"What We Do" | ||||
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Single by Freeway featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel | ||||
from the album Philadelphia Freeway | ||||
Released | September 3, 2002 | |||
Recorded | Winter 2002 | |||
Studio | Baseline Studios | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:49 | |||
Label | Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Just Blaze | |||
Freeway singles chronology | ||||
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Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
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Beanie Sigel singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"What We Do" on YouTube |
"What We Do" is a song by American rapper Freeway. It was released on September 3,2002,as the lead single from his debut studio album Philadelphia Freeway (2003). The song features American rappers Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. It was produced by Just Blaze and contains a sample of "I Just Can't See Myself Without You" by Creative Source.
In the song,the rappers rap about committing acts that they know are illegal but still doing them in order to survive. [1] In an interview,Freeway stated the song is "talkin' about all the things that we do in the streets is wrong but,of course,there are reasons why we're doing the wrong things that we do". [2]
According to Just Blaze,"What We Do" was one of the first songs recorded for the album. Freeway originally planned for the track to be a solo and for Jay-Z to only have an ad-lib on it. Jay came to check on Freeway in the beginning of the album and on the end of the album. He made two visits to the studio. The first time he came to hear the album,Freeway played him "What We Do",and Jay said,"I gotta jump on it." After he did,Beanie Sigel recorded a verse for the song as well. [3]
The music video was filmed in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and directed by Nzingha Stewart. It is based on the television series The Wire and features cameos from cast members of the show, [4] as well as appearances from Damon Dash,Roc-A-Fella artists, [1] and Beanie Sigel's mother. [4]
Chart (2002–2003) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Hot 100 [5] | 97 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [6] | 47 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA) [7] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
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United States | November 11, 2002 | Rhythmic contemporary ·urban contemporary radio | Def Jam | [8] |
Leslie Edward Pridgen,better known by his stage name Freeway,is an American rapper. Originally hailing from Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,he first gained recognition after appearing on Jay-Z's fifth album,The Dynasty:Roc La Familia in 2000. The following year,he became a member of the Philadelphia-based hip hop collective State Property,which were signed to Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records,an imprint of Def Jam Recordings. After releasing their debut album,Pridgen signed to Roc-A-Fella as a solo artist and began work on his debut album,Philadelphia Freeway (2003). Upon release,the album peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and saw positive critical response. He released a follow-up,Free at Last (2007) to moderate reception before him and fellow State Property cohorts were dropped from the label.
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