"Player's Ball" is the debut single from hip hop

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...

 artists Outkast

OutKast

Outkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...

. The single was released in 1993, and is taken from the group's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is the debut album of hip-hop duo OutKast, released April 26, 1994 on LaFace Records. Recorded at D.A.R.P. Studios, Purple Dragon, Bosstown and Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia throughout 1992 to 1994, the album featured production by the Atlanta-area production...

. The song itself discusses the nature of living in the South of the United States, and growing up within a hip hop culture. The title refers to a traditional gathering of pimps in Chicago

Players Ball

The Players Ball is an annual gathering of pimps, held in Chicago, Illinois. The party has been a November tradition since 1974, when pimps from across the country gathered to celebrate the birthday of Don Juan now known as Bishop Don "Magic" Juan. Every year, the award for "Pimp of the Year" is...

. The song is referenced twice within other songs by the band, including the final track on the debut album, and a later single, "Elevators (Me & You)

Elevators (Me & You)

"Elevators " is the first single from hip-Hop group OutKast's second studio album, ATLiens. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, being OutKast's biggest hit on the chart until the release of "Ms. Jackson" in 2000. The single also peaked at #1 on the US Hot Rap Tracks chart. It was later...

". The song peaked at #37 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...

, making it the highest charting single from the group's debut album

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik is the debut album of hip-hop duo OutKast, released April 26, 1994 on LaFace Records. Recorded at D.A.R.P. Studios, Purple Dragon, Bosstown and Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia throughout 1992 to 1994, the album featured production by the Atlanta-area production...

.

The song was originally written to describe a meeting up of players on Christmas day. Despite it's 'original' title, the version used on the album, single and future releases is actually not the original. It is instead an edit which cuts out all references to Christmas. Sleigh bells can still be heard, however, and the phrase 'hallelujah' makes much more sense if heard in the original context. The original chorus was changed from 'When the player's ball is happening on Christmas day' to 'When the player's ball is happening, all day e'er day' in the album version. The original version of the song appears in the music video and on the compilation A LaFace Family Christmas, amongst others.

Tracklisting

CD Single

1. "Player's Ball" (Radio Edit) - 3:56
2. "Player's Ball" (Album Version) - 4:22
3. "Player's Ball" (TV Mix) - 4:23
4. "Player's Ball" (Video Version) - 4:14

Cassette Single

1. "Player's Ball" (Radio Edit) - 3:56
2. "Player's Ball" (Album Version) - 4:22
3. "Player's Ball" (Instrumental) - 4:14
4. "Player's Ball" (TV Mix) - 4:23

12" Vinyl Single

1. "Player's Ball" (Extended Version) - 6:00
2. "Player's Ball" (Radio Edit - Dirty) - 3:56
3. "Player's Ball" (Radio Edit - Clean) - 4:23
4. "Player's Ball" (Remix Version) - 4:27
5. "Player's Ball" (Instrumental) - 4:14

Charts

Chart (1993)	Peak position
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...	37
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...	12
U.S. Billboard 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...	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	6
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 ...	92