Keep Their Heads Ringin'
Encyclopedia
"Keep Their Heads Ringin'" (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Ring Ding Dong) is a single
by Dr. Dre
(featuring Nanci Fletcher) taken from the soundtrack of the movie Friday
. Although the album was released on Priority Records
, Death Row Records
still owns the masters
to the song. The song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100
and was certified gold by the RIAA
on May 10, 1995 for individual sales of over 500,000. It also reached number one on the Hot Rap Tracks
in the United States. It interpolates "Funk You Up
" by The Sequence
from their 1980 single released under Sugar Hill
. The song also appears on Death Row Greatest Hits
released in 1996. The intro "Hey. Whatup?" is done by Dr. Dre while the intro continues with the music on with KRS-One
saying his trademark shout "Buck, buck, buck".
Instead of the more mainstream version of:
and takes place in a plane hangar, in a Convair 880
, with Dr. Dre
, and his crew taking over air control. It features cast members from Friday including Chris Tucker
, Faizon Love
, and Nia Long
, to name a few. It ends with Chris Tucker and Faizon Love taking the plane and flying away from the police. Chris Tucker says "I'm on probation, I can't go back to jail" referring to the character Smokey who was having trouble with the law in Friday.Lead vocalist Nanci Fletcher's intro marked the first time a female from the Death Row camp was featured in a video.
CD single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by 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...
(featuring Nanci Fletcher) taken from the soundtrack of the movie 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...
. Although the album was released on Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
, Death Row Records
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
still owns the masters
Master recording
A multitrack recording master tape, disk or computer files on which productions are developed for later mixing, is known as the multi-track master, while the tape, disk or computer files holding a mix is called a mixed master.It is standard practice to make a copy of a master recording, known as...
to the song. The song peaked at number 10 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...
and was certified gold by the 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...
on May 10, 1995 for individual sales of over 500,000. It also reached number one on the Hot Rap Tracks
Hot Rap Tracks
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
in the United States. It interpolates "Funk You Up
Funk You Up
"Funk You Up" is a 1979 rap song by The Sequence. Dr. Dre used interpolations for his 1995 hit "Keep Their Heads Ringin'". In 2003, a semi-remake entitled "Love of My Life Worldwide" appeared on Erykah Badu's album, Worldwide Underground...
" by The Sequence
The Sequence
The Sequence is a former female old school hip hop trio signed to the Sugar Hill label in the early-1980s. The group consisted of Cheryl Cook , Gwendolyn Chisolm , and lead singer/rapper Angie Brown Stone...
from their 1980 single released under Sugar Hill
Sugar Hill Records (rap)
Sugar Hill Records was the name of a rap music record label that was founded in 1979 by husband and wife Joe and Sylvia Robinson with Milton Malden and financial funding of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records.-History:...
. The song also appears on Death Row Greatest Hits
Death Row Greatest Hits
Death Row Greatest Hits is a 33-track compilation released by Death Row Records, and contains singles by artists such as 2Pac, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. The CD also includes previously unreleased remix tracks. The album was re-released in 2001 and digitally re-mastered.-Track listing:Disc One#...
released in 1996. The intro "Hey. Whatup?" is done by Dr. Dre while the intro continues with the music on with KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
saying his trademark shout "Buck, buck, buck".
Alternate version
There is an alternate version of the song that can be found on Death Row Greatest Hits and the compilation album Death Row Dayz, where Dr. Dre uses the line:
Just chill, listen to the beats I spill
I use Crest, so ain't no cavity creeps in my grill
Instead of the more mainstream version of:
Just chill, listen to the beats I spill
Keepin' it real, enables me to make another mill' [mill' is short for million]
Music video
The music video was directed by F. Gary GrayF. Gary Gray
Felix Gary Gray is an American music video and film director.-Life and career:Gray began his career in 1992 with his music video for Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day." The video, a literal adaptation of the lyrics, was critically well received. He would go on to direct subsequent videos for Ice Cube,...
and takes place in a plane hangar, in a Convair 880
Convair 880
The Convair 880 was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics. It was designed to compete with the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 by being smaller and faster, a niche that failed to create demand...
, with 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 his crew taking over air control. It features cast members from Friday including 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:...
, Faizon Love
Faizon Love
Faizon Andre Love is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for roles in the films Friday, Elf, Made, and Couples Retreat.-Life and career:...
, and Nia Long
Nia Long
Nia Talita Long is an American actress and occasional music video director. She is best known for her roles in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Third Watch, and the films Boiler Room, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, Big Momma's House 2, Are We There...
, to name a few. It ends with Chris Tucker and Faizon Love taking the plane and flying away from the police. Chris Tucker says "I'm on probation, I can't go back to jail" referring to the character Smokey who was having trouble with the law in Friday.Lead vocalist Nanci Fletcher's intro marked the first time a female from the Death Row camp was featured in a video.
Track listings
CD maxi / 12" maxi- "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" (LP version) — 5:01
- "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" (instrumental) — 4:57
- "Take a Hit" (by Mack 10) (LP version) — 4:34
- "Take a Hit" (by Mack 10) (instrumental) — 4:34
CD single
- "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" (LP version) — 5:01
- "Take a Hit" (by Mack 10) (LP version) — 4:34
Personnel
- Co-producer - Sam Sneed
- Engineer - Tom Daugherty and Keston Wright
- Keyboards - Stu "Fingas" Bullard
- Producer - Dr. Dre
- Chorus Sample - KRS-OneKRS-OneLawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
- Lead vocals - Nanci Fletcher
- Vocals - Barbara Wilson , Dorothy Coleman
- Video director - F. Gary GrayF. Gary GrayFelix Gary Gray is an American music video and film director.-Life and career:Gray began his career in 1992 with his music video for Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day." The video, a literal adaptation of the lyrics, was critically well received. He would go on to direct subsequent videos for Ice Cube,...
- Actors - Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
& Chris TuckerChris TuckerChristopher "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:... - Angie StoneAngie StoneAngie Stone is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She has been nominated for three Grammy Award. She is more successful on the charts R&B charts, with four Top 10 albums, forms including a number one album and 10 singles on the R&B chart,...
is credited for writing the song due to her writing to "Funk You Up". She is credited as A. Brown in the credits of the song since she did not go by Angie StoneAngie StoneAngie Stone is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She has been nominated for three Grammy Award. She is more successful on the charts R&B charts, with four Top 10 albums, forms including a number one album and 10 singles on the R&B chart,...
at the time Dr. Dre made this song.
Peak positions
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart | 15 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
11 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 | 37 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 29 |
| German Singles Chart | 23 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 3 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 7 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 7 |
| UK Singles Chart | 25 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 13 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Top 40 | 83 |
| French Singles Chart | 72 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 53 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | Gold | May 10, 1995 | 500,000 |