Down 4 U Explained

Down 4 U
Cover:	Down 4 U.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Irv Gotti presents Ja Rule, Ashanti, Charli Baltimore, and Vita
Studio:	The Crackhouse (New York City)
Genre:	Hip hop
Length:	5:18
Label:	Def Jam Murder Inc.
Producer:	Irv Gotti 7 Aurelius
Chronology:	The Inc.
Prev Title:	Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)
Prev Year:	2002
Next Title:	The Pledge
Next Year:	2002

"Down 4 U" is the lead single from Murder Inc. Records' compilation album , released through Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The song features rapped verses from Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, and Vita while Ashanti provides the chorus and sung vocals. The song is a remix as well as its music video being the sequel of Ja Rule's 2002 single, "Down Ass Bitch".

Background

"Down 4 U" became a hit on the US Billboard charts during mid-2002, reaching number six on the Hot 100 chart on the week of August 17, 2002, and number three on both the R&B and rap charts. The Irv Gotti-produced song interpolates Roger Troutman's 1987 hit "I Want to Be Your Man", for which he and his brother Larry Troutman were given writing credits. The associated music video showed the artists performing the song on a beach with cameos by Irv Gotti, Eric Roberts, Clarence Williams III, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston and other members of the Inc.^[1]

In addition to appearing on Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc., the song also appeared on The Source magazine's compilation and as a bonus track on Ja Rule's 2002 album, The Last Temptation. The song was performed live by Ja Rule and Ashanti at VH1's 6th Annual Hip Hop Honors that honored Def Jam Recordings.

Track listings

UK CD single^[2]

1. "Down 4 U" (radio edit) – 5:16
2. "Down 4 U" (D'n'D vocal mix) – 5:30
3. "Down 4 U" (D'n'D Conemelt mix) – 5:47
4. "Down 4 U" (video)

UK 12-inch single^[3]

A1. "Down 4 U" (radio edit) – 5:16

A2. "Down 4 U" (D'n'D vocal mix) – 5:30

B1. "Down 4 U" (D'n'D Conemelt mix) – 5:47

UK cassette single^[4]

1. "Down 4 U" (radio edit)
2. "Down 4 U" (D'n'D vocal mix)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes.^[2]

Studios

• Recorded at the Crackhouse (New York City)
• Mixed at Right Track Studios (New York City)
• Mastered at Sony Music Studios (London, England)

Personnel

• Jeffrey Atkins – writing
• Irving Lorenzo – writing
• Ashanti Douglas – writing
• Tiffany Lane – writing
• L. Rayner – writing
• Larry Troutman – writing ("I Want to Be Your Man")
• Roger Troutman – writing ("I Want to Be Your Man")
• Irv Gotti – writing (as Irving Lorenzo), production
• 7 Aurelius – writing, production
• Milwaukee Buck – recording, mixing
• Terry "Murda Mac" Herbert – recording assistance
• Naweed "Dirty" Ahmed – mastering engineer

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)^[6]	139
US Billboard Hot 100^[7]	44
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)^[8]	38
US Hot Rap Tracks (Billboard)^[9]	14
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)^[10]	18

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	June 10, 2002			^[11]
	July 29, 2002	Contemporary hit radio		^[12]
United Kingdom	September 30, 2002			^[13]

Notes and References

1. "Down 4 U" chart history at Billboard.com. https://web.archive.org/web/19961227122903/http://www.billboard.com/#/song/irv-gotti/down-4-u/4036549. dead. December 27, 1996. Billboard. December 8, 2010.
2. Down 4 U. Irv Gotti. 2002. UK CD single liner notes. Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings. 063 900-2.
3. Down 4 U. Irv Gotti. 2002. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings. 063 900-1.
4. Down 4 U. Irv Gotti. 2002. UK cassette single sleeve. Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings. 063 900-4.
5. Eurochart Hot 100 singles. Music & Media. 20. 43. 9. October 19, 2002. November 28, 2019.
6. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2002. UKChartsPlus. March 1, 2021.
7. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2002. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090412103316/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=2002. April 12, 2009. December 8, 2010.
8. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 2002. Billboard. subscription. March 1, 2021.
9. The Year in Music 2002: Hot Rap Tracks. Billboard. 114. 52. YE-52. December 28, 2002.
10. Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2002. Airplay Monitor. 10. 51. 22. December 20, 2002.
11. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1456. 35. June 7, 2002. June 8, 2021.
12. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1463. 29. July 26, 2002. June 8, 2021.
13. New Releases – For Week Starting 30 September 2002: Singles. Music Week. 31. September 28, 2002. August 28, 2021.