1st of tha Month

"1st of tha Month" is the first single by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony from their second studio album, E. 1999 Eternal (1995). The song peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their first top-20 single, and later was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1996. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies.

"1st of tha Month"
Single by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
from the album E. 1999 Eternal
B-side	"Die Die Die"
Released	August 11, 1995 (1995-08-11)
Genre	Hip hop^[1] R&B^[1]
Length	4:52
Label	Ruthless Relativity
Songwriter(s)	Bryon McCane DJ U-Neek Michael Powell Wish Bone Layzie Bone Krayzie Bone
Producer(s)	DJ U-Neek
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony singles chronology
"The Points" (1995) "1st of tha Month" (1995) "East 1999" (1995)
Music video
"1st of tha Month" on YouTube

Background

The title is a reference to when welfare checks are paid out. There are several remixes of the song, including one by DJ Premier.

Track listing

1. "1st of tha Month" (radio edit)
2. "1st of tha Month" (radio edit)
3. "1st of tha Month" (album version)
4. "1st of tha Month" (instrumental)
5. "1st of tha Month" (a cappella)
6. "Die Die Die" (album version)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1995–1996) Peak position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[2] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[3] 46 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[4] 7 Scotland (OCC)^[5] 37 UK Singles (OCC)^[6] 15 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[7] 3 US Billboard Hot 100^[8] 14 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)^[9] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[10] 12 US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[11] 10

Year-end charts Chart (1995) Position New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[12] 36 US Billboard Hot 100^[13] 89 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[14] 76

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[15]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	August 11, 1995	12-inch vinyl CD cassette	Ruthless Relativity	^[15]
United Kingdom	October 23, 1995		Epic Ruthless	^[16]

In popular culture

• Chris Rock references the song in his 1997 album Roll With the New on his "Niggas vs. Black People" routine, calling the song a "welfare carol".
• The track is also featured at the beginning of Girl Talk's "Steady Shock" on his mashup-style album "All Day."
• American rapper the Game sampled the song for his song "Celebration".
• The song is featured in the re-release version of the video game Grand Theft Auto V as part of the West Coast Classics radio station.
• American rapper Playboi Carti interpolated the song on his track, "Sky", from his sophomore album Whole Lotta Red.^[17] Specifically on these lines, "Wake up (Wake up, wake up, woah); It's the first of the month (Slatt, slatt, slatt, slatt)".^[18]

References

1. Molanphy, Chris (June 21, 2021). "Say My Name, Say My Name Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
2. "Tipparade-lijst van week 46,1996". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
3. "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – 1st of tha Month" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
4. "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – 1st of tha Month". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
5. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
7. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
8. "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
9. "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
10. "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
11. "Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
12. "End of Year Charts 1995". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
13. . Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
14. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
15. "American single certifications – Bone Thugs 'N Harmony – 1st of tha Month". Recording Industry Association of America.
16. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 21, 1995. p. 35.
17. "Playboi Carti's 'Sky' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
18. Playboi Carti – Sky, retrieved March 11, 2021