U Know What's Up

"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, Clifford Harris, 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.

"U Know What's Up"
Single by Donell Jones
from the album Where I Wanna Be
Released	November 2, 1999
Recorded	1999
Genre	R&B
Length	3:59
Label	LaFace
Songwriter(s)	Edward Ferrell Darren Lighty Clifton Lighty Balewa Muhammad Anthony Hamilton Clifford Harris Veronica McKenzie
Producer(s)	Eddie F. Darren Lighty
Donell Jones singles chronology
"Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)" (2000) "U Know What's Up" (1999) "Where I Wanna Be" (2000)
Lisa Lopes singles chronology
""Cradle of Rock" (with Method Man and Booster)" (1998) "U Know What's Up" (1999) ""I Do" (with Blaque)" (1999)

Released as the album's lead single, the song became Jones' biggest hit, reaching the top ten 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 Songs for eight consecutive weeks, his only single to do so to date. A remix version featuring Left Eye of TLC was used in 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 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.

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1999–2000) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[1] 55 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[2] 4 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[3] 9 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[4] 9 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[5] 34 Ireland (IRMA)[6] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[7] 23 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[8] 28 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] 30 Scotland (OCC)[10] 12 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 48 UK Singles (OCC)[12] 2 UK R&B (OCC)[13] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[14] 7 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[15] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[16] 23

Year-end charts Chart (1999) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 8 Chart (2000) Position US Billboard Hot 100[18] 65

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[19]	Gold	400,000
United States (RIAA)[20]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

• R&B number-one hits of 1999 (USA)
• R&B number-one hits of 2000 (USA)

References

1. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
2. "Ultratop.be – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
3. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9737." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
4. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17 no. 6. February 5, 2000. p. 5. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
5. "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (4.2– 10.2 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 4, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – U Know What's Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
7. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donell Jones" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
9. "Charts.nz – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
11. "Swedishcharts.com – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
12. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
13. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
14. "Donell Jones Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
15. "Donell Jones Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
16. "Donell Jones Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
17. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Year End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
18. "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
19. "British single certifications – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type U Know What's Up in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
20. "American single certifications – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics