Hit Me Off

{{Infobox song

| name = Hit Me Off

| cover = Hit Me Off.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| released = {{start date|1996|8|2}}

| recorded = 1996{{cite web|url=https://www-rollingstone-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/inside-new-editions-overdue-renaissance-105689/amp/?amp_js_v=a2&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCKAE%3D#aoh=15719470009065&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rollingstone.com%2Fmusic%2Fmusic-features%2Finside-new-editions-overdue-renaissance-105689%2Famp%2F%23aoh%3D15719470009065%26referrer%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%26amp_tf%3DFrom%2520%25251%2524s|title=Inside New Edition's Overdue Renaissance|publisher=Rolling Stone|date=January 23, 2017|accessdate=October 24, 2019}}

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 4:21

| label = MCA

| writer =

Phillip "Silky" White
Dinky Bingham
Jeff Dyson
Ronnie DeVoe
Michael Bivins
Bob James

| producer = Phillip "Silky" White

| prev_title = N.E. Heart Break

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = I'm Still in Love with You

| next_year = 1996

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|fE77mos-ppo|"Hit Me Off"}}}}

}}

"Hit Me Off" is a song by American R&B group New Edition, released in August 1996 as the first single from the group's sixth studio album, Home Again (1996), as well as their first single in seven years. Featuring lead vocals from all six New Edition members, it samples "Storm King" by Bob James, "I Got Cha Opin" by Black Moon, and "One Nation Under a Groove" by Funkadelic.

"Hit Me Off" debuted and peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 while topping the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for three weeks, their fifth number-one hit on the listing. It sold 600,000 copies domestically and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. It was also certified gold in New Zealand, where it reached number two.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "a smoker". He added, "Vocally, time has treated the lads extremely well. The high-pitched squeak and tenor harmonies have been replaced by swarthy machismo and mature baritone. Despite the individual styles developed via solo careers, the act's chemistry is well intact, and the members appear to have fallen into group mode with ease. They make excellent use of Silky's chilled jeep/funk groove (which pops with a cool sample from Blackmoon's "I Gotcha Opin") and seductive chorus chant. Needless to say, this is a smash. Jam on it."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Reviews & Previews: Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-07-20.pdf|magazine=Billboard|date=July 20, 1996|page=57|accessdate=November 30, 2022|author-link=Larry Flick}}

Track listing

"Hit Me Off" (N.E. Spyder and Shaq D) – 6:00
"Hit Me Off" (The Trackmasters E.C. Joint) – 4:27
"Hit Me Off" ("G" Formulated mix)(version) – 5:01
"Hit Me Off" (Franktified club version) – 7:34
"Hit Me Off" (LP version) – 4:21

Personnel

Ronnie DeVoe – rap, background vocals
Bobby Brown – lead and background vocals
Ricky Bell – lead and background vocals
Michael Bivins – rap, background vocals
Ralph Tresvant – lead and background vocals
Johnny Gill – lead and background vocals

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Canada (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite magazine\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uAkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48\|title=Hits of the World\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=108\|issue=49\|page=48\|date=December 7, 1996\|access-date=November 10, 2021}} \|13
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"\|Chart (1996) !scope="col"\|Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|16\|artist=New Edition\|song=Hit Me Off\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Canadatopsingles\|50\|chartid=9921\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Canadadance\|1\|chartid=9913\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
scope="row"\|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-08-24.pdf\|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=13\|issue=34\|page=12\|date=August 24, 1996\|access-date=September 15, 2020}} \|73
scope="row"\|Europe (European Hit Radio){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1996/MM-1996-10-05.pdf\|title=EHR Top 40\|magazine=Music & Media\|volume=13\|issue=40\|page=27\|date=5 October 1996\|access-date=28 December 2024}} \|align="center"\|38
{{single chart\|Germany\|54\|artist=New Edition\|song=Hit Me Off\|songid=98344\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Dutch40\|34\|year=1996\|week=35\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|28\|artist=New Edition\|song=Hit Me Off\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|2\|artist=New Edition\|song=Hit Me Off\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|58\|date=19960810\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
scope="row"\|Spain (Top 40 Radio){{cite book\|author=Fernando Salaverri\|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002\|edition=1st\|date=September 2005\|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE\|location=Spain\|isbn=84-8048-639-2}} \|align="center"\|37
{{single chart\|Sweden\|49\|artist=New Edition\|song=Hit Me Off\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|UK\|20\|date=19960810\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|UKdance\|6\|date=19960810\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|3\|date=19960810\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|3\|artist=New Edition\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddanceclubplay\|30\|artist=New Edition\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddancesales\|1\|artist=New Edition\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 18, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|1\|artist=New Edition\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|14\|artist=New Edition\|rowheader=true\|access-date=September 15, 2020}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"\|Chart (1996) !scope="col"\|Position
scope="row"\|Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9738&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9738.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9738\|title=RPM Year End Dance Top 50\|magazine=RPM\|via=Library and Archives Canada\|access-date=September 15, 2020}} \|6
scope="row"\|New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1996-12-31\|title=End of Year Charts 1996\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|access-date=September 15, 2020}} \|33
scope="row"\|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web\|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996\|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1996\|access-date=August 27, 2010\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996\|archive-date=March 1, 2009}} \|86
scope="row"\|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=108\|issue=52\|page=YE-40\|date=December 28, 1996}} \|49
scope="row"\|US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales\|magazine=Billboard\|volume=108\|issue=52\|page=YE-45\|date=December 28, 1996}} \|49
scope="row"\|US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard){{cite magazine\|title=Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles\|magazine=Airplay Monitor\|volume=4\|issue=53\|page=32\|date=December 27, 1996}} \|58

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1996)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"|Canada Dance/Urban (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9738&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9738.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9738|title=RPM Year End Dance Top 50|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=September 15, 2020}}

scope="row"|New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1996-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 1996|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=September 15, 2020}}

|33

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1996|access-date=August 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301121523/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1996|archive-date=March 1, 2009}}

|86

scope="row"|US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles|magazine=Billboard|volume=108|issue=52|page=YE-40|date=December 28, 1996}}

|49

scope="row"|US Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|volume=108|issue=52|page=YE-45|date=December 28, 1996}}

|49

scope="row"|US Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=4|issue=53|page=32|date=December 27, 1996}}

|58

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=New Edition|title=Hit Me Off|award=Gold|relyear=1996|id=1996-09-06|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1996}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=New Edition|title=Hit Me Off|award=Gold|relyear=1996|certyear=1996|salesamount=600,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IA8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61|title=Best-Selling Records of 1996|magazine=Billboard|publisher=BPI Communications Inc.|date=January 18, 1997|access-date=May 8, 2015|page=61|issn=0006-2510|volume=109|number=3}}|access-date=September 15, 2020}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"\|Region !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Format(s) !scope="col"\|Label(s) !scope="col"\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\|United States \|July 16, 1996 \|{{hlist\|Rhythmic contemporary\|contemporary hit radio}} \|rowspan="3"\|MCA \|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-07-12.pdf\|title=Selected New Releases\|magazine=Radio & Records\|issue=1154\|pages=36, 42\|date=July 12, 1996\|access-date=August 18, 2021}}
scope="row"\|United Kingdom \|July 29, 1996 \|{{hlist\|12-inch vinyl\|CD\|cassette}} \|{{cite magazine\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-07-27.pdf\|title=New Releases: Singles\|magazine=Music Week\|page=43\|date=July 27, 1996\|access-date=August 18, 2021}}
scope="row"\|Japan \|August 21, 1996 \|CD \|{{cite web\|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/17825/products/161475/1/\|title=ヒット・ミー・オフ {{!}} ニュー・エディション\|trans-title=Hit Me Off {{!}} New Edition\|publisher=Oricon\|language=ja\|access-date=September 26, 2023}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"|United States

|July 16, 1996

|{{hlist|Rhythmic contemporary|contemporary hit radio}}

|rowspan="3"|MCA

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-07-12.pdf|title=Selected New Releases|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1154|pages=36, 42|date=July 12, 1996|access-date=August 18, 2021}}

scope="row"|United Kingdom

|July 29, 1996

|{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}}

|{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1996/Music-Week-1996-07-27.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=43|date=July 27, 1996|access-date=August 18, 2021}}

scope="row"|Japan

|August 21, 1996

|CD

|{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/17825/products/161475/1/|title=ヒット・ミー・オフ {{!}} ニュー・エディション|trans-title=Hit Me Off {{!}} New Edition|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=September 26, 2023}}