We Up Explained

We Up
Cover:WeUp.jpg
Type:single
Artist:50 Cent featuring Kendrick Lamar
Album:Street King Immortal
Genre:
Producer:
  • Davaughn

"We Up" is a song by American hip hop artist 50 Cent. It was released as the third single from his shelved studio album, Street King Immortal, and his last to be released under Shady/Aftermath.[1] It was officially released to public on March 22, 2013, on Interscope Records' SoundCloud account, and made available for purchase on March 25, 2013.[2] [3] The song features American rapper and Aftermath labelmate Kendrick Lamar, and production from Roc Nation producer Davaughn. It uses a sample from "Something About Us" by Daft Punk, who received a songwriting credit.[4] The song was released to Rhythmic contemporary radio on May 28, 2013.

Background

A different version of the song came out as a preview in January featuring 50 Cent's two verses and one by Kidd Kidd, which was later removed from the final version of the song. It was also intended to be a song of Kidd Kidd's mixtape, but ended up being 50 Cent's song.[5] The full version of it, featuring Kidd Kidd, Kendrick Lamar and only one verse by 50 Cent, was released on February 15, 2013.[6]

The single version of 'We Up' was released on March 22, 2013, with Kidd Kidd removed from the track. A verse by 50 previewed in January, which wasn't on its full version, was re-added to it. It was made available for purchase on digital retailers, such as Amazon.com and iTunes Store, on March 25, 2013.

Music video

Two music videos were shot, for different versions of the song. The first one released, called "video before the video", didn't include appearances from Kendrick Lamar though his verse was still played. It had 50 Cent and Kidd Kidd in it, holding bottles and wearing suits while singing their parts as it was already shown in the song's preview.[7]

The video for song's single version was shot in Los Angeles.[8] A behind-the-scenes video was featured in VH1's series Behind the Music mastered episode of 50 Cent aired in March.[9] It came out on March 25, 2013, on 50 Cent's VEVO channel.[10] Both videos were directed by fellow video director Eif Rivera.

The music video on YouTube has received over 60 million views as of April 2024.[11]

Live performances

While performing at Roseland Ballroom in New York City on February 27, 2013, Kendrick Lamar brought out 50 Cent for We Ups performance, along with G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo.[12]

Track listing

Digital download[13]
  1. "We Up" - 3:18

Credits and personnel

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders Urban)[14] 32
South Korea (GAON)[15] 25

Release history

CountryDateFormatLabelRef
WorldwideMarch 25, 2013Digital download
United StatesMay 28, 2013Rhythmic contemporary radio[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 50 Cent: "I get high off being right". Digital Spy. 4 June 2014.
  2. Web site: 50 Cent - We Up (feat. Kendrick Lamar). ThisIs50.com. 22 March 2013.
  3. Web site: We Up [Explicit]: 50 Cent: Official Music|url=https://www.amazon.com/We-Up-Explicit/dp/B00BX91KZG|work=Amazon.com|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc|access-date=21 March 2013.
  4. [American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|ASCAP]
  5. Web site: 50 Cent x Kidd Kidd x Kendrick Lamar - We Up (Preview) - TI50. ThisIs50.com. 22 March 2013.
  6. Web site: 50 Cent Ft Kendrick Lamar & Kidd Kidd – We Up. Xclusives Zone. 22 March 2013.
  7. Web site: 50 Cent – We Up f. Kendrick Lamar & Kidd Kidd (Video). 2dopeboyz. 22 March 2013.
  8. Web site: 50 Cent – "We Up" ft. Kendrick Lamar (Behind The Scenes). Diverse Hip Hop. 21 March 2013.
  9. Web site: Watch VH1's Remastered "Behind The Music" Featuring 50 Cent. XXL. 21 March 2013 . Harris Publications, Inc. 22 March 2013.
  10. Web site: Video: 50 Cent f/ Kendrick Lamar – 'We Up'. Rap-Up.com. 25 March 2013.
  11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6jhuhsG-7w 50 Cent - We Up (Explicit) ft. Kendrick Lamar
  12. Web site: Kendrick Lamar & 50 Cent Perform "We Up" In NYC. Diverse Hip Hop. 22 March 2013.
  13. Web site: We Up (feat. Kendrick Lamar) - Single by 50 Cent. iTunes Store. January 2013. Apple Inc.. November 11, 2013.
  14. https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/113102/50-Cent-feat.-Kendrick-Lamar-We-Up ultratop.be - 50 Cen feat. Kendrick Lamar - We Up
  15. Web site: South Korea Gaon International Chart (Gaon Chart. Gaon Chart. March 31, 2013.
  16. Web site: Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases. AllAccess. AllAccess Music Group. May 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130502011607/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases. live. May 2, 2013.