U Know What's Up

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"U Know What's Up"
Single by Donell Jones
from the album Where I Wanna Be
B-side"Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" (excerpt)
ReleasedAugust 3, 1999 (1999-08-03)
Length3:59
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Donell Jones singles chronology
"You Should Know"
(1997) 		"U Know What's Up"
(1999) 		"It's So Hard"
(2000)
Lisa Lopes singles chronology
"Cradle of Rock"
(1998) 		"U Know What's Up"
(1999) 		"I Do"
(1999)

"U Know What's Up" is a song by American R&B singer Donell Jones. It was written by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for his second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999), while production was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment.

Released as the album's lead single, the song became Jones' biggest hit, reaching the top 10 in Ireland and on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was most successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. In addition, "U Know What's Up" topped Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for eight consecutive weeks, his only single to do so to date. A remix version featuring Left Eye of TLC was used for the accompanying music video.

Music video[edit]

The video features rapper Left Eye of TLC, YoungBloodZ, T.I., Usher and Big Boi of OutKast, all of whom were (including Jones) part of the LaFace Records label. At the beginning of the video, there is a sign that says La Face Place, in reference to the record label. The clip premiered on BET on the week ending September 12, 1999.[1]

The video begins with Left Eye at her apartment receiving a phone call, presumably from Jones, informing her that the music video for the song is being aired on TV. She turns to the TV screen behind her playing the video, which shows Jones at a hotel party, and proceeds to watch it. As it turns out, Left Eye is not the only person watching the video, as the video pans across the building showing Usher and his girlfriend at his apartment, and Big Boi hosting a music video premiere at his apartment. Midway through the video, Left Eye leaves her apartment and recites her verse in the song while walking across the corridor, presumably to join Jones at a similar party at the back of the building, which is revealed as the camera pulls back from the corridor. At the end, the video pulls back to reveal Jones watching it at his apartment with his girlfriend.

Track listings[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 3, 1999 Urban radio
[35]
September 14, 1999 Urban AC radio [36]
September 21, 1999 Rhythmic contemporary radio [37]
United Kingdom January 10, 2000
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[38]
New Zealand March 6, 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 [39]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 40. October 2, 1999. p. 110. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  2. ^ U Know What's Up (US CD single liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24420-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ U Know What's Up (US cassette single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24420-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ U Know What's Up (US 12-inch single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24411-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ U Know What's Up (Australian CD single liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 2000. 74321 70262 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ U Know What's Up (UK CD1 liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ U Know What's Up (UK CD2 liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72276 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ U Know What's Up (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ U Know What's Up (UK cassette single sleeve). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ U Know What's Up (European CD single liner notes). Donell Jones. LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 73889 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 148.
  12. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9737." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 6. February 5, 2000. p. 5. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (4.2– 10.2 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 4, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – U Know What's Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  17. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donell Jones" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  18. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  23. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  24. ^ "Donell Jones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  25. ^ "Donell Jones Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  26. ^ "Donell Jones Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  27. ^ "Urban Top 20 Tracks of 1999" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 32. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  28. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-57.
  29. ^ "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 20, 2001. p. 25.
  30. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  31. ^ "The Year in Music 2000: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-54. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  32. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 56.
  33. ^ "British single certifications – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  34. ^ "American single certifications – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Recording Industry Association of America.
  35. ^ "AddVance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1310. July 30, 1999. p. 66. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  36. ^ "Urban AC: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1316. September 10, 1999. p. 67. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  37. ^ "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2273. September 20, 1999. p. 8.
  38. ^ "Reviews – For Records Out on 3/10 January 2000" (PDF). Music Week. December 25, 1999. p. 7. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  39. ^ "New Releases". netcd.co.nz. March 6, 2000. Archived from the original on March 11, 2000. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
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