What You Know
Encyclopedia
"What You Know" is a Grammy Award
-winning multi platinum hip-hop
song by the Southern hip-hop artist T.I.
, and the first official single from his 2006 album
King
. The song also serves as the theme song to the 2006
film ATL
in which T.I. stars. The song peaked at number three in the US and was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA. The song is also played during the end credits of the film and the video is included as a bonus feature on the DVD.
from Zone Boy Productions, with additional keys by Wonder Arillo. It utilizes an interpolation of Roberta Flack
's version of The Impressions
's "Gone Away" and of the song "Hey Joe
", written by Billy Roberts
but popularised by Jimi Hendrix
.
. The beginning starts where comedian Mike Epps
calls T.I. on his cellphone asking T.I. to come and hang out with him. He jokes that he "got a midget regnant". T.I. said he will be there because he has a movie premiere (for the film ATL
) to attend that night. The next scene shows him in a Bentley Continental
driving through the neighborhood with Young Dro
in slow motion and T.I. rapping in front of a white background. After that scene is showing him walking with a Louis Vuitton
backpack in slow motion.
Next scene he stops by Mike Epps
' house. After that scene is showing him rapping in different clothes in front of a black and white screen. Then the video showing T.I. gambling with Mike and his crew. The video showing a bunch of women in rollerskates with spinning rims. After that scene it shows him playing chess with his friend. After that scene, he chooses a suit to wear to the premiere with the assistance of three women.
Finally a bunch of black Cadillac Escalade
s pull up for the premiere. T.I. and his co-star Lauren London
, along with the rest of the cast, Jason Weaver
, Evan Ross
, and Jackie Long
walking on the red carpet along with a cameo by Travis Barker
. Next scene is where they show scenes to the movie. The party scene, T.I. shakes the champagne and squirts it out everywhere. T.I.'s group P$C
, Lauren London
and co-stars makes a cameo appearance at the party. At the end, T.I. cleans his glasses and shows him dancing at the party.
mixed the song with Little Secrets
by Passion Pit
in "What You Know About Little Secrets." Rapper's Juelz Santana
and J.R Writer recorded a remix of this song entitled 'What You Know (About That Crack)'. Papoose
recorded a freestyle over this song entitled 'What You Know (About Pap)'. Rapper Lil Wayne
also recorded a remix of 'What You Know' which can be found on his mixtapes Dedication 2
and 'The W. Carter Collection Vol. 2'.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning multi platinum 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...
song by the Southern hip-hop artist T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
, and the first official single from his 2006 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
King
King (T.I. album)
King is the fourth studio album by American rapper T.I., released on March 28, 2006 through Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. Recording sessions for the album only took a year in a half to record towards late-2005, T.I. stated in an interview with MTV News...
. The song also serves as the theme song to the 2006
2006 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
film ATL
ATL (film)
ATL is a 2006 American drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
in which T.I. stars. The song peaked at number three in the US and was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA. The song is also played during the end credits of the film and the video is included as a bonus feature on the DVD.
Song information
The critically acclaimed song is produced by DJ ToompDJ Toomp
Aldrin Davis, better known as DJ Toomp, is an award-winning American record producer and DJ who works in Atlanta, Georgia. In the late 1980s he was MC Shy-D's DJ and went on tour with him and the 2 Live Crew as they performed at various venues across the country with other artists such as N.W.A...
from Zone Boy Productions, with additional keys by Wonder Arillo. It utilizes an interpolation of Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
's version of The Impressions
The Impressions (American band)
The Impressions are an American music group from Chicago, originally formed in 1958. Their repertoire includes doo-wop, gospel, soul, and R&B....
's "Gone Away" and of the song "Hey Joe
Hey Joe
"Hey Joe" is an American popular song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and as such, has been performed in a multitude of musical styles by hundreds of different artists since it was first written. "Hey Joe" tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico...
", written by Billy Roberts
Billy Roberts
Billy Roberts is an American songwriter and musician credited with composing the 1960s rock music standard "Hey Joe"...
but popularised by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
Music video
The video took place in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The beginning starts where comedian Mike Epps
Mike Epps
Michael Elliot "Mike" Epps is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, singer, and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the sequel-to-the-sequel, Friday After Next, and also starring alongside Ice Cube in All About the Benjamins...
calls T.I. on his cellphone asking T.I. to come and hang out with him. He jokes that he "got a midget regnant". T.I. said he will be there because he has a movie premiere (for the film ATL
ATL (film)
ATL is a 2006 American drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
) to attend that night. The next scene shows him in a Bentley Continental
Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)
The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a four-door variant of the Bentley Continental GT coupé. The Bentley Continental Flying Spur was introduced in 2005....
driving through the neighborhood with Young Dro
Young Dro
D'Juan Hart , better known as Young Dro is an American Southern rapper from Bankhead, Georgia. He performed as Dro from 2000 until he signed to Grand Hustle Records in 2006, when he became known as Young Dro.- Discography :...
in slow motion and T.I. rapping in front of a white background. After that scene is showing him walking with a Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
backpack in slow motion.
Next scene he stops by Mike Epps
Mike Epps
Michael Elliot "Mike" Epps is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, singer, and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the sequel-to-the-sequel, Friday After Next, and also starring alongside Ice Cube in All About the Benjamins...
' house. After that scene is showing him rapping in different clothes in front of a black and white screen. Then the video showing T.I. gambling with Mike and his crew. The video showing a bunch of women in rollerskates with spinning rims. After that scene it shows him playing chess with his friend. After that scene, he chooses a suit to wear to the premiere with the assistance of three women.
Finally a bunch of black Cadillac Escalade
Cadillac Escalade
The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury sport utility vehicle sold by the General Motors luxury brand, Cadillac. It was the division's first major entry into the popular SUV market. The Escalade was introduced for the 1999 model year in response to German and Japanese competitors and to Ford's...
s pull up for the premiere. T.I. and his co-star Lauren London
Lauren London
Lauren Nicole London is an American film and television actress, model, and occasional music video actress. Beginning her career in music videos and later transitioning into film and television, London earned recognition for her performances in the film ATL as well as the television shows 90210...
, along with the rest of the cast, Jason Weaver
Jason Weaver
Jason Michael Weaver also known by his stage name J-Weav, is an American actor and singer. He is perhaps best known for his television roles as a pre-teenage Michael Jackson in the Emmy Award-winning 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, and as the older brother Marcus Henderson on the...
, Evan Ross
Evan Ross
Evan Olav Næss is an American actor and musician. He is the son of entertainer Diana Ross. He is the brother of actresses Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Tracee Ellis Ross, and of singer Leona Naess. He began acting in the late 2000s, appearing in the films ATL and Pride...
, and Jackie Long
Jackie Long
Jackie Long is an American actor, writer, producer, singer, director, comedian, and musician from Pasadena, California...
walking on the red carpet along with a cameo by Travis Barker
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker is an American musician, producer and entrepreneur, most noted as the drummer for the American pop punk band Blink-182, as well as the alternative rock band +44, the rap rock band The Transplants, and the alternative rock band Box Car Racer. He was a frequent collaborator with...
. Next scene is where they show scenes to the movie. The party scene, T.I. shakes the champagne and squirts it out everywhere. T.I.'s group P$C
P$C
P$C, or Pimp Squad Click, is an American Southern rap group from Atlanta, Georgia.-Biography:Formed by rapper T.I. and his longtime companions Big Kuntry King,C-Rod, AK & Mac Boney. All of the members are signed to Grand Hustle Records, as well as the group...
, Lauren London
Lauren London
Lauren Nicole London is an American film and television actress, model, and occasional music video actress. Beginning her career in music videos and later transitioning into film and television, London earned recognition for her performances in the film ATL as well as the television shows 90210...
and co-stars makes a cameo appearance at the party. At the end, T.I. cleans his glasses and shows him dancing at the party.
Chart position and certifications
| Chart (2006) | 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... |
3 |
| 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,... |
1 |
| 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 Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
10 |
Awards and accolades
- "What You Know" won for "Best Rap Solo PerformanceGrammy Award for Best Rap Solo PerformanceThe Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance was awarded from 1991 to 2011, alongside the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Previously a single award was presented for Best Rap Performance....
" and was nominated for "Best Rap SongGrammy Award for Best Rap SongThe Grammy Award for Best Rap Song was first awarded in 2004. It is a songwriting award given to all who wrote the lyrics and music of the song. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year...
" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
- "What You Know" was performed at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards2006 MTV Video Music AwardsThe 2006 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 31, 2006, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. The show was hosted by Jack Black at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
, where its music video was nominated for two awards.
- VIBE named T.I.'s "What You Know" as the Top Song of 2006. It was also ranked fourth on a similar list by Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/12769472/the_100_best_songs_of_2006/1, and was #1 in Muchmusic'sMuchMusicMuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
Top HipHop 2006 List.
- Pitchfork Media ranked "What You Know" #3 on their "Top Tracks of 2006" list, while T.I.'s collaboration on Justin TimberlakeJustin TimberlakeJustin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
's song "My Love" was ranked #1.
- The song is one of the most critically acclaimed of 2006 (arguably T.I.'s most critically acclaimed song), and is one of T.I.'s most successful. It has garnered a 5-star rating from Pitchfork MediaPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
. The song peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The 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 it also topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsHot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsHot 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,...
chart. It is ranked the 518th best song of all time, 8th of 2006, and 42nd of the 2000s decade by Acclaimedmusic.net.
- In 2008, it was ranked number 68 on VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
In popular culture
- The song has also been used in promotion of the film ATLATL (film)ATL is a 2006 American drama film, and the feature film directorial debut of music video director Chris Robinson. The screenplay was written by Tina Gordon Chism from an original story by Antwone Fisher, and is loosely based on the experiences of the film's producers Dallas Austin and Tionne...
, in which T.I. stars. The song was a major smash during the spring of 2006. - Japanese professional wrestler KENTAKenta Kobayashi, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
uses an instrumental of "What You Know" as his entrance theme. - The song is played at Target FieldTarget FieldTarget Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball...
whenever All-Star Joe MauerJoe MauerJoseph Patrick Mauer is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is the only catcher in Major League history to win three batting titles...
comes to bat. Mauer has won three batting titles and an 2009 MVP Award while having "What You Know" as his music. The year he changed the song, 2007, he failed to win a batting title and switched back in 2008 to "What You Know" and has won back-to-back titles since. - The song was used as the entrance song for Kendall GroveKendall GroveKendall Kekoa Grove is an American mixed martial artist. He was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 3 on Spike TV.- Early life :...
at UFC 101UFC 101UFC 101: Declaration was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. - The song was used at Turner FieldTurner FieldTurner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...
whenever Edgar RenteriaEdgar RenteríaEdgar Enrique Rentería Herazo , nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian professional baseball shortstop. He throws and bats right-handed. Previously, he has played for the Florida Marlins, the St...
came up to bat during the 2006 season.
Remixes
LA/Chicago mashup duo The White PandaThe White Panda
The White Panda is a mashup duo made up of Tom Evans and Dan Griffith based out of Chicago. According to the about section of their website, "The White Panda formed when two boyhood friends discovered they had independently embarked on mashup careers in college...
mixed the song with Little Secrets
Little Secrets (song)
Little Secrets, written by Michael Angelakos, is the third single by American wonky pop group Passion Pit, to be taken from their debut album Manners.Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Dan Haren has used the song as his run-out music.-Music video:...
by Passion Pit
Passion Pit
Passion Pit is an American electropop band from Cambridge, Massachusetts. The group, which formed in 2007, consists of Michael Angelakos , Ian Hultquist , Ayad Al Adhamy , Jeff Apruzzese and Nate Donmoyer...
in "What You Know About Little Secrets." Rapper's Juelz Santana
Juelz Santana
LaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"...
and J.R Writer recorded a remix of this song entitled 'What You Know (About That Crack)'. Papoose
Papoose
A papoose is an American English loanword whose present meaning is "a Native American Indian child" or, even more generally, any child, usually used as a term of endearment, often in the context of the child's mother. The word came originally from the Narragansett tribe...
recorded a freestyle over this song entitled 'What You Know (About Pap)'. Rapper Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
also recorded a remix of 'What You Know' which can be found on his mixtapes Dedication 2
Dedication 2
Dedication 2 is a 2006 mixtape by DJ Drama and Lil Wayne. It is a sequel to Lil Wayne's previous mixtape, Dedication, and is second in DJ Drama's Gangsta Grillz series with Lil Wayne. It is one of the few mixtapes in the hip hop genre to be both financially successful and critically acclaimed...
and 'The W. Carter Collection Vol. 2'.