Thug Lovin' Explained

Thug Lovin'
Cover:	Ja Rule ft. Bobby Brown Thug Lovin.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Ja Rule featuring Bobby Brown
Album:	The Last Temptation
B-Side:	Connected
Length:	4:54
Label:	Def Jam Murder Inc.
Producer:	Irv Gotti
Chronology:	Ja Rule
Prev Title:	Down Ass Bitch
Prev Year:	2002
Next Title:	Mesmerize
Next Year:	2002

"Thug Lovin" is a song by American rapper Ja Rule featuring singer Bobby Brown, released on November 4, 2002 as the first single from Ja Rule's fourth studio album, The Last Temptation (2002). The song was produced by Irv Gotti. Bobby Brown's sung portion is an interpolation of part of the chorus of the Stevie Wonder song "Knocks Me Off My Feet".

The music video, directed by Irv Gotti, for the song features scenes of Ja Rule and Bobby Brown in a helicopter, on a helipad on top of a skyscraper which has the Murder Inc. logo on it, the two artists driving in a Bentley, and the two going to a party. The video premiered on BET's Access Granted in 2002.

Track listings

US 12-inch single^[1]

A1. "Thug Lovin'" (radio)

A2. "Thug Lovin'" (street)

B1. "Thug Lovin'" (instrumental)

B2. "Thug Lovin'" (acapella)

Canadian and European CD single^{[2] [3]}

1. "Thug Lovin'" (radio edit)
2. "Connected" (featuring Crooked I and Eastwood)

UK CD single^[4]

1. "Thug Lovin'" (radio edit) – 4:31
2. "Thug Lovin'" (album version) – 4:54
3. "Thug Lovin'" (The Pledge remix—album version) – 5:13
4. "Thug Lovin'" (video) – 4:36

UK 12-inch single^[5]

A1. "Thug Lovin'" (album version) – 4:54

A2. "Thug Lovin'" (radio edit) – 4:31

B1. "Thug Lovin'" (The Pledge remix—album version) – 5:13

UK cassette single^[6]

1. "Thug Lovin'" (album version) – 4:54
2. "Thug Lovin'" (The Pledge remix—album version) – 5:13

Australian CD single^[7]

1. "Thug Lovin'" (radio edit)
2. "Between Me and You" (featuring Christina Milian)
3. "Put It on Me" (featuring Vita)
4. "Thug Lovin'" (instrumental)
5. "Thug Lovin'" (acapella)

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Thug Lovin'"!Chart (2002–2003)!Peak
position

Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)^[8]	10
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	26

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)!scope="col"

Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)^[10]	65
UK Urban (Music Week)^[11]	40

Release history

Region!scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label(s)
United States	November 4, 2002			^[13]
Australia	December 2, 2002	CD	Murder Inc.	^[14]
Belgium	December 4, 2002		Def Jam	^[15]
United Kingdom	December 9, 2002			^[16]
New Zealand	December 16, 2002	CD	Murder Inc.	^[17]

Notes and References

1. Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule. 2002. US 12-inch single vinyl disc. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 440 063 838-1.
2. Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule. 2002. Canadian CD single liner notes. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 4400638382.
3. Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule. 2002. European CD single liner notes. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 063 838-2.
4. Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule. 2002. UK CD single liner notes. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 063787-2.
5. Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule. 2002. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 063787-1.
6. Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule. 2002. UK cassette single sleeve. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 063787-4.
7. Thug Lovin'. Ja Rule. 2002. Australian CD single liner notes. Def Jam Recordings, Murder Inc. Records. 0637702.
8. Ja Rule Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs). Billboard. June 9, 2021.
9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 21. 2–3. 20. January 11, 2003. June 9, 2021. See last week column.
10. Web site: Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002. Jam!. January 14, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184715/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_singles.html. September 6, 2004. March 22, 2022.
11. Top 40 Urban Tracks Of 2002. Music Week. 32. January 18, 2003. August 4, 2023.
12. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003. ARIA. June 9, 2021.
13. Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1477. 24. November 1, 2002. June 9, 2021.
14. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 2nd December 2002. ARIA. 29. December 2, 2002. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030106130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030107-0000/Issue666.pdf. January 6, 2003. June 9, 2021.
15. Web site: New Releases Singles Week 49, 04 December 2002. Ultratop. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20030205183523/http://www.planetinternet.be/ultratop/en/releaselistsen.html?relType=4&yearweek=200249. February 5, 2003.
16. New Releases: For Week Starting 9 December 2002: Singles. Music Week. 20. December 7, 2002. September 1, 2021.
17. Web site: New Releases. netcd.co.nz. December 16, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20030206075734/http://www.netcd.co.nz/NewReleases.html. February 6, 2003. November 9, 2023.