Classic Man
{{Infobox song
| name = Classic Man
| cover = Classic Man Art.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Jidenna featuring Roman GianArthur
| album = Wondaland Presents: The Eephus
| released = February 3, 2015
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{ubl|3:46 {{small|(original version)}}|3:55 {{small|(remix version)}}}}
| label = {{hlist|Wondaland|Epic}}
| writer = {{hlist|Amethyst Amelia Kelly|Charlotte Aitchison|Eleanor Kateri Tannis|George Astasio|Jasbir Sehra|Jason Pebworth|Jidenna Theodore Mobisson|John Turner|Jonathan Christopher Shave|Kurtis McKenzie|Milan Wiley|Nana Kwabena Tuffuor|Nathaniel Irvin III|Roman GianArthur Irvin}}
| producer = {{hlist|Jidenna|Nana Kwabena|Nate "Rocket" Wonder}}
| chronology = Jidenna
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Yoga
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Roman GianArthur
| type = single
| prev_title = I-69
| prev_year = 2013
| title = Classic Man
| year = 2015
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
}}
"Classic Man" is a song by Nigerian-American rapper Jidenna, released on February 3, 2015, as his commercial debut single by Epic Records. The song, which features vocals from fellow American singer Roman GianArthur, was included on Janelle Monáe's Wondaland Records collective EP, The Eephus, as the lead single. In December 2015, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.{{cite magazine|title=Grammy Nominations 2016: See the Full List of Nominees|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/6785974/grammy-nominations-2016-full-list|accessdate=December 7, 2015|magazine=Billboard|date=December 7, 2015}} The song was produced by Jidenna, alongside Nana Kwabena and Nate "Rocket" Wonder.
Composition
The song credits the writers of Australian rapper Iggy Azalea's 2014 single "Fancy", which Jidenna attributes to the similarity between the two songs and the increased caution of the record industry following the copyright infringement verdict against "Blurred Lines".{{cite AV media|author=Hot 97|title=Jidenna & Janelle Monae talk Wondaland, Iggy Azalea + Nigeria controversy|date=2015-08-13|minutes=8:29|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHaLl95JNYA}}
Music video
The music video of the song was released to YouTube on February 20, 2015. The video shows Jidenna at a party, walking on the street, and at a martial arts school.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsiN0W15w0U|title=Jidenna - Classic Man on YouTube|publisher=VEVO|accessdate=July 10, 2015}} The video was directed by Alan Ferguson.{{cite web|last1=Zeichner|first1=Naomi|title=Jidenna Premieres "Classic Man" Video|url=http://www.thefader.com/2015/02/20/jidenna-classic-man-video|website=The FADER|publisher=THE FADER, INC}} The music video for the remix was released on July 15, 2015. It features Jidenna and Kendrick Lamar rapping in various locations. Ty Dolla Sign, Janelle Monáe, Issa Rae, Roman GianArthur, and Hit-Boy make cameo appearances in the music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URiDdlAS6ls|title=Jidenna - Classic Man (Remix) ft. Kendrick Lamar on YouTube|publisher=VEVO|accessdate=July 17, 2015}}
Commercial performance
"Classic Man" debuted at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the chart dated May 23, 2015.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2015-05-23|title=The Hot 100: The Week of May 23, 2015|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=July 10, 2015}} The song peaked at number 22 in its sixteenth week on the chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2015-08-25|title=The Hot 100: The Week of September 3, 2015|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=August 4, 2015}} As of August 2015, the song has sold 399,000 copies in the US.{{cite web |url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.35003/title.hip-hop-single-sales-the-weeknd-silento-fetty-wap |title=Hip Hop Single Sales: The Weeknd, Silento & Fetty Wap |last=Steinfeld |first=Mitchell |website=HipHopDX |publisher=Cheri Media Group |date=August 8, 2015 |accessdate=August 8, 2015}}
Remixes
Jidenna and Wondaland Records released a remix of the song featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar, included as a bonus track on The Eephus EP. The remix was accompanied by a music video, which premiered on July 15, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMeo6CykNrg|title=Jidenna - Classic Man (Remix) ft. Kendrick Lamar|publisher=VEVO|accessdate=July 10, 2015}} The remix is also featured in the video-games MLB The Show 16 and NBA Live 16. Jamaican rapper Sean Paul also released a remix of this song called "Ganja Man".{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/seanpaul/posts/10153649757564668|title=Sean Paul|website=www.facebook.com|accessdate=December 15, 2019}} T-Pain released a Jidenna approved remix called "Classic Man (T-Mix)", featuring Vantrease and Young Cash of Nappy Boy Entertainment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2015/07/t-pain-classic-man-remix|title=T-Pain Drops His Own Remix To Jidenna's "Classic Man"|date=July 20, 2015|website=Vibe|accessdate=December 15, 2019}}
Usage in popular media
A Chopped and screwed version of "Classic Man" featured in the Academy Award winning 2016 film Moonlight. The track was also heard in the 2016 film Dirty Grandpa.
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2015)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{singlechart|Flanders Urban|44|artist=Jidenna feat. Roman GianArthur|song=Classic Man}} |
| {{singlechart|France|142|artist=Jidenna feat. Roman GianArthur|song=Classic Man}} |
| {{singlechart|South Africa|7|date=2015-09-01|accessdate=September 16, 2015}} |
| UK R&B (Official Charts Company){{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-singles-chart/20150821/114/ |title=Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40 - 21 August 2015 - 27 August 2015 |publisher=officialcharts.com |accessdate=September 2, 2015}}
|align="center"| 28 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company){{cite web |url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/150815cluk.txt |title=Chart: CLUK Update 15.08.2015 (wk33) |publisher=Zobbel.de |accessdate=September 2, 2015 |author=Zywietz, Tobias}}
|align="center"| 174 |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|22|artist=Jidenna|accessdate=August 25, 2015}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboarddanceairplay|33|artist=Jidenna|accessdate=August 11, 2015}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|9|artist=Jidenna|accessdate=July 9, 2015}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|29|artist=Jidenna|accessdate=August 11, 2015}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|2|artist=Jidenna|accessdate=July 9, 2015}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2015)
!Position |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/hot-100-songs|title=2015 Year End Charts – Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 9, 2015}}
|style="text-align:center;"|72 |
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/r-and-b-hip-hop-digital-songs|title=2015 Year End Charts – Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 9, 2015}}
|style="text-align:center;"|22 |
| scope="row"|US Rhythmic Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/rhythmic-songs|title=2015 Year End Charts – Rhythmic Songs|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 9, 2015}}
|style="text-align:center;"|19 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Classic Man|artist=Jidenna|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2015|certyear=2016|certmonth=3|source=radioscope|access-date=December 25, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Classic Man|artist=Jidenna feat. Roman GianArthur|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2015|certyear=2017|access-date=September 18, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}