Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent
Encyclopedia
"Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" is a hit song recorded by R&B singer Gwen Guthrie
. Released as a single in 1986 on Polydor Records, the song became the biggest hit of Guthrie's career, and the song's title became a semi-popular catchphrase among many women throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The song was a major hit in the U.S., mostly in dance clubs and on the radio, charting moderately on the US pop chart (reaching #42 on the Billboard Hot 100
), but faring better on the R&B chart where it spent one week at #1 and US dance charts, where it spent two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
chart in August 1986. The song was also successful in parts of Europe
, reaching #5 on the UK Singles Chart
, where it remains a classic of '80s radio in that country.
The line "Ain't nothing goin' on now, but the rent-uh" appears in the 1972 James Brown Hit 'Get on the Good Foot, pt.1'. Appropriately, the rent is taking place on his bad foot.
This song has been referenced numerous times in popular culture, including songs with similar messages, such as Destiny's Child
's "Bills, Bills, Bills
", and by Eddie Murphy
in one of his stand-up comedy
shows. Rapper Foxy Brown also released a cover version of the song, JOB feat. Mýa
, on her 1999 album Chyna Doll.
Gwen Guthrie
Gwen Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Madonna, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King, and Roberta Flack....
. Released as a single in 1986 on Polydor Records, the song became the biggest hit of Guthrie's career, and the song's title became a semi-popular catchphrase among many women throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The song was a major hit in the U.S., mostly in dance clubs and on the radio, charting moderately on the US pop chart (reaching #42 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...
), but faring better on the R&B chart where it spent one week at #1 and US dance charts, where it spent two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart in August 1986. The song was also successful in parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, reaching #5 on the 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 ...
, where it remains a classic of '80s radio in that country.
The line "Ain't nothing goin' on now, but the rent-uh" appears in the 1972 James Brown Hit 'Get on the Good Foot, pt.1'. Appropriately, the rent is taking place on his bad foot.
This song has been referenced numerous times in popular culture, including songs with similar messages, such as Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
's "Bills, Bills, Bills
Bills, Bills, Bills
"Bills, Bills, Bills" is a 1999 hit single by Destiny's Child, released as the first single from their second album The Writing's on the Wall. It echoed the female empowerment sentiments of TLC's single "No Scrubs", and featured the same producer and songwriter...
", and by Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
in one of his stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
shows. Rapper Foxy Brown also released a cover version of the song, JOB feat. Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
, on her 1999 album Chyna Doll.
See also
- Number-one dance hits of 1986 (USA)Number-one dance hits of 1986 (USA)These are the Billboard magazine Hot Dance Club Play number one hits of 1986.-See also:*1986 in music*List of number-one dance hits *List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart...