"Smack That" is the first single from Akon's second album, Konvicted, and features Eminem. The single debuted at number ninety five on the Billboard Hot 100 on September 28, 2006. The song set a record in its second week, jumping eighty eight positions to number seven. The single eventually peaked at number two on the chart for a period of five consecutive weeks (blocked from #1 by Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" single). The song topped the charts in the United Kingdom, becoming Akon's second chart-topping single in Britain, after "Lonely", and Eminem's seventh. The single peaked at number two in Australia.[1] "Smack That" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Justin Timberlake and T.I.'s "My Love". It was also nominated for the "Most Earthshattering Collaboration" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to "Beautiful Liar" by Beyoncé featuring Shakira. This song was also #69 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007,[2] despite the fact it was released in 2006. The song has sold more than 3 million copies in North America alone.[3]
Critical reception
Allmusic highlighted the song.[4] DJ Booth wrote that this song displays Akon’s skill during collaboration, "but make no mistake: the album is all AKON."[5]Entertainment Weekly was positive by calling it "the liveliest Eminem cameo in ages."[6] Robert Christgau highlighted the song.[7]Spin magazine called this song a "played-out G-funk braggadocio and bedroom boasting" and he added this song to Hear This list.[8] Sputnik Music was negative: "Smack That has to be the worst song on Konvicted. I instantly grew hatred toward it when pop radio gobbled it up. Degrading lyrics and a half-assed appearance from Eminem makes good for a single, but lacks any real substance."[9]
Music video
The song's music video is a short-clip remake of the movie 48 Hrs. Directed by Benny Boom, it presents Akon as a convict in prison who is let out of jail by a police officer, Jack Cates (played by Eric Roberts), who is looking for a witness. Akon is let out for 24 hours to do anything he pleases as long as he can find the female witness. He is given a photo of her and follows a lead he was given that the witness is in a nightclub. While in the club, Akon meets up with fellow rapper and his friend Eminem. Akon finds the female witness and escapes from the nightclub without Jack Cates. This is the first video that features Eminem with his then-new tattoo 'PROOF' on his left arm, which is dedicated to his friend, DeShaun Dupree Holton who was murdered after he was shot by a bouncer in an after hours spot. The video also features a cameo from Fat Joe, Lil Fizz of B2K, Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Nas and Kendra Wilkinson (of E!'s The Girls Next Door).
Remixes
A remix of "Smack That" featuring Stat Quo and Bobby Creekwater is currently available on Eminem Presents: The Re-Up. The remix features Akon's unused lyrics and unused beat & a preview of "Public Enemy #1" by Eminem, which is the next track after the song. An alternative version of "Smack That" is the NBA version, also sung by Akon. It changes the lyrics to relate basketball. In the UK an edited version of "Smack That" was featured on Now That's What I Call Music! 66. This version has no intro and shortens the choruses. It clocks out at 2:44 opposed to 3:32 the album version.
