Got Money Explained

Got Money
Cover:Lilwaynegotmoneysingle.png
Type:single
Artist:Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
Album:Tha Carter III
Released:May 27, 2008
Recorded:2008
Length:4:04 (album version)
2:38 (UK radio edit)
Chronology:Lil Wayne
Prev Title:I Run This
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Mr. Carter
Next Year:2008

"Got Money" is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring American singer T-Pain, released as the third single from the former's sixth studio album Tha Carter III (2008). Both artists use the Auto-Tune effect in the song. The single was released as a digital download on iTunes on May 27, 2008.[1] Lil Wayne and T-Pain performed the song at the BET 2008 awards and the 2008 MTV Music Video Awards. MTV also ranked the song as the number 19 Hip-Hop song of 2008.[2]

The UK radio edit version, released by Universal Ireland, removes the intros and the outros of the song, reducing the duration to 2:38.

Music video

The official remix, featuring Young Money Entertainment artist Mack Maine, was used to make the music video. The video was shot and released on June 23, 2008, the same day the video for "A Milli" was shot, in Los Angeles and is a follow-up to the cliffhanger of "A Milli." The video is directed by Gil Green. Lil Wayne has claimed on his video blog it was based on the film Inside Man.[3] Ray J, Shorty Mack, Dennis Garr, James Evans, Nicki Minaj, Birdman, Tyga, Brisco, Lil Twist, Lil Chuckee, Jay Rock, 2 Chainz, Kidd Kidd, and the producers of the song, Play-n-Skillz, make cameos in the video. The bank lobby shots are the same bank used in the film Set It Off. The music video premiered on multiple MTV channels on June 23, 2008.[4] In the end, Lil Wayne is the only one arrested while the crew escapes with the money, including Mack Maine and Birdman.

Covers

The song was covered by Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis. The cover features Slipknot and ex-Stone Sour guitarist Jim Root and Korn drummer Ray Luzier and was released on Jonathan Davis' solo band website, and is available on iTunes.[5]

Remixes

There are multiple freestyles on the internet, such as the ones done by rappers Yung Joc and Pitbull. The official remix features Mack Maine.

Travis Barker recorded a remix to the song.[6] Juelz Santana and Skull Gang Recorded a freestyle to the song entitled "What You Reppin?" and on the "Skull Gang Takeover" mixtape.[7]

Chart performance

The song was the "Hot Shot Debut" of the week on the Billboard Hot 100, entering at #13, making it one of Lil Wayne's highest debuts. This also made it his second highest peaking song in his solo career, although it's now his third highest peaking. 15 weeks following its Hot 100 debut, the song rose to a new peak on the chart of #10, giving Lil Wayne his third consecutive top ten hit from Tha Carter III. It has become his fifth top ten on Hot Rap Tracks, thus far peaking at #2. It has been most successful on U.S. Rhythmic stations, reaching number one on the Rhythmic Top 40. "Got Money" was nominated for the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

Lawsuit

In June 2011, producers Play-N-Skillz sued Lil Wayne for $1 million over the rights to the song.[8]

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 40
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 44
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[12] 11

Notes and References

  1. http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=281461145&s=143441 Got Money (ft. T-Pain) - Single
  2. Web site: Reid . Shaheem . Lil Wayne's 'A Milli' And More Top Hip-Hop Songs Of 2008; 50 Cent Pledges Loyalty To Eminem: Mixtape Monday - Music, Celebrity, Artist News . https://web.archive.org/web/20081216170905/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1601236/20081212/lil_wayne.jhtml . dead . December 16, 2008 . MTV . 2008-12-15 . 2012-02-19.
  3. Lil Wayne. Weezy Blog #2.2 - Part 2 of the "Got Money" Music Video. 2008-07-01. QD3/YouTube.
  4. News: Reid. Shaheem. Lil Wayne Plays A Modern-Day Robin Hood In 'Got Money' Video -- Check Out A Clip Here!. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828040300/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1591614/20080725/lil_wayne.jhtml. dead. August 28, 2008. MTV News. 2008-07-25. 2008-07-25.
  5. Web site: Download to Jonathan Davis' cover of "Got Money" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080913153100/http://www.jdsfa.com/download . 2008-09-13 .
  6. September 25, 2008. Travis Barker Records "Got Money" Remix Day Before Plane Crash . Accessed September 25, 2008.
  7. Web site: Juelz Santana Feat Skull Gang - What You Reppin / NEW. Daily Motion. 15 June 2012.
  8. Web site: Play-N-Skillz Sue Lil Wayne -- And His Entire Posse -- For $1 Million Over "Got Money" Rights. Pete. Freedman. 10 June 2011. dallasobserver.com. 16 April 2018. 13 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110813225948/http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2011/06/play-n-skillz_sue_lil_wayne_--.php. dead.
  9. Web site: Zywietz. Tobias. Chart Log UK: DJ Steve L – LZ Love. Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. March 12, 2012. February 6, 1997.
  10. Web site: Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2008. Billboard. August 20, 2019.
  11. Web site: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2008. Billboard. November 26, 2019.
  12. Web site: Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2008. Billboard. November 26, 2019.