Otherside of the Game
"Otherside of the Game" is a song by American R&B singer Erykah Badu. It is the third single from her 1997 album Baduizm. The song effectively showcases Badu's debt to jazz as well as soul. It is a ballad with lyrics that tells the story of a conflicted woman in a troubled relationship. She is expecting a baby with her husband, so she feels she must stand by him despite his apparently illegal activities.[1]
| "Otherside of the Game" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Erykah Badu | ||||
| from the album Baduizm | ||||
| A-side | "Otherside of the Game (Acapella)" | |||
| Released | July 28, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | 1996 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 6:33 | |||
| Label | Kedar Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Erykah Badu, Questlove, James Poyser, Richard Nichols | |||
| Producer(s) | The Roots, Richard Nichols | |||
| Erykah Badu singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Release and reception
"Otherside of the Game" was released as a single following "Next Lifetime". Although it failed to chart on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart, it peaked to #14 on the R&B Airplay chart in August 1997.
Music video
The music video starts with the title 'a story by Erykah Badu'. It then shows Badu waking up her husband, played by her then boyfriend André 3000, as the two playful being affectionate and loving toward each other. As the couple lounge around the house, Badu glances through a kitchen window and notices a police car parked outside. Moments later, 3000 answers the door and is greeted by a pair of cops who drop off an envelope filled with money, likely from illegal activities. As the couple count the cash, André receives a message on his pager and quickly gathers his things and leaves the home. Badu sits on her bed in concern and frustration.
Charts
| Chart (1997) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay[2] | 14 |