What Would You Do? (City High song) explained

What Would You Do?
Cover:What Would You Do.jpg
Type:single
Artist:City High
Album:City High
Studio:Trackhouse, Booga Basement (New Jersey, US)
Length:
  • (Life)
  • (City High)
Label:
  • Interscope
  • Booga Basement
Producer:
  • Wyclef Jean
  • Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis
  • Robby Pardlo
  • Ryan Toby
Next Title:Caramel
Next Year:2001

"What Would You Do?" is a song by American hip hop trio City High. It was released in March 2001 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album (2001). The track was originally included on the 1999 soundtrack of the film Life, starring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence.[1] The version of the song on their debut album differs from that included on the Life soundtrack, as it features a sample of Dr. Dre's hit song "The Next Episode".

"What Would You Do?" peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two in Australia and Ireland, and number three in the United Kingdom. In 2002, the song was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards, losing to Destiny's Child's "Survivor".[2] [3]

Content

The song, along with the accompanying music video, was likely intended as a motivational anthem for single parents dealing with poverty and especially acknowledging all the single mothers who feel forced into prostitution due to the need to support their children. It encourages them to keep strong and keep going on for the sake of their loved ones. However, it has also come under criticism for its victim-blaming approach, for example the verse where the woman is accused of making "tired excuses".[4] [5]

Track listings

US CD single[6]

  1. "What Would You Do?" (album version)
  2. "What Would You Do?" (instrumental)
  3. "Caramel" (snippet)
  4. "Best Friends" (snippet)
  5. "Didn't Ya" (snippet)

UK CD single[7]

  1. "What Would You Do?" (album version) – 2:50
  2. "It Ain't the Same" – 3:41
  3. "What Would You Do?" (X-Men vocal remix) – 4:22
  4. "What Would You Do?" (CD-ROM video) – 3:18

UK 12-inch single[8]

A1. "What Would You Do?" (album version) – 2:50

A2. "What Would You Do?" (instrumental mix) – 2:48

B1. "What Would You Do?" (X-Men remix) – 4:22UK cassette single[9]

  1. "What Would You Do?" (album version) – 2:50
  2. "What Would You Do?" (X-Men vocal remix) – 4:22

European CD single[10]

  1. "What Would You Do?" (album version)
  2. "What Would You Do?" (X-Men remix)

Australian CD single[11]

  1. "What Would You Do?" (album version)
  2. "What Would You Do?" (X-Men remix)
  3. "What Would You Do?" (instrumental)
  4. "What Would You Do?" (video)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the City High liner notes.[12]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[13] 19
Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS)[14] 5
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[15] 10
South Africa (RISA)[16] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[17] 8
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[18] 13
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[19] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 2
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[21] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2001)Position
Australia (ARIA)[22] 29
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 78
Ireland (IRMA)[24] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 83
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 94
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[27] 80
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] 67
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 18
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 22
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard)[31] 66
US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)[32] 2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[33] 24
US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard)[34] 11

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesMarch 27, 2001Rhythmic contemporary radio[35]
June 5, 2001Contemporary hit radio[36]
United KingdomSeptember 24, 2001[37]
AustraliaOctober 1, 2001CD[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Life Soundtrack. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20081219200118/http://www.lifemovie.com/soundtrack.html. December 19, 2008. June 20, 2009.
  2. Web site: 44th Annual Grammy Award Nominations. Variety. January 4, 2002. May 8, 2021.
  3. Web site: 2001 Grammy Winners. Grammy Awards. May 8, 2021.
  4. Web site: Can We Talk About City High's 'What Would You Do' for a Second?. Jobin. Zach. Thought Catalog. September 3, 2014. May 13, 2022.
  5. Web site: The Worst Song of All Time. Weeks. Katherine. Women Make Waves. May 9, 2014. May 13, 2022.
  6. What Would You Do?. City High. 2001. US CD single liner notes. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 0694974892.
  7. What Would You Do?. City High. 2001. UK CD single liner notes. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. IND97617.
  8. What Would You Do?. City High. 2001. UK 12-inch single sleeve. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. INT97617.
  9. What Would You Do?. City High. 2001. UK cassette single sleeve. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. INC97617.
  10. What Would You Do?. City High. 2001. European CD single liner notes. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 497 631-2.
  11. What Would You Do?. City High. 2001. Australian CD single liner notes. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 497 632-2.
  12. City High. City High (album). City High. 2001. US CD liner notes. Interscope Records, Booga Basement. 0694908902.
  13. Web site: Singles : Top 50. Jam!. May 31, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010606124809/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/SINGLES.html. June 6, 2001. January 23, 2023.
  14. Web site: Canadian Top 20 in 2001. Cross Canada Countdown. https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223203/http://www.crosscanadacountdown.com/pdfs/2001.pdf. 7 April 2005. April 11, 2024.
  15. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 18. 43. 9. October 20, 2001. February 10, 2020.
  16. Web site: Music Divas & Rock Bands Top South African Certifications. RISA. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20190803014129/http://www.mi2n.com/print.php3?id=32544. August 3, 2019. June 24, 2018.
  17. City High Chart History (Hot 100). Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180708235632/http://billboard.com/music/city-high/. July 8, 2018. August 9, 2020.
  18. City High Chart History (Hot R&B Hip-Hop Songs). Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415141322/https://www.billboard.com/music/City-High/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs. April 15, 2019. June 27, 2023.
  19. City High Chart History (Hot Rap Songs). Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190423232501/https://www.billboard.com/music/City-High/chart-history/rap-song. April 23, 2019. June 27, 2023.
  20. City High Chart History (Mainstream Top 40). Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415141332/https://www.billboard.com/music/City-High/chart-history/pop-songs. April 15, 2019. June 27, 2023.
  21. City High Chart History (Rhythmic Songs). Billboard. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190423232512/https://www.billboard.com/music/City-High/chart-history/rhythmic-40. April 23, 2019. June 27, 2023.
  22. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001. ARIA. November 5, 2020.
  23. Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001. Music & Media. 18. 52. 14. December 22, 2001. February 10, 2020.
  24. Web site: Best of Singles 2001. IRMA. December 15, 2018.
  25. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001. Dutch Top 40. February 5, 2020.
  26. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001. MegaCharts. nl. May 23, 2018.
  27. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 2001. Sverigetopplistan. sv. February 27, 2020.
  28. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 2001. de. May 23, 2018.
  29. Web site: The Official UK Singles Chart 2001. UKChartsPlus. May 23, 2018.
  30. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 2001. Billboardtop100of.com. August 9, 2020.
  31. The Year in Music 2001: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-44. December 29, 2001.
  32. The Year in Music 2001: Hot Rap Singles. Billboard. 113. 52. YE-46. December 29, 2001.
  33. Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2001. Airplay Monitor. 9. 51. 60. December 21, 2001.
  34. Most-Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2001. Airplay Monitor. 9. 51. 48. December 21, 2001.
  35. CHR/Rhythmic: Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1394. 53. March 23, 2001. April 23, 2021.
  36. CHR/Pop: Going for Adds. Radio & Records. 1404. 44. June 1, 2001. April 23, 2021.
  37. New Releases – For Week Starting September 24, 2001: Singles. Music Week. 35. September 22, 2001. August 16, 2021.
  38. Web site: The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 1st October 2001. ARIA. 25. October 1, 2001. dead. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20020220130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020221-0000/www.aria.com.au/issue605.pdf. February 20, 2002. April 23, 2021.

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