"Superwoman Pt. II" | ||||
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Single by Lil' Mo featuring Fabolous | ||||
from the album Based on a True Story | ||||
Released | March 6, 2001 [1] | |||
Recorded | Enterprise, Burbank, California | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:26 | |||
Label | Elektra/WEA | |||
Songwriter(s) | C. Loving, J. Jackson, E. Shaw, K. Ifill | |||
Producer(s) | DJ Clue, Duro | |||
Lil' Mo singles chronology | ||||
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Fabolous singles chronology | ||||
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"Superwoman Pt. II" is a song by American recording artist Lil' Mo from her debut album, Based on a True Story (2001). The song features the debut appearance by then-unknown Fabolous and remixed production by hip-hop producers DJ Clue and Ken "Duro" Ifill. To date, "Superwoman Pt. II" remains as Lil' Mo's most successful single to date as a leading artist.
Originally, the song was released as the Brian Michael Cox–produced "Superwoman, Pt. I" in February 2001 to generally mixed reviews. [2] However, because the "Pt. 1" version failed to attain successful radio airplay, Elektra Records had no other choice but to push Lil' Mo's debut album back to a later release in 2001. [3] Upset, Lil' Mo tried to convince Elektra that "Superwoman" would be a smash hit; to prove it, Mo contacted DJ Clue to remix the "Superwoman" track with a beat that he was holding for rap duo M.O.P. [3] At first Clue was not in support of the idea, but when he loved the results, he premiered it on New York City's Hot 97 radio show. [3] Following its premiere, the song began to circulate on numerous mixtapes and began to chart on Billboard ; however because Billboard prohibited remixes from charting, Mo had to convince Elektra to re-release the single in an alternate title, now famously known as "Superwoman, Pt. II." [3]
When interviewed on the song's meaning, Lil' Mo identified the song as being an "anti-chicken head" anthem, [4] and explained that the concept behind it was to inform guys that she was independent, but at the same time, needed "that shoulder to lean on." [5]
During a two-hour studio session, Lil' Mo recorded the "Superwoman" vocals at Enterprise Studios in Burbank, California. [6] [7] Additionally, Mo had to beatbox the infamous stuttering "da-da-da-da-da" beat to her production team since they were not understanding her vision. [7] Since she was in Los Angeles, Mo had a deadline to transfer her vocals via a CD to give to DJ Clue at a New York airline. [7]
Within that deadline, a relative of Mo's requested her to feature "the mixtape rapper who spells his name," unquestionably known as Fabolous. [8] Mo would then contact Clue to see if it was possible to feature the rapper, and within a three-day span, Clue added the rapper to the record. Fabolous at the time was shocked of Lil' Mo's decision to feature him since Mo had worked with other well-known rappers like Jay-Z and Ja Rule. [9]
While the original 'Part 1' version featured a mid-tempo sample of Graham Nash's 1970 record "Chicago," [2] [6] the 'Part 2' version was set in the key of F-sharp minor and featured a "crazy beat" backed up by a heavy bass. [1]
A music video for the single was directed by Chris Robinson and premiered in early March 2001. [10] It begins with Lil' Mo dancing to the song's beat in the dark with glowing blue lights, while Fabolous begins rapping his first verse in a diner. The video then cuts to Lil' Mo working as a waitress in the diner where she spots her love interest (portrayed by Jensen Atwood) exiting to attend a county fair. Mo is later seen exiting the diner and saving a civilian from a purse robbery. The latter of the video then shows Mo in her infamous blue braids while playing at a bowling alley to gain the affection of her love interest.
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Cynthia Karen Loving, known professionally as Lil' Mo, is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her 2001 single "Superwoman Pt. II", featuring then-unknown rapper Fabolous, which has been credited as launching his career. She first gained recognition as Missy Elliott's protégé, of whom featured on Lil Mo's 1998 debut single "5 Minutes" for the Why Do Fools Fall in Love film soundtrack. The following year, Lil' Mo featured alongside Nas, Eve, and Q-Tip on Missy Elliott's 1999 single "Hot Boyz". In 2000, she guest performed on Ja Rule's singles "Put It on Me" and "I Cry", the former of which earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
John David Jackson, better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition for his ability upon performing live on DJ Clue's Hot 97 radio show. Jackson then signed to Clue's record label, Desert Storm Records in a joint venture with Elektra Records. He first gained mainstream prominence for his debut studio album Ghetto Fabolous (2001), which spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" and "Young'n ." His second album, Street Dreams (2003) was further commercially oriented and supported by the singles "Can't Let You Go" and "Into You" —both of which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Ernesto Shaw, better known as DJ Clue, is an American disc jockey (DJ), record producer, radio personality and record executive.
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"Hot Boyz" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Missy Elliott featuring American rapper and singer-songwriter Lil' Mo. The remix version of the song was an urban hit featuring Nas, Eve and Q-Tip. The remix broke the record for most weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart on the issue dated January 15, 2000; as well as spending 18 weeks at number one on the Hot Rap Singles from December 4, 1999, to March 25, 2000, a record not broken until "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X in 2019. The song also reached number 5 on the US Hot 100 on January 15, 2000. In the UK, the song became the biggest hit from the Da Real World album; it peaked at #18, being Missy's sixth top 40 and fourth top 20 solo success. On February 4, 2000 the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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