Hold You Down (Jennifer Lopez song) explained

Hold You Down
Cover:Hold You Down.png
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Jennifer Lopez featuring Fat Joe
Album:Rebirth
A-Side:Get Right
Recorded:2004
Label:Epic
Chronology:Jennifer Lopez
Prev Title:Get Right
Prev Year:2005
Next Title:Control Myself
Next Year:2006

"Hold You Down" is a song recorded by American singer Jennifer Lopez for her fourth studio album, Rebirth (2005). Written by Gregory "Nyce Boy" Christopher, Makeba Riddick, Fat Joe (who is also the featured artist), Cory Rooney, Gregory Bruno and produced by Christopher, Bruno and Rooney, "Hold You Down" hit number 6 on the United Kingdom's singles chart, and was a Top 40 hit in many other countries. "Hold You Down" samples Shirley Murdock's 1986 song "As We Lay" which was written by Larry Troutman of the funk band Zapp, and keyboardist Billy Beck of Ohio Players

The song is the third collaboration between Lopez and Joe, after "Feelin' So Good" (1999) with Big Pun, and "Love Don't Cost a Thing (RJ Schoolyard Mix)" (2002). They teamed up once again in 2014 on Joe's song "Stressin.

Following the moderate success of "Get Right", Hold You Down could not attain its predecessor's success and was therefore deemed a commercial failure as the song peaked at number 64 on the US Top 100 and lasted for only 8 weeks. The single has sold 440,000 digital copies as of June 25, 2018.

Background

After the moderate success of Rebirths lead single "Get Right", "Hold You Down" was chosen as its second single. Critics and fans alike criticized this move, considering the general lukewarm reception of the song. "Hold You Down" was also included on Fat Joe's album All or Nothing (2005).[1] A remix with Don Omar is included on his compilation album Da Hitman Presents Reggaetón Latino (2005).[2]

Composition

"Hold You Down" is a song with a length of four minutes and thirty-two seconds (4:32). The song samples Shirley Murdock's "As We Lay".[3] According to Lopez, the track was a "last minute" add to Rebirth. While listening to the song, she knew that "there's nobody" that she can do the song with "except Fat Joe". Lopez called Fat Joe up immediately and the next day, the song was recorded after he created his own rap verses.

Describing the lyrics for "Hold You Down", Fat Joe said, "It's more like a friendship record, you know what I mean? Growing up in the Bronx and how we became who we are, but we still keep it real with each other. We don't talk every day, but we got mad love for each other whenever we see each other. It's always crazy love."[4] According to Entertainment Weekly, the song is about "how true she's [Lopez] been to her hood."[5] "Hold You Down" consists of a flat beat and "some tinkling" chimes in the background, which according to Sam Shepherd from musicOMH, "wouldn't be out of place on a Christmas single."[6]

Critical response

The song received most mixed reviews from music critics. musicOMH's Sam Shepherd wrote, "The lyrics are sweet but not sickly so, and Fat Joe's appearance doesn't sound like he's co-opted the track - instead he allows Lopez's voice room to breathe; and who would have guessed it, she may have an asset that is more impressive than her booty."[6]

Mike Schiller from PopMatters called it "ill-fated" and "milquetoast".[7] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly commented that "even with Fat Joe pitching in, the song is as colorless as Lopez's voice."[5]

Music video

Prior to the video's release, Lopez told MTV News that "I'll be very real". The music video for "Hold You Down" was directed by Diane Martel and edited by Paul Martínez.[8] It was released on March 7, 2005. In The Bronx, New York City, Lopez is seen singing on top of a building and in a hallway, while Fat Joe is seen roaming the streets.

Track listings

  1. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Radio Edit) — 3:55
  2. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Cory Rooney Spring Mix) — 4:51
  3. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (The Eliel Mix) — 4:02
  4. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (SPK and DJ Lobo Remix) — 3:59
  1. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Radio Edit) — 3:55
  2. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Cory Rooney Spring Clean Mix) — 4:51
  1. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Album Version) — 4:36
  2. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (The Eliel Mix) — 4:02
  3. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (SPK and DJ Lobo Remix) — 3:59
  4. "Get Right" featuring Fabolous (Hip Hop Remix) — 3:47
  5. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Video)
European 12" vinyl
  1. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Cory Rooney Spring Clean Edit Mix) — 4:22
  2. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Cory Rooney Spring Instrumental Mix) — 4:51
  3. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Album Version) — 4:36
  4. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (The Eliel Mix) — 4:02
  5. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (SPK and DJ Lobo Remix) — 3:59
  6. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (The Eliel Instrumental Mix) — 4:02
  1. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Album Version) — 4:36
  2. "Hold You Down" (Instrumental) — 4:36
  1. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Cory Rooney Spring Edit Mix) — 4:22
  2. "Hold You Down" featuring Fat Joe (Cory Rooney Spring Instrumental Mix) — 4:51
  3. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (SPK and DJ Lobo Remix) — 3:59
  4. "Hold You Down" featuring Don Omar (The Eliel Mix) — 4:02

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2005)Peak
position
scope=rowGreece (IFPI)[9] 9
Guatemala (Notimex)[10] 3
Italy (FIMI)[11] 22

Year-end charts

Chart (2005)Position
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[12] 47
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 120

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabel
United States[14] February 15, 2005Digital download (1-track)Epic
Canada[15] March 15, 2005
Ireland[16] April 15, 2005
United Kingdom[17]
Norway[18] May 10, 2005Digital download (4-track)
Belgium[19] May 13, 2005
Germany[20]
Ireland[21]
Luxembourg[22]
Netherlands[23]
Portugal[24]
Switzerland[25]
Spain[26] May 16, 2005
United Kingdom[27]
United Kingdom[28] CD single
Canada[29] May 24, 2005Digital download (4-track)
Sweden[30] May 25, 2005Digital download (2-track)
Germany[31] May 30, 2005CD single
Belgium[32] Digital download (2-track)
Luxembourg[33]
Netherlands[34]
Norway[35]
Switzerland[36]
Australia[37] June 13, 2005CD single

Notes and References

  1. Web site: All Or Nothing - Fat Joe | Allmusic. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. April 25, 2012.
  2. Web site: Da Hitman Presents Reggaeton Latino - Don Omar | Allmusic. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. August 8, 2013.
  3. Rebirth:
  4. News: Vineyard. Jennifer. Fat Joe Nearly A No-Show To Flow With J. Lo. https://web.archive.org/web/20120415123512/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1495329/fat-joe-nearly-noshow-flow-with-j-lo.jhtml. dead. April 15, 2012. April 28, 2012. MTV News. January 5, 2005.
  5. News: Browne. David. Rebirth Review | Music Reviews and News. April 25, 2012. Entertainment Weekly. March 14, 2005. January 16, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100116071327/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1037046,00.html. live.
  6. News: Shepherd. Sam. Jennifer Lopez - Hold You Down | track reviews | musicOMH.com. April 25, 2012. musicOMH. May 16, 2005. May 13, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080513123728/http://www.musicomh.com/singles/jennifer-lopez.htm. dead.
  7. News: Schiller. Mike. Jennifer Lopez: Rebirth. April 24, 2012. PopMatters. March 18, 2005.
  8. Web site: Video: Jennifer Lopez – Hold You Down (feat. Fat Joe) . https://web.archive.org/web/20081207080842/http://www.mtv.com/videos/jennifer-lopez/42729/hold-you-down-feat-fat-joe.jhtml . dead . December 7, 2008 . MTV . Viacom . March 7, 2005 . February 2, 2012.
  9. Web site: IFPI Greece Archive Top 50 Singles . 2005-07-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050718232557/http://www.ifpi.gr/chart03.htm . 2005-07-18 . dead .
  10. News: Yuridia está en las listas de popularidad. es. El Siglo de Torreón. July 25, 2005. August 30, 2023. live. August 11, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220811205546/https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/2005/yuridia-esta-en-las-listas-de-popularidad.html.
  11. Web site: Classifica Mix e Singoli — Classifica settimanale dal 03/06/2005 al 09/06/2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050621083612/http://www.fimi.it/classifiche.asp?idtipo_classifica=3 . June 21, 2005 . it . July 6, 2012. Federation of the Italian Music Industry.
  12. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 2005. ro. Romanian Top 100. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060410152756/http://www.rt100.ro/romanian-top-100-2005.html. April 10, 2006. April 17, 2020.
  13. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2005. UKChartsPlus. December 22, 2020.
  14. Web site: Hold You Down (Featuring Fat Joe)... (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Downloads 7digital United States . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521045910/http://us.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-featuring-fat-joe . May 21, 2014.
  15. Web site: Hold You Down (Featuring Fat Joe)... (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Downloads 7digital Canada . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140525232313/http://ca.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-featuring-fat-joe . May 25, 2014.
  16. Web site: Hold You Down (Album Version) (2005) | Jennifer Lopez feat. Fat Joe | MP3 Downloads 7digital Ireland . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521060942/http://ie.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-featuring-fat-joe . May 21, 2014.
  17. Web site: Hold You Down (Album Version) (2005) | Jennifer Lopez feat. Fat Joe | MP3 Downloads 7digital United Kingdom . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://archive.today/20140527173825/http://www.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-featuring-fat-joe . May 27, 2014.
  18. Web site: Hold You Down (2014) | Jennifer Lopez | High Quality Music Downloads | 7digital Norge . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150521173356/https://no.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-3/ . May 21, 2015.
  19. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | Téléchargements MP3 | 7digital Belgique . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307041631/https://fr-be.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . March 7, 2016.
  20. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | Musikdownloads - legal, einfach & sicher - in MP3 und anderen Formaten | 7digital Deutschland . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120426184230/http://de.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . April 26, 2012.
  21. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Downloads 7digital Ireland . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140521034938/http://ie.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . May 21, 2014.
  22. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | Téléchargements MP3 7digital Luxembourg . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://archive.today/20140527173817/http://lu.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . May 27, 2014.
  23. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 downloads | 7digital Nederland . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307150252/https://nl.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . March 7, 2016.
  24. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | Downloads de MP3 7digital Portugal . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140525235643/http://pt.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . May 25, 2014.
  25. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Musikdownloads 7digital Schweiz . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://archive.today/20140527173738/http://de-ch.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . May 27, 2014.
  26. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | Descargas de MP3 7digital España . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120930135048/http://es.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1-2 . September 30, 2012.
  27. Web site: Hold You Down (Explicit) (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | High Quality Music Downloads | 7digital United Kingdom . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306210854/https://www.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-1 . March 6, 2016.
  28. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. May 14, 2005.
  29. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Downloads 7digital Canada . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120927104425/http://ca.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-3 . September 27, 2012.
  30. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Downloads 7digital Sverige . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120929155408/http://se.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-4 . September 29, 2012.
  31. Web site: Hold You Down. Amazon Germany .
  32. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | Téléchargements MP3 7digital Belgique . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://archive.today/20140527173807/http://fr-be.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-4 . May 27, 2014.
  33. Web site: Hold You Down (Explicit) (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | Téléchargements MP3 | 7digital Luxembourg . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307122626/https://lu.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-4 . March 7, 2016.
  34. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 downloads 7digital Nederland . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120929161601/http://nl.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-4 . September 29, 2012.
  35. Web site: Hold You Down (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Downloads 7digital Norge . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120928155132/http://no.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-4 . September 28, 2012.
  36. Web site: Hold You Down (Explicit) (2005) | Jennifer Lopez | MP3 Musikdownloads | 7digital Schweiz . May 25, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306165753/https://de-ch.7digital.com/artist/jennifer-lopez/release/hold-you-down-4 . March 6, 2016.
  37. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13th June 2005. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20050619140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20050620-0000/issue798.pdf. dead. 2005-06-19. ARIA. 28. June 13, 2005. May 2, 2021.