21 Questions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“21 Questions”
“21 Questions” cover
Single by 50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg
from the album Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Released April 29, 2003
Format 12" single
Recorded 2002
Genre Pop Rap
Label Aftermath, Interscope, Shady
Writer(s) 50 Cent, K. Risto, J. Cameron, V. Cameron
Producer Dirty Swift
Certification Platinum (ARIA)
50 Cent chronology
"In da Club"
(2003)
"21 Questions"
(2003)
"P.I.M.P."
(2003)
Get Rich or Die Tryin' track listing
"Poor Little Rich"
(13)
"21 Questions"
(14)
"Don't Push Me"
(15)


Nate Dogg singles chronology
"Gangsta Nation"
(2003)
"21 Questions"
(2003)
"The Set Up"
(2004)

"21 Questions" is a song performed by rapper 50 Cent. Nate Dogg, who gives additional vocals, is featured uncreditedly on the chorus and outro. The song was written by 50 Cent, K. Risto, J. Cameron, and V. Cameron for 50 Cent's commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). Released in 2003 as the album's second single, it became his second number one song in the United States after "In Da Club". The track was produced by Dirty Swift and samples Barry White's "It's Only Love Doing Its Thing". Lil Mo made a remix to the song titled "21 answers". This is Nate Dogg's only number one hit.

Contents

[edit] Background

When producer Dr. Dre worked with 50 Cent on his debut album, he stated that he did not want the song on the album. According to 50 Cent, "Dre was, like, 'How you goin' to be gangsta this and that and then put this sappy love song on?'"[1] 50 Cent responded saying, "I'm two people. I've always had to be two people since I was a kid, to get by. To me that's not diversity, it's necessity."[1]

[edit] Music video

The music video was directed by Damon Johnson, Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell in March 2003.[2] It depicts 50 Cent arrested and confined to prison, where he tries to keep in touch with his girlfriend, played by Meagan Good. In prison, he is constantly harangued by rival inmate, Tyson Beckford. The video ends with an alternate version of the beginning, showing 50 Cent and his girlfriend watching from their home as the police arrest Beckford instead of 50 Cent. The video has cameo appearances by G-Unit and Nate Dogg, who sings the chorus and the outro. The video concept can also be originated from Nate Dogg's "Never Leave Me Alone".

On April 15, 2003, the video debuted on MTV's Total Request Live at number six, reached number one two days later, and stayed on the chart for fifty days.[2][3] It also reached number two on the MuchMusic video charts.[4]

[edit] Track listings

  • CD Single
  1. 21 Questions (album version)
  2. Soldier (50 Cent & G-Unit freestyle)
  3. 21 Questions (live from New York)
  4. 21 Questions (video)

[edit] Remixes

A Remix was released which featured American R&B singer Monica.

[edit] Credits and personnel

  • Producer: Dirty Swift
  • Mixed by: Dr. Dre
  • Recorded by: Sha Money XL and Maurico "Veto" Iragorri
  • Protool edits by: Carlise Young
  • Assisted by: Ruben Rivera

[edit] Charts

Chart (2003)[5][6][7] Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart 4
Austria Singles Chart 39
Belgium Singles Chart 37
Canadian Singles Chart 5
Dutch Singles Chart 8
Denmark Singles Chart 18
Finland Singles Chart 13
France Singles Chart 58
Germany Singles Chart 34
Ireland Singles Chart 11
New Zealand Singles Chart 8
Norway Singles Chart 15
Simland SimBoard Hot 30 2
Swedish Singles Chart 34
Swiss Singles Chart 14
UK Singles Chart 4
United World Chart 10
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 1
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Mainstream 6
U.S. Billboard Top 40 Tracks 5
U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks 1
Preceded by
"Get Busy" by Sean Paul
Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number one single
May 3, 2003 - June 14, 2003
Succeeded by
"So Gone" by Monica
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
May 31, 2003- June 21, 2003
Succeeded by
"This is the Night" by Clay Aiken

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Allison Samuels, February 21, 2007. The Flip Side of 50 Cent. MSNBC. Accessed July 7, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Reid, Shaheem (May 2, 2003). 50 Cent: Still Hungry After 4 Million Records. MTV. Accessed July 7, 2007.
  3. ^ TRL Archive Debuts. Popfusion. Accessed July 7, 2007.
  4. ^ Universal Urban (April 24, 2007). 50 Cents' new album, Curtis, takes Hip-Hop to the bank. Accessed July 7, 2007.
  5. ^ 50 Cent and Nate Dogg - 21 Questions. aCharts.us. Accessed July 7, 2007
  6. ^ Billboard Singles. All Music Guide. Accessed July 7, 2007.
  7. ^ 50 Cent 21 Questions @ Top40-Charts.com. Top40-Charts.com. Accessed July 7, 2007.

[edit] External links

Languages