U Know What's Up

Last updated
"U Know What's Up"
U Know Whats Up.jpg
Single by Donell Jones
from the album Where I Wanna Be
B-side "Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" (excerpt)
ReleasedAugust 3, 1999 (1999-08-03)
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Donell Jones singles chronology
"You Should Know"
(1997)		"U Know What's Up"
(1999)		"It's So Hard"
(2000)
Lisa Lopes singles chronology
"Cradle of Rock"
(1998)		"U Know What's Up"
(1999)		"I Do"
(1999)

"U Know What's Up" is a song by American R&B singer Donell Jones. It was written by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for his second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999), while production was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment.

Contents

Released as the album's lead single, the song became Jones' biggest hit, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, "U Know What's Up" topped Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for eight consecutive weeks, his only single to do so to date. A remix version featuring Left Eye of TLC was used for the accompanying music video. Outside of the United States, "U Know What's Up" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Music video

The video features rapper Left Eye of TLC, YoungBloodZ, T.I., Usher and Big Boi of OutKast, all of whom were (including Jones) part of the LaFace Records label. At the beginning of the video, there is a sign that says La Face Place, in reference to the record label. The clip premiered on BET on the week ending September 12, 1999. [1]

The video begins with Left Eye at her apartment receiving a phone call, presumably from Jones, informing her that the music video for the song is being aired on TV. She turns to the TV screen behind her playing the video, which shows Jones at a hotel party, and proceeds to watch it. As it turns out, Left Eye is not the only person watching the video, as the video pans across the building showing Usher and his girlfriend at his apartment, and Big Boi hosting a music video premiere at his apartment. Midway through the video, Left Eye leaves her apartment and recites her verse in the song while walking across the corridor, presumably to join Jones at a similar party at the back of the building, which is revealed as the camera pulls back from the corridor. At the end, the video pulls back to reveal Jones watching it at his apartment with his girlfriend.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [33] Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA) [34] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesAugust 3, 1999 Urban radio
[35]
September 14, 1999 Urban AC radio [36]
September 21, 1999 Rhythmic contemporary radio [37]
United KingdomJanuary 10, 2000
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [38]
New ZealandMarch 6, 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 [39]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Video Monitor". Billboard . Vol. 111, no. 40. October 2, 1999. p. 110. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  2. ↑ U Know What's Up (US CD single liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24420-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ↑ U Know What's Up (US cassette single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24420-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ↑ U Know What's Up (US 12-inch single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24411-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ U Know What's Up (Australian CD single liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 2000. 74321 70262 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ U Know What's Up (UK CD1 liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ↑ U Know What's Up (UK CD2 liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72276 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ U Know What's Up (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ↑ U Know What's Up (UK cassette single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ↑ U Know What's Up (European CD single liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 73889 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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