Frontin'
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| “Frontin” | |||||
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| Single by Pharrell featuring Jay-Z from the album The Neptunes Present... Clones |
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| Released | U.S. - June 3, 2003 UK - August 4, 2003 |
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| Format | CD single Vinyl |
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| Recorded | 2003 | ||||
| Genre | R&B | ||||
| Length | 4:01 | ||||
| Label | Arista Records Star Trak |
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| Writer(s) | Pharrell Williams Chad Hugo Shawn Carter |
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| Producer | The Neptunes | ||||
| Pharrell featuring Jay-Z singles chronology | |||||
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Frontin', is a 2003 song by producer Pharrell Williams. The title refers to putting up a facade (or false 'front'), typically to impress peers. The song features rapper Jay-Z, is written by Pharrell and produced by The Neptunes. At the time he insisted the single was a one-off, and that he was purely a producer and not a rapper/singer in his own right. However, he has since released his own solo album, In My Mind.
"Frontin'" addresses an often encountered dilemma among rappers, pimps, and Gs whereby they become emotionally attracted to a shawty that was originally a one night stand. The lyrics demonstrate one approach to the situation, confessing one's love to the shawty in question and making the relationship public, thereby eliminating the need to continue frontin'.
"Frontin'" was a big summer hit (the 34th biggest single of 2003 (US) according to Billboard Magazine), and was featured on the album The Neptunes Present... Clones, which debuted at number one in August 2003.
"Frontin'" was a #5 hit in the U.S. upon its June 2003 release and remains his biggest hit there to date. It also peaked at #1 in the U.S. R&B/Hip Hop and U.S. Rap charts. In the UK the single also charted inside the top 10, peaking at #6 in the UK official singles chart and spending 10 weeks within the top 75.
The lead girls in the video are Lanisha Cole and Lauren London (the girls that were at the door).
Contents |
[edit] Credits
- Written by Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and Shawn Carter
- Produced by The Neptunes
- All instruments by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo
Rosario Dawson is also featured in the video.
[edit] Covers
The track was covered by UK neo-Jazz artist Jamie Cullum, whose version, recorded on February 11, 2004 for BBC Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley's Live Lounge, was played to Pharrell (who was clearly very impressed by the cover) on a visit to the show, which lead to Cullum's eventual signing to Star Trak. The cover also appeared on Cullum's US release of Twentysomething as a bonus track.
It was also covered live by Maroon 5, featuring Chad and rapper Mos Def, who replaced Jay-Z's verse with impromptu rapping from A Tribe Called Quest's Bonita Applebum, in an apparent reference to similarities between parts of the tracks.
[edit] Track listing
UK CD
- "Frontin’" (Featuring Jay-Z) (Radio Edit)
- "Hot Damn" (Featuring Ab Liva)
- "Popular Thug" (Kelis Featuring Nas)
- "Frontin’" (Video)
[edit] Charts
[edit] Worldwide chart positions
| Country | Peak position |
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| U.S. | 5 |
| U.S. R&B/Hip Hop | 1 |
| U.S. Rap | 1 |
| UK | 6 |
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| Preceded by "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z |
Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one single August 16, 2003- September 20, 2003 |
Succeeded by "Baby Boy" by Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul |
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