Party People (Nelly song)

"Party People" is a song recorded by American rapper Nelly featuring American singer Fergie. It was released on March 18, 2008 as the lead single for Nelly's fifth studio album, Brass Knuckles, and was featured on the deluxe edition of Fergie's debut album, The Dutchess (both released in 2008). Both artists co-wrote the track with producer Polow da Don and co-producer Sean Garrett. The song garnered negative reviews from critics. "Party People" peaked at numbers 40 and 62 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively. It also reached the top 20 in countries like Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK. A music video for the single, directed by Marc Webb, takes place in an underground room with cameos by Polow da Don, Keri Hilson and Ciara.

"Party People"
The cover features Nelly wearing a white tank top and both a platinum pinky ring and a wrist watch on his left hand against a black background. Both artists' name and the song title appear on the left corner, the artists' name are colored in sky blue and the song title is cursively written in white.
Single by Nelly featuring Fergie
from the album Brass Knuckles and The Dutchess: Deluxe edition
B-side"Cut It Out"
ReleasedMarch 18, 2008 (2008-03-18)
Recorded2007
Genre
Length4:02
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Nelly singles chronology
"5000 Ones"
(2007)
"Party People"
(2008)
"Here I Am"
(2008)
Fergie singles chronology
"Clumsy"
(2007)
"Party People"
(2008)
"Finally"
(2008)
Music video
"Party People" on YouTube

Background

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The song was originally intended for Fergie's debut album, The Dutchess (on the Deluxe Edition of which it now appears), and featured Miami-based rapper Trina. Originally, the track was played and intended to feature Houston rapper Chamillionaire, before he passed up on the offer. In yet another (see "Love in This Club") example of Polow da Don releasing tracks or beats before they were intended, he then played the track for Nelly who immediately decided that he wanted to use the beat.[1]

Critical reception

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Azeem Ahmad of musicOMH called it "Brass Knuckles' surprise track", saying it "feels like a rap battle between the two artists".[2] AllMusic's David Jeffries felt the song came across like a "dull outtake" from either Sweat or Suit.[3] Nick Levine of Digital Spy wrote: "[T]his is no disaster, but if Nelly really wants to excite the party people, he needs to come up with something a little less monotonous."[4] Roman Cooper of HipHopDX found Fergie's gangsta delivery "laughable."[5] PopMatters contributor Chris Gaerig called it "the worst single" Nelly has ever released, saying it "sounds like Fergie aping a Three 6 Mafia production."[6]

Chart performance

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On the week of April 12, 2008, "Party People" debuted at numbers 54 and 90 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively.[7][8][9] The following week, it debuted at number 24 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[10] On the week of May 3, the song peaked at number 40 on the Hot 100, staying on the chart for ten weeks.[11][12] The following week, it reached number 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, also staying there for ten weeks.[13][14] It also reached number 16 on the Hot Rap Songs chart the week of May 17, and remained there for eight weeks.[15][16] The following week, the song peaked at number 22 on the Rhythmic chart, also staying there for eight weeks.[17][18]

For the week of April 13, 2008, "Party People" debuted at number 77 on the UK Singles Chart.[19] It peaked at number 14 the week of May 25 and remained on the chart for eleven weeks.[20][21] In Canada, the track debuted at number 63 on the Canadian Hot 100 the week of May 3, 2008, and peaked at number 52 the following week.[22][23]

Music video

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The video was shot in Los Angeles, California and directed by Marc Webb.[24] Polow da Don, Keri Hilson and Ciara make cameos in the video.

The video premiered on MTV on April 14, 2008.[25] The video begins with many lights switching on revealing a large underground room where the room is suddenly filled with many people. We see Fergie on a swing high above the ground while Nelly rises up out of the ground in a cloud of smoke. The rest of the video continues with Nelly and Fergie rapping into the camera while breaking up fights at the party and images of Fergie walking along a walkway as well as jumping on Nelly's back. In the middle of the video Nelly and Fergie rap aggressively at each other atop a raised platform before another short image shows Fergie sitting on the swing again. The video ends with a cameo from R&B singer Keri Hilson sporting a black T-shirt sporting the slogan "Hip Hop Aint Dead".

Nelly and Fergie performed "Party People" at the 2008 BET Awards.

Track listing

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UK CD single
  1. "Party People" (Clean)
  2. "Party People" (Explicit)
  3. "Cut It Out"

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Rodriguez, Jayson (April 9, 2008). "Nelly And Fergie Both Wanted The 'Party People' Beat... So They Decided To Share It". MTV. Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  2. ^ Ahmad, Azeem. "Nelly - Brass Knuckles". musicOMH. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Jeffries, David. "Brass Knuckles - Nelly". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Levine, Nick (April 30, 2008). "Nelly ft. Fergie: 'Party People'". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Cooper, Roman (September 17, 2008). "Nelly - Brass Knuckles". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Gaerig, Chris (November 12, 2008). "Nelly: Brass Knuckles". PopMatters. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (April 3, 2008). "Mariah's Got The 'Touch' With 18th No. 1". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Hot 100: April 12, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: April 12, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hot Rap Songs: April 19, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "The Hot 100: May 3, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Nelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: May 10, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 18, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Nelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  15. ^ "Hot Rap Songs: May 17, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Nelly Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  17. ^ "Rhythmic Airplay: May 24, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Nelly Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 13 April 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100: 25 May 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  21. ^ "Party People by Nelly and Fergie". aCharts.co. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  22. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: May 3, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: May 10, 2008". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  24. ^ Lazerine, Devin (March 24, 2008). "Nelly's 'Brass Knuckles' Due June 24". Rap-Up. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  25. ^ Heidi Montag Raps on TRL Accessed July 16, 2008
  26. ^ "Nelly feat. Fergie – Party People". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  27. ^ "Nelly feat. Fergie – Party People" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  28. ^ "Nelly feat. Fergie – Party People" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  29. ^ "Nelly feat. Fergie – Party People" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  30. ^ "Nelly Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  31. ^ "Nelly Chart History (Euro Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  32. ^ "Nelly feat. Fergie – Party People" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  33. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Party People". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  34. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 27, 2008". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  35. ^ "Nelly feat. Fergie – Party People". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  37. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  38. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  39. ^ "Nelly – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  40. ^ "2008 Annual ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  41. ^ "Official Singles Chart 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
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