(Always Be My) Sunshine

"(Always Be My) Sunshine"
Single by Jay-Z featuring Foxy Brown and Babyface
from the album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Released September 16, 1997
Format CD
Recorded 1997
Genre
Length 4:43
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Who You Wit"
(1997) Who You Wit1997		 "(Always Be My) Sunshine"
(1997) (Always Be My) Sunshine1997		 "The City Is Mine"
(1998) The City Is Mine1998
Babyface singles chronology
"How Come How Long"
(1997) How Come How Long1997		 "(Always Be My) Sunshine"
(1997) (Always Be My) Sunshine1997		 "Fire"
(1998) Fire1998
Foxy Brown singles chronology
"Big Bad Mamma"
(1997) Big Bad Mamma1997		 "(Always Be My) Sunshine"
(1997) (Always Be My) Sunshine1997		 "Hot Spot"
(1998) Hot Spot1998

"(Always Be My) Sunshine" is a hip hop song by American rapper Jay-Z with guest vocals from fellow femcee Foxy Brown and R&B singer-songwriter Babyface who performs the song's chorus. It serves as the first single from his second album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997). The track features production by Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool. Vanderpool samples MC Lyte's "Cha Cha Cha", Alexander O'Neal's "Sunshine", Kraftwerk's "Man Machine" and The Fearless Four's "Rockin' It" for the track's beat. In addition, George Fonenette plays keyboards on this song. The song's lyrics helped indicate Jay-Z's change from his Mafioso rap style to a more commercial "shiny suit" style. Steve Juon of RapReviews.com supports the song claiming that it is a less gangsta version of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Me & My Bitch", a well-received track.[1] Jay-Z cites this song as "what killed the album."[2]

Music video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams. Jay-Z is featured in the video rapping in a room resembling a Rubik's Cube & having a carnival theme to it with Foxy Brown rapping alongside of him. Jay-Z & co-founder of Roc-A-Fella, Damon Dash later regretted doing the video citing that the video wasn't their style.

Formats and track listings

CD

  1. "Sunshine (Radio Edit)" (3:15)
  2. "Sunshine (Album Version)" (4:11)
  3. "Sunshine (Clean Version)" (4:12)
  4. "Sunshine (TV track)" (4:12)
  5. "Sunshine (Acappella)" (3:49)

Vinyl

A-side

  1. "Sunshine (Album Version)"
  2. "Sunshine (TV Track)"
  3. "Sunshine (Radio Edit)"

B-side

  1. "Sunshine (Clean Version)"
  2. "Sunshine (Instrumental)"
  3. "Sunshine (Acappella)"

Chart performance

Chart (1997) Peak
position
German Singles Chart 18
Swedish Singles Chart 42
UK Singles Chart 25
US Billboard Hot 100 95
US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks 37
US Billboard Hot Rap Singles 16

See also

References

  1. ↑ Juon, Steve. "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Review at RapReviews.com". Archived from the original on 3 August 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
  2. ↑ The Scoreboard | Life+Times
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