California Love
Encyclopedia
"California Love" is a hip hop
song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre
and Roger Troutman
. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single upon his release from prison in 1995. A popular remix
version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album All Eyez on Me
. This is perhaps 2Pac's best-known song and his most successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100
for two weeks (as a Double-A side single with "How Do U Want It
"). The song was nominated for a posthumous Grammy Award
as a Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) in 1997.
The original version of the track was not available on any of Shakur's studio albums due to it being intended for Dr. Dre
's shelved album The Chronic II: A New World Odor (Poppa's Got A Brand New Funk). But it can now be found on Shakur's compilation of Greatest Hits
.
The tune was taken from Joe Cocker
's song "Woman to Woman"
. The line, "California
knows how to party", and mention of Los Angeles
, the neighborhood of Watts and the city of Compton
are sung by Roger Troutman
, which in turn are taken from Ronnie Hudson and the Street People's "West Coast Poplock". The remix features sample from the song "Intimate Connection" by Kleeer
written by Norman Durham and Woody Cunningham. Pac and Dre mention the following other California cities in their verses and the outro: San Diego, Bay Area
(includes San Francisco and Oakland
, Long Beach
, Sacramento
, Pasadena
, Inglewood
and Hollywood.
"California Love" was Shakur's only entry on Rolling Stone
's 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, ranked #346 and #51 on VH1
's countdown of the 100 Greatest songs of the 90s. The song has sold over 1,300,000 digital copies despite being released almost a decade before the digital era.
-- the other one being "Can't C Me". The first session of the song has three verses featuring Dr. Dre's rapping. The only copy of this session is now in the possession of DJ Jam, Snoop Dogg
's personal concert DJ. Dr. Dre's first session was unedited and home-studio recorded, and therefore differs to the version later included in 2Pac's Greatest Hits as well as the "How Do U Want It" (CD Maxi Single).
2Pac first heard Dr. Dre's session while at his Dr. Dre's in-house studio and asked Dre to put him on the song. Dre did an additional mix for All Eyez on Me as Dre wanted to use the original on his album, so All Eyez on Me received the remix version while the original was going to come on Dre's album.
Videos were shot at the same time for both versions and released and played seamlessly on MTV in late December 1995. The original version was produced Hype Williams with a Mad Max Theme (Part 1 of the video), the remix version starts out with Pac waking up from a dream, which is the Mad Max themed original video and is a house party celebrating 2Pac's welcome to Death Row.
Musically it is based on an Ultramagnetic MC's single Funky from their debut album Critical Beatdown
where they use a Joe Cocker piano sample.
In the song where Roger sings "shake it, shake it baby", he interpolates the chant he used on his 1982 Zapp
single, "Dance Floor".
exist. The first video (directed by Hype Williams
) was inspired by the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
, and takes place in a desert
in the year 2095. The casting includes actor Chris Tucker
(then-known only for his role in the 1995 film Friday
) playing the evil tribal chief's yes-man, Tony Cox as the dwarf soldier and Roger Troutman (formerly with the band Zapp
) carrying a talk box
. The shooting took place in the Thunderdome set known from the movie. It ends with a cliffhanger
cut by a "To Be Continued" closing. An alternative version, featuring the remix song re-cut, removes the final caption and features 2Pac and Dr. Dre naming West Coast towns.
The second video is based on a remix version of the song from the album All Eyez on Me
and is a continuation of the video's story. The premise is that the desert scenes of the previous videos were merely a nightmare
2Pac was having. When he wakes up, he finds himself in his bed beside a woman. He calls Dr. Dre, who tells him to get over to his summer house because he's throwing a party. The rest of the music video takes place as if it were a home video and features several cameo
s, notably Roger Troutman who is now playing the piano, and guest appearances from DJ Quik
, Big Syke
, Danny Boy
, Jodeci
, Deion Sanders
, B-Legit
and E-40
. The video was made for the remix of the song.
The first video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video in 1996
. It achieved #9 of the top 10 on MTV
's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made list in 1999. In April, 2005 it reached the Bronze medal
spot on MTV2
and XXL
's 25 Greatest West Coast Videos. It also achieved #1 on the French MTV
's 100 Greatest Rap Music Videos in 2006 (featured from 23 till 30 of July).
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
and Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman was the lead singer of the band Zapp who helped spearhead the Funk movement and heavily influenced West Coast hip hop due to the scene's heavy sampling of his music over the years...
. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single upon his release from prison in 1995. A popular remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and Interscope Records....
. This is perhaps 2Pac's best-known song and his most successful, reaching number one 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...
for two weeks (as a Double-A side single with "How Do U Want It
How Do U Want It
"How Do U Want It" is a hip-hop song performed by Tupac Shakur. It features K-Ci and JoJo and was the third single from his album All Eyez on Me. It was a Double A-side single to "California Love", and the song reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1996. In the UK, the song peaked at #17.It...
"). The song was nominated for a posthumous Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
as a Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) in 1997.
The original version of the track was not available on any of Shakur's studio albums due to it being intended for Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
's shelved album The Chronic II: A New World Odor (Poppa's Got A Brand New Funk). But it can now be found on Shakur's compilation of Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (2Pac album)
Greatest Hits is a double disc greatest hits album for late rapper 2Pac, released by Amaru/Death Row Records in 1998. The album's non-chronological sequence highlights 2Pac's career; the 21 popular hits, some slightly re-edited for legal reasons, are accompanied by four previously unreleased songs:...
.
The tune was taken from Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
's song "Woman to Woman"
Woman to Woman (Joe Cocker song)
"Woman to Woman" is a song written by Joe Cocker and Chris Stainton. It was released on Cocker's 1972 album Joe Cocker . It has been recorded by other artists...
. The line, "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...
knows how to party", and mention of 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...
, the neighborhood of Watts and the city of Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
are sung by Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman was the lead singer of the band Zapp who helped spearhead the Funk movement and heavily influenced West Coast hip hop due to the scene's heavy sampling of his music over the years...
, which in turn are taken from Ronnie Hudson and the Street People's "West Coast Poplock". The remix features sample from the song "Intimate Connection" by Kleeer
Kleeer
Kleeer was an American New York based funk, disco and post-disco band which was formed in 1972 under the name The Jam Band, as a backup group to different disco bands and vocalists...
written by Norman Durham and Woody Cunningham. Pac and Dre mention the following other California cities in their verses and the outro: San Diego, Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
(includes San Francisco and Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
and Hollywood.
"California Love" was Shakur's only entry on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
's 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, ranked #346 and #51 on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's countdown of the 100 Greatest songs of the 90s. The song has sold over 1,300,000 digital copies despite being released almost a decade before the digital era.
Writing and background
"California Love" was one of two songs produced by Dr. Dre on All Eyez on MeAll Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and Interscope Records....
-- the other one being "Can't C Me". The first session of the song has three verses featuring Dr. Dre's rapping. The only copy of this session is now in the possession of DJ Jam, 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...
's personal concert DJ. Dr. Dre's first session was unedited and home-studio recorded, and therefore differs to the version later included in 2Pac's Greatest Hits as well as the "How Do U Want It" (CD Maxi Single).
2Pac first heard Dr. Dre's session while at his Dr. Dre's in-house studio and asked Dre to put him on the song. Dre did an additional mix for All Eyez on Me as Dre wanted to use the original on his album, so All Eyez on Me received the remix version while the original was going to come on Dre's album.
Videos were shot at the same time for both versions and released and played seamlessly on MTV in late December 1995. The original version was produced Hype Williams with a Mad Max Theme (Part 1 of the video), the remix version starts out with Pac waking up from a dream, which is the Mad Max themed original video and is a house party celebrating 2Pac's welcome to Death Row.
Musically it is based on an Ultramagnetic MC's single Funky from their debut album Critical Beatdown
Critical Beatdown
Critical Beatdown is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Ultramagnetic MCs, released October 4, 1988, on Next Plateau Records. Production for the album was handled primarily by the group's rapper and producer Ced-Gee, who employed a E-mu SP-1200 sampler as the album's main instrument...
where they use a Joe Cocker piano sample.
In the song where Roger sings "shake it, shake it baby", he interpolates the chant he used on his 1982 Zapp
Zapp (band)
Zapp is a soul and funk band formed in 1978 by brothers Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Terry Troutman, Bobby Glover and Gregory Jackson [Cincinnati Ohio Funk Keyboardist]...
single, "Dance Floor".
Music videos
Two versions of 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...
exist. The first video (directed by Hype Williams
Hype Williams
Harold "Hype" Williams , previously known as HYPE, is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. His nickname "Hype" comes from his hyperactive nature as a child....
) was inspired by the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is a 1985 Australian post-apocalyptic film directed by George Miller and George Ogilvie, written by Miller, Doug Mitchell and Terry Hayes, and starring Mel Gibson and Tina Turner. It is the third installment in the action movie Mad Max franchise...
, and takes place in a desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
in the year 2095. The casting includes actor Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker
Christopher "Chris" Tucker is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series.-Early life:...
(then-known only for his role in the 1995 film Friday
Friday (film)
Friday is a 1995 stoner comedy-drama-buddy film directed by F. Gary Gray. Starring Ice Cube, Chris Tucker, Nia Long, Bernie Mac, Tommy Lister, Jr...
) playing the evil tribal chief's yes-man, Tony Cox as the dwarf soldier and Roger Troutman (formerly with the band Zapp
Zapp (band)
Zapp is a soul and funk band formed in 1978 by brothers Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Terry Troutman, Bobby Glover and Gregory Jackson [Cincinnati Ohio Funk Keyboardist]...
) carrying a talk box
Talk box
A talk box is an effects unit that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. The musician controls the modification by lip syncing, or by changing the shape of the mouth...
. The shooting took place in the Thunderdome set known from the movie. It ends with a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
cut by a "To Be Continued" closing. An alternative version, featuring the remix song re-cut, removes the final caption and features 2Pac and Dr. Dre naming West Coast towns.
The second video is based on a remix version of the song from the album All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released February 13, 1996 on Death Row Records and Interscope Records....
and is a continuation of the video's story. The premise is that the desert scenes of the previous videos were merely a nightmare
Nightmare
A nightmare is an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong negative emotional response from the mind, typically fear or horror, but also despair, anxiety and great sadness. The dream may contain situations of danger, discomfort, psychological or physical terror...
2Pac was having. When he wakes up, he finds himself in his bed beside a woman. He calls Dr. Dre, who tells him to get over to his summer house because he's throwing a party. The rest of the music video takes place as if it were a home video and features several cameo
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, notably Roger Troutman who is now playing the piano, and guest appearances from DJ Quik
DJ Quik
David Martin Blake , better known by his stage name DJ Quik, is an MC and record producer. According to Quik himself, his stage name reflects his ability to produce records in short time....
, Big Syke
Big Syke
Tyruss Himes, better known by his stage name Big Syke is an American rapper. His stage name is a revision of his childhood nickname, "Little Psycho"....
, Danny Boy
Danny Boy
-Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine...
, Jodeci
Jodeci
Jodeci is an American band, whose repertoire includes R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. The group consists of two pairs of brothers from Hampton, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina: Cedric & Joel Hailey and Donald & Dalvin DeGrate, all respectively known by their stage names: K-Ci & Jojo,...
, Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders , nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a former National Football League cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder who currently works as an NFL Network analyst...
, B-Legit
B-Legit
Brandt Jones, better known by his stage name B-Legit, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California.He is a member of The Click, a rap group formed by his cousin E-40. He was featured on the track "Aint Hard 2 Find" by 2Pac in All Eyez on Me. He has been on several independent labels such as...
and E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
. The video was made for the remix of the song.
The first video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video in 1996
MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video was first given out in 1989, and it was one the four original genre categories added at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards. This award was last given out in 2006, as MTV did not bring it back in 2008 like it did with other genre awards...
. It achieved #9 of the top 10 on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made list in 1999. In April, 2005 it reached the Bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
spot on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
and XXL
XXL (magazine)
XXL is a Hip-Hop magazine, published by Harris Publications.In 1997, XXL was founded by former Source staffers as well as other Harris Publication employees, who wanted to create their own magazine about the hip-hop music and culture using the model developed by the founders of The Source...
's 25 Greatest West Coast Videos. It also achieved #1 on the French MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's 100 Greatest Rap Music Videos in 2006 (featured from 23 till 30 of July).
Covers
- My American HeartMy American HeartMy American Heart was a rock band from San Diego, California. The band's original name was No Way Out, which consisted of Larry Soliman on vocals, Jesse Barrera on bass guitar, Clint Delgado and Jeremy Mendez on guitar, and Steven Oira on Drums...
covered this song for the Punk Goes CrunkPunk Goes CrunkPunk Goes Crunk is the seventh compilation album in the Punk Goes... series released by Fearless Records. The album is composed of popular hip hop songs performed by various emo, pop punk and metalcore bands.-Track listing:...
compilation album. - A Swedish rock band Tribal Ink also covered this song for their debut album Surrounded by Freaks.
- The Glitch Mob remixed the song in 2008.
- On several compilation albums of Roger Troutman & ZappZapp (band)Zapp is a soul and funk band formed in 1978 by brothers Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Terry Troutman, Bobby Glover and Gregory Jackson [Cincinnati Ohio Funk Keyboardist]...
you can hear a completely different version form of the song with raps from Big Robb and Dale De Groat. 2Pac and Dr. Dre are not on this version. - Coalinga, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia 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...
death metal/electronics band Faxed HeadFaxed HeadFaxed Head is a death metal side project headed by Trey Spruance of Mr. Bungle fame. The band's bios and lyrics describe them as 'teenage survivors of a suicide pact gone horribly awry,' and place them in small-town Coalinga, California. Band members' identities are generally kept secret and the...
covered the song on their 2001 album ChiropracticChiropracticChiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...
, although changing the name to "Coalinga Love", and altering the lyrics to tell their story of Coalinga. - The Game recorded a remix to this song. It features a remixed beat and lyrics provided by The Game at the intro. 2Pac's original verses are included on the track as well as Dr. Dre's background vocals.
- A spoof version with different lyrics was featured in the South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
episode "Night of the Living HomelessNight of the Living Homeless"Night of the Living Homeless" is episode 1107 of Comedy Central's South Park. It was first broadcast on April 18, 2007. This episode marks the end of the first half of Season 11, which continued on October 3, 2007. The episode is rated TV-MA. It parodies various zombie movies, in particular...
". - On Phish's Live Phish Volume 17, recorded on July 15, 1998, an improvised jam from the song "Tweezer" becomes "California Love" for a brief segment, before returning to the Tweezer Jam.
- Dubstep artist RuskoRusko (musician)Christopher Mercer, more commonly known as Rusko, is an English dubstep record producer and DJ who was born on 26 January 1985 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-History:Rusko graduated from Leeds College of Music with a degree in Music Performance...
has remixed the song, called "Da Cali Anthem". - It was performed by Justin TimberlakeJustin TimberlakeJustin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
and Jimmy FallonJimmy FallonJames Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
on Late Night With Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy FallonLate Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
.
In popular culture
- The song was used in the 2010 films Valentine's DayValentine's Day (film)Valentine's Day is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall and based on the novel by Michael Connelly. The screenplay and the story was written by Katherine Fugate, Ivan Reitman, Jason Reitman, Akiva Goldsman, Rob Reiner, P. J...
, Iron Man 2Iron Man 2Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's Iron Man, the second film in a planned trilogy and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Jon...
and the 2011 film Battle: Los AngelesBattle: Los AngelesBattle: Los Angeles is a 2011 American military science fiction war film directed by Jonathan Liebesman, and starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo and Michael Peña...
.
- The song was used in The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
when Homer SimpsonHomer SimpsonHomer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
and Marge SimpsonMarge SimpsonMarjorie "Marge" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the eponymous family. She is voiced by actress Julie Kavner and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
were going to the Oscars with some gangsters in their car.
- The song was used in Dr. Dre's "Up In Smoke Tour, which Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg played as tribute, out of 3 songs, for 2Pac. The song plays and Dr.Dre raps his part, but after that, before it can go to 2Pac's part and the crowd singing the chrous of the song, Snoop Dogg has the DJ cut the music and play, "2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted." Also a tribute to 2Pac.
- The song is used by UFC fighter Urijah FaberUrijah FaberUrijah Christopher Faber is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization. Faber won the WEC featherweight championship at WEC 19 on March 17, 2006 and held the title for over two years until his loss to Mike Brown at WEC...
as his entrance music.
- A "remix" of this song, entitled "California City of the Homeless", was used in the South Park episode "Night of the Living Homeless" as Cartman and his friends attempted to rid South Park of homeless people.
- The band School Boy Humor remixed the song in 2010 featuring Jeffree Star.
Personnel
- Writer - Tupac Shakur
- Keyboards - Sean 'Barney' Thomas
- Percussion - Carl 'Butch' Small
- Producer, Mixing, Featuring (Rap) - Dr. Dre
- Vocals, Talkbox - Roger Troutman
- Background vocals: Danette Williams, Dorothy Coleman, Barbara Wilson
- Engineer : Keston E. Wright
- Production Assistant: Larry Chatman
- Video Direction: Hype Williams
Weekly charts
| Charts (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
51 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
6 |
| U.S. 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... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay | 11 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 17 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (1990–1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 97 |
Certifications
| Country | Provider | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | CRIA Cria A cria is the name for a baby camelid such as a llama, alpaca, vicuña, or guanaco. It comes from the Spanish word cría, meaning "baby". Its false cognate in English, crya , was coined by British sailors who explored Chile in the 18th century and were quick to describe the camelids onomatopoeically... |
Gold |
| Norway | IFPI IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland... |
Gold |
| United States | RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
2x Platinum |
See also
- List of number-one singles in 1996 (New Zealand)
- R&B number-one hits of 1996 (USA)R&B number-one hits of 1996 (USA)These are the Billboard magazine R&B singles chart number one hits of 1996:-Chart history:-Chart comparisons:*Seven songs reached number-one on the Billboard Hot 100/pop chart : "Always Be My Baby," "Tha Crossroads," "How Do U Want It" / "California Love," "You're Makin' Me High" / "Let It Flow"...
- Hot 100 number-one hits of 1996 (United States)
- List of Swedish number-one hits