Runaway Love (Ludacris song)

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“Runaway Love”
Single by Ludacris featuring Mary J. Blige
from the album Release Therapy
Released February 12, 2007
Format Digital download, CD single
Recorded 2006
Genre Rap, R&B
Length 4:41
Label Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam
Writer(s) Bridges, C./Davis, D./Hilson, K./Jones, J./Walters, R.
Producer Polow da Don
Certification Platinum
Ludacris singles chronology
"Grew Up a Screw Up" (featuring Young Jeezy) "Runaway Love"
(2006)		 "Girls Gone Wild"
(2007)


Mary J. Blige singles chronology
"MJB Da MVP"
(2006)		 "Runaway Love"
(2006)		 "We Ride (I See The Future)"
(2006)

"Runaway Love" is the third single released from Ludacris' fifth album, Release Therapy (2006). The song, which features Mary J. Blige on the vocals, was produced by Polow da Don and reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song was the first single from Release Therapy in the UK and was released as a double A-side with "Girls Gone Wild" included.

Contents

[edit] Song information

Each one of the three verses of a fictional account telling the troubles in the lives of three runaway female adolescents; a nine-year-old named Lisa, a ten-year-old named Nicole, and an eleven-year-old named Erica each ending up running away to escape each of her own problems. There is a very short, commonly used sample of Slick Rick saying "Like this" in the beginning and at approximately 1:07 in the song. At the end of the song Ludacris informes women that he feels like running away himself some times.

[edit] Lisa

The first account involves Lisa, a nine-year-old girl. She has never met her real father. Lisa's mother is addicted to drugs and constantly argues with her current boyfriend. The argument usually ends with a fight and her mother passing out. After these arguments, Lisa's mother's current boyfriend sneaks into Lisa's bedroom and abuses her, and she is beaten when she does not submit. Lisa tries to tell her mother about the sexual abuse, but her mother does not believe her.

[edit] Nicole

The second plot involves Nicole, a lonely ten-year-old girl. Nicole believes she is not beautiful and thinks nobody likes her, and wonders why this is so. Her stepfather is an alcoholic and physically abuses her. Nicole's schoolteachers constantly ask her why she has bruises (which are by her stepfather), and she lies to them. Nicole promises her best (and only) friend, Stacy, that they'll be close forever. However, one day, Stacy dies in a drive-by shooting and then she is left to live alone.

[edit] Erica

The final tale involves Erica, (played by Keke Palmer) an eleven-year-old girl who is using ecstasy. She is also, with guilt, having sex with her sixteen-year-old boyfriend. As things go deeper, Erica starts to believe she is truly in love with her boyfriend, and so her boyfriend uses no protection. After Erica becomes pregnant, her boyfriend 'bails out' on her, because he feels he is not ready to have a child. In addition, her family is poor, so Erica has no money for an abortion. Erica knows that if she tells her mom she is pregnant, her mom will be very angry and disappointed with her. She is seen crying on a park bench while Mary J. Blige sings next to her.

[edit] Music Video

The music video for "Runaway Love" was directed by Jessy Terrero. It premiered first on the internet on November 29, 2006, on Yahoo! Music. A day later it premiered on television, on BET's 106 & Park as a New Joint. The video, which is also divided in three situations, follows a storyline faithfully based on the song. Mary J. Blige is featured in all of the three situations as a pedestrian that passes by the runaway girls. Actors Michael Rapaport, Jon Seda, and Keke Palmer (who played Erica) also have small cameos in the video. Featured in the background are orange posters for the National Runaway Switchboard, a crisis hotline serving runaway and homeless youth and their families. The hotline for the National Runaway Switchboard is also displayed on several of the "missing child" posters that are shown in the music video. This promotional effort highlights the partnership between The Ludacris Foundation and the National Runaway Switchboard to promote November as National Runaway Prevention Month and to increase awareness of issues related to runaway adolescents[1][2].

[edit] Cast

Lisa's story:

Nicole's story:

Erica's story:

All stories:

  • Ludacris
  • Mary J. Blige

[edit] Reviews

"Runaway Love" has received positive reviews by the majority of music and pop culture critics. Reviews note that in this work Ludacris has covered a more sensitive subject than he previously has.

“ "Runaway Love" is a powerful song about women in bad situations that recalls Kanye West on "Roses." ”
  • Stylus Magazine: 4/5 stars
“ "The sobering "Runaway Love" finds Ludacris weaving a tale of three girls dealing with the realities of rape, drugs, and alcoholism with a solemn resignation no Ludacris song has ever approached. And it does so without compromising his steez." ”

[edit] Lyrics

[Hook - Mary J. Blige] Runaway love Runaway love Runaway love Runaway love Runaway love Runaway love Runaway love Runaway love

[Verse 1 - Ludacris] Now little Lisa is only 9 years old She's trying to figure out why the world is so cold Why she's all all alone and they never met her family Mama's always gone and she never met her daddy Part of her is missing and nobody will listen Mama is on drugs getting high up in the kitchen Bringing home men at different hours of the night Starting with some laughs -- usually ending in a fight Sneak into her room while her mama's knocked out Trying to have his way and little Lisa says 'ouch' She tries to resist but then all he does is beat her Tries to tell her mom but her mama don't believe her Lisa is stuck up in the world on her own Forced to think that hell is a place called home Nothing else to do but get her clothes and pack She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back.

[Hook - Mary J. Blige] Runaway love [x8]

[Verse 2 - Ludacris] Little Nicole is only 10 years old She's steady trying to figure why the world is so cold Why she's not pretty and nobody seems to like her Alcoholic step-dad always wanna strike her Yells and abuses, leaves her with some bruises Teachers ask questions she making up excuses Bleeding on the inside, crying on the out It's only one girl really knows what she about Her name is lil Stacy and they become friends Promise that they always be tight 'til the end Until one day lil Stacy gets shot A drive by bullet went stray up on her block Now Nicole stuck up in the world on her own Forced to think that hell is a place called home Nothing else to do but get some clothes and pack She says she's 'bout to run away and never come back.

[Hook - Mary J. Blige] Runaway love [x8]

[Verse 3 - Ludacris] Little Erica is eleven years old She's steady trying to figure why the world is so cold So she pops x to get rid of all the pain 'Cause she's having sex with a boy who's sixteen Emotions run deep and she thinks she's in love So there's no protection he's using no glove Never thinking 'bout the consequences of her actions Living for today and not tomorrow's satisfaction The days go by and her belly gets big The father bails out he ain't ready for a kid Knowing her mama will blow it all outta proportion Plus she lives poor so no money for abortion Erica is stuck up in the world on her own Forced to think that hell is a place called home Nothing else to do but get her clothes and pack She say she's about to run away and never come back.

[Hook - Mary J. Blige] Runaway love [repeats 'til end]

[edit] Trivia

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The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

[edit] Censorship

  • Several radio stations have removed or obscured several parts of the song, including the parts in which Erica is using ecstasy and considering an abortion, and the boyfriend of Lisa's mother going into her bedroom to rape her.

[edit] Charts

Chart (2007) Peak
Position
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart 21
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay 1
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 9
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 3
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks 1
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 9
U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Airplay 5
United World Chart 14
UK Singles Top 75 21
Poland Singles Chart[3] 70
Ireland Singles Top 50[4] 37

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Ludacris Foundation - Runaway Love Campaign
  2. ^ Ludacris promotes National Runaway Switchboard
  3. ^ http://home.planet.nl/~laar2337/apc2/Hitlijsten/Polish-Top50.htm
  4. ^ Ireland Singles Top 50 (06/2008): Charts - Music Square

[edit] External links