Rain on Me
Encyclopedia
"Rain on Me" is a single
released by R&B
singer Ashanti
in 2003 from her second album Chapter II. The single reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in the United States
and the top 20 in the United Kingdom
. In the video Ashanti plays a superstar abused by a jealous boyfriend, played by actor Larenz Tate
. The video was released on August 28, 2003. The video was shot in Barcelona
, Spain
, and directed by Hype Williams
. It contains a sample of "The Look Of Love" by Isaac Hayes
. The rap remix found on her "Collectibles" album interpolates "Can I Live?" by rapper Jay-Z
, which also samples the same Hayes song. The remix also features Hussein Fatal
and fellow The Inc. Records
labelmates Charli "Chuck" Baltimore
and Ja Rule
. There are 2 videos for the song. Ashanti does not lip-sync in the first video but she does in the second.
In 2004, the song earned Ashanti a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
to produce the mini-movie version of the song.
"We wanted to make a short movie that was 'real' — that showed that no matter if you're rich or poor, black or white, famous or not, domestic violence can touch your life" explained Ashanti.
The abusive boyfriend was played by actor, Larenz Tate
.
There also a music video for the remix version of the song.
There is also an Extended Version of the Video Which has Scenes that wasn't in the short video of the song
, BET
, and other music video programs, has brought this film and her cause to the attention of millions of fans. It has also helped to raise money for the cause with proceeds from the $5 mini-disc going toward helping to stop domestic violence.
"Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives", stated Esta Soler, founder and president of the Family Violence Prevention Fund. "When we heard 'Rain on Me' and saw the Ashanti LidRock mini movie, we knew the powerful messages about violence that they artfully convey would speak to a lot of people. Ashanti wrote an amazing song that, by itself, has incredible power and emotional resonance. The LidRock minimovie just enhances the song’s power, as it realistically portrays the complexity of domestic violence and the characters’inspiring strength in addressing the situation", continued Soler. "The Family Violence Prevention Fund is extremely proud to be partnering with Ashanti and LidRock on a project that has such potential to raise awareness about domestic violence and to save lives."
Additionally, a public service announcement
about domestic violence featuring Ashanti was aired nationwide on October 17, 2003 on more than 4,000 film screens at Regal Cinemas
, United Artists Theatres, Edwards Theatres, and Hoyts Cinemas, and is expected to reach millions of people.
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...
released by R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer Ashanti
Ashanti (singer)
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and model. She rose to fame in the early 2000s. Ashanti is most famous for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release...
in 2003 from her second album Chapter II. The single reached number seven 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...
chart in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the top 20 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In the video Ashanti plays a superstar abused by a jealous boyfriend, played by actor Larenz Tate
Larenz Tate
Larenz Tate is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Tate was born on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, the son of Peggy and Larry Tate. He is the youngest of three siblings whose family moved to California when he was nine years old...
. The video was released on August 28, 2003. The video was shot in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and 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....
. It contains a sample of "The Look Of Love" by Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
. The rap remix found on her "Collectibles" album interpolates "Can I Live?" by rapper Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, which also samples the same Hayes song. The remix also features Hussein Fatal
Hussein Fatal
Bruce Washington , better known by his stage name, Hussein Fatal, is an American rapper and a member of Outlawz.-Murder of Tupac Shakur:...
and fellow The Inc. Records
The Inc. Records
The Inc. Records , is an American record label, owned by Irv Gotti.In 1999, Murder Inc. released its first album, Venni Vetti Vecci by Ja Rule. The album featured the hit single "Holla Holla". The album was executively produced by Irv Gotti and moved on to go platinum, which rose Ja Rule and...
labelmates Charli "Chuck" Baltimore
Charli Baltimore
Tiffany "Charli Baltimore" Lane is an American Grammy Award nominated female rapper. Her stage name is taken from Geena Davis's character in the film The Long Kiss Goodnight.-Musical career:...
and Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
. There are 2 videos for the song. Ashanti does not lip-sync in the first video but she does in the second.
In 2004, the song earned Ashanti a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Lyrics and music video
Ashanti's lyrics for "Rain on Me" address the pains and challenges of facing, and eventually overcoming, an abusive relationship. Wanting to bring her lyrics to life in a cinematically ambitious, narrative driven way, the singer/songwriter worked with LidRock & director Hype WilliamsHype 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....
to produce the mini-movie version of the song.
"We wanted to make a short movie that was 'real' — that showed that no matter if you're rich or poor, black or white, famous or not, domestic violence can touch your life" explained Ashanti.
The abusive boyfriend was played by actor, Larenz Tate
Larenz Tate
Larenz Tate is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Tate was born on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, the son of Peggy and Larry Tate. He is the youngest of three siblings whose family moved to California when he was nine years old...
.
There also a music video for the remix version of the song.
There is also an Extended Version of the Video Which has Scenes that wasn't in the short video of the song
LidRock and the Family Violence Prevention Fund
Ashanti partnered LidRock and the San Francisco-based Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to distribute the mini-movie using LidRock’s unique platform. This promotion, in conjunction with heavy rotation on MTVMTV
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....
, BET
Bet
Bet or BET may refer to:* A wager in gambling* Basic Economics Test * Bet , the second letter in many Semitic alphabets, including Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician and Syriac* Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm. See BET_theory...
, and other music video programs, has brought this film and her cause to the attention of millions of fans. It has also helped to raise money for the cause with proceeds from the $5 mini-disc going toward helping to stop domestic violence.
"Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives", stated Esta Soler, founder and president of the Family Violence Prevention Fund. "When we heard 'Rain on Me' and saw the Ashanti LidRock mini movie, we knew the powerful messages about violence that they artfully convey would speak to a lot of people. Ashanti wrote an amazing song that, by itself, has incredible power and emotional resonance. The LidRock minimovie just enhances the song’s power, as it realistically portrays the complexity of domestic violence and the characters’inspiring strength in addressing the situation", continued Soler. "The Family Violence Prevention Fund is extremely proud to be partnering with Ashanti and LidRock on a project that has such potential to raise awareness about domestic violence and to save lives."
Additionally, a public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
about domestic violence featuring Ashanti was aired nationwide on October 17, 2003 on more than 4,000 film screens at Regal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas is a UK-based cinema chain since the early days of the cinema. In 1928, Regal Cinemas became part of Associated British Cinemas but has retained the name 'Regal Cinemas'....
, United Artists Theatres, Edwards Theatres, and Hoyts Cinemas, and is expected to reach millions of people.
The Family Violence Prevention Fund
For more than two decades, the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) has worked to end violence against women and children around the world, because everyone has the right to live free of violence. Instrumental in developing the landmark Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress in 1994, the FVPF has continued to break new ground by reaching new audiences including men and youth, promoting leadership within communities to ensure that violence prevention efforts become self-sustaining, and transforming the way health care providers, police, judges, employers, and others respond to violence.Chart performance
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Singles Chart | 70 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 85 |
| 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 ... |
19 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 7 |
| 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,... |
2 |