Jump to content

'03 Bonnie & Clyde

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jivesh boodhun (talk | contribs) at 04:50, 29 February 2012 (fixed dashes using a script). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde"
Song

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" is a song recorded by American rapper Jay-Z that features American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It was composed by Shawn Carter, Kanye West, Prince, Tupac Shakur, D. Harper, R. Rous and Tyrone Wrice for the Jay-Z's seventh studio album The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002). The song was released as the album's lead single on October 10, 2002. An East Coast hip hop and R&B song, "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" sampled its beat from American rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 song "Me and My Girlfriend", and was inspired by the crime film Bonnie and Clyde. The instrumentation is based on programmed drums, bass instruments, and a flamenco guitar.

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was generally received with favorable reviews by music critics, who complimented the combination of Jay-Z's and Knowles' musical styles, their collaboration and the song's production. The single reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Jay-Z's second top 10 single and Knowles' first as a solo artist. It attained a high point of number two in the United Kingdom and peaked in the top 20 in other European territories. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

The accompanying music video was directed by Chris Robinson, and features Jay-Z and Knowles playing a modern-day version of the 1920s bank robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. It was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" spawned a feud with American recording artist Toni Braxton, who had also sampled "Me and My Girlfriend" in her 2002 song "Me & My Boyfriend". She accused West and Jay-Z of stealing the idea of using the song as a sample. The two men denied the accusation, and Jay-Z added that he would have arranged a duet with Braxton if he had known that they were both going to sample the same Tupac song.

Production and release

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" marked the first collaboration between rapper Jay-Z and R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles.[1][2] While listening to Shakur's The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, producer Kanye West suggested that American rapper Tupac Shakur's song "Me and My Girlfriend" would make a good sample to use on Jay-Z's duet with Knowles.[3] West told MTV News that Jay-Z had asked him on the telephone for a duet for him and Knowles: "We got this joint, it has to be the best beat you ever made."[3] He continued:

So I went home and called my dog E Base, who plays a lot of instruments up at Baseline [studio] for me and [producer] Just Blaze. [E] came through. I programmed the drums in 10 minutes, and then he played all the different parts. This version is all live bass, live guitars, [live] chords on it. I brought it to Hov that night, he heard it, he thought of the video treatment before he thought of the rap. He just knew it was gonna be the one.[3]

Tensions arose during the conception of "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" over the sampling of "Me and My Girlfriend.[4] Senior Vice President of A&R Tina Davis commented on the issue, "We only had one day to clear the [Tupac Shakur] sample [from 'Me and my Girlfriend'] that was used on ''03 Bonnie and Clyde' last year with Jay-Z and Beyoncé [Knowles]. We were back and forth with Afeni Shakur all day until we got the clearance. And then it's a hit."[4]

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was released on October 10, 2002, as the lead single from Jay-Z's album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse.[5] Knowles later included the song as a bonus track on international editions of her 2003 debut solo album Dangerously in Love,[6] and on her 2009 live album I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas.[6] In 2003, Now That's What I Call Music! included "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" as the opening track of the 12th volume of the US release and the fifteenth track of the 54th volume of the UK release.[6] The song's release was the first indication of Jay-Z's and Knowles' romantic status, spawning rumors about a burgeoning relationship.[7] Their relationship was not made public until Jay-Z featured on Knowles' song's "Crazy In Love" (2003) and "Déjà Vu" (2006).[1] It was later announced that they had been dating since recording "'03 Bonnie & Clyde".[8] The latter's release also marked the debut of the solo career of Knowles, leaving Destiny's Child on hiatus.[2]

Composition

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde"
A 20-second sample of "'03 Bonnie & Clyde", which features Jay-Z rapping over the instrumental that samples Tupac's "Me And My Girlfriend". It consists of programmed drums, bass instruments, and chords supplied by a flamenco guitar.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" features drums and live instrumentation such as bass instruments and guitar chords.[3] It also consists of a beat sampled from "Me and My Girlfriend".[5] The song was inspired by the 1967 American crime film Bonnie and Clyde[9] as Jay-Z and Knowles proclaim themselves as the current version of the criminal duo.[10] Ethan Brown of New York magazine noted that its patina of flamenco guitar was reminiscent of that in Jay-Z's 2001 collaboration with R. Kelly on "Fiesta."[11] Knowles mimics the hook of "Me and My Girlfriend" on the chorus as she sings, "Down to ride to the very end, me and my boyfriend".[5]

Some lyrics sung by Knowles were sampled from "If I Was Your Girlfriend" by American recording artist Prince.[12] On the second verse, Jay-Z references the relationship between Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston, and the American television comedy-drama series Sex and the City as he raps: "She riiides wit' me / The new Bobby and Whitney / Only time we don't speak is during 'Sex and the City' / Put us together, how they gon' stop both of us? / When I'm off track, Mommy is keeping us focused".[5] The verse then continues: "Let's lock this down like it's supposed to be/ The '03 Bonnie and Clyde, Hov and B".[5]

Critical reception

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was received favorably by critics, who commended the use of different samples, and commented on the relationship between Jay-Z and Knowles. Chris Ryan of Spin magazine described "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" as a highlight on The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse, stating that it consists of "a house party in a crib as big as the Georgia Dome."[13] Marc L. Hill of PopMatters viewed it as the "obligatory radio song" of the album.[12] Awarding the song a rating of eight out of ten possible points, Dele Fadele of NME complimented it as "a cool duet" between Jay-Z Knowles.[14] John Robinson of the same publication wrote that as the couple describe their life, it's not all "Lexus and sipping Cris".[15] He added, "A similarly relaxed production makes for a behind-the-diamante-net-curtains classic".[15]

Ethan Brown of New York magazine named "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" as a follow-up to the previous "Bonnie & Clyde Part II" by Jay-Z featuring rapper Foxy Brown.[11] Erik Parker, music editor of Vibe magazine, was divided on the song's sample, writing that it was "tasteless but well-executed", and complimented West's production as "impeccable".[16] Margena A. Christian of Jet magazine praised Jay-Z's and Knowles' collaboration, favoring the former's "dropping lyrics" and the latter's "cooing silky vocals".[17] Chuck Taylor of Billboard magazine wrote that though it was unclear at the time whether the couple were together or not, but they created good music together.[18] Taylor praised the song's ability to showcase what each artist does best: Jay-Z "spitting" verses of praise, and Knowles' sweets coos and hooks.[18] Taylor noted that the sampled acoustic guitar "added spice to the track, setting it up for future success".[18]

Rap-Up credited "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" for giving Knowles a "little street-credit".[19] The staff members of Vibe magazine placed the song at number two on a list of the best Bonnie and Clyde inspired songs.[9] On a list of the 10 Best Jay-Z Songs, Dean Silfenv of AOL placed "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" at number six.[20] Popjustice listed "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" at number 66 on its list of the best singles of 2003.[21] It was nominated for the Best Collaboration at the 2003 BET Awards,[22] but lost to Snoop Dogg's song "Beautiful".[23]

Chart performance

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" reached the top ten on music charts in six European countries.[24] It peaked at number six on the Norway Singles Chart and on the Danish Singles Chart, number eight on the Italian Singles Chart,[24] and topped the Swiss Singles Charts.[25] In Canada, the song peaked at number four and became Jay-Z's highest charting single[26] until it was surpassed by his 2009 Alicia Keys-assisted song "Empire State of Mind", which peaked at number three.[27] In the United Kingdom, "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" peaked at number two,[24] becoming his highest charting single since 1998's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)".[28] It peaked at number four on the New Zealand Singles Chart, becoming his highest charting single in that territory.[24] The song also became Jay-Z's highest charting single in Australia, where it peaked at number two.[24] "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipment of 70,000 copies.[29]

"'03 Bonnie & Clyde" broke into the top five of the US Billboard Hot 100 at number four; it became the highest-charting single that references the famous bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde.[30] The record was previously held by Georgie Fame's 1986 single "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde."[30] Following the performance of "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" on Saturday Night Live (SNL) on November 2, 2002, its radio audience increased by 12%, allowing the song to advance into the top ten of the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, at number seven.[31] This gave Jay-Z his 12th top 10 single, tying him with rapper P. Diddy, who had the same number of top 10 singles on that chart.[31] "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was his first top 10 since his 2001 single "Girls, Girls, Girls".[31] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipment of 500,000 copies.[32]

Music video

Chris Robinson directed the song's accompanying music video and filmed in Mexico, during November 2002.[33] June Ambrose was hired as the personal stylist,[33] and Lance Reddick appears in the video as the main police officer on their tail.[33] Jay-Z and Knowles play a modern-day version of the 1920s bank robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.[34] The video is loosely based on the American 1993 romance crime film True Romance, which stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette as two lovers on the run from cocaine dealers.[34] The choreography used in the clip suggests a relationship beyond screen, as Jay-Z wraps his arm around Knowles while singing his part of the chorus.[35] The video also marked a departure for the "clean-cut Knowles" and created a symbiotic relationship between her and Jay-Z, allowing them to exchange audiences.[35]

As Jay-Z and Knowles share an intimate moment in a phone-booth, a spray-painted mural is displayed, tributing Tupac Shakur.

The music video begins as police officers and Reddick discuss the criminal duo and ways to catch them. As the song begins, Jay-Z is seen driving a gunmetal grey Aston Martin while Knowles sits in the passenger seat.[35] As they drive through the sepia sands of Mexico,[35] clips of the police from the beginning of the video are cut into the scene. As Jay-Z and Knowles pull over to a hotel, they cover the car to avoid notice from the police. As Knowles and Jay-Z count money in the bedroom, the police discover their hiding place and go upstairs only to find that the two have fled the scene in their car. Scenes of Knowles and Jay-Z at a Mexican bar are inter-cut with scenes of an intimate time in a phone-booth; behind the phone booth, spray-painted onto a wall is a tribute to Tupac Shakur. The duo again elude the police who are following one step behind. After Knowles performs her verse in an empty pool, the police form a blockade on the highway in an attempt to catch her and Jay-Z, only to be stumped again as two gas station attendant decoys are found driving the car.[35] The video ends as Knowles and Jay-Z light a bonfire on the beach and drive away in a different car.

Corey Moss of MTV News noted that the end of the video does not reveal how the "real" Bonnie and Clyde met their end.[34] The story continues in the 2004 video for Jay-Z's song "99 Problems".[34] The music video for "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards.[36] In the official top 20 countdown of Jay-Z music videos, MTV UK listed the clip at number 10.[37]

Toni Braxton feud

On October 8, 2003, Toni Braxton and her team released a statement claiming that Jay-Z's song "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" had stolen Braxton's idea to sample the 1996 Tupac Shakur song "Me and My Girlfriend".[3] Braxton sampled Shakur's song on the track "Me & My Boyfriend", included on Braxton's album, More Than a Woman (2002). In a call to a New York radio station, Braxton stated that "Jay-Z and Beyoncé are messing with my money. They're trying to steal my mojo".[3] Braxton said her song was recorded over the summer of 2002, and alleged that Jay-Z only decided to do "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" after she played her version of the song for Def Jam Recordings.[3]

File:Toni Braxton Soul Beach.JPG
Braxton (left) stated "I have kids to feed and this is taking money out of their college funds", due to Jay-Z's sample of "Me and My Girlfriend".[38]

Kanye West responded to Braxton's claim in an interview for MTV News, "I had no idea about Toni Braxton's [song]. She can't act like ain't nobody ever heard 'Me and My Girlfriend' before. People hear the song all the time. I can [understand her complaint] if it [was] an original song."[3] West defended the song's sample, stating that the idea came to him after listening to a friend's Makaveli album one night.[3] Roc-A-Fella Records' Co-CEO responded to Braxton's claims:

Jay is a talented dude. I don't think he would steal anything intentionally. It's an ill coincidence, and things happen for a reason. We'll see what happens behind it... I read it in the paper, and Jay and I were talking about it this morning and it was a little funny. I know he didn't intentionally make the same record she made. I don't think he even heard it. [My] reaction is, 'Sorry, it wasn't intentional.' Jay makes records and puts them out. This [sh--] is music. It's just music. We don't sit around and have a blueprint to [f---] anybody's life up. The music business has been good to us. I'm not getting into any beef or nothing over music.[3]

Speaking for MTV News, Jay-Z responded to Braxton's claims: "I wouldn't want to take it from her. I don't even think like that. My first thought would be, 'Maybe I could call her up, maybe I could get on that record.' The most obvious [explanation] is it's neither one of our records. It's not like you made an original idea. She's not in hip-hop, but it happens in hip-hop often. We go to sample the same thing and my record came out first. I'm sorry. What can I do?"[33] He went on saying that if he had known they were both planning to sample the same Tupac song, he would have arranged a duet with her.[38]

Formats and track listings

Digital EP[39]
  1. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (Radio Edit) – 3:27
  2. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (Explicit) – 3:26
  3. "U Don't Know (Remix) (Jay-Z & M.O.P.) – 4:28
CD single[40]
  1. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (Radio Edit) – 3:28
  2. "U Don't Know (Remix) – 4:27
  3. "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (Instrumental) – 3:27

Credits and personnel

Adapted from the The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse's liner notes.[41]

Charts and certifications

References

  1. ^ a b "Beyoncé Knowles Biography". People. Time Inc. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Chandle, D.L. (April 5, 2011). "Jay-Z And Beyoncé Celebrate Three Years Of Wedded Bliss". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Reid, Shaheem (October 9, 2002). "Jay-Z Camp Refutes Toni Braxton's Tupac-Biting Claims – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Checkoway, Laura. "Overtime". Vibe. InterMedia Partners. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e Reid, Shaheem (October 4, 2002). "Jay-Z, Beyonce Are 'Bonnie & Clyde' On First Blueprint 2 Single – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "'03 Bonnie & Clyde". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  7. ^ "'03 Bonnie & Clyde". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  8. ^ "Wedding Bells for Beyoncé & Jay-Z?". Star. American Media Inc. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Ramirez, Erika. "The Ultimate 90 – Bonnie and Clyde". Vibe. InterMedia Partners. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  10. ^ Ripley, K.D. "Changing the Game". Vibe. InterMedia Partners. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Brown, Ethan (December 23, 2002). "Soul on Nice". New York. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Hill, Marc L. (December 14, 2002). "Jay-Z: Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse". PopMatters. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  13. ^ Ryan, Chris. "Jay-Z, 'The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse' (Roc-a-Fella)". Spin. Spin Media LLC. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  14. ^ Fadele, Dele (2005-09-12). "Jay-Z – Jay-Z : The Blueprint 2 : The Gift & The Curse – Album Reviews". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Robinson, John (January 16, 2003). "Jay-Z feat Beyonce Knowles : 03 Bonnie & Clyde". NME. IPC Media. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  16. ^ Parker, Erik. "Street Legends". Vibe. InterMedia Partners. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  17. ^ Christian, Margena A. "Jay-Z and Beyoncé". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  18. ^ a b c Taylor, Chuck. "Jay-Z Crafts Similar 'Blueprint'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  19. ^ "'03 Bonnie & Clyde". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  20. ^ Silfenv, Dean. "10 Best Jay-Z Songs". AOL Radio. AOL. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  21. ^ "Back shortly". Popjustice. Peter Robinson. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  22. ^ "2003 BET Awards Nominees". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  23. ^ "50 Cent, B2K Top 2003 BET Awards". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé Knowles – '03 Bonnie And Clyde". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  25. ^ "Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) discography". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  26. ^ a b "Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  27. ^ "Week of December 12, 2009: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  28. ^ "Jay-Z discography". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  29. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  30. ^ a b Bronson, Fred (December 14, 2002). "Billboard – Chartbeat for December 21, 2002". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  31. ^ a b c Patel, Minal (November 16, 2002). Between The Bullets- Singles Minded. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  32. ^ a b "Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  33. ^ a b c d Reid, Shaheem; Calloway, Sway (October 14, 2002). "Jay-Z Says He Would Have Liked To Be On Braxton Track". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  34. ^ a b c d Moss, Corey (August 26, 2004). "Jay-Z Has The Guts To Get 'Shot,' Rick Rubin Demands To Look Cool: VMA Lens Recap – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  35. ^ a b c d e Greenburg, Zack O'Malley (March 17, 2011). How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office. Biography & Autobiography. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  36. ^ Brown, Jake. Jay-Z Complete Chart/Singles/Awards History. Amber Books Publishing. p. 237. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  37. ^ "Jay-Z | Official Top 20". MTV UK. MTV Networks. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  38. ^ a b Susman, Gary (October 15, 2002). "Backbiting". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  39. ^ "iTunes Store – Beyoncé & Jay-Z – '03 Bonnie & Clyde – EP". iTunes Store (Australia). Apple Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  40. ^ "03 Bonnie & Clyde: Jay-Z Ft Beyonce Knowles". Amazon.com (UK). Amazon Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  41. ^ The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse (Media notes). Roc-A-Fella Records. 2002. p. 1. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  42. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche". Musicline.de / PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  43. ^ "Discography Beyoncé". Irishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  44. ^ a b c d "'03 Bonnie & Clyde – Jay-Z". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  45. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  46. ^ "ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Urban Singles 2003". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2003 (Flanders)" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  48. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2003 (Wallonia)" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  49. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2003". MegaCharts. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  50. ^ "I singoli più venduti del 2003" (in Italian). Hitparadeitalia.it. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  51. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2003" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  52. ^ "Swiss Year End Charts 2003". Swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  53. ^ "The Hot 100 Singles & Tracks – Year End Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 27, 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  54. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year End Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2003. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  55. ^ "The Billboard Top 40 Tracks Titles – 2003 Year End Charts". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 27, 2003. Retrieved October 25, 2011.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%2703_Bonnie_%26_Clyde&oldid=479420149"