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You Be Illin'

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"You Be Illin' "
Single by Run–D.M.C.
from the album Raising Hell
B-side"Hit It Run"
ReleasedOctober 20, 1986
Recorded1986
GenreHip hop
Length3:26
LabelProfile
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Run–D.M.C. singles chronology
"Walk This Way"
(1986)
"You Be Illin' "
(1986)
"It's Tricky"
(1987)

"You Be Illin' " is the third single released by Run–D.M.C. from their third album, Raising Hell. It was released in 1986 through Profile Records as the follow-up to the rap rock crossover hit, "Walk This Way", and was produced by Run-D.M.C.

Background

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The slang term illing means to "be uncool and unrelaxed", "be acting crazy", "be 'tripping' or 'bugging' ", or "be acting 'wack' ".[1] The song describes some examples of "illing" and chides a fictitious individual for his "illing" behavior. Such examples include a man ordering a Big Mac and french fries at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, calling out "Touchdown!" at a basketball game, repelling a woman at a party with drunken behavior and bad breath, and being oblivious to the fact he is eating dog food for dinner.

Reception

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Cash Box called it "a humorous poke at social faux pas and has the earmarks of becoming a huge novelty hit."[2]

Track listing

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A-side

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  1. "You Be Illin' " – 3:26

B-side

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  1. "Hit It Run" – 3:10

Charts

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The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the Hot Black Singles chart.

Chart (1986-1987) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] 29
Netherlands (Mega Single Tip)[4] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 29
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)[6] 12
US Hot Dance Club Play (Billboard)[7] 44

Cover versions

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References

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  1. ^ "Where Illin' Came from". 10 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. November 1, 1986. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  3. ^ "Run DMC – You Be Illin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  4. ^ Single Tip (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  5. ^ The Billboard Hot 100 – Chart Listing For The Week Of Dec 20 1986 – You Be Illin, Billboard.com
  6. ^ Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Chart Listing For The Week Of Dec 06 1986 – You Be Illin, Billboard.com
  7. ^ Hot Dance Club Play – Chart Listing For The Week Of Dec 27 1986 – You Be Illin, Billboard.com