| How Do U Want It | |
| Cover: | How Do U Want It.jpeg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | 2Pac featuring K-Ci & JoJo |
| Album: | All Eyez on Me |
| A-Side: | California Love |
| B-Side: | "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" "Hit 'Em Up" |
| Released: | June 4, 1996 |
| Recorded: | 1995 |
| Studio: | Can-Am Studios (Tarzana, Los Angeles) |
| Genre: |
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| Length: |
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| Producer: | Johnny "J" & Mr.Dalvin |
| Chronology: | 2Pac |
| Prev Title: | 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted |
| Prev Year: | 1996 |
| Next Title: | I Ain't Mad at Cha |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
"How Do U Want It" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his fourth studio album, All Eyez on Me (1996). It was released on June 4, 1996 as a double a-sided single with "California Love" from the same album and was his final single to be released during his lifetime. The song features R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo, who at the time were best known as the lead singers of the group Jodeci. The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, becoming Death Row Records first and only chart topping single, and number seventeen in the UK in 1996. The song received a Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy nomination in 1997. [1]
Produced by Johnny "J", "How Do U Want It" samples Quincy Jones' 1974 song "Body Heat", and includes a diss towards civil rights activist and fierce rap critic C. Delores Tucker. Tucker later sued 2Pac's estate, claiming that comments in this song, and on the track "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" from the same album, inflicted emotional distress, were slanderous, and invaded her privacy.[2] The case was later dismissed.[3] A music video was created for "How Do U Want It" and its B-sides "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted" and "Hit 'Em Up".
There were three videos filmed for this song: A dirty version and a clean version, both directed by Ron Hightower and produced by Tracy D. Robinson. These two versions are distinguished by music ratings (one is certified adult material). The videos portray a wild sex party with Jacuzzi, mechanical bull riding, cage dancing and pole stripping. The dirty version also features numerous porn stars, including Nina Hartley, Heather Hunter, Nadia Cassini and Angel Kelly.The third version, known as the concert version, is mostly live on stage (not from the House of Blues live performance). There are cameo appearances by K-Ci & JoJo, and fellow group member of Digital Underground Shock G both in the concert and studio segments.
| Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[4] | 11 |
|---|---|
| US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[5] | 1 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] | 13 | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 17 | |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 6 |
Hot 100 number-one hits of 1996 (USA)
List of number-one singles in New Zealand (1996)