"Tonight's da Night" is the third single released by Redman from his debut album, Whut? Thee Album

Whut? Thee Album

Whut? Thee Album is the debut album from American hip hop artist Redman, released September 22, 1992 on Def Jam Recordings. While taking place at Ian London Studios, North Shore Soundworks and Power Play Studios, recording sessions began in 1991 and continued into 1992...

. It features a jazzy beat produced by Erick Sermon

Erick Sermon

Erick Sermon , in Bay Shore, New York is an American rapper, musician, and producer.Sermon is best known as half of late-1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and for production work. He currently resides in Islandia, New York.- Career :...

 and Redman himself, and contains samples from many songs, including "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls

Mary Jane Girls

The Mary Jane Girls were an American R&B, soul, funk and disco group in the 1980s. They were protégées of singer Rick James. They are known for their hit songs "All Night Long", "Candyman" and "In My House".-Formation:...

, "The Payback" by James Brown

James Brown

James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...

, "Tonight's the Night" by Raydio

Raydio

Raydio was an American funk and R&B vocal group formed in 1977, by Ray Parker Jr., with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael.-Career:...

, and "A Few More Kisses to Go" 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 song starts off with Redman rapping about being "smooth to any groove", and he is then interrupted by Hurricane G

Hurricane G

Gloria Rodríguez, better known by her stage name Hurricane G, is an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent. Her 1997 single release Somebody Else charted at #10 by Billborad Magazine on Hot Rap Singles, and at #54 on their Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.-Background:She was born in...

 who wants him to rap some "rough shit". Redman goes on to talk about guns and other illegal things. A remix can be found on Redman's second album, Dare Iz a Darkside

Dare Iz a Darkside

-Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*engineering – Mike Bona, Bob Fudjinski, Dave Greenberg, Bob Morse*executive production – Erick Sermon*mastering – Tony Dawsey...

.

It is a popular song within hip hop and was name-dropped on Common

Common (rapper)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....

's song "Sum Shit I Wrote". Common also sampled some of its lyrics for the chorus of "Soul by the Pound

Soul by the Pound

"Soul by the Pound" is the third single from rapper Common's 1992 debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?. Its beat, produced by Immenslope, is similar to much production from Common's second album, Resurrection. Its beat contains samples from "I Like It" by DeBarge and "Sneakin' in the Back" by Tom...

" (Thump mix). Some of its lyrics are parodied on "Clockwork" by Dilated Peoples

Dilated Peoples

Dilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit...

. The line "I'm after the gold and after that the platinum" was sampled in the hook for the song "What I'm After" by fellow New Jersey natives Lords of the Underground

Lords of the Underground

The Lords of the Underground are a hip-hop trio based in Newark, New Jersey. MCs Mr. Funke and DoItAll Dupré met DJ Lord Jazz when all three were undergraduates at Shaw University....

. It has been featured on many compilations including Hip Hop Forever, Def Jam's Greatest Hits: Hardcore, and Da Undaground Sound, Vol. 1: East Side.

MC Eiht's song "One Less Nigga" mentions this at one point when the line "Tonights the night, like Redman" is recited.

Harlem

Harlem

Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...

 rapper Party Arty

Party Arty

Arthur Sheridan , better know by his stage name Party Arty was an American rapper . He died of undisclosed health complications. He was part of the rap group Ghetto Dwellas alongside partner D-Flow and signed with Get Dirty Productions.Party Arty appeared on various projects including D.I.T.C...

 in the song Da Graveyard on Big L

Big L

Big L may refer to:* Lamont Coleman , better know by Big L, American hip-hop artist.Or a number of British radio stations:*Big L 1395, a British radio station.*Radio Luxembourg's English-language progammes ....

's first album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous

Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous is the debut album of American hip hop artist Big L, released March 28, 1995 on Columbia Records. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at Powerplay Studios in Queens, New York during 1994 to 1995. The title originates from the television series,...

, says "so mess around you'll be a dead man/ I get hype, tonight's the night like Redman".

Track listing

A-side

1. "Tonight's da Night" (LP version) –3:22
2. "Tonight's da Night" (instrumental) –3:05

B-side

1. "I'm a Bad" –2:53
2. "Rated 'R'" –3:22