Pimp of the Year (song)

Last updated
"Pimp of the Year"
Dru Down - Pimp of the Year.jpg
Single by Dru Down
from the album Explicit Game
Released1994
Genre West Coast hip hop
Length4:14
Label Relativity
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Ant Banks
Dru Down singles chronology
"Pimp of the Year"
(1994)
"Ice Cream Man"
(1994)
Music video
"Pimp of the Year" on YouTube

"Pimp of the Year" (edited for radio as "Mack of the Year") is the debut single by American rapper Dru Down, released in 1994 as the lead single from his second studio album Explicit Game (1994). Produced by Ant Banks, it contains a sample of "Shorty the Pimp" by Don Julian and The Larks. It is Dru Down's most successful song, peaking at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

Background and content

Dru Down recorded the song at rapper Too Short's studio. The song was an instant hit in the Bay Area upon release, staying on the Billboard Hot 100 for 24 weeks. It has been considered a "pimp anthem". [1] Due to the song's popularity, a radio-friendly version titled "Mack of the Year" was made. [2]

Critical reception

Jesse Taylor of Passion of the Weiss described that Dru Down's "hypnotizing" voice "effortlessly grinds through Ant Bank's track like a circular saw". [1] Complex ranked the song at number 10 in their list "The 50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs". [2]

Charts

Chart (1994–95)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [3] 65

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P.I.M.P.</span> 2003 single by 50 Cent

"P.I.M.P." is a song recorded by American rapper 50 Cent for his debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). It features production from Mr. Porter of D12 and was mixed by Dr. Dre. The song was released as the third single from Get Rich or Die Tryin' alongside its remix, featuring American rappers Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck, on June 24, 2003, by Interscope Records, Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment.

Ant Banks, is an American record producer and rapper from Oakland, California.

Danyel Robinson, better known by his stage name Dru Down, is an American rapper and actor from Oakland, California. He is currently a member of The Regime, a collective of rappers that includes Yukmouth, Tech N9ne, Messy Marv, BG Bulletwound, Dorasel, Grant Rice, and Tha Realest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Was a Good Day</span> 1993 single by Ice Cube

"It Was a Good Day" is a song by American rapper Ice Cube, released on February 23, 1993, by Lench Mob and Priority as the second single from his third solo album, The Predator (1992). The song was written by Ice Cube and produced by DJ Pooh, peaking at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 27 on the UK Charts. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at No. 15, making it Ice Cube's highest-charting single on the chart to date. Its music video was directed by F. Gary Gray. The song's lyrics describe a generic pleasant day from his life; according to Ice Cube, he had no specific date in mind, though several attempts have been made to identify one.

<i>Get Rich or Die Tryin</i> 2003 studio album by 50 Cent

Get Rich or Die Tryin' is the debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released on February 6, 2003, by Interscope Records, Eminem's Shady Records, Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. After signing with Eminem, 50 Cent also worked heavily with Dr. Dre acting as the album's executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip-hop. Additional production is provided by Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL, Mr. Porter, Rockwilder, Dirty Swift, Megahertz, and more.

<i>Shorty the Pimp</i> 1992 studio album by Too Short

Shorty the Pimp is the seventh studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on July 14, 1992, via Jive Records. The album's title is taken from the 1973 blaxploitation film of the same name, featuring an eponymous character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C.R.E.A.M.</span> Song by hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan

"C.R.E.A.M." is a song by the American hardcore hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, released on January 31, 1994 by Loud Records, as the second single from their debut studio album Enter the Wu-Tang (1993). The song was produced by the group's de facto leader RZA, and contains a sample of the Charmels' 1967 song "As Long As I've Got You" throughout. It features two verses from members Raekwon and Inspectah Deck, who discuss their upbringings while living in New York City, and Method Man, who sings its hook. Its music video, featuring all Wu-Tang Clan members in New York City, was released in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Wanna Be Down</span> 1994 single by Brandy

"I Wanna Be Down" is the debut single of American recording artist Brandy from her self-titled debut album (1994). It was written by musicians Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones, with production helmed by the former, it was released on September 5, 1994, by the Atlantic Recording Corporation. The song is a mid-tempo track that features a thunderous beat and light synth riffs. Lyrically, "I Wanna Be Down" describes a flirt with a boy, who Norwood tries to convince of her loveliness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Like Me (David Banner song)</span> 2008 single by David Banner featuring Chris Brown

"Get Like Me" is the second single from David Banner's sixth album, The Greatest Story Ever Told. The song features Chris Brown and samples several lines from "It's Goin' Down" by fellow rapper Yung Joc, who, while not officially credited or featured, appears in the song's music video. There was an alternate version of the song featuring Jim Jones, but label troubles prevented his version from being released.

<i>Explicit Game</i> 1994 studio album by Dru Down

Explicit Game is the second studio album by American rapper Dru Down, his first for Relativity Records, and his first to make the billboard charts. Essentially a re-release of his 1993 debut album, Fools from the Streets, the album features similar cover art, a re-ordered track list, and a few new tracks. Explicit Game made it to 46 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and 31 on the Top Heatseekers chart. In addition to the album charting, a single entitled "Pimp of the Year" made it to 65 on the Billboard Top 100 and 14 on the Hot Rap Tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juicy Fruit (Mtume song)</span> 1983 single by Mtume

"Juicy Fruit" is a song written by James Mtume and released as the lead-off single from Mtume's third album, also titled Juicy Fruit. It features lead vocals by Tawatha Agee. The mid-tempo song is Mtume's most well-known, proving enormously successful on R&B radio stations when first released. The song is about oral sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendrick Lamar</span> American rapper and songwriter (born 1987)

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is an American rapper and songwriter. Regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation, and one of the greatest rappers of all time, he is known for his technical artistry and complex songwriting. He was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to receive the honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapper's Ball</span> 1996 single by E-40 featuring Too $hort and K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci

"Rapper's Ball" is a song by American rap artist E-40, featuring rapper Too $hort and Jodeci lead singer Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey. It is a single from the lead rapper's 1996 album Tha Hall of Game and is a B-side for E-40's song "Things'll Never Change", featuring The Dove Shack rapper Bo-Rock. The song peaked at #29 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart along with "Things'll Never Change", becoming E-40's most successful song as a lead artist until "U and Dat" featuring T-Pain and Kandi Girl peaked at #13 on the Hot 100 in 2006. This song is considered a classic by most west coast rap fans, especially in E-40's hometown Vallejo which is in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. This song is also notable for featuring a diss to Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G. in which E-40 says, "Don't buy an $85,000 car before you buy a house", making reference to Biggie owning expensive cars but still not having purchased his own home. In the video, Tupac Shakur, who makes a cameo appearance, winks at the camera when this line is said. This song is also one of Too Short's successful songs amongst many Platinum Albums Too Short has recorded with other Bay Area HipHop Rap Legend. Later several Top Artists around the Bay would collaborate on the album Derty Werk by T.W.D.Y. a west coast supergroup formed by Ant Banks and released in 1999. The music video also features another Rap artist from the Bay Area most known for his Raw Gangsta Rap lyrics, Ice-T arriving with Too Short & playing pool with Tupac, albeit doesn't perform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faded (Tyga song)</span> 2012 single by Tyga

"Faded" is a song by American rapper Tyga featuring Young Money-founder Lil Wayne. The song was first released on January 13, 2012 as the fourth single from the rapper's debut studio album, Careless World: Rise of the Last King (2012). For the chart dated May 27, 2012, "Faded" debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 33, marking Tyga's second highest-charting single at the time after "Rack City"; which peaked at number seven. It was released to US rhythmic radio stations on March 13, 2012. Complex named the song No. 42 of the best 50 songs of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beez in the Trap</span> 2012 single by Nicki Minaj featuring 2 Chainz

"Beez in the Trap" is a song by rapper Nicki Minaj, featuring American rapper 2 Chainz. It was released on May 29, 2012 by Young Money, Cash Money, and Universal Republic as the lead single from Minaj's second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012). It was written by both artists, alongside producer Kenoe.

"Tom Ford" is a song by American hip hop artist Jay-Z from his twelfth studio album Magna Carta Holy Grail (2013). It features additional vocals from his wife Beyoncé as Third Ward Trill and was produced by Timbaland and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon. On September 26, 2013, "Tom Ford" was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United Kingdom as the album's second single and then on October 15, 2013, to rhythmic contemporary in the United States. Following the release of the album, the song peaked at number 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Distribution</span> American record label, publisher and distribution company

Empire Distribution, Records and Publishing Inc. is an independent American record label, distribution and publishing company founded in 2010 by Ghazi Shami. Based in San Francisco, EMPIRE has offices in New York, London, Lagos, and Johannesburg in addition to recording studios in San Francisco and New York.

<i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> 2015 studio album by Kendrick Lamar

To Pimp a Butterfly is the third studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 15, 2015, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was recorded in studios throughout the United States, with production from Sounwave, Terrace Martin, Taz "Tisa" Arnold, Thundercat, Rahki, LoveDragon, Flying Lotus, Pharrell Williams, Boi-1da, Knxwledge, and several other high-profile hip-hop producers, as well as executive production from Dr. Dre and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. Guest appearances include Thundercat, George Clinton, Bilal, Anna Wise, Snoop Dogg, James Fauntleroy, Ronald Isley, and Rapsody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flava in Ya Ear</span> 1994 single by Craig Mack

"Flava in Ya Ear" is a song by American rapper Craig Mack. It was released as the lead single from his debut studio album Project: Funk da World on July 2, 1994, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. It was remixed with the addition of rappers The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.

"Pushin P" is a song by American rappers Gunna, Future, and Young Thug. It was released on January 7, 2022, as the second track from Gunna's third studio album DS4Ever. The "hypnotic", alliterative track finds the trio rapping about "pushin p", which is a phrase popularized by Gunna that means to "keep it real". The track was regarded by some critics as a standout from DS4Ever, and became the album's highest-charting track, debuting at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

References

  1. 1 2 Taylor, Jesse (May 13, 2021). ""The Music Is Embedded in Me:" An Interview With Dru Down". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Staley, Willy (January 27, 2011). "The 50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs". Complex . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  3. "Billboard Hot 100: Week of February 11, 1995". Billboard . Retrieved 5 August 2023.