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Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)

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"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"
Single by Pras Michel featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mýa
from the album Ghetto Supastar and Bulworth
ReleasedJune 6, 1998 (1998-06-06)
Length4:26
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Wyclef Jean
  • Pras
Pras Michel singles chronology
"Avenues"
(1997) 		"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"
(1998) 		"Blue Angels"
(1998)
Mýa singles chronology
"It's All About Me"
(1998) 		"Ghetto Supastar"
(1998) 		"Movin' On"
(1998)
Ol' Dirty Bastard singles chronology
"Fix (Main Mix)"
(1998) 		"Ghetto Supastar"
(1998) 		"Got Your Money"
(1999)

"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" is a song by American rapper Pras, featuring rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard and R&B singer Mýa. Produced by Pras and Wyclef Jean, with co-production from Jerry 'Wonda" Duplessis and Che Pope, it interpolates Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream", as written by the Bee Gees, and samples "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved" by James Brown. Also featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Bulworth, the song was released as Pras' debut solo single and the second from his debut solo album Ghetto Supastar on June 6, 1998.

A worldwide commercial success, the song became a number-one hit in New Zealand and throughout Europe, including Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In the United States, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" peaked at number 15 for five consecutive weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and in 1999, received a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 41st Grammy Awards.

Background

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"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" was written by Pras, Wyclef Jean, and Ol' Dirty Bastard. The song contains an interpolation from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream." Due to the clip, its writers, brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, are also credited as songwriters on "Ghetto Supastar".[1] The song also samples "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved", as written by James Brown, Bobby Byrd, and Ron Lenhoff and performed by the former.

According to Mya, Interscope Records tried to consult more established singers to sing the chorus on the song, including Mary J. Blige.[2] It was not until Ol' Dirty Bastard joined the project, that he – after listening to her self-titled debut album – persuaded Pras and Jean to use her vocals on the track.[2]

Critical reception

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In his review for Entertainment Weekly, David Browne wrote: "This left-field remake of the Kenny Rogers-Dolly Parton hit "Islands in the Stream" is a far better showcase for Mya; with her buttery rendering of the song’s hooky chorus, she paints herself as the world’s most streetwise, levelheaded groupie. As for the rest of the track, its combination of slinky guitar, scratching, and scratchy ODB growl (or is that now "scratchy Big Baby Jesus growl"?) makes it a dozen times more fun than Bulworth itself."[3]

Music video

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Francis Lawrence directed the video, which features Bulworth stars Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, and Joshua Malina. In a play on the theme of the film, which is a prominent white politician acting like a Black American, Bulworth – as played by Beatty – in the music video begins to stretch his mouth, revealing himself to be Pras in a mask, who has just become the first African-American US president. Shortly after Pras gets pushed in an elevator, he takes off his suit and performs.

Apart from Mya and Ol' Dirty Bastard, Wyclef Jean also appears on the set playing the bass guitar riff at the end of the song. The music video was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film. It also received three nominations at the 1998 Billboard Video Music Awards for Best New Artist Clip (Pop), Best New Artist Clip (Rap), and Best New Artist Clip (R&B).

Cover versions

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"Weird Al" Yankovic included the song in his polka medley "Polka Power!" from his 1999 album Running with Scissors. The Bee Gees recorded a version of "Islands in the Stream" with the chorus of "Ghetto Supastar" replacing the final chorus for their retrospective 2001 compilation Their Greatest Hits: The Record. It also appeared on their 2004 Number Ones and on the 2010 Mythology box set.[4]

In August 2011, Taylor Swift covered "Ghetto Supastar" during the North American leg of her Speak Now World Tour. In each city, she chose to pay tribute to a homegrown artist. In Washington, D.C., she performed an acoustic version of "Ghetto Supastar", given that Mýa is from Washington, D.C. Swift referred to the song as her "second grade anthem".[5][6][7]

In 2017, singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens posted a video of herself singing "Ghetto Supastar" a capella on Instagram.[8]

Track listing

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  • German CD single[9]
    1. "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
    2. "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
    3. "Ghetto Supastar" (Acapella) - 4:08
    4. "Don't Be Afraid" (performed by Mýa) - 4:48
  • UK CD single[10]
    1. "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
    2. "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
    3. "Don't Be Afraid" (performed by Mýa) - 4:48
  • 12" vinyl[11]
    1. "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
    2. "Ghetto Supastar" (TV Mix) - 4:26
    3. "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
    4. "Ghetto Supastar" (Acapella) - 4:08

Personnel

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  • Written by P. Michel, W. Jean, B. Gibb, M. Gibb, R. Gibb, J. Brown, B. Byrd, R. Lenhoff
  • Contains a sample from "Under the Influence of Love" by Love Unlimited
  • Contains an interpolation of "Islands In The Stream" by the Bee Gees and samples "Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved" by James Brown
  • Taken from the soundtrack of Bulworth
  • Engineered by Chris Theis and Phil Blackman
  • Soundtrack executive producer: Karyn Rachtman
  • Original sound recordings owned by Interscope Records
  • Universal Music (UK) Ltd. are exclusive licensees for the United Kingdom
  • Distributed by BMG Records (UK) Ltd.
  • Pras appears courtesy of Refugee Camp Entertainment / RuffHouse / Columbia Records
  • ODB appears courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
  • Mýa appears courtesy of University Music Entertainment / Interscope

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[62] Platinum 70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[63] Platinum 50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[64] Platinum 50,000*
France (SNEP)[65] Gold 250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[66] Platinum 500,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[67] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[68] Platinum 10,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[69] Platinum  
Sweden (GLF)[70] 2× Platinum 60,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[71] Platinum 600,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Dolly Parton: An Island In the Stream". Standpoint Consulting. March 29, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Mukherjee, Tiarra (November 19, 1998). "Mya Hangs Tough With the Rough Boys". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. ^ Browne, David (1998-06-26). "Ghetto Superstar (That Is What You Are);You're Still The One;Closing Time;You Won't Forget Me". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  4. ^ "Gibb Songs : 2001". columbia.edu.
  5. ^ "Videos: Taylor Swift's Coast-to-Coast Cover Songs". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 17, 2011. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  6. ^ "Taylor Covers Pras & Mya's "Ghetto Superstar" - Taylor Swift's Most Hip-Hop Moments". Complex. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  7. ^ "Taylor Swift Covers TLC, Eminem, & Mya [Video]". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
  8. ^ "'Feeling Myself': Vanessa Hudgens Sings 'Ghetto Supastar' in a Purple Wig". People. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
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