Don't Let Them

Last updated
"Don't Let Them"
Ashanti - Don't Let Them.jpg
Single by Ashanti
from the album Concrete Rose
ReleasedApril 5, 2005
Recorded2004 (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length4:10
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Gotti
  • Demi-Doc
Ashanti singles chronology
"Only U"
(2004)		"Don't Let Them"
(2005)		"Still on It"
(2005)

"Don't Let Them" is a song by American singer Ashanti. It was written by Ashanti along with its producers Irv Gotti and Demetrius "Demi-Doc" McGhee for her third studio album, Concrete Rose (2004). The song contains interpolations from "Could I Be Falling in Love" (1974) by American blues and soul singer Syl Johnson. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Willie Mitchell, Yvonne Mitchell, Earl Randle, and Lawrence Seymour are also credited as songwriters.

Contents

The song was selected as the album's second and final single and only released in the United States, where it failed to chart, and the United Kingdom, reaching the number 38 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also gained minimal success in Ireland, peaking at 41 on the Irish Singles Chart. A music video for "Don't Let Them," directed by Ashanti and Gotti, as shot in March 2005 and features Chink Santana as Ashanti's love interest.

Background

"Don't Let Them" was written by Ashanti, Irv Gotti and Demetrius "Demi-Doc" McGhee and recorded for her third studio album, Concrete Rose (2004). [1] Production on the track was helmed by Gotti and McGhee. [1] "Don't Let Them" contains interpolations from the song "Could I Be Falling in Love" (1974) by American blues and soul singer Syl Johnson, written by Willie Mitchell, Yvonne Mitchell, Earl Randle, and Lawrence Seymour. [1] Billboard initially reported that "Don't Leave Me Alone" had been selected as the second single from Concrete Rose. [2]

Critical reception

In a negative review for Billboard, editor Chuck Taylor wrote about "Don't Let Them" that "because many of her sample-heavy novelty songs have become smash hits, the R&B siren has now found the courage to attempt singing without so many gimmicks and instruments engulfing her voice. This was not an informed decision. Ashanti's vocals are as melodic as a 40-car pileup and about as emotional as a fence post. "Don't Let Them" is perhaps the emptiest offering yet from an artist whose popularity remains inexplicable." [3]

Music video

A music video for "Don't Let Them" was shot in March 2005 and directed by Ashanti and Irv Gotti. [4] It starts off with her from early in the morning and introduces the video play system, while depicting the on-and-off relationships between a couple. Fellow The Inc. recording artist Chink Santana portrays Ashanti's love interest in the video. [4]

Track listing

UK CD maxi-single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Don't Let Them" (Album Version)
  • Gotti
  • Demi-Doc
4:23
2."Only U" (Kelly G's Club Mix)
  • Gotti
  • Aurelius
  • Kelly Griffin [a]
6:42
3."Foolish" (Album Version)
Gotti3:47

Notes

Sample credits

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Don't Let Them"
Chart (2005)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA) [5] 41
Scotland (OCC) [6] 50
UK Singles (OCC) [7] 38
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [8] 8

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Don't Let Them"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
United StatesApril 5, 2005 [9] [10]

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"Into You" is the third single from American rapper Fabolous's second studio album, Street Dreams (2003), featuring either Ashanti or Tamia. The song also appears on Tamia's album More. "Into You" originally featured Ashanti, but after Irv Gotti of Murder Inc. Records refused to let her film a music video to promote the single, Fabolous reached out to Tamia to re-record a commercial version. Both the album and single versions received heavy radio-play, resulting in all three artists being credited on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single was released through Elektra Records and DJ Clue's Desert Storm Records.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Down 4 U</span> 2002 single by Irv Gotti, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Charli Baltimore and Vita

"Down 4 U" is the lead single from Murder Inc. Records' compilation album Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc., released through Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The song features rapped verses from Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, and Vita while Ashanti provides the chorus and sung vocals. The song is a remix as well as its music video being the sequel of Ja Rule's 2002 single, "Down Ass Bitch".

The following list is a discography of productions by Irv Gotti, an American record producer and music executive from New York City, New York. It includes a list of songs produced, co-produced and remixed by year, artist, album and title.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Concrete Rose (Media notes). Ashanti. The Inc., Def Jam. 2004.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ↑ Taylor, Chuck (April 16, 2005). "Reviews & Previews: Singles". Billboard . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (March 19, 2005). "Billboard Picks: Singles". Billboard . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Ashanti: Don't Let Them (2005)". IMDb . Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ashanti". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. ↑ "®R&R :: Going for Adds™ :: Urban". gfa.radioandrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-30. Retrieved 2012-06-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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