911 (Wyclef Jean song)

Last updated

"911"
Wyclef Jean - 911.jpg
Single by Wyclef Jean featuring Mary J. Blige
from the album The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book
B-side "Younger Days"
Released5 September 2000 (2000-09-05)
Studio The Hit Factory (New York City)
Length4:19
Label Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Wyclef Jean
  • Jerry "Wonder" Duplessis
Wyclef Jean singles chronology
"It Doesn't Matter"
(2000)
"911"
(2000)
"Perfect Gentleman"
(2001)
Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"Your Child"
(2000)
"911"
(2000)
"Family Affair"
(2001)

"911" is a duet between Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean and American soul music singer Mary J. Blige. It was released on 5 September 2000 as the third single from Jean's second studio album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000), and was later included on Blige's compilation Reflections (A Retrospective) (2006). The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and had success worldwide, particularly in Scandinavian countries, reaching number one in Norway and Sweden.

Contents

Music and video

The song depicted two star-crossed lovers in a web of drama with the male narrator running from police while the female narrator worries forlornly over him. The relationship is apparently under external pressures, as Jean sings "messing around with you is gonna get (the man) life", and later reflecting "it's worth the sacrifice".

Chart performances and awards

"911" reached number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was successful in Norway and Sweden, where it reached number one for six and five weeks, respectively. The single earned a platinum disc in Norway. It was also a top-10 hit in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. At the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001, "911" was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are taken from The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book album booklet. [8]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP) [44] Gold250,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway) [45] Platinum 
Sweden (GLF) [46] Gold15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [47] Silver200,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref(s).
United States5 September 2000 Columbia [48] [49]
United Kingdom4 December 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
[50]
Australia26 March 2001CD [51]

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