28, 2021.
