If I Had No Loot Explained

If I Had No Loot
Cover:Tony Toni Toné If I Had No Loot cassette single US.jpg
Caption:US retail cassette single
Type:single
Artist:Tony! Toni! Toné!
Album:Sons of Soul
Recorded:1993
Genre:New jack swing[1]
Label:
Producer:Tony! Toni! Toné!
Prev Title:Me and You
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:Anniversary
Next Year:1993

"If I Had No Loot" is a song by American R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! It was released on June 1, 1993 by PolyGram and Wing Records, as the lead single from their third album, Sons of Soul (1993). The song was produced by Tony! Toni! Toné! and co-written by group member Raphael Wiggins, who said that it is about fair-weather friends. It has a new jack swing beat, pronounced guitar licks, and vocal samples from Boogie Down Productions' 1987 song "Remix for P Is Free" and Ice Cube's 1991 song "The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit".

The song became a hit for the group,[2] peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold 500,000 copies in the United States. "If I Had No Loot" was named the tenth best single of 1993 by The Village Voices annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

Background

"If I Had No Loot" was recorded for the group's third album, Sons of Soul, which was recorded and released in 1993.[3] The song was produced by Tony! Toni! Toné! and written by group member Raphael Wiggins, Juan Bautista, and Will Harris.[4] Session musician John "Jubu" Smith played a Fender Telecaster on the song.[5]

Music and lyrics

"If I Had No Loot" incorporates a new jack swing beat,[6] pronounced guitar licks,[7] and a tempo of 108 beats per minute.[8] It has 1960s Stax southern soul influences.[9] The song also contains vocal samples from hip hop songs, including the "da-da-da-day" chant from Boogie Down Productions' 1987 song "Remix for P Is Free" and the line "and you can new jack swing on my nuts!" from Ice Cube's 1991 song "The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit".[10] According to Raphael Wiggins, the song is about "fair-weather friends" and "people who come around you for fraudulent reasons".[6] Newsday found its theme similar to the O'Jays' 1972 song "Back Stabbers".[11]

Commercial performance

"If I Had No Loot" was released by Polygram and Wing Records on June 1, 1993,[12] as the lead single from Sons of Soul (1993) and received frequent radio airplay.[13] Its music video received heavy rotation on MTV and BET.[14] [15] The single reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100, on which it charted for 21 weeks.[16] It reached its peak position on August 7, 1993.[16] On August 11, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA);[17] it sold 500,000 copies domestically.[18]

In Canada, "If I Had No Loot" reached number 17 on the RPM Top 100 Singles,[19] on which it charted for 16 weeks.[20] It charted for 16 weeks and peaked at number eight in New Zealand.[21] In Australia, the single reached number 12, spent 22 weeks in the top 100, and was certified gold.[22]

Critical reception

Charles Aaron of Spin viewed the song as one of the group's best and called it "a splashy tour of 20th century American dance music—from jumpin' jazz to urban blues to '70s funk to hip hop." Aaron found the Ice Cube sample "irrepressible", but felt that the hook is instead "how Dwayne Wiggins's swingin', bluesy guitar becomes its own break-beat. Meet the Meters of the '90s, straight up. The Brand New Heavies aren't even close."[10] Robert Christgau of The Village Voice cited "If I Had No Loot" as a highlight on Sons of Soul.[23] The song was voted number 10 on The Village Voices annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll for 1993.[24] Music journalist Michaelangelo Matos ranked "If I Had No Loot" number 68 on his list of Top 100 Singles of the 1990s.[25]

Personnel

Credits adapted from 12-inch single release.[26]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)12
Canada Top Singles (RPM)17
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[27] 93
Europe (European Dance Radio)[28] 3
Europe (European Hit Radio)[29] 37
France (SNEP)[30] 47
Germany (Media Control Charts)[31] 51
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)16
Netherlands (Mega Top 50)19
New Zealand (RIANZ)8
UK Singles (OCC)[32] 44
UK Airplay (ERA)[33] 45
UK Club Chart (Music Week)[34] 39
US Billboard Hot 1007
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)45
US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)8
US Top 40 Airplay (Billboard)5
US Cash Box Top 100[35] 6

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)Position
Australia (ARIA)[36] 60
Europe (European Dance Radio)[37] 25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[38] 40
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 35

Decade-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesJune 1, 1993
JapanJuly 7, 1993Mini-CDPolydor[41]
United KingdomAugust 23, 1993[42]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Connie . Johnson . Hot new directions for BBD . July 9, 1993 . . August 3, 2016.
  2. Book: Lazerine. Cameron. Lazerine. Devin. Rap-Up: The Ultimate Guide to Hip-Hop and R&B. Hachette Digital. 2008. 978-0-446-17820-4. 217. registration.
  3. News: Punter. Jennie. November 25, 1993. Tony Toni Tone runs on vintage '70s rhythm R & B inspired trio opens for Janet Jackson under the 'Dome. Toronto Star. Entertainment section, p. WO.4. Toronto. April 28, 2012.
  4. Sons of Soul. Tony! Toni! Toné!. 1993. CD liner. Wing Records, Polygram. 314 514 933-2.
  5. Soul Cooking. Musician. November 1993. 76–78. 181.
  6. News: Zucker. Laura. November 5, 1993 . From Tonies to Townies – Hot Soul Stars Tony! Toni! Tone! Warm Up for a National Tour in Their Hometown. The Sacramento Bee. TK14. July 24, 2011.
  7. News: Sculley . Alan . January 14, 1994 . Tony! Toni! Tone! Revives Sounds of Soul . . Virginia . April 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518102313/http://articles.dailypress.com/1994-01-14/features/9401140125_1_raphael-wiggins-soul-wilson-pickett . May 18, 2015 . live .
  8. Book: Brusca, Donny. BPM List 2006: Main Edition. Lulu.com. 2006. 1-84728-860-X. 511.
  9. Web site: The Fat Lip Horns Discography and Music . . August 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150519003858/http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/The+Fat+Lip+Horns/a/albums.htm . May 19, 2015 . live .
  10. Aaron. Charles. October 1993. Singles. Spin. New York. 9. 7. 108. April 10, 2012. Charles Aaron.
  11. News: Bailey. Tamisha. Sommerlatte. William. Adams. Lischele. November 21, 1993. Kidsday Talking with Tony Toni Tone. https://archive.today/20130131192504/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/103161097.html?dids=103161097:103161097&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+21,+1993&author=By+Tamisha+Bailey,+William+Sommerlatte+and+Lischele+Adams&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=KIDSDAY+TALKING+WITH+Tony+Toni+Tone&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013. Newsday. Part II section, p. 1. Melville. May 4, 2012.
  12. Web site: If I Had No Loot - Tony! Toni! Toné! : Releases . . January 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220606092503/https://www.allmusic.com/album/if-i-had-no-loot-cassette-single-mw0000619574/releases . June 6, 2022 . live .
  13. News: July 6, 1993. Tony Toni Tone On 'Sons of Soul' the three T's please with ease. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 3, 2012.
  14. Tony! Toni! Tone!. Keyboard. 1993. 19. 7. 16.
  15. July 10, 1993. Video Monitor. Billboard. 105. 28. 32. New York. June 24, 2011.
  16. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=tony! toni! toné!|chart=all}} If I Had No Loot – Tony! Toni! Toné!]. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. April 27, 2012.
  17. Web site: Searchable Database. Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. April 11, 2012.
  18. Best-Selling Records of 1993 . Billboard. BPI Communications. January 15, 1994 . May 4, 2015 . 73 . 0006-2510. 106. 3.
  19. Top Singles. RPM. Toronto. 58. 9. September 11, 1993. April 22, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302073203/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2235&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3. March 2, 2016. live.
  20. Top Singles. RPM. Toronto. 58. 17. November 6, 1993. April 22, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302083511/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2291&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3. March 2, 2016. live.
  21. Web site: Discography Tony! Toni! Toné! . charts.nz. Hung Medien . April 24, 2012 .
  22. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart - Week Ending 30 Jan 1994. ARIA. February 18, 2016.
  23. News: Christgau . Robert . Robert Christgau . October 19, 1993 . Consumer Guide . . New York . April 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121026045726/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1093-93.php . October 26, 2012 . live .
  24. News: The 1993 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll . The Village Voice . New York . March 1, 1994 . 5 . April 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120904140646/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres93.php . September 4, 2012 . live .
  25. Web site: Matos . Michaelangelo . July 16, 2001 . Top 100 Singles of the 1990s . Pitas.com . April 22, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120413162638/http://web.pitas.com/spongiex/16_07_2001.html . April 13, 2012 . live .
  26. If I Had No Loot. 1993. Tony! Toni! Toné!. Wing Records. 859 057-1. 12" vinyl.
  27. Eurochart Hot 100. Music & Media. 10. 41. October 9, 1993. 15. March 24, 2024.
  28. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 10. 38. September 18, 1993. 20. November 5, 2021.
  29. EHR Top 40. Music & Media. 10. 40. October 2, 1993. 22. April 10, 2024.
  30. Web site: Discography Tony! Toni! Toné!. Hung Medien. February 18, 2016.
  31. Web site: Tony Toni Tone – Single-Chartverfolgung . Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH . de . April 27, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141101030157/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/TONY+TONI+TONE/single . November 1, 2014 . live .
  32. Web site: Tony! Toni! Tone!. Official Charts Company. View Singles. August 18, 2011.
  33. Airplay 100. Hit Music. August 28, 1993. 19. May 6, 2024.
  34. The RM Club Chart. Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). August 21, 1993. 4. May 10, 2023.
  35. Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. LVI. 49. August 14, 1993. 10. April 20, 2024.
  36. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  37. 1993 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 10. 51/52. 18. December 18, 1993. February 27, 2024.
  38. Web site: End of Year Charts 1993. Recorded Music NZ. August 29, 2020.
  39. Web site: Billboard Top 100 - 1993 . August 27, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095203/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993 . November 10, 2006 .
  40. Web site: Top 100 singles of the 1990s. Lwin. Nanda. Jam!. https://web.archive.org/web/20000829070927/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/100_1990.html. August 29, 2000. March 26, 2022.
  41. Web site: イフ・アイ・ハド・ノー・ルート トニー・トニー・トニー. If I Had No Loot Tony Toni Toné. Oricon. ja. September 16, 2023.
  42. Single Releases. Music Week. 23. August 21, 1993.

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