In Public
Encyclopedia
"In Public" is a song by American R&B
singer-songwriter Kelis
, featuring American rapper Nas
. It was written by Rockwilder
and Kelis and produced by Rockwilder for Kelis' third studio album, Tasty (2003). As the song title implies, its lyrics deal with public sex
.
The song was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as the album's fourth and final single
in early April 2005. Like previous hits "Trick Me
" and "Millionaire
", "Trick Me" was not released in Kelis' native United States. Although no video
was made for the song, it still managed to make it onto the UK Singles Chart
, concretely landing at number seventeen, due to strong radio and club
play
. The track was originally due to be released as a double A-side single with the Raphael Saadiq
-produced "Glow"; this did not happen and a reason for the change has never been given.
considered the song to be one of Tastys highlights, stating that it "espouses the delights of al fresco sex over a clinical electro beat and features a filthy rap courtesy of new husband Nas. Suffice to say it leaves Beyonce
and Jay-Z
sounding like Mary Whitehouse
and Cliff Richard
." Andy Kellman of Allmusic disagreed; he referred to the track as one of the album's "miscues thwarting perfection" and advised listeners to skip past it. The Guardian
s Dorian Lynskey described the song as "an eyebrow-raisingly explicit duet." The Independent
felt that "[f]or his part, Nas appears rather more flustered than he ever did in his accounts of life as a dope-dealing streetwise hustler." For Pitchfork Media
reviewer Scott Plagenhoef, the song "is possibly the low-point of what is often a transparent Beyoncé-aping full-length (starting with the cover art, which bares a striking resemblance to that of the "Crazy in Love" single)." Ernest Hardy from Rolling Stone
commented that on "In Public", Kelis sounds like "Donna Summer
with an action plan ('I'll make your toes curl up and make your body scream/Come take a walk with me')."
for the issue date of April 10, 2005, ending Kelis' string of UK top five hits. In Ireland, the single debuted and peaked at number twenty-two on the Irish Singles Chart
on the issue dated April 7, 2005. It also charted at number fifty-four on the European Hot 100 Singles chart on April 23, 2005.
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer-songwriter Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
, featuring American rapper Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
. It was written by Rockwilder
Rockwilder
Rockwilder is an American hip hop and R&B record producer, rapper, and R&B Singer. A long term friend of Def Jam rapper Redman, Rockwilder got his start producing for East Coast Hip Hop artists in the mid 1990s. In 1999 Rockwilder produced Method Man & Redman's hit single "Da Rockwilder"...
and Kelis and produced by Rockwilder for Kelis' third studio album, Tasty (2003). As the song title implies, its lyrics deal with public sex
Public sex
Public sex refers to sexual acts that take place in public or semi-public places, and does not necessarily imply that the sexual activity takes place outdoors. Public places where sex acts can be performed include a car , on a beach, in the woods, as well as in a theatre, bus, street, besides...
.
The song was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as the album's fourth and final single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in early April 2005. Like previous hits "Trick Me
Trick Me
"Trick Me" is a song by American recording artist Kelis. It was released as the second single from her third studio album, Tasty in April 2004. It was not released in the United States as her American label, Arista, folded after the release of Tasty, and she was transferred to Jive. In Europe, she...
" and "Millionaire
Millionaire (song)
"Millionaire" is a song by American R&B singer–songwriter Kelis, featuring American singer–rapper André 3000—half of the hip hop duo OutKast. Written by Kelis and André 3000 who also served as the producer, the song was released in October 2004 as the third single from Kelis' third studio album,...
", "Trick Me" was not released in Kelis' native United States. Although no video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was made for the song, it still managed to make it onto 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 ...
, concretely landing at number seventeen, due to strong radio and club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
play
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
. The track was originally due to be released as a double A-side single with the Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Saadiq has been a standard bearer for "old school" R&B since his early days as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! He also produced songs of such artists as TLC, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Mary J...
-produced "Glow"; this did not happen and a reason for the change has never been given.
Critical reception
"In Public" was met with mixed reviews from music critics. Adam Webb of Yahoo! Music UKYahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
considered the song to be one of Tastys highlights, stating that it "espouses the delights of al fresco sex over a clinical electro beat and features a filthy rap courtesy of new husband Nas. Suffice to say it leaves Beyonce
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
and 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...
sounding like Mary Whitehouse
Mary Whitehouse
Mary Whitehouse, CBE was a British campaigner against the permissive society particularly as the media portrayed and reflected it...
and Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
." Andy Kellman of Allmusic disagreed; he referred to the track as one of the album's "miscues thwarting perfection" and advised listeners to skip past it. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
s Dorian Lynskey described the song as "an eyebrow-raisingly explicit duet." The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
felt that "[f]or his part, Nas appears rather more flustered than he ever did in his accounts of life as a dope-dealing streetwise hustler." For Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork 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...
reviewer Scott Plagenhoef, the song "is possibly the low-point of what is often a transparent Beyoncé-aping full-length (starting with the cover art, which bares a striking resemblance to that of the "Crazy in Love" single)." Ernest Hardy from 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...
commented that on "In Public", Kelis sounds like "Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
with an action plan ('I'll make your toes curl up and make your body scream/Come take a walk with me')."
Chart performance
Without a music video to back its release, "In Public" debuted at number seventeen on the UK Singles ChartUK 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 ...
for the issue date of April 10, 2005, ending Kelis' string of UK top five hits. In Ireland, the single debuted and peaked at number twenty-two on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
on the issue dated April 7, 2005. It also charted at number fifty-four on the European Hot 100 Singles chart on April 23, 2005.
Track listing
UK CD single- "In Public" (Radio Edit) - 3:22
- "Trick MeTrick Me"Trick Me" is a song by American recording artist Kelis. It was released as the second single from her third studio album, Tasty in April 2004. It was not released in the United States as her American label, Arista, folded after the release of Tasty, and she was transferred to Jive. In Europe, she...
" (Clean Version) – 3:26
Charts
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Hot 100 Singles | 54 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
22 |
| 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 ... |
17 |