Clap Back Explained

Clap Back
Cover:Ja Rule - Clap Back cover.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Ja Rule
Album:Blood in My Eye
B-Side:The Crown
Recorded:2003
Genre:East Coast hip hop · hardcore hip hop
Producer:Scott Storch
Chronology:Ja Rule
Prev Title:Reign
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Wonderful
Next Year:2004

"Clap Back" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule, released as the only single from his fifth studio album, Blood in My Eye (2003). It was produced by American producer Scott Storch, who helped write the song along with Ja Rule and Irv Gotti. In the United States, the song was released along with "The Crown" (featuring Sizzla) from Blood in My Eye, and in the UK the song was released alongside "Murder Reigns" (titled "Reigns"), the final single from Ja Rule's previous studio album The Last Temptation (2002).

The song is a diss track directed at 50 Cent and Eminem, with lines such as "Like Bush and Saddam, I'm-a find out where Em Laden's hiding and bomb him first", "And God gave me his blessings to handle my business, All these wanksta snitches, let the nina blow kisses, If she some how misses, he gon' meet the mistress, And 'Clap that boy' like Birdman and Clipse". Another line, "Fuck the Dog, beware of Rule, 'cause I'm the problem", was also interpreted as being aimed at DMX.. The song is the origin of the popular slang 'clap back' in street lingo, meaning to respond or retaliate to personal attack or criticism.[1]

Video

The video features a snippet of "The Crown" in the beginning and then switches to "Clap Back". Benzino, Hussein Fatal and various Murder Inc artists appear.

Track listing

US CD single[2]

  1. "Clap Back" (radio edit) – 4:16
  2. "Clap Back" (album version) – 4:57
  3. "The Crown" (featuring Sizzla; radio edit) – 3:45
  4. "Clap Back" (video) – 5:33

Charts

Chart (2003)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[3] 13

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What's a 'Clapback'? . Merriam-Webster . December 1, 2023 . January 2019.
  2. Web site: Clap Back – Ja Rule > Overview. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. December 12, 2011.
  3. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 2, 2004. Dutch Top 40. May 26, 2022.