U Know What's Up
{{Short description|1999 single by Donell Jones}}
{{Infobox song
| name = U Know What's Up
| cover = U Know Whats Up.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Donell Jones featuring Lisa Lopes
| album = Where I Wanna Be
| B-side = "Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" (excerpt)
| released = {{start date|1999|8|3}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 3:59
| label =
| writer =
- Edward Ferrell
- Darren Lighty
- Clifton Lighty
- Balewa Muhammad
- Anthony Hamilton
- Veronica McKenzie
| producer =
- Eddie F.
- Darren Lighty
| chronology = Donell Jones
| prev_title = You Should Know
| prev_year = 1997
| next_title = It's So Hard
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Lisa Lopes
| type = single
| prev_title = Cradle of Rock
| prev_year = 1998
| title = U Know What's Up
| year = 1999
| next_title = I Do
| next_year = 1999
}}
}}
"U Know What's Up" is a song by American R&B singer Donell Jones. It was written by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for his second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999), while production was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment.
Released as the album's lead single, the song became Jones' biggest hit, reaching the top 10 in Ireland and on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was most successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. In addition, "U Know What's Up" topped Billboard{{'}}s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for eight consecutive weeks, his only single to do so to date. A remix version featuring Left Eye of TLC was used for the accompanying music video.
Music video
The video features rapper Left Eye of TLC, YoungBloodZ, T.I., Usher and Big Boi of OutKast, all of whom were (including Jones) part of the LaFace Records label. At the beginning of the video, there is a sign that says La Face Place, in reference to the record label. The clip premiered on BET on the week ending September 12, 1999.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110|title=Video Monitor|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=40|page=110|date=October 2, 1999|access-date=May 31, 2022}}
The video begins with Left Eye at her apartment receiving a phone call, presumably from Jones, informing her that the music video for the song is being aired on TV. She turns to the TV screen behind her playing the video, which shows Jones at a hotel party, and proceeds to watch it. As it turns out, Left Eye is not the only person watching the video, as the video pans across the building showing Usher and his girlfriend at his apartment, and Big Boi hosting a music video premiere at his apartment. Midway through the video, Left Eye leaves her apartment and recites her verse in the song while walking across the corridor, presumably to join Jones at a similar party at the back of the building, which is revealed as the camera pulls back from the corridor. At the end, the video pulls back to reveal Jones watching it at his apartment with his girlfriend.
Track listings
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US CD and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=U Know What's Up|others=Donell Jones|year=1999|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Untouchables Records|id=73008-24420-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=U Know What's Up|others=Donell Jones|year=1999|type=US cassette single sleeve|publisher=LaFace Records, Untouchables Records|id=73008-24420-4}}
- "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:02
- "Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" (excerpt) – 2:05
- Album snippets – 5:46
:A1. "U Know What's Up" (clean version edit) – 4:02
:A2. "U Know What's Up" (instrumental) – 4:02
:A3. "U Know What's Up" (clean acapella) – 3:45
:B1. "U Know What's Up" (clean version) – 4:02
:B2. "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:02
:B3. "U Know What's Up" (dirty version) – 4:02
Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=U Know What's Up|others=Donell Jones|year=2000|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records|id=74321 70262 2}}
- "U Know What's Up" (clean version) – 4:02
- "U Know What's Up" (album version featuring Left Eye) – 4:03
- "U Know What's Up" (instrumental) – 4:02
- Album snippets – 5:46
{{col-2}}
- "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:01
- "U Know What's Up" (album version featuring Left Eye) – 4:03
- "U Know What's Up" (video version) – 3:55
- "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B radio edit) – 3:36
- "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B main mix) – 7:04
- "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B The Edge dub) – 7:20
:A1. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B main mix) – 7:04
:A2. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B main instrumental) – 7:04
:B1. "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B The Edge dub) – 7:20
:B2. "U Know What's Up" (album version) – 4:03
UK cassette single and European CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=U Know What's Up|others=Donell Jones|year=1999|type=UK cassette single sleeve|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records|id=74321 72275 4}}{{cite AV media notes|title=U Know What's Up|others=Donell Jones|year=1999|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records|id=74321 73889 2}}
- "U Know What's Up" (album version featuring Left Eye) – 4:03
- "U Know What's Up" (Jeremy B radio edit) – 3:36
{{col-end}}
Charts
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{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1999-2000) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Australia (ARIA){{cite Ryan|page=148}}
|55 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|4|artist=Donell Jones|song=U Know What's Up|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Canadadance|9|chartid=9737|access-date=June 20, 2020|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2000/MM-2000-02-05.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=17|issue=6|page=5|date=February 5, 2000|access-date=December 2, 2019}}
|9 |
| scope="row"|Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40){{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2995895#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (4.2– 10.2 2000)|newspaper=Dagblaðið Vísir|language=is|page=10|date=February 4, 2000|access-date=June 20, 2020}}
|34 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|10|artist=Donell Jones|song=U Know What's Up|access-date=December 2, 2019|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|23|artist=Donell Jones|song=U Know What's Up|access-date=December 2, 2019|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|28|artist=Donell Jones|song=U Know What's Up|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|30|artist=Donell Jones|song=U Know What's Up|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|12|artist=Donell Jones|date=20000122|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|48|artist=Donell Jones|song=U Know What's Up|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|2|artist=Donell Jones|date=20000122|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UKrandb|1|artist=Donell Jones|date=20000122|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|7|artist=Donell Jones|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Donell Jones|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|23|artist=Donell Jones|access-date=July 19, 2018|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1999) !Position |
| scope="row"|UK Urban (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/2000/Music-Week-2000-01-22.pdf|title=Urban Top 20 Tracks of 1999|magazine=Music Week|page=32|date=January 22, 2000|access-date=August 6, 2023}}
|1 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=111|issue=52|page=YE-57|date=December 25, 1999}}
|42 |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2000) !Position |
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=January 20, 2001}}
|53 |
|---|
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/2000-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 2000|website=Billboardtop100of.com|access-date=February 12, 2020}}
|65 |
| scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA12|title=The Year in Music 2000: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks|magazine=Billboard|volume=112|issue=53|page=YE-54|date=December 30, 2000|access-date=January 9, 2023}}
|5 |
| scope="row"|US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000|magazine=Airplay Monitor|volume=8|issue=51|page=56|date=December 22, 2000}}
|99 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Donell Jones|title=U Know What's Up|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=7844-1427-1|access-date=January 7, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Donell Jones|title=U Know What's Up|award=Gold|relyear=1999|certyear=1999}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
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" rowspan="3"|United States
|August 3, 1999 |rowspan="3"|{{hlist|LaFace|Untouchables}} |{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1999/RR-1999-07-30.pdf|title=AddVance Notice|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1310|page=66|date=July 30, 1999|access-date=July 26, 2021}} |
|---|
| September 14, 1999 |
| September 21, 1999
|Rhythmic contemporary radio |{{cite magazine|title=Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates|magazine=Gavin Report|issue=2273|page=8|date=September 20, 1999}} |
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|January 10, 2000 |{{hlist|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |rowspan="2"|{{hlist|LaFace|Arista|Untouchables}} |
| scope="row"|New Zealand
|March 6, 2000 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |