Money Maker

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"Money Maker" was obviously intended as a summer smash, as it more than satisfies the requirements: lame yet memorable pick-up lines ("I'm a bedroom gangsta"), disorganized, rambunctious production, and an accompanying big-budget video. Overall, it's a major setback in Ludacris' campaign to claim the Southern rap throne.

Atlanta really did need another strip-club anthem. So Ludacris and Pharrell deliver "Money Maker", roasting a Nellyesque sing-rap over steamy tropical percussion, a relentless knock that re-imagines "Can I Get a..." played with pots and pans. Fleshed out with deep, one-two bass punches and organs that trickle before bursting, it sounds faintly sinister. The hook boasts a lowering blend of Eros and economics: Luda's soliciting followed by Skateboard's stage-whispered counsel to "Shake your moneymaker / Like somebody 'bout to pay ya."

Commercial performance

"Money Maker" debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of August 26, 2006. [1] It moved seventeen spots to number 79 the week of September 2, 2006 [2] and another eighteen spots to number 61 the week after. [3] Two weeks later, it entered the top 40 at number 15 the week of September 23, 2006. [4] It moved thirteen spots to number two the week after with gains in airplay and digital sales, [5] but was kept off the top spot for four weeks by Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack". [6] It reached number one the week of October 28, 2006 and held that spot for two weeks before losing it again to Timberlake with "My Love", [7] remaining on the chart for a total of twenty-five weeks. [8] The song gave Ludacris his second number-one hit as lead artist and third overall, as well as Pharrell's second number-one hit.

The song appeared at number thirty-five on the Billboard Year-End chart of 2006, and number ninety-two in 2007.

It peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week, [9] the Rhythmic chart for five weeks, [10] and the Hot Rap Songs chart for seven weeks. [11] On December 6, 2006, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 1,000,000 copies in the United States. [12]

Music video

Directed by Melina Matsoukas (who directed R&B singer Shareefa's "Need a Boss") and released on August 17, 2006, premiering on various music channels including BET, MTV, and MuchMusic, the video for "Money Maker" consists of Ludacris rapping with girls dancing around him against a basically-colored background of orange, green and black. He has a counting machine that counts how many times he gets a girl to shake her rear end (called "money maker") for him. Pharrell appears during the chorus with girls and stacks of money. There is also a Chrysler ME Four-Twelve and large speakers in the background that vibrate throughout the video, which are actually salad bowls, as Ludacris explains in "Making the Video". Allen Iverson, Shareefa, Bobby Valentino, & Lil Fate make cameo appearances. The video notably features Ludacris debuting a fade haircut on camera, having shed his trademark cornrows to mark a new image.

Credits and personnel

The credits for "Money Maker" are adapted from the liner notes of Release Therapy. [13]

Recording
Personnel

Charts

"Money Maker"
Money Maker.jpg
Single by Ludacris featuring Pharrell
from the album Release Therapy
ReleasedJuly 17, 2006 (U.S. radio)
Recorded2006
Genre Dirty rap
Label DTP, Def Jam
Songwriter(s) Christopher Bridges, Pharrell Williams
Producer(s) The Neptunes
Ludacris singles chronology
"Unpredictable"
(2005)		"Money Maker"
(2006)		"Need a Boss"
(2006)
Pharrell singles chronology
"Mr. Me Too"
(2006)		"Money Maker"
(2006)		"Number One"
(2006)

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [12]
Digital 		2× Platinum2,000,000‡
United States (RIAA) [12]
Mastertone 		Platinum1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  4. ↑ "The Hot 100: September 23, 2006". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ Cohen, Jonathan (September 21, 2006). "All Timberlake, All The Time On Billboard Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  6. ↑ Hope, Clover (October 12, 2006). "Timberlake Still 'Sexy' At No. 1, New Single Keeps Climbing". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  7. ↑ Hope, Clover (November 2, 2006). "Timberlake Scores Second Straight Hot 100 No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ludacris and Pharrell Williams - Money Maker". aCharts.co. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 2006 Archive". Billboard. Promtheus Global Media. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Money Maker" October 14 – November 11, 2006:
  11. ↑ "Rap Songs – 2006 Archive". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 "American single certifications – Ludacris – Money Maker". Recording Industry Association of America.
  13. ↑ (2007) Release notes for Release Therapy by Ludacris (liner notes). The Island Def Jam Music Group (1708937)
  14. ↑ "Ludacris, Money Maker". charts.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
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  16. ↑ "Ludacris Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Ludacris Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
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  19. ↑ "Ludacris Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
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  23. ↑ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Charts - Year End". Billboard .
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