Temptations (song)

Last updated

"Temptations"
2Pac - Temptations.jpg
Single by 2Pac
from the album Me Against the World
ReleasedAugust 29, 1995
Recorded1993 (remix:1994)
Studio Unique Studios
(New York City)
Genre Hip hop
Length5:00
Label
Songwriter(s) Tupac Shakur
Producer(s) Easy Mo Bee
2Pac singles chronology
"So Many Tears"
(1995)		"Temptations"
(1995)		"California Love"
(1995)
Music video
"Temptations" on YouTube

"Temptations" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur (2Pac) from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). It was released as a single in the US on August 29, 1995, and was released as a CD, cassette, and 12" promo. While rapping is solely performed by Shakur, Erick Sermon and producer Easy Mo Bee are also featured in the song primarily as background vocalists. The song uses the bassline from "Computer Love" by Zapp, and the theme focuses on relationship and infidelity issues. Debuting at number sixty-eight on the Billboard Hot 100, the song did fairly well in the United States. It was also well received by critics, with many writers commenting on its romantic tone.

Contents

The song's music video does not have any shots of Shakur, since he was incarcerated at the time. Instead, the video features many celebrities such as Coolio, Ice-T, Issac Hayes, Warren G, Adina Howard, Salt-N-Pepa, Shock G, B-Real, Treach, Jada Pinkett Smith, Marcus Chong, and Kenya Moore. Taking place in a hotel, the video opens and closes with the concierge (Ice-T) complaining about Coolio (a bellboy). The main plot of the video follows Coolio while he is working in the hotel.

Writing and composition

The idea for "Temptations" began in late 1993 when record producer Easy Mo Bee came to Shakur while he was on the set of Above the Rim (1994). At Rucker Park in New York City, Mo Bee approached Shakur with several different songs they could sample for the Me Against the World album. Out of the pieces he showed the rapper, Shakur favored the Zapp song "Computer Love." Despite being frequently sampled in the past by other artists, Shakur proposed that they simply speed up the tempo of "Computer Love" and use a low frequency automatic filter to retrieve the song's bassline. [1]

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Temptations" (1995)
The bassline is sampled from the Zapp song "Computer Love." After producer Easy Mo Bee added beats and fillers, the song was no longer R&B, and instead, it was hip-hop. [1]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

After adding new beats and synth pads/leads, Mo Bee decided to add a sample of the Redman and Erick Sermon song "Watch Yo Nuggets", which contributes to much of the song's tenor section with the repeated line of "Hey." [1] The song's hook samples "Overnight Sensation" by Avalanche, "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone [2] and the guitar from "In the Rain" by The Dramatics. The song also features Mo Bee and some of his friends singing harmonies. [1]

"Temptations" deals with a male-female relationship, where Shakur is—in Mo Bee's word's—basically saying to his significant other, "I like the time I'm spendin' with [you], but baby, I'm busy." [3] Other than the theme of the relationship issues, the song also focuses on the ability for anyone to feel lonely. The lines "'cause even thugs get lonely, understand. Even the hardest of my homies need attention; catch you blowin' up the telephone, reminiscing." from the third verse, are explained by William Buckholz in his 2011 book, Understand Rap: Explanations of Confusing Rap Lyrics You and Your Grandma Can Understand. He states that despite having a "tough" attitude and exterior, thugs are not emotionless. Buckholz goes on to say that there are times where everyone longs for the company of someone—be a friend or significant other—so they can share feelings and troubles with. [4]

Music video

Despite being the only rapper to perform in the song's musical composition, the music video neglects an appearance by Shakur because of his incarceration for alleged sexual abuse. [5] Set in Hotel Alexandria and directed by David Nelson, [6] the video features celebrity guest appearances by Adina Howard, B-Real, Bill Bellamy, Cheryl James, Coolio, Crystal Waters, DJ Spinderella, Ice-T, Isaac Hayes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jasmine Guy, Kenya Moore, Shock G, Joe Torry, Taye Diggs, Treach, Warren G, and Yo-Yo. [6] [7]

Fellow rapper Coolio took the main role in the "Temptations" music video. Coolio.jpg
Fellow rapper Coolio took the main role in the "Temptations" music video.

Nelson said the video's production was ambitious, stating: "It's an incredible challenge to make a creative clip of a song without the artist." He goes onto say that Coolio helped enormously because he was the first to commit to his role as the bellboy. Nelson says that Coolio's role "provides the thread that weaves together the entire concept of the video." [7] Yvette Lang, who executive produced the clip for F.M. Rocks, described the filming to be like a "big party" to show their support for Shakur. [7] Ice-T's role as the hotel concierge was not originally intended. At first, there was a comedian set to play his role, but he ended up cancelling at the last minute. Since Ice-T was only available to shoot in the morning, Nelson decided to make him the concierge. The director called it a "strange blessing" since he is more memorable as a concierge, rather than his intended role. [7]

"I shot the clip as if it were a movie, and the preview edit is the equivalent of a film trailer. We both wanted the video to be sexy and erotic, but not sleazy. It definitely pushes the envelope, but then it throws comedy to keep things from getting too serious."

— David Nelson, Billboard [7]

The music video opens with Ice-T, the concierge, and Coolio, the bellboy, in a hotel lobby. Ice-T is getting onto Coolio about how he does not put forth enough effort in his work and does not deserve the job. The song begins to play after this scene ends, and the plot follows Coolio who, while on the job, sees acts of strip poker, lesbian affairs, and several sexual scenarios. The bellboy eventually is invited into one of the rooms and the music comes to an end. The video ends with a scene of Ice-T continuing to complain about the bellboy's work ethics. [7]

Controversy

The Los Angeles Times inquires that the video deals with acts which lead to Shakur's imprisonment, commenting: "The clip itself practically invites that kind of scrutiny. The hotel setting and explicit sex echo Shakur's own crimes, which involved sodomy occurring in a hotel." [6] Nelson denies these claims, insisting that it is purely coincidental that Shakur was imprisoned for similar occurrences. [6]

Critical reception

Steve Huey at AllMusic described the piece as a romance, and said that it gave a "new meaning as an escape from the hellish pressure of everyday life." [8] Cheo Hodari Coker of Rolling Stone said the song is based on a slow beat and "avoids formulaic, radio-friendly material," and instead focuses on rhymes and confessions from the heart. [9] Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that Shakur is describing himself as a "touring rap star" with the song line: "Even though I'm known for my one-night stands, I want to be an honest man." [10] Jordan Spak wrote in the Sun-Sentinel Tribune Company that Tupac is apologizing to his listeners and defining his stance on moral rights and wrongs. [11]

Chart performance

"Temptations" did fairly well on United States charts. It spent six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number sixty-eight. [12] The song debuted at number thirteen on the US Hot Rap Singles, [13] and spent fourteen weeks on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, debuting at number thirty-five. [14]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [15] 68
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [16] 35
US Hot Rap Songs ( Billboard ) [17] 13

Formats and track listings

Related Research Articles

<i>Me Against the World</i> 1995 studio album by 2Pac

Me Against the World is the third studio album by American rapper 2Pac. It was released on March 14, 1995, by Interscope Records and Out da Gutta Records and distributed by Atlantic Records. 2Pac draws lyrical inspiration from his impending prison sentence, troubles with the police, and poverty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Love</span> 1995 single by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman

"California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper-producer Dr. Dre and American singer Roger Troutman of the funk group Zapp. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first single as the newest artist of Death Row Records. The original version is featured on the UK version of his fourth album, All Eyez on Me (1996), and is one of 2Pac's most widely known and most successful singles. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and also topped the charts of Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden. The song was posthumously nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Luv</span> American rapper

Raymond Tyson, better known by his stage name Ray Luv, is an American Bay Area rapper from Santa Rosa, California, United States, who is best known for his contribution to the Bay Area hip hop scene in the mid-1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit 'Em Up</span> 1996 song by 2Pac featuring the Outlawz

"Hit 'Em Up" is a diss track by American rapper 2Pac, featuring the Outlawz. It is the B-side to the single "How Do U Want It", released on June 4, 1996. The song's lyrics contain vicious insults to several East Coast rappers, chiefly Shakur's former friend turned rival, The Notorious B.I.G.. The song was recorded at Can Am Studios in 1996. A previous version of the song was recorded in October 1995.

<i>Thug Life, Volume I</i> 1994 studio album by Thug Life

Thug Life, Volume I is the only studio album by the American hip-hop group Thug Life. The album was released on September 26, 1994, by Interscope Records and Out da Gutta Records and distributed by Atlantic Records. The group, started by American rapper 2Pac, comprised 2Pac, his stepbrother Mopreme Shakur, and Stretch, who was heavily involved in 2Pac's previous two albums, Big Syke, The Rated R, and Macadoshis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted</span> 1996 single by 2Pac featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg

"2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, All Eyez on Me (1996). The song features fellow West Coast rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and was produced by Dat Nigga Daz. The song was released as a promotional single for the album on May 7, 1996 and later as the B-side to the album's second major and third overall single, How Do U Want It. The song peaked at number 46 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The song contains interpolations of Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five's song "The Message" and "Radio Activity Rap " by MC Frosty and Lovin' C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holidae In</span> 2003 single by Chingy

"Holidae In" is a song by American rapper Chingy featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg. It was released on August 25, 2003, by Capitol Records and Ludacris's Disturbing tha Peace record label as the second single off his debut album Jackpot (2003). Produced by the duo the Trak Starz, the release garnered positive reviews from critics who praised the performances. In 2020, Entertainment Weekly wrote that the legacy of the song was that increased the "coolness factor" of Holiday Inn, hotel chain based in Atlanta, and owned by the hospitality company, Intercontinental Hotels Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changes (Tupac Shakur song)</span> 1992 single by 2Pac featuring Talent

"Changes" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring R&B group Talent. It was recorded in 1992 before being remixed and released as a single from Shakur's Greatest Hits compilation on October 13, 1998 . The song makes references to the many wars in the Middle East, the war on drugs, the treatment of black people by the police, racism, the reconciliation between the black and white people in America, the perpetuation of poverty and its accompanying vicious-cycle value system in urban African American culture, and the difficulties of life in the ghetto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dear Mama</span> 1995 single by Tupac Shakur

"Dear Mama" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). It was released on February 21, 1995, as the lead single from the album. The song is a tribute to his mother, Afeni Shakur. In the song, Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. The song became his first top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine. It also topped the Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks. As of March 2021, the song is certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Get Around (Tupac Shakur song)</span> 1993 single by 2Pac featuring Digital Underground

"I Get Around" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his second studio album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993). It was released on June 10, 1993 by Interscope Records as the album's second single and features Shakur's mentor Shock G and Money-B of Digital Underground, Shakur's old group. It was produced by Shock G, who produced it under the alias, The D-Flow Production Squad. AllMusic notes that in the song, Shakur "brags about his sexual conquests". Chart-wise, it was the album's most successful single, reaching numbers eleven and nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runnin' (Dying to Live)</span> 2003 single by Tupac featuring The Notorious B.I.G.

"Runnin' (Dying to Live)", is a posthumous song by American rapper 2Pac, with an additional posthumous verse from The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from the soundtrack album Tupac: Resurrection on September 30, 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hail Mary (2Pac song)</span> 1997 single by Makaveli featuring Outlawz

"Hail Mary" is a song by American rapper Tupac Shakur from his fifth studio album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996). It was released after his September 1996 murder under the Makaveli stage name as the album's third single. Hail Mary features rap verses by Kastro, Young Noble and Yaki Kadafi of the Outlawz rap group and vocals from reggae musician Prince Ital Joe. A music video was shot for the song and can be found on the DualDisc of The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tupac Shakur discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Tupac Shakur consists of 11 studio albums. Throughout his career and posthumously, Shakur sold more than 75 million records worldwide. He has scored 5 No. 1 albums on Billboard 200 and 8 No. 1 albums on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums. In 2001, Guinness World Records hailed him as the then Best-selling artist of rap in the US. According to Recording Industry Association of America, he has sold 37.5 million albums and an additional 4 million under his alias Makaveli with "The Don Killuminati", making him the second best-selling hip-hop artist in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Day at a Time (Em's Version)</span> 2004 single by Tupac and Eminem featuring Outlawz

"One Day at a Time (Em's Version)" is a song by American rapper Tupac from the 2003 soundtrack album Tupac: Resurrection: The Original Soundtrack. The track is American rapper Eminem's take on the 1996 original, which features both Shakur and Spice 1. Eminem's version features vocals from both himself and Outlawz. The song was released as a 12" promo single in 2004, no official music video was ever created. It charted at #80 on The Billboard Hot 100, number 55 in the RNB chart and 22 in rap singles. It also peaked at 134 in the UK.

<i>All Eyez on Me</i> 1996 studio album by 2Pac

All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row and Interscope Records, the album features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, E-40, K-Ci & JoJo, and the Outlawz, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Many Tears</span> 1995 single by 2Pac

"So Many Tears" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). It was released on June 13, 1995, as the album's second single. It was produced by Shock G, who used a sample of Stevie Wonder's That Girl, and is often described as one of the album's best. A music video was made for "So Many Tears" and there were also numerous live performances of this song on Saturday Night Live and on Shakur's House of Blues concert, his last recorded show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papa'z Song</span> 1994 single by 2Pac featuring Wycked

"Papa'z Song" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his second solo album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993). It was released as the fourth and final single from the album. A music video was made for the single. The song peaked at number twenty four on the US Hot Rap Songs chart, number eighty two on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number eighty seven on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Runnin'" is a 1995 song written and performed by rappers 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Stretch, Dramacydal and reggae superstar Buju Banton. Recorded in 1993, the song holds significance as the only song 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. officially recorded together prior to hostility arising between the two rappers. The song, originally slated to appear on 2Pac's 1993-1994 shelved solo album that later turned to be Me Against The World, then on Thug Life's 1994 debut album, Thug Life, Volume I, was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. It charted at #81, #57 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks & Hot Rap Singles charts, respectively.

<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">DJ King Assassin</span> American rapper

Craig Venegas Alvarado, known by his stage name DJ King Assassin, is an American disc jockey, producer, and engineer from Los Angeles, California.

References

Literature
Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 Brown 2005 , p. 49
  2. ↑ Thompson 2001 , p. 53
  3. ↑ Sandy & Daniel 2010 , pp. 31–35
  4. ↑ Buckholz 2012 , p. 43
  5. ↑ Violanti, Anthony (1995-04-17). "Tupac Shakur Takes on a World of Persecution". The Buffalo News .
  6. 1 2 3 4 Hochman, Steve (1995-09-24). "2Pac's Pals Turn Out for Tupac-Less Video". Los Angeles Times .
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Atwood, Brett (1995-09-23). "Takes More Than Prison To Stop 2Pac". Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 38. Prometheus Global Media. p. 101.
  8. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Me Against the World – 2Pac | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic . Rovi . Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  9. ↑ Coker, Cheo (1998-02-02). "Me Against The World | Album Reviews | Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Wenner Media LLC . Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  10. ↑ Pareles, Jon (1995-04-09). "Recordings View; Confessions of a Rapper Who Done Wrong". The New York Times . Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  11. ↑ Spak, Jordan (1996-04-12). "2pac: Old And New". Sun-Sentinel . Tribune Company . Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  12. ↑ "2Pac - Chart history | Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  13. ↑ "2Pac | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  14. ↑ "2Pac – Chart history | Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2015-09-26. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  15. ↑ "2Pac Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  16. ↑ "2Pac Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  17. ↑ "2Pac Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  18. ↑ "Temptations" (Compact Disc). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. 957242.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ↑ "Temptations [CD/Cassette Single] - 2Pac | Release Information | 2Pac". AllMusic. Rovi. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  20. ↑ "Temptations" (12" promo). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. DMD 2241.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ↑ "Temptations" (Cassette single). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. 981204.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ "Temptations" (Compact Disc promo). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. PRCD6376.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. ↑ "Temptations" (Cassette Maxi single). Tupac Shakur. Interscope Records. 1995. 957244.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.