The Show (Doug E. Fresh song)

Last updated
"The Show"
Single by Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew
B-side "La Di Da Di"
ReleasedAugust 13, 1985
Recorded1985
Genre Hip hop
Length6:40
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Dennis Bell and Ollie Cotton
  • Doug E. Fresh (co.)
  • Teddy Riley
Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew singles chronology
"The Original Human Beatbox"
(1984)		"The Show"
(1985)		"All The Way To Heaven"
(1986)

"The Show" is a single by Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew. Described as "a reality show of a Hip Hop performance" the track focuses on a conversation between Doug E. Fresh and MC Ricky D (later known as Slick Rick) as they prepare for a show. [1] The song incorporates portions of the melody from the theme song of the animated series Inspector Gadget . [2] The original issue of the song featured a line where Slick Rick mockingly sings a verse from the Beatles' "Michelle" (1965), but all subsequent reissues have removed this line since the rights to the song were never secured.

Contents

Originally released as a single, the track was later remixed and included on the 1986 Oh, My God! album.

Reception

"The Show" was named Spin magazine's top rap single of the year, and in Europe (where it received air time on pop music stations such as BBC Radio 1) it broke the record for the best selling rap single of all time. [3] The song peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1985 [4] and was #8 on Jet's top 20 for the same month. [5] The record was produced by Dennis Bell & Ollie Cotton for City Slicker Productions.

While one 1985 critic for Spin included the song in a list of "stupid music"—making fun of Doug E. Fresh's lyrics about his shoes, and calling Slick Rick's sendup of "Michelle" "pathetic"—he still concluded that the single is "the shit". [6] Billboard refused to take it seriously, declaring it the "funniest comedy album of the year". [7] Even when it became only the fourth rap single ever to reach gold record status, the same reviewer stated that it only proved that "talk isn't always cheap". [8]

Legacy

The song is featured in New Jack City and CB4 , but is not included in the soundtrack album of either film. Chris Rock, who starred in both these films, would later have Slick Rick perform the song live to introduce his HBO special Bigger & Blacker .

In response to the song's popularity, Hurby Azor and his female hip hop group, Super Nature recorded a diss track entitled "The Showstopper". While not a hit in its own right, it did become the breakout track for the group that would later be known as Salt-n-Pepa. [9]

Another diss track entitled "No Show" by The Symbolic Three was released in 1985.

The song is briefly sampled in the song "Oodles of O's" by De La Soul, from their 1991 album De La Soul Is Dead .

Some of the lyrics in this song were interpolated by Snoop Doggy Dogg for the chorus of his 1996 song "Sixx Minutes".

In 1997, The Roots covered the song for the compilation album In tha Beginning...There Was Rap .

The "Six minutes Doug E. Fresh, you're on!" was referenced by Eminem in the song "Remember Me?" from The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) which itself was referenced in the single "Rap God" from the sequel to the same album released in 2013 with the intro featuring Eminem saying "Six minutes Slim Shady, you're on" in the background.

Charts

Chart (1985)Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [10] 13
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [12] 4

Certifications

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

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slick Rick</span> English-American rapper and record producer (born 1965)

Richard Martin Lloyd Walters, better known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence as part of Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew in the mid-1980s. Their songs "The Show" and "La Di Da Di" are considered early hip hop classics. "La Di Da Di" is one of the most sampled songs in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug E. Fresh</span> Barbadian-American rapper (born 1966)

Douglas Davis, known professionally as Doug E. Fresh, is a Barbadian-born American rapper, record producer, and beatboxer, also known as the "Human Beat Box". The pioneer of 20th-century American beatboxing, Fresh is able to accurately imitate drum machines and various special effects using only his mouth, lips, gums, throat, tongue and a microphone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masta Ace</span> American rapper (born 1966)

Duval Clear, better known by his stage name Masta Ace, is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. A lead member of Mr. Magic's hip hop collective Juice Crew, he is best known for his guest appearance alongside Kool G Rap, Craig G and Big Daddy Kane on the group's 1988 posse cut "The Symphony". He is noted for his distinct voice and rapping proficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chubb Rock</span> Jamaican rapper

Richard Anthony Simpson, also known as Chubb Rock, is a Jamaican-American rapper who released several successful hip hop albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A National Merit Scholar, Chubb Rock dropped out of Brown University to pursue his musical career.

<i>The Rulers Back</i> 1991 studio album by Slick Rick

The Ruler's Back is the second studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick, released in 1991 on Def Jam Recordings.

<i>Behind Bars</i> (Slick Rick album) 1994 studio album by Slick Rick

Behind Bars is the third studio album by the British-American rapper Slick Rick, released in 1994 on Def Jam Recordings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana Dane</span> American rapper (born 1965)

Dana McCleese, better known by his stage name Dana Dane, is an American rapper known for performance of humorous lyrics and for his fashion sense.

<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">Children's Story</span> 1989 single by Slick Rick

"Children's Story" is a song recorded by British-American hip hop artist Slick Rick. Taken as the second single from his album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, the song was a Top 5 hit on both the Hot R&B Singles and the Hot Rap Tracks charts. It is one of the most sampled rap songs of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stupid Hoe</span> 2011 song by Nicki Minaj

"Stupid Hoe" is a song by Trinidadian rapper and singer Nicki Minaj. The song was written by Minaj and DJ Diamond Kuts, the latter of which handled the production. It was released through Cash Money Records on December 20, 2011, from Minaj's second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), two weeks after the release of the album's first promotional single "Roman in Moscow".

<i>Whiteboyz</i> 1999 comedy film directed by Marc Levin

Whiteboyz is a 1999 American comedy film. The independent, limited release feature was written by Danny Hoch, Garth Belcon, Henri M. Kessler, Richard Stratton, and Marc Levin, and directed by Levin. The film opened to 37 theatres on the week of September 11, 1999. It marked the film debut of actress Piper Perabo, in a minor role. Several well-known rappers made cameo appearances in the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survival (Eminem song)</span> 2013 single by Eminem

"Survival" is a song by American rapper Eminem. It premiered on August 14, 2013, to promote the multiplayer trailer for the video game Call of Duty: Ghosts, and was initially released as a pre-order bonus when pre-ordering the game. The song was officially released as the second single from The Marshall Mathers LP 2 on October 8, 2013. It features uncredited vocals in the chorus from Liz Rodrigues of the New Royales. Upon its single release, the song debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and upon the album's release, it climbed to a new peak of number 16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berzerk (song)</span> 2013 single by Eminem

"Berzerk" is a song by American rapper Eminem. The song, released on August 27, 2013, is the first single from Eminem's eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The song was produced by Rick Rubin and samples Billy Squier's "The Stroke", as well as the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right", taken from their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill, which Rubin had also produced, and Naughty by Nature's "Feel Me Flow". The song was heavily downloaded in its first week of release, resulting in the song debuting at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rap God</span> 2013 single by Eminem

"Rap God" is a song by American rapper Eminem. The song premiered via YouTube on October 14, 2013, and was released in the United States on October 15, 2013, as the third single from Eminem's eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013). It contains references to previous conflicts in Eminem's career, as well as to other rappers' conduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slick Rick discography</span>

This is the discography for English-American hip hop musician Slick Rick. It includes 4 studio albums and 17 singles, including 8 as a featured artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rap Devil</span> 2018 diss track by Machine Gun Kelly

"Rap Devil" is a diss track performed by American rapper Machine Gun Kelly. The song is aimed at American rapper Eminem. The song was produced by Ronny J and Nils. It was released on September 3, 2018, by Bad Boy Records and Interscope Records, as a single from the rapper's second extended play Binge. The song's title is a play on Eminem's "Rap God", and is his response to Eminem's song "Not Alike". It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States. It also peaked at number 1 on the US iTunes Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killshot (song)</span> 2018 diss track by Eminem

"Killshot" is a diss track written and recorded by American rapper Eminem. It was released on September 14, 2018, through Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records, amidst his feud with American musician Machine Gun Kelly. It serves as Eminem's response to Kelly's diss track "Rap Devil".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remember the Name (Ed Sheeran song)</span> 2018 song feat. Eminem and 50 Cent

"Remember the Name" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran featuring American rappers Eminem and 50 Cent from the former's compilation album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019). It was released as a promotional single through Asylum and Atlantic Records. The song was produced by Sheeran, alongside Max Martin, Shellback, and Fred. They also served as songwriters alongside the rappers and Patrick Brown, Raymon Murra, Rico Wade, André Benjamin and Antwan Patton, with the latter five receiving credit due to the usage of words and music from Outkast's single "So Fresh, So Clean" (2001).

Daniel Nwosu Jr., professionally known by his stage name Dax, is a Nigerian-Canadian rapper and singer-songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From the D 2 the LBC</span> 2022 single by Eminem and Snoop Dogg

"From the D 2 the LBC" is a song by American rappers Eminem and Snoop Dogg. It was released on June 24, 2022, as the second single from Eminem's second greatest hits album, Curtain Call 2 (2022). The song was produced by Eminem and was written by Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Luis Resto. It marks the first collaboration between the two rappers in over 20 years, having last appeared together on the track "Bitch Please II" from The Marshall Mathers LP (2000).

References

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
The Show
Problems playing this file? See media help.
  1. ↑ Kool Moe Dee; Chuck D; Ernie Paniccioli (2003). There's a god on the mic: the true 50 greatest MCs. Da Capo Press. p.  88. ISBN   1-56025-533-1.
  2. ↑ Jenkins, Sacha; Wilson, Elliott; Alvarez, Gabe; Rollins, Brent (1999). "Rap Songs That Flipped TV Show Themes Lovely". Ego Trip's Book of Rap Lists. Macmillan. ISBN   0-312-24298-0.
  3. ↑ John Leland (May 1986). Doug Be Fresh. Spin Magazine.
  4. ↑ David Roberts (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 215. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  5. ↑ Jet's Top 20 Singles. Jet. December 19, 1985.
  6. ↑ John Leland (November 1985). When Stupid Music Happens to Smart People: The Sounds of Nonsense. Spin Magazine.
  7. ↑ Nelson George (January 11, 1986). Rhythm & Blues.
  8. ↑ Nelson George (February 8, 1986). Rhythm & Blues.
  9. ↑ Sandy Denton; Karen Hunter (2008). Let's Talk About Pep. Simon and Schuster. p. 46. ISBN   978-1-4165-5141-6.
  10. ↑ "Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew – The Show" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Doug E. Fresh Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ "American single certifications – Doug E. Fresh & Get Fresh Crew – The Show". Recording Industry Association of America.
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.