I'm Outstanding
{{Infobox song
| name = I'm Outstanding
| cover = Im Outstanding.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Shaquille O'Neal
| album = Shaq Diesel
| B-side = Ode to Shaquille
| released = November 10, 1993
| recorded = 1993
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = 4:07
| label = Jive
| writer =
- Shaquille O'Neal
- Alisa Yarbrough
- Erick Sermon
- Raymound Calhoun
| producer = Erick Sermon
| chronology = Shaquille O'Neal
| prev_title = (I Know I Got) Skillz
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = Shoot Pass Slam
| next_year = 1994
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|B-1qCIETL7Q|"I'm Outstanding"}}}}
}}
"I'm Outstanding" is a song by American former professional basketball player Shaquille O'Neal, released in November 1993 by Jive Records as the second single from his debut album, Shaq Diesel (1993). The song was co-written by O'Neal with producer Erick Sermon, Alisa Yarbrough and Raymound Calhoun. The single features several samples and was a minor success, making it to number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 70 on the UK Singles Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/shaquille-oneal|title=Shaquille O'Neal|website=Billboard|access-date=April 21, 2020}} Its accompanying music video was directed by Jim Swaffield and shot in Orlando, Florida.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-02-26-N.pdf|title=Music Video: Production Notes|magazine=Billboard|date=February 26, 1994|page=37|access-date=April 30, 2025}}
Samples
"I'm Outstanding" sampled the following songs:
- "Don't Stop the Music" by Yarbrough & Peoples
- "The Payback" by James Brown
- "Outstanding" by The Gap Band
- "Jingling Baby" by LL Cool J{{cite web|url=http://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/11812/Shaquille%20O'Neal-I'm%20Outstanding_James%20Brown-The%20Payback/ |title=Shaquille O'Neal's I'm Outstanding sample of James Brown's The Payback - WhoSampled |publisher=Whosampled.com |date= |accessdate=October 19, 2010}}
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "Basketball superstar edges closer to getting much-desired hip-hop credibility with this Erick Sermon-produced kicker, which is fueled by a well-placed sample from 'Outstanding' by the Gap Band. O'Neal's lyrical chops are as puffed up and boastful as any rapper worth his salt. He displays a lot of promise here, and is aided by a radio-friendly hook that could connect with open-minded programmers."{{cite magazine|first=Larry|last=Flick|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1994/BB-1994-02-05.pdf|title=Single Reviews: Pop|magazine=Billboard|date=February 5, 1994|page=71|access-date=April 30, 2025|author-link=Larry Flick}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "The 7 foot 3 master of disaster of the basketball pitch slowly raps his own impressive biography—about the young, gifted and black who made it outside of the gettho."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-03-26.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=13|date=March 26, 1994|page=7|access-date=April 25, 2025}}
Music video
The music video for "I'm Outstanding" was directed by American director Jim Swaffield and shot in Orlando, Florida. Roger Tonry directed photography, and J. Nardelli, Chris Wagoner and Keith Milton produced.
Single track listing
=A-side=
- "I'm Outstanding" (LP version) – 4:07
- "I'm Outstanding" (Funk Lord remix) – 3:55
=B-side=
- "I'm Outstanding" (808 instrumental) – 4:04
- "I'm Outstanding" (Funk Lord remix instrumental) – 3:56
- "Ode to Shaquille" – 2:07
Charts
| class="wikitable" |
| align="left"|Chart (1994)
!align="left"|Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|UK Singles (OCC)
|align="center"|70 |
| align="left"|UK Dance (Music Week){{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-03-26.pdf |title= Dance Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= March 26, 1994 |page= 24 |accessdate= April 24, 2021}}
|align="center"|19 |
| align="left"|UK Club Chart (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-03-12.pdf|title=The RM Club Chart|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=March 12, 1994|page=4|accessdate=May 15, 2023}}
|align="center"|76 |
| align="left"|US Billboard Hot 100
|align="center"|47 |
| align="left"|US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
|align="center"|29 |
| align="left"|US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)
|align="center"|6 |
| align="left"|US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)
|align="center"|17 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Shaquille O'Neal}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Shaquille O'Neal songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Erick Sermon
Category:Songs written by Erick Sermon
Category:Songs written by Shaquille O'Neal
{{1990s-hiphop-song-stub}}