Hollywood (Jay-Z song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Hollywood

| cover = Jay-Z - Hollywood single.png

| alt = An African-American man is sitting. He wears a dark glasses and a dark jacket with many white stains, and behind him, the background is yellow. Near to him, the word "Jay-Z" is written in white capital letters, "Hollywood" in golden capital letters, and "Feat. Beyoncé" in white over a golden strip.

| type = single

| artist = Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé

| album = Kingdom Come

| released = {{start date|2007|1|23}}

| recorded = 2006

| studio = Sony Music Studios (New York, NY)

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|R&B}}

| length = {{ubl|4:17|3:18 {{small|(Beyoncé version)}}}}

| label = {{hlist|Roc-A-Fella|Def Jam}}

| writer = {{hlist|Shawn Carter|Shaffer Smith|Reggie "Syience" Perry}}

| producer = {{hlist|Syience|Ne-Yo}}

| chronology = Jay-Z

| prev_title = 30 Something

| prev_year = 2007

| next_title = Umbrella

| next_year = 2007

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Beyoncé

| type = singles

| prev_title = Listen

| prev_year = 2007

| title = Hollywood

| year = 2007

| next_title = Amor Gitano

| next_year = 2007

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|oycHFmIUupA|"Hollywood"}}|header=Audio video}}

}}

"Hollywood" is a song recorded by American rapper Jay-Z for his ninth studio album, Kingdom Come (2006). It features Jay-Z's now-wife, American singer-songwriter Beyoncé, and was released as a single in the US on January 23, 2007. Jay-Z co-wrote the song with its producers Ne-Yo and Reggie "Syience" Perry. "Hollywood" is a disco-influenced R&B song with lyrics that detail the tiredness music stars, working in the American cinema industry, sometimes feel. The song was well received by music critics who praised its musical arrangement as well as the guest vocals by Knowles.

"Hollywood" charted on US Billboard component charts, reaching a peak of number 56 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in early March 2007. It also gained attention in Australia where it charted inside the top 100 positions of the ARIA Singles Chart. Knowles later recorded a solo version of the song, which was re-titled "Welcome to Hollywood", and included it on the Deluxe Edition of her second studio album, B'Day (2006). A video interlude was recorded for The Beyoncé Experience tour where clips of Knowles were shown and music videos from her B'Day Anthology were comprised together, while the song was played on the tour.

Background

{{Listen

|filename = JayZBeyonce Hollywood.ogg

|pos = left

|title = "Hollywood"

|description = A 24-second sample of the chorus of "Hollywood", featuring Knowles' vocals while Jay-Z raps in the background.

}}

"Hollywood", featuring guest vocals from Knowles, was included as the tenth track on Jay-Z's ninth studio album, Kingdom Come (2006).{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JJSRUM |title=Kingdom Come (Explicit Lyrics) |website=Amazon |access-date=March 19, 2011}} It sees songwriting duties by Jay-Z as well as R&B singer Ne-Yo, and utilizes production from Reggie "Syience" Perry.{{cite AV media notes |title=Kingdom Come |publisher=Roc-A-Fella Records |year=2006}} The song is an R&B intoned simple one, also containing elements of disco, which is a genre of dance music.{{cite web|access-date=March 19, 2011 |url=http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews/jay-z/kingdom-come/15618/|title=Jay-Z Kingdom Come |work=Prefix Magazine |author=Mayers, Norman |date=November 20, 2006}} According to Louis Pattison of New Musical Express, "Hollywood" expresses "a weariness with the showbiz merry-go-round." It was sent by Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records to US rhythmic radio for airplay on January 23, 2007,{{cite web |url=http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=01/23/2007&Format=9 |title=Rhythmic |date=January 23, 2007 |publisher=Radio and Records |access-date=April 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316092242/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=01%2F23%2F2007&Format=9 |archive-date=March 16, 2012 }} and to contemporary hit radio on February 6, 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2007 |title=Available for Airplay |work=FMQB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703052406/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2007 |archive-date=July 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 20, 2011 }}

="Welcome to Hollywood"=

A solo version of the song was included as the fifth track on the 2007 Deluxe Edition of Beyoncé's B'Day (2006), retitled "Welcome to Hollywood".{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00138EYIM |title=B'Day Deluxe Edition |website=Amazon |access-date=March 19, 2011}} All of Jay-Z's rap verses were removed and replaced with Beyoncé's hook of the original songs. Jay-Z's outro verse was also re-recorded by Beyoncé as well. The chorus still features Jay-Z in the background. This version was included on Knowles' 2007 live album, The Beyoncé Experience.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001GSB7SE |title=Welcome To Hollywood (Audio from The Beyonce Experience Live) |website=Amazon UK |access-date=March 19, 2011}} A karaoke version of "Welcome to Hollywood" was later included on Knowles' 2008 album, Beyoncé Karaoke Hits, Vol I.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00157JY7W |title=Beyoncé Karaoke Hits I |publisher=Amazon US. Amazon Inc |access-date=March 19, 2011}}

A video interlude was recorded for The Beyoncé Experience tour where clips of Knowles were shown and music videos from her B'Day Anthology were comprised together. The video also shows video clips of Beyoncé behind the scenes of photo shoots and commercials and red carpet events with fans.{{cite video|people=Beyoncé Knowles|title=The Beyoncé Experience Live|date=2007|publisher=Columbia Records}} "Welcome to Hollywood" was included as the 31st track on Knowles' live album, The Beyoncé Experience Live (2007).{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/be/album/the-beyonce-experience-live/268305666 |title=The Beyoncé Experience (Live) [Audio Version] |date=19 November 2007 |language=nl |publisher=iTunes Store (Belgium). Apple Inc |access-date=March 19, 2011}}

Critical reception

The song was generally well received by music critics who complimented Knowles' guest vocals and the R&B tone. Spence D., writing for IGN Music stated that Knowles shines on "Hollywood".{{cite web|access-date=March 19, 2011|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/747/747052p2.html|title=Jay-Z – Kingdom Come|website=IGN Music. News Corporation|date=November 21, 2006|author=D., Spence|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025120540/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/21/jay-z-kingdom-come?page=2|archive-date=October 25, 2012}} This was echoed by Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times who said that Knowles "sounds great on 'Hollywood'."{{cite web|access-date=March 19, 2011|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/arts/music/19sann.html?pagewanted=2&_r=3&ref=music|title=Uneasy Lies the Head|work=The New York Times|date=November 19, 2006|author=Kelefa Sanneh}} By contrast, Henry Adaso of About.com coined the collaboration of Jay-Z and Knowles on "Hollywood" as the worst one on the entire album.{{cite web|url=http://rap.about.com/od/reviews/fr/JayZKingdomCome.htm|title=Jay-Z – 'Kingdom Come' (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)|author=Henry Adaso|publisher=About.com. The New York Times Company|access-date=March 19, 2011|archive-date=May 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515155347/http://rap.about.com/od/reviews/fr/JayZKingdomCome.htm|url-status=dead}} Louis Pattison of New Musical Express considered Knowles voice as "commanding" on the song.Louis Pattison. (November 24, 2006) [http://www.nme.com/reviews/jay-z/8091 Jay-Z: Kingdom Come]. New Musical Express. IPC Media. Retrieved on March 19, 2011. Azeem Ahmad of musicOMH wrote: "Despite the poignancy of the imagery evoked, ['Hollywood' is] a little bit too contrived, clichéd and poppy. Although the irony of this will (probably) have been deliberate, it's a far cry from the soulful "Do U Wanna Ride" featuring John Legend on a Kanye West production."{{cite magazine|access-date=March 19, 2011|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/jay-z_1106.htm|title=Jay-Z – Kingdom Come (DefJam)|magazine=musicOMH|date=November 27, 2006|author=Azeem Ahmad|archive-date=October 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009051730/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/jay-z_1106.htm|url-status=dead}} Michael Endelman of Entertainment Weekly described "Hollywood" as a "brassy, sassy" R&B song with a chorus belonging "in a Vegas revue, not a hip hop album."{{cite magazine |author=Michael Endelman |title=Kingdom Come |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1562802,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107022936/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1562802,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 7, 2007 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Time Inc |date=November 27, 2006 |access-date=March 19, 2011}} Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian commented that "Beyoncé leaves her indelible voiceprint" on the song.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/nov/17/urban.jayz|title=CD: Jay-Z, Kingdom Come (Def Jam)|work=The Guardian|date=November 17, 2006|access-date=May 25, 2013}}

Chart performance

"Hollywood" charted on a few US Billboard charts. It entered US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 78 on February 17, 2007.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-02-17/r-b-hip-hop-songs?order=gainer |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Week of February 17, 2007 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=March 19, 2011}} On the chart issue dated March 3, 2007, "Hollywood" moved up 26 places from number 72 to number 56, which became its peak on that chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2007-03-03/r-b-hip-hop-songs?order=gainer |title=R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Week of March 3, 2007 |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=March 19, 2011}} It was the second greatest gainer that particular week, only behind Knowles' "Listen" (2007), which was released as the lead single off the soundtrack album Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture.{{cite web|url=http://movies.about.com/od/dreamgirls/a/dreamgrl120606.htm|title="Dreamgirls" Movie Soundtrack – The Deluxe Edition News and Track Listing|publisher=About.com. The New York Times Company|access-date=March 19, 2011|archive-date=October 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019200300/http://movies.about.com/od/dreamgirls/a/dreamgrl120606.htm|url-status=dead}} "Hollywood" also debuted and peaked at number 21 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart on March 3, 2007 itself.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=jay-z|chart=all}} |title=Hollywood – Jay-Z |magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |access-date=March 19, 2011}}

"Hollywood" made its debut at number 51 on the ARIA Physical Singles Chart and at number 27 on the ARIA Urban Chart on April 23, 2010.{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/ISSUE894.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070519140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070520-0000/ISSUE894.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-19 |title=ARIA Charts: Week Commencing ~ 23rd April 2007 ~ Issue #894 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive |issue=894 |access-date=March 19, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The following week, it achieved a high point of number 47 on the Physical Singles chart while remaining at its debut position on the Urban Chart.{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue895.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070519140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070520-0000/issue895.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-19 |title=ARIA Charts: Week Commencing ~ 30th April 2007 ~ Issue #895 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive |issue=895 |access-date=March 19, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} On May 7, 2007, "Hollywood" made its debut at number 98 on the main ARIA Singles Chart. It also ascended to number 25 on the Urban Chart.{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue896.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070519140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070520-0000/issue896.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-19 |title=ARIA Charts: Week Commencing ~ 7th May 2007 ~ Issue #896 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive |issue=896 |access-date=March 19, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The song appeared for one week on the ARIA Singles Chart,{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue897.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070519140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070520-0000/issue897.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-19 |title=ARIA Charts: Week Commencing ~ 14th May 2007 ~ Issue #897 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive |issue=897 |access-date=March 19, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} for fifteen weeks on the Physical Singles Chart,{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue909.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070819140100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070820-0001/issue909.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-08-19 |title=ARIA Charts: Week Commencing ~ 6th August 2007 ~ Issue #909 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive |issue=909 |access-date=March 19, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and for ten weeks on the Urban Chart.{{cite journal|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue903.pdf |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070719140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20070720-0000/issue903.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-07-19 |title=ARIA Charts: Week Commencing ~ 25th June 2007 ~ Issue #903 |publisher=ARIA Charts. Australian Web Archive |issue=903 |access-date=March 19, 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}