Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are) Explained

Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)
Cover:Pras - Ghetto Superstar single.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Pras Michel featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa
Album:Ghetto Supastar and Bulworth
Label:Interscope
Chronology:Pras Michel
Prev Title:Avenues
Prev Year:1997
Next Title:Blue Angels
Next Year:1998

"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" is a song by American rapper Pras, featuring rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard and R&B singer Mýa. Produced by Pras and Wyclef Jean, with co-production from Jerry 'Wonda" Duplessis and Che Pope, it interpolates Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream", as written by the Bee Gees, and samples "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved" by James Brown. Also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Bulworth, the song was released as Pras' debut solo single and the second from his debut solo album Ghetto Supastar on June 6, 1998.

A worldwide commercial success, the song became a number-one hit in New Zealand and throughout Europe, including Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In the United States, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" peaked at number 15 for five consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and in 1999, received a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 41st Grammy Awards.

Background

"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" was written by Pras, Wyclef Jean, and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The song contains an interpolation from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream." Due to the clip, its writers, brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, are also credited as songwriters on "Ghetto Supastar".[1] The song also samples "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved", as written by James Brown, Bobby Byrd, and Ron Lenhoff and performed by the former.

According to Mya, Interscope Records tried to consult more established singers to sing the chorus on the song, including Mary J. Blige.[2] It was not until Ol' Dirty Bastard joined the project, that he – after listening to her self-titled debut album – persuaded Pras and Jean to use her vocals on the track.[2]

Critical reception

In his review for Entertainment Weekly, David Browne for wrote: "This left-field remake of the Kenny Rogers-Dolly Parton hit "Islands in the Stream" is a far better showcase for Mya; with her buttery rendering of the song’s hooky chorus, she paints herself as the world’s most streetwise, levelheaded groupie. As for the rest of the track, its combination of slinky guitar, scratching, and scratchy ODB growl (or is that now "scratchy Big Baby Jesus growl"?) makes it a dozen times more fun than Bulworth itself."[3]

Music video

Francis Lawrence directed the video, which features Bulworth stars Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, and Joshua Malina. In a play on the theme of the film, which is a prominent white politician acting like a Black American, Bulworth – as played by Beatty – in the music video begins to stretch his mouth, revealing himself to be Pras in a mask, who has just become the first African-American US president. Shortly after Pras gets pushed in an elevator, he takes off his suit and performs.

Apart from Mya and Ol' Dirty Bastard, Wyclef Jean also appears on the set playing the bass guitar riff at the end of the song. The music video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film. It also received three nominations at the 1998 Billboard Video Music Awards for Best New Artist Clip (Pop), Best New Artist Clip (Rap), and Best New Artist Clip (R&B).

Cover versions

"Weird Al" Yankovic included the song in his polka medley "Polka Power!" from his 1999 album Running with Scissors. The Bee Gees recorded a version of "Islands in the Stream" with the chorus of "Ghetto Supastar" replacing the final chorus for their retrospective 2001 compilation . It also appeared on their 2004 Number Ones and on the 2010 Mythology box set.[4]

In August 2011, Taylor Swift covered "Ghetto Supastar" during the North American leg of her Speak Now World Tour. In each city, she chose to pay tribute to a homegrown artist. In Washington, D.C., she performed an acoustic version of "Ghetto Supastar", given that Mýa is from Washington, D.C. Swift referred to the song as her "seventh grade anthem".[5] [6] [7]

In 2017, singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens posted a video of herself singing "Ghetto Supastar" a capella on Instagram.[8]

Track listing

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
Canada (RPM)[12] 9
Denmark (IFPI)[13] 1
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[14] 1
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15] 2
Italy (Musica e dischi)[16] 3
Spain (AFYVE)[17] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)Position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 13
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 4
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 16
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[21] 32
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[22] 50
Canada Dance (RPM)[23] 37
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[24] 7
France (SNEP)[25] 56
Germany (Official German Charts)[26] 11
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[27] 35
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 20
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 17
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 19
Norway Spring Period (VG-lista)[31] 13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 16
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[34] 9
UK Urban (Music Week)[35] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[36] 70

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dolly Parton: An Island In the Stream. Standpoint Consulting. March 29, 2023. February 16, 2024.
  2. Web site: Mukherjee . Tiarra. Mya Hangs Tough With the Rough Boys. https://web.archive.org/web/20071118193223/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/mya/articles/story/5926988/mya_hangs_tough_with_the_rough_boys. Rolling Stone. November 19, 1998. July 27, 2023. November 18, 2007.
  3. David. Browne. Ghetto Superstar (That Is What You Are);You're Still The One;Closing Time;You Won't Forget Me. Entertainment Weekly. 1998-06-26. 2023-02-22. David Browne (journalist).
  4. Web site: Gibb Songs : 2001. columbia.edu.
  5. Videos: Taylor Swift's Coast-to-Coast Cover Songs. https://web.archive.org/web/20111117215239/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/videos-taylor-swifts-coast-to-coast-cover-songs-20111116. dead. November 17, 2011. 2017-12-19. Rolling Stone.
  6. Web site: Taylor Covers Pras & Mya's "Ghetto Superstar" - Taylor Swift's Most Hip-Hop Moments. 2017-12-19. Complex.
  7. Web site: Taylor Swift Covers TLC, Eminem, & Mya [Video]]. 2017-12-19. Rap-Up.
  8. Web site: 'Feeling Myself': Vanessa Hudgens Sings 'Ghetto Supastar' in a Purple Wig. 2017-12-19. People.
  9. Web site: Pras Michel Featuring ODB* & Introducing Mȳa* - Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are). Discogs.
  10. Web site: Pras Michel Featuring ODB* & Introducing Mȳa* - Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are). Discogs.
  11. Web site: Pras Michel Featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard & Introducing Mya - GhettoSupastar (That Is What You Are). Discogs.
  12. Web site: Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada. collectionscanada.gc.ca. 2012-05-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150419012918/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3655&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=j86d3uqb5jajlou8j8ag1r4lv4. 2015-04-19. dead.
  13. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 15. 30. 14. July 25, 1998. March 10, 2023.
  14. Web site: Euro Chart Hot 100. Music & Media. 11. 1998-08-01. January 7, 2018.
  15. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 276 Vikuna 11.6.–18.6. 1998). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 22. June 12, 1998. June 12, 2022.
  16. Hits Of The World. Billboard. 74. September 12, 1998. March 18, 2018.
  17. Hits Of The World. Billboard. 61. October 24, 1998. March 18, 2018.
  18. Web site: ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1998 . 2011-04-19 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160229042025/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-1998.htm . 2016-02-29 .
  19. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1998. austriancharts.at. March 10, 2020.
  20. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1998. Ultratop. March 10, 2020.
  21. Web site: Rapports Annuels 1998. Ultratop. March 10, 2020.
  22. RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98. RPM. 63. 12. 20. December 14, 1998. January 25, 2024.
  23. RPM's Top 50 Dance Tracks of '98. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. January 25, 2024.
  24. Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1998. Music & Media. 15. 51. 8. December 19, 1998. January 25, 2024.
  25. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 1998. SNEP. fr. January 25, 2024.
  26. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de . . August 7, 2015.
  27. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 100 – Vinsælustu Lögin '98. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 34. January 2, 1999. January 25, 2024.
  28. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1998. Dutch Top 40. March 10, 2020.
  29. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1998. dutchcharts.nl. March 10, 2020.
  30. Web site: End of Year Charts 1998. Recorded Music NZ. December 4, 2017.
  31. Web site: Topp 20 Single Vår 1998. VG-lista. January 25, 2024. no. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084121/http://lista.vg.no/liste/topp-20-single/1/dato/1998/periode/v%C3%A5r. March 4, 2016. dead.
  32. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 1998. Sverigetopplistan. sv. March 10, 2020.
  33. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1998 – hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. March 10, 2020.
  34. Best Sellers of 1998 - Singles Top 100. January 16, 1999. Music Week. 7. September 15, 2023.
  35. The Urban Top 40 of 1998. Music Week. January 9, 1999. August 6, 2023.
  36. Web site: Longbored Surfer . https://web.archive.org/web/20100126050135/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1998.php . dead . 2010-01-26 . longboredsurfer.com .