Money Maker
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Money Maker
| cover = Money Maker.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Ludacris featuring Pharrell
| album = Release Therapy
| released = July 17, 2006 (U.S. radio)
| recorded = 2006
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Dirty rap
| length =
| writer = Christopher Bridges, Pharrell Williams
| producer = The Neptunes
| chronology = Ludacris
| prev_title = Unpredictable
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = Need a Boss
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Pharrell
| type = singles
| prev_title = Mr. Me Too
| prev_year = 2006
| title = Money Maker
| year = 2006
| next_title = Number One
| next_year = 2006
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|T9Op2YQ7yyU|"Money Maker"}}}}
}}
"Money Maker" is a song written and performed by American rapper Ludacris featuring Pharrell Williams. It was released to the radio on July 17, 2006 as the first single from Ludacris's fifth album Release Therapy. Produced by Williams and Chad Hugo (known collectively as The Neptunes), the song is a reimagining of the 1961 Elmore James blues song "Shake Your Moneymaker". The single became Ludacris' third number-one song on the US Billboard Hot 100, while also topping the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Tracks charts.
Released on August 17, 2006, the song's music video premiered on MTV's Making the Video and later managed to reach the number-one spot on BET's 106 & Park, where it remained for several days. The single had a major promotional campaign and huge airplay on radio around the U.S., Canada and other countries around the globe, while the video received strong airplay on BET, MTV, and Canada's Muchmusic. The song was performed on the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards and later won Best Rap Song at the 49th Grammy Awards.
American R&B singer, Amerie, recorded an answer back (remix) to the single. The song was included on her first mixtape, Because I Love It Volume 1 (the mixtape that was released to accompany her third studio album Because I Love It). The song however did not appear on the final album. Because I Love It was released to international markets only.
Critical reception
- About {{Rating|2.5|5}}
{{cquote|"Money Maker" was obviously intended as a summer smash, as it more than satisfies the requirements: lame yet memorable pick-up lines ("I'm a bedroom gangsta"), disorganized, rambunctious production, and an accompanying big-budget video. Overall, it's a major setback in Ludacris' campaign to claim the Southern rap throne.}}
- Pitchfork {{Rating|3|5}}
{{cquote|Atlanta really did need another strip-club anthem. So Ludacris and Pharrell deliver "Money Maker", roasting a Nellyesque sing-rap over steamy tropical percussion, a relentless knock that re-imagines "Can I Get a..." played with pots and pans. Fleshed out with deep, one-two bass punches and organs that trickle before bursting, it sounds faintly sinister. The hook boasts a lowering blend of Eros and economics: Luda's soliciting followed by Skateboard's stage-whispered counsel to "Shake your moneymaker / Like somebody 'bout to pay ya."}}
Commercial performance
"Money Maker" debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of August 26, 2006.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57507/fergies-bridge-earns-second-week-at-no-1|title=Fergie's 'Bridge' Earns Second Week At No. 1|last=Hope|first=Clover|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=August 17, 2006|access-date=August 20, 2015}} It moved seventeen spots to number 79 the week of September 2, 2006{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-09-02|title=The Hot: September 2, 2006|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|access-date=August 20, 2015}} and another eighteen spots to number 61 the week after.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-09-09|title=The Hot 100: September 9, 2006|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|access-date=August 20, 2015}} Two weeks later, it entered the top 40 at number 15 the week of September 23, 2006.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2006-09-23|title=The Hot 100: September 23, 2006|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|access-date=August 20, 2015}} It moved thirteen spots to number two the week after with gains in airplay and digital sales,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57189/all-timberlake-all-the-time-on-billboard-charts|title=All Timberlake, All The Time On Billboard Charts|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=September 21, 2006|access-date=August 21, 2015}} but was kept off the top spot for four weeks by Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack".{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56979/timberlake-still-sexy-at-no-1-new-single-keeps-climbing|title=Timberlake Still 'Sexy' At No. 1, New Single Keeps Climbing|last=Hope|first=Clover|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=October 12, 2006|access-date=August 21, 2015}} It reached number one the week of October 28, 2006 and held that spot for two weeks before losing it again to Timberlake with "My Love",{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56772/timberlake-scores-second-straight-hot-100-no-1|title=Timberlake Scores Second Straight Hot 100 No. 1|last=Hope|first=Clover|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=November 2, 2006|access-date=August 20, 2015}} remaining on the chart for a total of twenty-five weeks.{{cite web|url=http://acharts.co/song/10796#stats|title=Ludacris and Pharrell Williams - Money Maker|website=aCharts.co|access-date=August 21, 2015}} The song gave Ludacris his second number-one hit as lead artist and third overall, as well as Pharrell's second number-one hit.
The song appeared at number thirty-five on the Billboard Year-End chart of 2006, and number ninety-two in 2007.
It peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/2006/r-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – 2006 Archive|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Promtheus Global Media|access-date=August 21, 2015}} the Rhythmic chart for five weeks,"Money Maker" October 14 – November 11, 2006:
- {{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2006-10-14/rhythmic-40 |title=Rhythmic: Oct 14, 2006 | magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 21, 2015}}
- {{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2006-10-21/rhythmic-40 |title=Rhythmic: Oct 21, 2006 | magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 21, 2015}}
- {{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2006-10-28/rhythmic-40 |title=Rhythmic: Oct 28, 2006 | magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 21, 2015}}
- {{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2006-11-04/rhythmic-40 |title=Rhythmic: Nov 04, 2006 | magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 21, 2015}}
- {{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2006-11-11/rhythmic-40 |title=Rhythmic: Nov 11, 2006 | magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 21, 2015}} and the Hot Rap Songs chart for seven weeks.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/2006/rap-song|title=Rap Songs – 2006 Archive|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|access-date=August 21, 2015}} On December 6, 2006, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 1,000,000 copies in the United States.{{Certification Cite Ref|region=United States|type=single|title=Money Maker|artist=Ludacris}}
Music video
Directed by Melina Matsoukas (who directed R&B singer Shareefa's "Need a Boss") and released on August 17, 2006, premiering on various music channels including BET, MTV, and MuchMusic, the video for "Money Maker" consists of Ludacris rapping with girls dancing around him against a basically-colored background of orange, green and black. He has a counting machine that counts how many times he gets a girl to shake her rear end (called "money maker") for him. Pharrell appears during the chorus with girls and stacks of money. There is also a Chrysler ME Four-Twelve and large speakers in the background that vibrate throughout the video, which are actually salad bowls, as Ludacris explains in "Making the Video". Allen Iverson, Shareefa, Bobby Valentino, & Lil Fate make cameo appearances. The video notably features Ludacris debuting a fade haircut on camera, having shed his trademark cornrows to mark a new image.
Credits and personnel
The credits for "Money Maker" are adapted from the liner notes of Release Therapy.(2007) Release notes for Release Therapy by Ludacris (liner notes). The Island Def Jam Music Group (1708937)
;Recording
- Recorded at: Chalice Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California.
;Personnel
- Ludacris – vocals, songwriting
- The Neptunes – producers
- Pharrell Williams – vocals, songwriting
- Prateek dubey – recording
- Phil Tan – mixing
- Josh Houghkirk – additional engineering
- – mastering
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2007) !Position |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2007/year-end|title = Charts - Year End| magazine=Billboard }}
|align="center"|92 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|artist=Ludacris|title=Money Maker|certyear=2022|relyear=2006|note=Digital}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Ludacris|title=Money Maker|digital=true|certyear=2006|relyear=2006|note=Mastertone}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://rap.about.com/od/songreviews/gr/LudaMoneyMaker.htm?terms=money+maker "Money Maker" Review On About.com]
{{Ludacris singles}}
{{Pharrell Williams singles}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Song}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Pharrell Williams songs
Category:Def Jam Recordings singles
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by the Neptunes