Big Pimpin'
Encyclopedia
"Big Pimpin'" is the last single from rapper
Jay-Z
's fourth album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
. It features rapping by Southern hip hop group UGK
as well as production by Timbaland
.
Timbaland sample
s "Khosara", composed by Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi in the mid-20th century and originally recorded by the famous Egyptian vocalist Abdel Halim Hafez
for the track's beat leading to its Middle Eastern sound. A version of "Khosara", arranged and performed by Hossam Ramzy, can be heard on a CD compilation entitled, “The Best of Bellydance from Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey” which also contains another song that Timbaland
sampled for the Petey Pablo
track, "Raise Up
". In 2007, the song sparked controversy when a copyright co-owner of the sampled track Osama Admed Fahmy filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Federal Court, alleging that Timbaland illegally replayed portions of "Big Pimpin" note-for-note, using a melody lifted from the song. Jay-Z, Timbaland, Linkin Park
and EMI Music Inc. were among the defendants named in the lawsuit. (Linkin Park because the track was also mashed up with their song Papercut
on the collaborative EP Collision Course
in 2004).
This latest lawsuit follows an August (2007) decision by a California judge to dismiss another lawsuit by Ahab Joseph Nafal, who claimed Big Pimpin' infringed the copyright of Khosara, Khorasa. Lawyers for EMI Records argued the 50-year-old track was governed by the 1909 Copyright Act, AllHipHop.com reports.
"Big Pimpin'" is the most commercially successful single from Jay-Z's fourth album as it reached #18 on The Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. The music video was shot in Trinidad
during its Carnival
and features Jay-Z on a music truck dispensing money into the crowd and partying on a lavish yacht. It was directed by Hype Williams
.
In Rolling Stone
's updated 2010 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
", the song ranked at #467. Despite the song's performance, Jay-Z later revealed he regretted the song's lyrics claiming that, "Some [lyrics] become really profound when you see them in writing. Not "Big Pimpin." That's the exception. It was like, I can't believe I said that. And kept saying it. What kind of animal would say this sort of thing? Reading it is really harsh."
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
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...
's fourth album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter is the fourth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released December 28, 1999 on Roc-A-Fella Records. It exhibits a return to the street-oriented sound of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt...
. It features rapping by Southern hip hop group UGK
UGK
UGK was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas formed in 1987 by the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler . He then joined with Bernard "Bun B" Freeman, who became his longtime partner...
as well as production by Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
.
Timbaland sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
s "Khosara", composed by Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi in the mid-20th century and originally recorded by the famous Egyptian vocalist Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Hafez
Abdel Halim Ali Shabana commonly known as Abdel Halim Hafez , is among the most popular Egyptian and Arab singers and performers. In addition to singing, Halim was also an actor, conductor, business man, music teacher and movie producer...
for the track's beat leading to its Middle Eastern sound. A version of "Khosara", arranged and performed by Hossam Ramzy, can be heard on a CD compilation entitled, “The Best of Bellydance from Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey” which also contains another song that Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
sampled for the Petey Pablo
Petey Pablo
Moses Mortimer Barrett III , known by the stage name Petey Pablo, is an American rapper from Greenville, North Carolina.-Biography:...
track, "Raise Up
Raise Up
"Raise Up" is a hip hop song by rapper Petey Pablo from his debut album Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry.The song peaked at #25 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 30, 2001...
". In 2007, the song sparked controversy when a copyright co-owner of the sampled track Osama Admed Fahmy filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Federal Court, alleging that Timbaland illegally replayed portions of "Big Pimpin" note-for-note, using a melody lifted from the song. Jay-Z, Timbaland, Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
and EMI Music Inc. were among the defendants named in the lawsuit. (Linkin Park because the track was also mashed up with their song Papercut
Papercut (song)
"Papercut" is a song by the American rock band Linkin Park. It was released as the third single from their debut album Hybrid Theory, and appears as the opening track on the record. The "Papercut" single was never officially released in the US. The song reached number 14 in the UK Singles Chart in...
on the collaborative EP Collision Course
Collision Course (album)
Critics were divided over Collision Course, with some praising the album, while others negatively received it.David Jeffries of allmusic praised the album, calling it "awesomely fun". K.B...
in 2004).
This latest lawsuit follows an August (2007) decision by a California judge to dismiss another lawsuit by Ahab Joseph Nafal, who claimed Big Pimpin' infringed the copyright of Khosara, Khorasa. Lawyers for EMI Records argued the 50-year-old track was governed by the 1909 Copyright Act, AllHipHop.com reports.
"Big Pimpin'" is the most commercially successful single from Jay-Z's fourth album as it reached #18 on The Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart. The music video was shot in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
during its Carnival
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event celebrated on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is the most significant event on the islands' cultural and tourism calendar, with numerous cultural events running in the lead up to the street parade on...
and features Jay-Z on a music truck dispensing money into the crowd and partying on a lavish yacht. It was 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....
.
In Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling 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...
's updated 2010 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone, issue number 963, published December 9, 2004, a year after the magazine published its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time"....
", the song ranked at #467. Despite the song's performance, Jay-Z later revealed he regretted the song's lyrics claiming that, "Some [lyrics] become really profound when you see them in writing. Not "Big Pimpin." That's the exception. It was like, I can't believe I said that. And kept saying it. What kind of animal would say this sort of thing? Reading it is really harsh."
Peak positions
| Chart (2000) | 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... |
18 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 6 |
| U.S. Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 3 |
| 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 ... |
29 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (2000) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 60 |
CD
- "Big Pimpin' (Radio Edit)"
- "Watch Me (LP Version)"
- "Big Pimpin' (Instrumental)"
- "Big Pimpin' (Video)"