I Wanna Be Down
Encyclopedia
"I Wanna Be Down" is the debut song performed by American singer Brandy
. It was co-written and produced by Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones for the singer's self-titled debut studio album, Brandy
(1994), and released as its lead single
during the third quarter of 1994 (see 1994 in music
). The song's impact on the charts was comparatively large for a debut single: While it spent four weeks on top of the U.S. Billboard
Hot R&B Singles chart, it reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the top 20 in Australia
and New Zealand
.
s for the single. The original clip was directed by Keith Ward
and premiered prior to the single's official release in September 1994. In the following months another video for a remix of the song, entitled "Human Rhythm Hip Hop Remix", was shot by Hype Williams
. It features female rappers MC Lyte
, Queen Latifah
, and Yo-Yo
, and was partially black-and-white and partially in color, a young Ray J
made a cameo appearance in the video. Latter version eventually earned Brandy her first nomination for "Best Rap Video" at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards
.
The song was featured on Norwood's own series, Moesha
in the pilot episode and they sang the theme song on the line where she follow her boyfriend Ohagi (now-deceased Merlin Santana
). The song was also featured on the FOX police drama New York Undercover on September 29, 1994 two days after the release of Brandy's debut album.
German/UK CD single (7567-85581-2)
UK re-release single (7567-85618-2)
Brandy (entertainer)
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
. It was co-written and produced by Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones for the singer's self-titled debut studio album, Brandy
Brandy (album)
Brandy is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer Brandy, released by Atlantic Records on September 27, 1994 in North America, December 5 in the United Kingdom and on several dates in Europe, starting on February 3, 1995....
(1994), and released as its lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
during the third quarter of 1994 (see 1994 in music
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
). The song's impact on the charts was comparatively large for a debut single: While it spent four weeks on top of the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot R&B Singles chart, it reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the top 20 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Music video
Atlantic Records decided to produce two 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...
s for the single. The original clip was directed by Keith Ward
Keith Ward
Keith Ward is a British cleric, philosopher, theologian and scholar. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and an ordained priest of the Church of England. He was a canon of Christ Church, Oxford until 2003...
and premiered prior to the single's official release in September 1994. In the following months another video for a remix of the song, entitled "Human Rhythm Hip Hop Remix", was shot 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....
. It features female rappers MC Lyte
MC Lyte
MC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
, Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
, and Yo-Yo
Yo-Yo (rapper)
Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube...
, and was partially black-and-white and partially in color, a young Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
made a cameo appearance in the video. Latter version eventually earned Brandy her first nomination for "Best Rap Video" at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
.
The song was featured on Norwood's own series, Moesha
Moesha
Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.-Overview:The show...
in the pilot episode and they sang the theme song on the line where she follow her boyfriend Ohagi (now-deceased Merlin Santana
Merlin Santana
Merlin Santana was an American actor and rapper. He is best known for his role as Keshia Knight Pulliam's admirer, Stanley on The Cosby Show and the high school student, Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom, The Steve Harvey Show.-Early life:Born in Upper Manhattan, New York to Dominican parents,...
). The song was also featured on the FOX police drama New York Undercover on September 29, 1994 two days after the release of Brandy's debut album.
Formats and tracklistings
These are the formats and track listings of major single-releases of "I Wanna Be Down."German/UK CD single (7567-85581-2)
- "I Wanna Be Down" (LP edit) – 4:09
- "I Wanna Be Down" (Human Rhythm Hip Hop remix feat. MC LyteMC LyteMC Lyte is an American rapper who first gained fame in the late-1980s becoming the first solo female rapper to release a full album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock.-Early life:...
, Queen LatifahQueen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
& Yo-YoYo-Yo (rapper)Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube...
) – 4:15 - "I Wanna Be Down" (LP version) – 4:53
- "I Wanna Be Down" (cool out) – 5:13
- "I Wanna Be Down" (a capella) – 4:32
UK re-release single (7567-85618-2)
- "I Wanna Be Down" (LP edit) – 4:09
- "I Wanna Be Down" (LP version) – 4:53
- "I Wanna Be Down" (cool out) – 5:13
- "I Wanna Be Down" (a capella) – 4:32
Weekly charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (1994) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 100 |
| Chart (1995) | Position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 49 |