"Climax" was the second single to be released by Slum Village

Slum Village

Slum Village was a hip hop group from Conant Gardens, Detroit, Michigan.The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla . J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records...

 from their album Fantastic, Vol. 2

Fantastic, Vol. 2

Fantastic, Vol. 2 is the second album from Detroit's Slum Village, released in 2000. During the time of its release the group was still composed of its earliest members T3, Baatin and Jay Dee....

. The song features sexually-themed verses from the three members of the group and a chorus sung by Slum Village member Baatin's older sister, who also has a brief cameo in the music video for the song. Despite the song's title, the songs lyrics, concerning a ménage à trois

Ménage à trois

Ménage à trois is a French term which originally described a domestic arrangement in which three people having sexual relations occupy the same household – the phrase literally translates as "household of three"...

, are playfully delivered and steer clear of any overly crude language. The song was relatively popular but was severely delayed as a single, and thus failed to fully capitalize on the album's initial buzz.

Concept

During a 2000 Radio 1

BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...

 performance of the song in Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa is a resort at the far eastern end of the southern coast of Cyprus, famous for its sandy beaches. In recent years, apart from being a family holiday destination, it has become a 'party capital' together with Ibiza, Rimini and Mykonos...

, Baatin further explained the concept behind the song:

Video

The single was released along with a music video which featured cameos from The Roots

The Roots

The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...

 frontman Questlove, Amp Fiddler

Amp Fiddler

Joseph "Amp" Fiddler is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan, U.S.. His musical styles include funk, soul, dance and electronica music. He is probably best known for his contributions to the band Enchantment, and as part of George Clinton’s...

, and actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

 Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman

Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...

. In the beginning of the video, the three members of the group meet store clerk Coleman, who proceeds to boast that although "I may be half the man, but I'm gonna need twice the ladies". The fellas chuckle at Coleman and halfheartedly dismiss his comments before leaving the store and taking separate routes. Each member then performs their part of the song over cellphones to their as yet unseen partners while making their way across town, during which several musicians (such as Amp Fiddler) make their cameos.

The vocalist singing the chorus, Airasoul (formerly known as Tina Marie of "Timeless", a song from Dwele

Dwele

Andwele Gardner , better known by his stage name Dwele is a soul singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan.-Biography:...

's independent promo CD, Rize), also makes her appearance in the video, carrying 3 roses out of a store, right before the verse of her real-life brother and Slum Village group member, Baatin. Finally the trio arrive at adjacent bungalows to meet their partners only to discover, one-by-one, that they have extra company, in the form of football player

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 Simeon Rice

Simeon Rice

Simeon James Rice [] is a former American football defensive end, last playing in 2009. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals third overall in the 1996 NFL Draft...

; rapper Saafir

Saafir

Reggie Gibson, better known as Saafir is an emcee, producer and actor from Oakland, California. After moving from Fresno, California to Oakland, he lived with Tupac Shakur and became a dancer for Digital Underground...

, and "Convenience Store Superpimp" Coleman himself.

Track listing

US release:

1. Climax (Girl Sh**) (Clean)
2. Climax (Girl Sh**) (Instrumental)
3. Climax (Girl Sh**) (Original)
4. CB4

UK release:

1. Climax
2. Raise It Up
3. Climax (Sti. Cky Remix)