So Much More (song)

"So Much More"
Single by Fat Joe
from the album All or Nothing
Released March 1, 2005
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded 2005
Genre Hip hop, rap
Length 3:58
Label Terror Squad, Atlantic
Writer(s) Joe Cartegena, Andre Lyon, Marcello Valenzano, Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Shirley Murdock
Producer(s) Cool & Dre
Fat Joe singles chronology
"Hold You Down"
(2005)		 "So Much More"
(2005)		 "Get It Poppin'"
(2005)

"So Much More" is a song by American rapper Fat Joe, released as the first single from his sixth studio album, All or Nothing (2005). It was produced by Cool & Dre, who helped write the song along with Joe. Lyrically, the song features Joe describing his personal advantages in several areas, including his "hood buzz", among other features.

"So Much More" performed modestly on the charts, peaking at number eighty-one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also charting on several Billboard component charts, although it failed to appear on any major chart outside the United States. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom commended Cool & Dre's production, although some were ambivalent towards Joe's lyrics.

Background and composition

"So Much More" was written by Fat Joe and production duo Cool & Dre, with the song's production also handled by the latter.[1] It was released as a 12" single in the United States on March 1, 2005,[2] and was later sent to urban contemporary radio in the United States on March 29, with its release to mainstream radio following on April 5.[3]

"So Much More" is a hip hop song of three minutes and fifty eight seconds in length,[2] backed by a "bumping beat and distinctive synth whine" provided by Cool & Dre.[4] It contains samples of the songs "Bang Bang" by Vanilla Fudge, "Computer Love" by Zapp & Roger and "Gasolina" by Daddy Yankee, although only Zapp are credited as having written the song in the liner notes of All or Nothing.[1] It is listed at number four on the album's tracklisting.[5] Whilst Joe raps all of the song's verses, he sings the chorus.[6] RapReviews.com writer Steve Juon described the backing track as "insistent, hypnotic and infectious", also noting that the song had crossover potential.[6]

Lyrically, the song contains references to themes such as the death of former Terror Squad member Big Pun,[7] Joe's personal reputation in "the hood"[7] and his ability to become aggressive when necessary, such as in personal defence and involving his young son in it, described in the song's second verse: "And we don't see nobody / Make your hair stand up like you're 'Growing Up Gotti' / Hit lyrics every time we come out, nigga / Use a fist 'fo' it come out ya mouth / The way I'm stackin white these days / Looking like a chick that go wit Flava Flav / And I'm so so real, niggaz wanna kill the Don / Front of my house, probably wit my son in my arms / But I, drop 'em like it's hot, pass him a glock / My little shorty's a chip off the old block / Go against Coke, Letterman Show / I give you +10+ ways to kill off the whole block". Juon described these lyrics as "hardcore" yet amusing.[6]

Critical reception

"So Much More" received generally positive reviews from music critics, with several praising Cool & Dre's production. Al Shipley of Stylus Magazine praised the song's production by Cool & Dre, describing the backing track as "bumping".[4] RapReviews.com writer Steve Juon called "So Much More" "one of the hardest so-called crossover songs to hit the top of the charts in a long time", noting that the song's quality meant that "[All or Nothing] had some pretty high expectations riding in because of the two lead singles" ("So Much More" and the following single "Get It Poppin'", a collaboration with rapper Nelly). Juon praised the song's lyrics as "hardcore, and fuckin' funny as hell to boot", and also commended Joe's decision to sing the chorus, noting that although this was surprising, Joe is "a lot better at it [singing] than I am".[6] Allmusic writer Andy Kellman named "So Much More" as one of the best songs on the album, along with "Safe 2 Say (The Incredible)", "Temptation Pt. 2" and "Everybody Get Up".[5]

However, Evan McGarvey of The Michigan Daily criticized Joe's performance, writing that "his [Joe] does his best to scar" the song "with Bad-Ass-Rap-101-level verses", although he praised the song's "church-organ loop" production.[7] In her review of All or Nothing, Alexis Kirke of musicOMH wrote that the song was "a track to ignore" and that "the skip should be kept handy" before listening.[8]

Track listing

US 12" single[2]
  1. "So Much More" (Radio Version) – 3:59

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
scope="row"US Billboard Hot 100[9] 81
scope="row"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] 34
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[11] 85
scope="row"US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[12] 18

Radio and release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[2][3] March 1, 2005 Vinyl single Atlantic Records
March 29, 2005 Urban contemporary radio
April 5, 2005 Mainstream radio

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 [[All or Nothing|All or Nothing]] (liner notes). Fat Joe. Atlantic Records. 2005. 7567-83749-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "So Much More – Fat Joe - Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shipley, Al (July 13, 2005). "Fat Joe – All Or Nothing". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kellman, Andy. "All or Nothing - Fat Joe - Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Juon, Steve (June 14, 2005). "RapReviews.com Feature for June 14, 2005 – Fat Joe's "All or Nothing"". RapReviews.com. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 McGarvey, Evan (June 12, 2005). "Fat Joe can't nail A-list beats". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ Kirke, Alexis (July 5, 2011). "Fat Joe – All Or Nothing". musicOHM. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Fat Joe Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Fat Joe. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Fat Joe Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Fat Joe. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Fat Joe - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Fat Joe Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Rap Songs for Fat Joe. Retrieved December 11, 2011.

External links