Stepped on My J'z

"Stepped on My J'z"
Song

"Stepped on My J'z" is a song by American rapper Nelly, featuring American singer Ciara and rapper Jermaine Dupri. It is recorded for Nelly's fifth studio album, Brass Knuckles. The track is produced by Jermaine Dupri, and was released as the third single from the album, but the music video was released before. This is the second time Ciara has worked with Jermaine Dupri, the first time working on the single "Like You" with Bow Wow.

Song information

The song was originally the official second single, was changed to the third single due to the single "Body on Me" charting too early so the label changed its mind at the very last minute, but at the BET Awards 2008, Ashanti announced that instead of them collaborating with the same single, she went her way with a different single for her album, and Nelly finally decided to make "J'z" the official second single once again. It was also said to have been a much better decision because this single would lend more of a hand in promoting more album sales, being that the single was more radio-friendly and had more chart-topping potential.

The song was performed on the BET Awards '08 by Nelly, Ciara and Jermaine.

Music video

File:Nelly Ciara and Jermaine in Music Video.jpg

Nelly, Ciara and Jermaine Dupri in the music video.

The music video for "Stepped on My J'z" was filmed in the middle of May 2008 and directed by Benny Boom. It then premiered on the show Access Granted on June 11 on BET. The video also peaked at #1 on BET's 106 & Park.

The music video starts off with young comedian/actor Lil' JJ, actor/singer Maestro Harrell, and another friend skipping school and returning with newly bought pairs of Jordans. Nelly starts his first verse seated atop a sports car with a video girl behind, both wearing Jordans. It then cuts over to the scene where some guy with a careless attitude walking past with a bike steps on Nelly's freshly bought Jordans. Nelly then immediately confronts the man, with his homeboys co-signing behind him, in a scene reminiscent to that of a cut from the popular Spike Lee film, 'Do the Right Thing'. The video then cuts to Jermaine Dupri doing his verse in his "personal shoe garage" dancing in front of a mirror and trying on different pairs of Jordans. It then quickly cuts to a black & white scene with Dupri atop a basketball goal imitating a popular commercial in which Michael Jordan continuously attempts to make free throws as Spike Lee blocks each and every shot, with Nelly portraying Michael in this scene. The video then cuts to Ciara and two other dancers pulling up to a basketball park in a blue candy-painted dunk. Ciara and her dancers then cut to a sexy choreographed dance scene (which was made up literally two hours before the video was shot) as she sings her verse and shows off her colored "POW" brass knuckle rings and her pair of exclusive Jordans with a Chanel pocket purse attached to her left shoe. After her verse, Ciara dances to the words of Nelly's verse immediately following hers, throwing up the numbered Jordan signs as Nelly raps them. The video finally cuts to a collaborative scene with Nelly, Ciara, and Dupri on a basketball court with spectators cheering and dancing on the sidelines. The video ends this way with the three performing a choreographed "J's" step, dancing around, and interacting with the fans.

Avery Storm makes a cameo appearance in this video.

Chart performance

On July 8, 2008, the song entered the iTunes Top 100 Songs list, now currently peaking at #45.

Chart (2008)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	90
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	104
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs	50
U.S. Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles	4