Ms. Jackson Explained

Ms. Jackson
Cover:Ms._Jackson.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Outkast
Album:Stankonia
B-Side:
  • "Sole Sunday"
  • "Elevators (Me & You)"
Studio:Stankonia Recording (Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:30 (album version)
  • 4:03 (radio edit)
Label:
Producer:Earthtone III
Prev Title:B.O.B
Prev Year:2000
Next Title:So Fresh, So Clean
Next Year:2001

"Ms. Jackson" is a song by the American hip hop duo Outkast, consisting of André 3000 and Big Boi. It was released on October 24, 2000, as the second single from Outkast's fourth album, Stankonia. It topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week on February 17, 2001, and reached number one in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Rolling Stone ranked it 55th on its "100 Best Songs of the 2000s" list in June 2011 and at number 145 on its "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list in 2021.[3] [4] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 81 on its list of the "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[5]

"Ms. Jackson" won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. The music video, directed by F. Gary Gray, which features animals nodding along to the song, won the BET Award for Video of the Year and MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video. The single helped sell the album following the commercial underperformance of the lead single, "B.O.B", which, despite near universal acclaim from critics, failed to chart on the Hot 100 and only reached number 69 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.[6]

Background and writing

In Vibe magazine, a few years after the song was released, André Benjamin (André 3000) recalled creating the song, "'Ms. Jackson' was an acoustic guitar song that I was doing at home. Then I just converted it over into something people could understand a little bit more."[7] The song was inspired, in part, by Benjamin's relationship with Erykah Badu and her mother.[8] In November 2016, Badu described her initial reaction to the song, stating that, "It hit kind of a sore spot. I didn't wanna hear that, especially when I heard Big Boi's verse. When I heard André's verse, I felt very good because his verse was really, really inspiring. He just said how he felt and it was his honest feelings and I always respected that and listened to what he felt and appreciated it." Badu also noted that her mother loved the song, saying, "Baby, she bought herself a 'Ms. Jackson' license plate. She had the mug, she had the ink pen, she had the headband, everything."[9]

Content

Lyrically, the song is a love profession to the mother of the narrator's romantic partner that examines the issues that arise from having a child out of wedlock.[10] [11] In the song, the narrator promises to support his child regardless of what happens.[11] The instrumentation samples the Brothers Johnson's version (with various audio effects, prominently reversing) of "Strawberry Letter 23", by Shuggie Otis.[12]

Critical reception

Billboard magazine wrote that song's message is genuine, noting its 1980s hip-hop sound and Outkast's "frantic" lyrics that emphasize the track's storyline.[11] Reviewing the parent album, the same publication compared the track to an "old-school hip-hop love song" and called it "oh-so-radio-ready".[13] Marci Kenon of Billboard called the "babies' mommas' mommas" hook memorable and later referred to the track as "infectious".[14] [15]

In 2020, The Ringer ranked the song number five on its list of the 50 greatest Outkast songs,[16] and in 2021, The Guardian ranked the song number six on its list of the 20 greatest Outkast songs.[17]

Music video

The song's music video, directed by F. Gary Gray and produced by Earthtone III, works as a possible metaphor for the duo's "stormy" relationships with the mothers of their children and their families.[18] In the United States, a DVD single featuring the videos for "B.O.B" and "Ms. Jackson" was released in 2000, before the other physical formats. Along with Toni Braxton's "Just Be a Man About It", this single was the first to bear only a DVD credit on the Billboard Hot 100 until the other formats were issued. Because "Ms. Jackson" was the only Outkast song that was present on the Hot 100 at the time, sales points were added to this song instead of "B.O.B".[19]

Track listings

US maxi-CD and 12-inch single, Australian CD single[20] [21]

  1. "Ms. Jackson" (radio mix) – 4:03
  2. "Ms. Jackson" (instrumental) – 4:34
  3. "Sole Sunday" feat. Goodie Mob (radio mix) – 4:41
  4. "Sole Sunday" feat. Goodie Mob (instrumental) – 4:41

US DVD single[22]

  1. "B.O.B" (video)
  2. "Ms. Jackson" (video)
  3. "What Is Stankonia? An Exclusive Interview with Big Boi & Dre"

European CD single[23]

  1. "Ms. Jackson" (radio mix) – 4:03
  2. "Ms. Jackson" (instrumental) – 4:34

UK CD single[24]

  1. "Ms. Jackson" (radio edit) – 3:36
  2. "Elevators (Me & You)" – 4:56
  3. "Ms. Jackson" (video) – 4:58

UK 12-inch and cassette single[25] [26]

  1. "Ms. Jackson" (album version) – 4:30
  2. "Elevators (Me & You)" – 4:56

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the UK CD single liner notes.[24]

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2000–2001)Peak
position
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[27] 9
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[28] 12
Croatia (HRT)[29] 6
scope="row"
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[30] 1
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
Poland (Music & Media)[31] 3
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[32] 6
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"
scope="row"

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
Australia (ARIA)[33] 17
Australian Urban (ARIA)[34] 7
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[35] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[36] 21
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[37] 28
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[38] 11
France (SNEP)[39] 45
Germany (Official German Charts)[40] 12
Ireland (IRMA)[41] 52
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[42] 34
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[43] 50
Romania (Romanian Top 100)79
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 15
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 24
UK Singles (OCC)[46] 43
UK Urban (Music Week)[47] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[48] 25
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[49] 18
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[50] 3
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 56
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[52] 10

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesOctober 24, 2000[53]
December 12, 2000Contemporary hit radio[54]
SwedenJanuary 22, 2001CD[55]
United KingdomFebruary 19, 2001[56]
AustraliaFebruary 26, 2001CD[57]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 200 greatest hip-hop songs of all time. Cleveland.com. Smith. Troy. April 13, 2021. November 3, 2021.
  2. Book: Harrington, Jim. Robert . Dimery . 2015 . 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die. OutKast - "Ms. Jackson. Universe. New York. 799.
  3. 100 Best Songs of the 2000s. Rolling Stone. June 17, 2011. January 9, 2022.
  4. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. July 19, 2022.
  5. Web site: 150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years. Schiller. Rebecca. NME. October 6, 2011. November 25, 2015.
  6. Web site: Stankonia - OutKast Songs, Reviews, Credits AllMusic. . August 26, 2020.
  7. Vibe Magazine, October 2006, p. 128
  8. Web site: Johnson. Cherise. Erykah Badu Shares How The Real "Ms. Jackson" Felt About Outkast's Apologetic Hit. November 25, 2016. Hip Hop DX. November 28, 2016.
  9. Web site: Levine. Nick. Erykah Badu reveals what the real 'Ms. Jackson' thinks of Outkast's iconic rap hit. November 26, 2016. NME. July 23, 2020.
  10. Stephanie Lopez's Rhythm Section. Lopez. Stephanie. Billboard. 112. 44. 30. October 28, 2000.
  11. Reviews & Previews: Singles. Taylor. Chuck. Chuck Taylor (music journalist). Billboard. 112. 47. 30. November 18, 2000.
  12. Web site: Songfacts. Ms. Jackson by OutKast - Songfacts. August 26, 2020. www.songfacts.com. en.
  13. Reviews & Previews: Albums. Paoletta. Michael. Billboard. 112. 45. 25. November 4, 2000.
  14. OutKast Breaks Hip-Hop's Mold. Kenon. Marci. Billboard. 112. 39. 38. September 23, 2000.
  15. Hip-Hop Heard Throughout the World. Kenon. Marci. Kwaku. Billboard. 112. 53. 40. December 30, 2000.
  16. Web site: The Ringer's 50 Best Outkast Songs, Ranked. The Ringer. October 29, 2020. March 28, 2022.
  17. Web site: Outkast's 20 greatest songs – ranked!. Alexis. Petridis. The Guardian. August 20, 2021. March 28, 2022.
  18. Web site: OutKast - Ms. Jackson (Official Video) - YouTube. November 14, 2009 . YouTube. August 26, 2020.
  19. Hot 100 Spotlight. Pietroluongo. Silvio. Billboard. 112. 50. 105. December 9, 2000.
  20. Ms. Jackson. Outkast. 2001. US maxi-CD single liner notes. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 73008-24525-2.
  21. Ms. Jackson. Outkast. 2001. US 12-inch single sleeve. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 73008-24525-1.
  22. Ms. Jackson. Outkast. 2000. US DVD single liner notes. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 73008-24516-9.
  23. Ms. Jackson. Outkast. 2001. European CD single liner notes. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 74321 82252 2.
  24. Ms. Jackson. Outkast. 2001. UK CD single liner notes. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 74321 836822.
  25. Ms. Jackson. Outkast. 2001. UK 12-inch single vinyl disc. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 74321 83682 1.
  26. Ms. Jackson. Outkast. 2001. UK cassette single sleeve. LaFace Records, Arista Records. 74321 836824.
  27. Outkast Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs). Billboard. January 24, 2020.
  28. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2002.pdf. April 7, 2005. Canadian Top 20 in 2002. Cross Canada Countdown. November 13, 2023.
  29. Web site: HR Top 20 Lista. Croatian Radiotelevision. February 14, 2024. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20010322221849/http://www.hrt.hr:80/hr/top20/lista.html. March 22, 2001.
  30. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 18. 10. 9. March 3, 2001. February 9, 2020.
  31. Major Market Airplay – Week 14/2001. Music & Media. 18. 14. 31. March 31, 2001. February 16, 2023.
  32. Web site: Top of the Year 2001. Romanian Top 100. ro. May 3, 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081209050311/http://www.rt100.ro/2001.html. December 9, 2008.
  33. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001. ARIA. September 21, 2020.
  34. Web site: ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2001. ARIA. https://web.archive.org/web/20200415012807/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-singles-2001.htm. April 15, 2020. September 21, 2020.
  35. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 2001. de. December 16, 2018.
  36. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2001. Ultratop. nl. May 21, 2018.
  37. Web site: Rapports annuels 2001. Ultratop. fr. May 21, 2018.
  38. Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001. Music & Media. 18. 52. 14. December 22, 2001. February 9, 2020.
  39. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 2001. SNEP. fr. September 21, 2020.
  40. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 2001. GfK Entertainment. de. May 21, 2018.
  41. Web site: Ireland – Top Singles for 2001. Allchart. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160505011812/http://allcharts.org/music/years/ireland-singles-2001.htm. May 5, 2016. December 16, 2018.
  42. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001. Dutch Top 40. February 8, 2020.
  43. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001. nl. May 21, 2018.
  44. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2001. Sverigetopplistan. sv. May 3, 2020.
  45. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001. de. May 21, 2018.
  46. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2001. UKChartsPlus. May 21, 2018.
  47. Top 40 Urban Tracks of 2001. Music Week. 26. January 19, 2002. August 4, 2023.
  48. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2001. Billboardtop100of.com. September 21, 2020.
  49. The Year in Music 2001: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-44. December 29, 2001.
  50. The Year in Music 2001: Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-46. December 29, 2001.
  51. Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001. Airplay Monitor. 9. 51. 60. December 21, 2001.
  52. Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2001. Airplay Monitor. 9. 51. 48. December 21, 2001.
  53. Going for Adds / AddVance Notice. Radio & Records. 1373. 57, 64. October 20, 2000. April 18, 2021.
  54. CHR/Pop: Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1380. 41. December 8, 2000. May 31, 2021.
  55. Web site: Outkast: Ms. Jackson. click2music.se. sv. https://web.archive.org/web/20050226174609/http://click2music.se/product.asp?prd=988&art=226. February 26, 2005. November 29, 2023.
  56. New Releases – For Week Starting February 19, 2001: Singles. Music Week. 35. February 17, 2001. August 9, 2021.
  57. Web site: The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 26th February 2001. ARIA. 23. February 26, 2001. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue574.pdf. February 20, 2002. April 18, 2021.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ms. Jackson".

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