The Rapper

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"The Rapper"
The Rapper (1970 The Jaggerz single).png
Single by The Jaggerz
from the album We Went to Different Schools Together
B-side "Born Poor"
ReleasedJanuary 1970 [1]
Genre Rock, pop
Length2:41
Label Kama Sutra KA 502
Songwriter(s) Dominic Ierace
Producer(s) Sixuvus Productions
The Jaggerz singles chronology
"Need Your Love"
(1970)
"The Rapper"
(1970)
"I Call My Baby Candy"
(1970)
45 RPM colored vinyl
The Rapper - The Jaggerz.jpg
Limited edition release

"The Rapper" is a song by The Jaggerz, written by band member Donnie Iris. [2] Released as a single, it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, behind Simon & Garfunkel's smash "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on 20 March 1970, it reached No. 1 on the Record World Singles chart. [3] It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1970 (see 1970 in music) for selling over a million copies. [4]

Contents

Background

The song is addressed to a girl, or girls in general; it describes the method of a man who seduces women with untruths ("rapping"). The singer says, "You know what he's after"; he concludes by saying there comes a point at which the man has his target where he wants her, and the girl has to "face reality". The record ends with a small burst of applause heard in the studio.

The "rapper" of the title and "rappin'" in the lyrics have only some coincidental resemblance to the vocal style of rapping. [5]

Chart performance

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [13] Gold1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Covers

"The Rapper" has been covered by two Jaggerz members. Since beginning his solo career, Donnie Iris has covered the song numerous times in concert. Additionally, live recordings of the song have appeared on his compilation albums.

Also, "The Rapper" was covered by Jimmie Ross during the time period when The Jaggerz weren't together. Additionally, the single was covered by Wolfman Jack. Canadian hard rock trio Santers recorded the song for their 1981 debut album Shot Down In Flames.

Album appearances

See also

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References

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  2. The Jaggerz. "The Rapper". YouTube. Retrieved 19 September 2023. Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment
  3. 1 2 Tady, Scott. "50 years ago, the Jaggerz topped the charts". The Beaver County Times . Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  4. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 262. ISBN   0-214-20512-6 . Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  5. "The Rapper by The Jaggerz". Archived from the original on 2019-05-27. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 153. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
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  9. "Top 100 1970-03-21". Cashbox Magazine . Archived from the original on 2013-03-02. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
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  13. "American single certifications – Jaggerz – The Rapper". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 7, 2024.