Touch It
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Touch It" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Busta Rhymes | ||
| from the album The Big Bang | ||
| Released | 2006 | |
| Format | Single | |
| Genre | Hip Hop | |
| Length | 03:34 | |
| Label | Aftermath/Interscope | |
| Writer(s) | Busta Rhymes Swizz Beatz Thomas Bangalter Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo |
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| Producer(s) | Swizz Beatz | |
| Chart positions | ||
| Busta Rhymes singles chronology | ||
| "Light Your Ass On Fire" (2003) |
"Touch It" (2006) |
"Touch It (Remix)" (2006) |
"Touch It" is a major rap/hip-hop hit by Busta Rhymes which contains a sample from "Technologic" by the electronic band Daft Punk. Released as an official single on May 14, 2006, it was the first single from Rhymes' Aftermath/Interscope debut, The Big Bang.
The five remixes which followed the immense success of the single makes the song, arguably, the biggest and most successful hit of Busta's career.
Rhymes' bodyguard Israel Ramirez was shot and killed outside the set of this song's music video during filming in Brooklyn on February 5, 2006. The police have still not found a suspect.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Single release
The release date for the single in the UK was 15th May 2006. However, due to UK chart rules allowing songs to chart on download sales alone, one week before the single's physical release, "Touch It" managed to make the top 40, entering at #23 on download sales only. The song had a strong chart run initially, spending seven weeks inside the top 30 there, however, because the physical copies of the single were deleted, the single was withdrawn from the chart due to new chart rules stating that singles could only remain in the chart for two weeks after their physical deletion. This is why the record seemingly fell from the UK top 75 from the top 30.
[edit] The Remix
| "Touch It (Remix) [featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliot, Lloyd Banks, Papoose, DMX]" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Single by Busta Rhymes | ||
| from the album The Big Bang | ||
| Released | May 2006 | |
| Format | Single | |
| Recorded | 2006 | |
| Genre | Hip hop music | |
| Length | 03:56 | |
| Label | Aftermath Records/Interscope Records | |
| Writer(s) | Busta Rhymes Swizz Beatz |
|
| Producer(s) | Swizz Beatz | |
| Busta Rhymes singles chronology | ||
| "Touch It" (2006) |
"Touch It (Remix)" (2006) |
"I Love My Bitch" (2006) |
After the major success of "Touch It," a series of remixes were set into play. The result was three popular versions of the song, each featuring one or two different well-known hip-hop moguls. Any of the remixes can refer to the title.
- "Touch It Remix Part One" - Busta Rhymes, DMX
- "Touch It Remix Part Two" - Busta Rhymes, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige
- "Touch It Remix Part Three" - Busta Rhymes, Lloyd Banks, Papoose
- "Touch It Remix (Video)" - Busta Rhymes, Lloyd Banks, DMX, Mary J. Blige, Papoose, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott
- "Touch It Remix Part Five"- Busta Rhymes, Lloyd Banks, DMX, Mary J. Blige, Papoose, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Ne-Yo, Eminem, Jae Millz, Jay Z, & Nas
The Remix played in the video is the somewhat finalized version, but other versions have since emerged. At the 2006 BET Awards, Eminem contributed a verse towards the end of the song after DMX's. Also, a somewhat completed version of the song has been discovered on the internet that features all of the above emcees with their entire 16-bar verses as (minus Eminem's), and an additional verse by Ne-Yo was seen on this remix. The song is over 9 minutes in length.
[edit] About the Remix Video
The video follows the incident of Rhymes' bodyguard Israel Ramirez, who was shot and killed outside the set of this song's music video during filming in Brooklyn on February 5, 2006. The police have still not found a suspect. The video is also about each singer rapping about something positive and representing their people. For example, in the opening of the video, the head cheerleader, who she and the rest are in Burgundy and silver outfits, and Busta Rhymes decide who "runs the city." Upon, the entrance of each performer, they mention something positive happening.
For example:
- Mary J. Blige- "I'm on my grown woman still I rep for the kids. In every hood, and all my peoples doin a bid (TURN IT UP!!)"
- Rah Digga- "Now he Hopin on the jet he ain't wastin no time. Told me all expense paid anyplace I could find. Hit the islands in the winter trickin all on his dime. Ain't a shorty in the world pussy better than mine."
- Missy Elliott - "Don't it look like I got Beyonce's hips. Lookin like I could be Nia Long."
- Lloyd Banks- "And you know I'm doin my thing. It's blue in the ring; if you had it like this you probably do it the same. "
- Papoose- "I got New York City in the palm of my hand. Now I could make a tight fist and let it crumble ridiculous"
- DMX- "Stay off the streets, tired of talkin to y'all niggaz. I'ma stick a fork at y'all niggaz"
[edit] Cinematography
In the opening of the video, the head cheerleader, who she and the rest are in Burgundy and silver outfits, and Busta Rhymes decide who runs the city." Upon, the entrance of each performer, they mention something positive happening. After Bust, and Spliff finish their battle (freestyle), the cheerleaders sing and step to the Touch it beat. An electronic machine, makes a zapping-sound and a in the majority of the video a bolt of lighting appears in the background. The first bolt is green.
Each rapper, wears the matching color of the background, as well as the other rappers in the scene. Usually after one rapper, finishes their verse, the others appear strutting and dancing to the beat. The screen shows two or more sides of the other backgrounds and their rappers. In order of appearance, who are shown swiftly. (after Busta Rhymes), are Mary J. Blige in silver, Rah Digga in pink, Lloyd Banks in blue, Missy Elliott in purple, Papoose in green and DMX in black (he has his hood down). Busta Rhymes and his friend (Spliff Star) appear on in separate colors, that are red in the beginning and yellow at the end. Each singer appears with different outfits such as Busta's white t-shirt, Papoose's, DMX's, Lloyd Banks's Jackets, and the women's fur coats. Performing in the part of Mary J. Blige appears her alter ego Brooke Lynn, also dressed in silver matching costumes.
[edit] Sound
The sound and effects of the video can be described as a futuristic, techno beat, in the chorus, and has high and low sounds. It has a thumping beat mixed with some futurist vibes. The first half of each person's rhyme is sung in a low tone when Rhymes says "get low *name of the performer*, example: "Get low Papoose!", when Busta Rhymes yells "Turn it up!", their voices rises to the sound of the music. A siren sound is projected throughout the video, as well as the zapping-sound appears to the thumping sound of the beat. Even, the cheerleaders themselves say Get Low in their scene. Rhymes appears in everyone's background.
The chorus contains a sample from Technologic by the electronic band Daft Punk.
[edit] Nominations and success
At the 2006 BET Awards, Busta performed the Video Remix live on stage, along with Elliot, Banks, Blige, Papoose, and Rah Digga. DMX was absent for the performance, but his part was played on the screens on the stage. The performance also featured a surprise final verse by Eminem, who began with some of Busta's lines from A Tribe Called Quest's Scenario.
Along with the video for the original version of the song, a new video was created, featuring abridged versions of all six guest artists' verses. The video also includes cameos from Brooke Valentine, DJ Kay Slay, Sean Paul, Spliff Star, and boxing champions Félix Trinidad and Winky Wright, whom had fought in May of 2005.
It was nominated for Best Male Video, and Best Rap Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. Busta Rhymes himself placed it # 1 on his BET Top 25 countdown. It debuted on BET 106 & Park in the spring and received major airplay. It also spun the career of Papoose. The remix was also nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
[edit] References
- ^ Ford, Tracey". Busta Rhymes Bodyguard Killed". rollingstone.com. Retrieved on March 18, 2007.
[edit] External Links
| Preceded by "Beep" by The Pussycat Dolls featuring Will.I.Am |
RIANZ (New Zealand) number-one single May 15, 2006 - May 22, 2006 |
Succeeded by "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean |
