Ghetto (song)
Encyclopedia
"Ghetto" is a R&B
song by American
singer Kelly Rowland
. It was written by Durrell "Tank" Babbs
, Calvin Broadus, Joseph "Lonny" Bereal and Rowland, and produced by Tank for her second studio album Ms. Kelly
(2007), featuring guest vocals by rapper Snoop Dogg
.
Originally recorded for the shelved My Story album, the crunk music-influenced track was released as Ms. Kelly`s second single in North America
in August 2007 (see 2007 in music
), where it achieved minor success, reaching number nine on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles only. Never released elsewhere, the songs ranks as Rowland's lowest-selling single to date. An accompanying music video was directed by Andrew Gura and shot in Los Angeles
, California
in August 2007.
and partner Joseph "Lonny" Bereal produced for the album. One of her favorites on the album, Rowland has described ""Ghetto" as "about good girls who dig bad boys," adding: "As soon as Tank played it, I knew and recorded it in an hour. [It] is just so laid back and that's why I had to have Snoop [Dogg]." Originally recorded without Snoop Dogg
for the delayed 2006 My Story album, it was not until months prior to the Ms. Kelly release, that the rapper was consulted to contribute additional vocals to the track. "He's the King of Cool
, so I was honoured when he said yes to do the record. It was like a dream come true," Rowland stated in an interview with Blue & Soul in 2007. "He [just] put his Snoop-a-fied player-isms on the track [...] He just gives it that something. I like it when a song can make you feel good."
for "Ghetto" was directed by Andrew Gura and shot in Los Angeles
, California
on August 23, 2007. It features cameo appearance
s by rappers MC Eiht
, Kam, and Soopafly
. "It's ghetto," Rowland said about filming. "It's really fly. I feel like everybody has some sort of element of ghetto in them. Think about it. Right? Wouldn't you say so? And everyone knows what the ghetto is."
The final version world premiered at the end of the September 10, 2007 episode of BET
's Access Granted.
Promotional single
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
song by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
. It was written by Durrell "Tank" Babbs
Tank (American singer)
Tank is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer.-Career:Tank was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved with his family as a child to the Washington, D.C. suburb of Clinton, Maryland. He was a multi-sport athlete at Crossland High School and was offered the opportunity to play college...
, Calvin Broadus, Joseph "Lonny" Bereal and Rowland, and produced by Tank for her second studio album Ms. Kelly
Ms. Kelly
Ms. Kelly is the second solo studio album by American R&B singer Kelly Rowland. It was released by Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Entertainment and Sony Music during the third quarter of 2007, beginning with most European territories on June 22...
(2007), featuring guest vocals by rapper Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
.
Originally recorded for the shelved My Story album, the crunk music-influenced track was released as Ms. Kelly`s second single in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in August 2007 (see 2007 in music
2007 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
), where it achieved minor success, reaching number nine on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles only. Never released elsewhere, the songs ranks as Rowland's lowest-selling single to date. An accompanying music video was directed by Andrew Gura and shot in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in August 2007.
Recording
The song is one out of two recordings singer and songwriter TankTank (American singer)
Tank is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer.-Career:Tank was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved with his family as a child to the Washington, D.C. suburb of Clinton, Maryland. He was a multi-sport athlete at Crossland High School and was offered the opportunity to play college...
and partner Joseph "Lonny" Bereal produced for the album. One of her favorites on the album, Rowland has described ""Ghetto" as "about good girls who dig bad boys," adding: "As soon as Tank played it, I knew and recorded it in an hour. [It] is just so laid back and that's why I had to have Snoop [Dogg]." Originally recorded without Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
for the delayed 2006 My Story album, it was not until months prior to the Ms. Kelly release, that the rapper was consulted to contribute additional vocals to the track. "He's the King of Cool
Cool (aesthetic)
Something regarded as cool is an admired aesthetic of attitude, behavior, comportment, appearance and style, influenced by and a product of the Zeitgeist. Because of the varied and changing connotations of cool, as well its subjective nature, the word has no single meaning. It has associations of...
, so I was honoured when he said yes to do the record. It was like a dream come true," Rowland stated in an interview with Blue & Soul in 2007. "He [just] put his Snoop-a-fied player-isms on the track [...] He just gives it that something. I like it when a song can make you feel good."
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Ghetto" was directed by Andrew Gura and shot in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on August 23, 2007. It features cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
s by rappers MC Eiht
MC Eiht
Aaron Tyler , better known by his stage name MC Eiht, is an American rapper. His stage name was partly inspired by the numeral in KRS-One's name. He chose Eiht for its links to "hood culture", including 8Ball and .38 caliber firearms...
, Kam, and Soopafly
Soopafly
Priest Joseph Brooks, better known by his stage name Soopafly, is a hip hop producer and rapper from Long Beach, California. He is a member of the DPGC.- Early life:The oldest of three children, Brooks grew up in Long Beach...
. "It's ghetto," Rowland said about filming. "It's really fly. I feel like everybody has some sort of element of ghetto in them. Think about it. Right? Wouldn't you say so? And everyone knows what the ghetto is."
The final version world premiered at the end of the September 10, 2007 episode of BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
's Access Granted.
Chart performance
Released in North America only, "Ghetto" went for radio ads in August 2007 and was added by about 28 urban stations and very few rhythmic stations. On September 1, 2007, it debuted on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart at number nine which is equivalent to number 109 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. As it neither managed to climb any higher on that particular chart, nor made it to any other official chart, the songs ranks as Rowland's lowest-selling single to date. Although Rowland noted that it was her decision to pick the track as the album's second single, she somewhat regretted to release it retrospectively.Formats and track listings
These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "Ghetto".Promotional single
- "Ghetto" (Junior VasquezJunior VasquezJunior Vasquez, , is an American club DJ and remixer/producer.-Career:...
& Gomi's Jazzy radio mix) — 3:29 - "Ghetto" (Junior Vasquez & Gomi's Jazzy main mix) — 7:56
- "Ghetto" (Junior Vasquez In Da Club mix) — 9:52
- "Ghetto" (Junior Vasquez In Da Dub mix) — 8:07
- "Ghetto" (Junior Vasquez & Gomi's Jazzy Radio TV track) — 3:28
- "Ghetto" (Junior Vasquez & Gomi's Jazzy Main TV track) — 7:56
Charts
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | 9 |