Victory (Puff Daddy song)
Encyclopedia
"Victory" is a song by Puff Daddy. It features heavy use of mafioso-style lyrics, as was popular at the time. It features The Notorious B.I.G, who raps two verses, and Busta Rhymes
, who sings the song's chorus. The song also heavily sampled the Bill Conti
song "Going the Distance", which featured on the soundtrack to the movie Rocky
making it a darker start to a rap album that featured many (at the time) club-standard singles. The song was released as a single in 1998, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
for the song was directed by Marcus Nispel
(although he was supposed to remain anonymous at the time of premiere) and is an homage to The Running Man
. The almost eight-minute-long video featured cameos from Dennis Hopper
as a New World Order dictator ("President Victor Castiglione") and Danny DeVito
as a live action reporter. Tamara Beckwith
was also in the video. Hopper and Devito reportedly appeared in the video pro bono as a favor to Combs.
Sean Combs' character (known as "Contestant #5" or codename "PD") runs through the dark streets of the year 3002 A.D., chased by armed gestapo
-esque forces of Chase TV. At one point, Contestant #5 is cornered on a rooftop, where he decides to leap off instead of submitting to the armed troops.
Footage from Biggie's "One More Chance" video was used in "ghost" images, representing a flashback for Sean Comb's character. Busta Rhymes, dressed in black feathers, raps atop a statue representing Victoria
, the goddess of victory. The Victoria statue overlooks the chase scenes. Biggie did not appear in the video due to his death a year earlier.
The production costs ran upwards of $
2,700,000. It is listed as one of the most expensive music videos ever made.
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, who sings the song's chorus. The song also heavily sampled the Bill Conti
Bill Conti
William "Bill" Conti is an American film music composer who is frequently the conductor at the Academy Awards ceremony.-Early life and career:...
song "Going the Distance", which featured on the soundtrack to the movie Rocky
Rocky
Rocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
making it a darker start to a rap album that featured many (at the time) club-standard singles. The song was released as a single in 1998, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Remixes
- In 2002, 50 Cent50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
and Lloyd BanksLloyd BanksChristopher Charles Lloyd , better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper and member of the rap group G-Unit. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, he dropped out of high school in 1998. G-Unit released two albums, Beg for Mercy in 2003 and T.O.S. in 2008...
freestyled over the instrumental for their mixtape, No Mercy, No FearNo Mercy, No FearNo Mercy, No Fear is the second mixtape by 50 Cent and G-Unit. It was recorded after signing a $1 million deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Shady Records after releasing his 2002 compilation album Guess Who's Back?...
, which Diddy used a year later as the official remix, "Victory 2004", for Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The HitsBad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The HitsBad Boy's 10th Anniversary...The Hits is a 2004 compilation album by Bad Boy Records. The only single released was "Victory 2004", a remix of P. Diddy's "Victory" off No Way Out. Victory 2004 featured The Notorious B.I.G. , Busta Rhymes, 50 Cent & Lloyd Banks...
album. This remix also has a new verse from P. Diddy. - In 2009, there was an unofficial remix leaked that featured 50 Cent50 CentCurtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, Lloyd BanksLloyd BanksChristopher Charles Lloyd , better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper and member of the rap group G-Unit. Raised in South Jamaica, Queens, he dropped out of high school in 1998. G-Unit released two albums, Beg for Mercy in 2003 and T.O.S. in 2008...
, DiddySean CombsSean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
, Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
, and also features Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
rapping over Diddy's first lines.
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 the song was directed by Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel is a German–American feature film director and producer, and formerly a director of television commercials and music videos. Many of his films have been remakes, all of which have met with a negative critical reception....
(although he was supposed to remain anonymous at the time of premiere) and is an homage to The Running Man
The Running Man (film)
The Running Man is a 1987 American action film loosely based on Stephen King's 1982 novel of the same name. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Jesse Ventura, Jim Brown, and Richard Dawson....
. The almost eight-minute-long video featured cameos from Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Lee Hopper was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors' Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1954 and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant...
as a New World Order dictator ("President Victor Castiglione") and Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
as a live action reporter. Tamara Beckwith
Tamara Beckwith
Tamara Beckwith is an English socialite, noted for her coverage in glossy celebrity magazines such as OK! and Hello! magazine.-Early life:...
was also in the video. Hopper and Devito reportedly appeared in the video pro bono as a favor to Combs.
Sean Combs' character (known as "Contestant #5" or codename "PD") runs through the dark streets of the year 3002 A.D., chased by armed gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
-esque forces of Chase TV. At one point, Contestant #5 is cornered on a rooftop, where he decides to leap off instead of submitting to the armed troops.
Footage from Biggie's "One More Chance" video was used in "ghost" images, representing a flashback for Sean Comb's character. Busta Rhymes, dressed in black feathers, raps atop a statue representing Victoria
Victoria (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion, Victoria was the personified goddess of victory. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Nike, and was associated with Bellona. She was adapted from the Sabine agricultural goddess Vacuna and had a temple on the Palatine Hill...
, the goddess of victory. The Victoria statue overlooks the chase scenes. Biggie did not appear in the video due to his death a year earlier.
The production costs ran upwards of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2,700,000. It is listed as one of the most expensive music videos ever made.
Track listing
Victory (Remixes)http://www.discogs.com/release/317652- Victory (Album Version) (4:58)
- Victory (Nine Inch NailsNine Inch NailsNine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
Remix) (5:33)- Producer, Featuring - Trent ReznorTrent ReznorMichael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
- Remix - Nine Inch Nails
- Producer, Featuring - Trent Reznor
- Victory (Drama Mix) (4:58)
- Vocals - Ron Grant, Terri Hawkins
- Bad Boy's "Been Around The World" (Remix) (5:30)
- Co-remix - Jay Garfield Additional Production By: Jesse WIlson
- Featuring - Mase
- Producer - Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie , Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence
- Remix - Nashiem Myrick
- Vocals - Carl Thomas
Charts
| End of year chart (1998) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 68 |