"Let's Get Down" is a song by American rapper Bow Wow, released on June 24, 2003 as the first single off his third album Unleashed (2003). The song was written by Shad Moss, Phalon Alexander, Rahman Griffin and a then-unknown T.I. It was produced by Jazze Pha and features rapper Birdman under his former alias "Baby". It's the first song to be released by Bow Wow without the "Lil'" moniker in his name after making his film debut in 2002's Like Mike and releasing his cover of "Basketball" for the film's soundtrack. Bow Wow said that following the name change, he wanted to do the same with his music by contributing more into the songwriting process of the album and release a single that matched his new image.
"Let's Get Down" garnered a positive reception from critics who credited Bow Wow for displaying some maturity in his music. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, his highest charting single on that chart until 2005's "Like You" and "Let Me Hold You". It also peaked at numbers 6, 8 and 12 on the Hot Rap Songs, Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively. A music video by Bryan Barber was made to promote the single that features Bow Wow getting his driver's license.
In 2002, after finishing production on his debut film Like Mike and releasing his cover of "Basketball" for the film's soundtrack, In 2003, Bow Wow dropped the "Lil'" moniker from his name completely. In an interview with MTV, he said he wanted to distinguish himself from the other rappers who had the word in their moniker:
"All these Lil' rappers, I’m just kind of getting real irritated by it. I said, 'You know what? Drop the Lil'. Forget it. I'm Bow Wow.' Besides, I'm growing up, I'm not little anymore. [I just decided] two weeks ago. I really got irritable. It's all these Lil' cats, forget it. I’m Bow Wow now. Everything is just 'Bow Wow,' no 'Lil' Bow Wow.'"[1]
"Let's Get Down" was produced by Jazze Pha, who previously did production for other rappers like Erick Sermon and Ludacris. The song was written by Shad Moss, Phalon Alexander, Rahman Griffin and Clifford Harris (aka then-unknown T.I.). Donnie Kwak of Vibe described the song as a clone of Baby's "Do That...," with "youthful flirting replacing sleazy come-ons."[2] In an interview with Billboard, he commented on wanting to make an impact after changing his name and wanting to work with rapper Baby, saying that he was looking for a single that would grab people's attention and that Baby's inclusion almost didn't happen but then changed his mind to work with him on the song.[3]
In a September 2003 interview with website Whudat, T.I. talked about his contribution to Bow Wow's third album Unleashed and the song itself:
"Yeah this time around I wrote some songs for him. Even on the single, 'Let's Get Down'. I wrote the third verse and the hook. Usually how we did it was [Jazze Pha] he'll write one verse, Bow Wow would write one verse, his homeboy Rocka would write one, and I'd write a verse and come up with the hook."[4]
In a 2009 interview with HipHopDX, Bow Wow commented on how getting T.I. to ghostwrite for him on his third album didn't tarnish his credibility as a rapper, saying that he learned about the songwriting process by contributing about 85 percent to the album while T.I. wrote a full song and a couple verses to a few tracks.[5]
Critical receptionEdit
"Let's Get Down" received a positive reception from music critics. Rashaun Hall of Billboard praised Jazze Pha's production and Bow Wow for maturing as an MC. He added that, "[w]hile Bow Wow's more mature stance suits him well, it will be interesting to see how his younger fans and mainstream R&B radio react to the teenage MC's new image. Either way, Bow Wow has proven that his act is no child's play."[6] Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews was also positive towards the song saying, "Annoying bird calls aside, it is a catchy song about Bow Wow trying to catch a little punani."[7]
In 2004, it won an award in the R&B/Hip-Hop category at the SESAC 2004 New York Music Awards, along with the second single "My Baby".[8] In 2013, Complex added the song in its list of nineteen great songs made by teenage rappers in the last 19 years. Complex editor Kyle Kramer praised Bow Wow's transition from child to teen rapper through his boasting ability, saying "With a T.I.-esque flow, paired with a killer, clattering faux-Neptunes beat courtesy of Jazze Pha, the kid, the self-proclaimed “Mr. 106 and Park,” was unstoppable."[9]
Chart performanceEdit
"Let's Get Down" gave Bow Wow his third top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Let's Get Down" debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of July 5, 2003.[10] Six weeks later, it entered the top 40 at number 30 for the week of August 16, 2003.[11] It peaked at number 14 for the week of September 20, 2003 and was present on the chart for a total of seventeen weeks.[12] This gave Bow Wow his third top 20 hit and highest charting single on that chart until 2005's "Like You" and "Let Me Hold You". The song was also Birdman's fourth top 40 hit on that chart (his third as a featured artist). It peaked at number 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[13] number 6 on the Hot Rap Songs chart[14] and number 8 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart.[15] The song charted in Australia, debuting at number 50 for the week of October 27, 2003 before leaving the next week.[12]
Music videoEdit
Directed by Bryan Barber,[16] the video takes place at the AtlantaDMV where Bow Wow is getting ready for his driver's test.[17] Birdman plays his driving instructor and gives him tasks that need to be completed.[18] Intercut are scenes of Bow Wow attracting the attention of various women. It ends with Bow Wow getting his picture taken for his driver's license. Jazze Pha makes a cameo appearance. The video made its premiere on June 30, 2003.[18]
In an interview with MTV, Bow Wow explained how the video relates getting a driver's license to being able to attract women: "The concept of the video is that I go to the DMV to get my license. I get in the car and Baby’s my instructor. We’re in Atlanta taking a tour [and] Baby is like, ‘Bow, pull over. Tell this to shorty.’ He tests me on my speaking game with the ladies. A normal DMV person would be testing you on your right turn, [saying] ‘check your mirrors.’ Me, I was tested on did I spit game to the girl correctly."[17]
^"T.I. - interview". whudat.com. September 2003. from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
^Arnold, Paul W. (January 19, 2009). . HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
^Billboard (July 12, 2003). "Billboard Picks - Singles: Essentials". Billboard. Vol. 115. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 9, 2003). "Bow Wow :: Unleashed :: Columbia Records". RapReviews. from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
^Billboard (May 15, 2004). "Cox Cops Fourth Straight SESAC Award". Billboard. Vol. 116. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 67. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
^Kramer, Kyle (July 6, 2013). "Nineteen Great Songs Made By Teenage Rappers in the Last 19 Years: Bow Wow f/ Birdman "Let's Get Down" (2003)". Complex. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^Carpenter, Troy (June 26, 2003). "'Idols' Still Rule Billboard's Singles Charts". Billboard. from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^Martens, Todd (August 7, 2003). "Guest appearances Keep Jay-Z On Top". Billboard. from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^ ab"Bow Wow and Baby - Let's Get Down". aCharts.co. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^Billboard (August 23, 2003). "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
^Billboard (September 6, 2003). "Hot Rap Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 115. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
^Billboard (September 13, 2003). "Rhythmic Top 40". Billboard. Vol. 115. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 68. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
^"Bryan Barber". mvdbase.com. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^ abReid, Shaheem (June 5, 2003). "Bow Wow For 'President'?". MTV. from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
^ abReid, Shaheem (May 29, 2003). "Bow Wow To Seek Lessons On Macking, Gliding On 22s In New Clip". MTV. from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
^"Bow Wow - Let's Get Down (CD)". discogs. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^"Bow Wow - Let's Get Down (Vinyl)". discogs. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^"Bow Wow - Follow Me / Let's Get Down (Vinyl)". discogs. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^"Bow Wow - Let's Get Down (CD)". discogs. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^"Let's Get Down - Single by Bow Wow". iTunes (US). Apple. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
^"Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
^"Bow Wow Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
^"Bow Wow Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
^"Bow Wow Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
^"Bow Wow Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
^"Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - 2003". Billboard. from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
October 21, 2023
down, song, down, song, american, rapper, released, june, 2003, first, single, third, album, unleashed, 2003, song, written, shad, moss, phalon, alexander, rahman, griffin, then, unknown, produced, jazze, features, rapper, birdman, under, former, alias, baby, . Let s Get Down is a song by American rapper Bow Wow released on June 24 2003 as the first single off his third album Unleashed 2003 The song was written by Shad Moss Phalon Alexander Rahman Griffin and a then unknown T I It was produced by Jazze Pha and features rapper Birdman under his former alias Baby It s the first song to be released by Bow Wow without the Lil moniker in his name after making his film debut in 2002 s Like Mike and releasing his cover of Basketball for the film s soundtrack Bow Wow said that following the name change he wanted to do the same with his music by contributing more into the songwriting process of the album and release a single that matched his new image Let s Get Down Single by Bow Wow featuring Babyfrom the album UnleashedA side Follow Me ReleasedJune 24 2003 2003 06 24 Recorded2002 03GenreHip hopLength4 21LabelColumbiaSongwriter s Shad Moss Phalon Alexander Rahman Griffin Clifford HarrisProducer s Jazze PhaBow Wow singles chronology Basketball 2002 Let s Get Down 2003 My Baby 2003 Baby singles chronology Baby You Can Do It 2003 Let s Get Down 2003 Get Your Shine On 2004 Music video Let s Get Down on YouTube Let s Get Down garnered a positive reception from critics who credited Bow Wow for displaying some maturity in his music It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 his highest charting single on that chart until 2005 s Like You and Let Me Hold You It also peaked at numbers 6 8 and 12 on the Hot Rap Songs Rhythmic Top 40 and Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs charts respectively A music video by Bryan Barber was made to promote the single that features Bow Wow getting his driver s license Contents 1 Background and development 2 Critical reception 3 Chart performance 4 Music video 5 Formats and track listing 6 Credits and personnel 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 ReferencesBackground and development EditIn 2002 after finishing production on his debut film Like Mike and releasing his cover of Basketball for the film s soundtrack In 2003 Bow Wow dropped the Lil moniker from his name completely In an interview with MTV he said he wanted to distinguish himself from the other rappers who had the word in their moniker All these Lil rappers I m just kind of getting real irritated by it I said You know what Drop the Lil Forget it I m Bow Wow Besides I m growing up I m not little anymore I just decided two weeks ago I really got irritable It s all these Lil cats forget it I m Bow Wow now Everything is just Bow Wow no Lil Bow Wow 1 nbsp T I had a ghostwriting credit on the song Let s Get Down was produced by Jazze Pha who previously did production for other rappers like Erick Sermon and Ludacris The song was written by Shad Moss Phalon Alexander Rahman Griffin and Clifford Harris aka then unknown T I Donnie Kwak of Vibe described the song as a clone of Baby s Do That with youthful flirting replacing sleazy come ons 2 In an interview with Billboard he commented on wanting to make an impact after changing his name and wanting to work with rapper Baby saying that he was looking for a single that would grab people s attention and that Baby s inclusion almost didn t happen but then changed his mind to work with him on the song 3 In a September 2003 interview with website Whudat T I talked about his contribution to Bow Wow s third album Unleashed and the song itself Yeah this time around I wrote some songs for him Even on the single Let s Get Down I wrote the third verse and the hook Usually how we did it was Jazze Pha he ll write one verse Bow Wow would write one verse his homeboy Rocka would write one and I d write a verse and come up with the hook 4 In a 2009 interview with HipHopDX Bow Wow commented on how getting T I to ghostwrite for him on his third album didn t tarnish his credibility as a rapper saying that he learned about the songwriting process by contributing about 85 percent to the album while T I wrote a full song and a couple verses to a few tracks 5 Critical reception Edit Let s Get Down received a positive reception from music critics Rashaun Hall of Billboard praised Jazze Pha s production and Bow Wow for maturing as an MC He added that w hile Bow Wow s more mature stance suits him well it will be interesting to see how his younger fans and mainstream R amp B radio react to the teenage MC s new image Either way Bow Wow has proven that his act is no child s play 6 Steve Flash Juon of RapReviews was also positive towards the song saying Annoying bird calls aside it is a catchy song about Bow Wow trying to catch a little punani 7 In 2004 it won an award in the R amp B Hip Hop category at the SESAC 2004 New York Music Awards along with the second single My Baby 8 In 2013 Complex added the song in its list of nineteen great songs made by teenage rappers in the last 19 years Complex editor Kyle Kramer praised Bow Wow s transition from child to teen rapper through his boasting ability saying With a T I esque flow paired with a killer clattering faux Neptunes beat courtesy of Jazze Pha the kid the self proclaimed Mr 106 and Park was unstoppable 9 Chart performance Edit nbsp Let s Get Down gave Bow Wow his third top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Let s Get Down debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of July 5 2003 10 Six weeks later it entered the top 40 at number 30 for the week of August 16 2003 11 It peaked at number 14 for the week of September 20 2003 and was present on the chart for a total of seventeen weeks 12 This gave Bow Wow his third top 20 hit and highest charting single on that chart until 2005 s Like You and Let Me Hold You The song was also Birdman s fourth top 40 hit on that chart his third as a featured artist It peaked at number 12 on the Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs chart 13 number 6 on the Hot Rap Songs chart 14 and number 8 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart 15 The song charted in Australia debuting at number 50 for the week of October 27 2003 before leaving the next week 12 Music video EditDirected by Bryan Barber 16 the video takes place at the Atlanta DMV where Bow Wow is getting ready for his driver s test 17 Birdman plays his driving instructor and gives him tasks that need to be completed 18 Intercut are scenes of Bow Wow attracting the attention of various women It ends with Bow Wow getting his picture taken for his driver s license Jazze Pha makes a cameo appearance The video made its premiere on June 30 2003 18 In an interview with MTV Bow Wow explained how the video relates getting a driver s license to being able to attract women The concept of the video is that I go to the DMV to get my license I get in the car and Baby s my instructor We re in Atlanta taking a tour and Baby is like Bow pull over Tell this to shorty He tests me on my speaking game with the ladies A normal DMV person would be testing you on your right turn saying check your mirrors Me I was tested on did I spit game to the girl correctly 17 Formats and track listing EditEurope CD 19 Let s Get Down Album Version 4 41US 12 20 Let s Get Down Album 4 21 Let s Get Down Instr 4 20 Take Ya Home Album 3 59 Let s Get Down Acapella 4 15US 12 maxi single 21 Follow Me Album Version 3 53 Follow Me Instrumental 3 52 Follow Me A Capella 3 47 Let s Get Down Album Version 4 29 Let s Get Down Instrumental 4 35 Let s Get Down A Capella 4 30 US CD 22 Let s Get Down Album 4 21 Let s Get Down Instru 4 20US digital download 23 Let s Get Down feat Baby 4 21Credits and personnel EditCredits adapted from the liner notes of Unleashed 24 RecordingRecorded and mixed at PatchWerk Studios Atlanta GAPersonnelJazze Pha producer Jermaine Dupri producer Josh Butler recording engineer Steve Fisher recording engineer assistant mix engineer Cory Williams assistant recording engineer Leslie Brathwaite mix engineer Charles Pettaway guitar Tameka Tiny Cottle background vocals Rahman Rocky Griffin vocal arrangementsCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 2003 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 25 50Australian Urban ARIA 26 14Netherlands Single Top 100 27 97UK Singles OCC 28 93UK Hip Hop R amp B OCC 29 27US Billboard Hot 100 30 14US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 31 12US Hot Rap Songs Billboard 32 6US Rhythmic Billboard 33 8 Year end charts Edit Chart 2003 PositionUS Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 34 61References Edit Reid Shaheem April 4 2002 Bow Wow Drops The Lil Collars Tour Dates MTV Archived from the original on June 19 2020 Retrieved September 20 2014 Kwak Donnie September 2003 Bow Wow Unleashed Vibe Vibe Media 11 9 288 ISSN 1070 4701 Retrieved December 7 2014 Hall Rashaun August 16 2003 Bow Wow Unleashed Billboard Vol 115 Nielsen Business Media Inc p 17 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved September 20 2014 T I interview whudat com September 2003 Archived from the original on July 22 2015 Retrieved December 7 2014 Arnold Paul W January 19 2009 Bow Wow Talks New Album T I Ghostwriting HipHopDX Archived from the original on July 16 2010 Retrieved September 20 2014 Billboard July 12 2003 Billboard Picks Singles Essentials Billboard Vol 115 Nielsen Business Media Inc p 36 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved September 16 2014 Juon Steve Flash September 9 2003 Bow Wow Unleashed Columbia Records RapReviews Archived from the original on July 6 2017 Retrieved March 4 2015 Billboard May 15 2004 Cox Cops Fourth Straight SESAC Award Billboard Vol 116 Nielsen Business Media Inc p 67 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved February 25 2015 Kramer Kyle July 6 2013 Nineteen Great Songs Made By Teenage Rappers in the Last 19 Years Bow Wow f Birdman Let s Get Down 2003 Complex Retrieved September 16 2014 Carpenter Troy June 26 2003 Idols Still Rule Billboard s Singles Charts Billboard Archived from the original on June 7 2015 Retrieved September 16 2014 Martens Todd August 7 2003 Guest appearances Keep Jay Z On Top Billboard Archived from the original on June 9 2015 Retrieved September 16 2014 a b Bow Wow and Baby Let s Get Down aCharts co Retrieved September 16 2014 Billboard August 23 2003 Hot R amp B Hip Hop Singles amp Tracks Billboard Vol 115 Nielsen Business Media Inc p 25 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved December 7 2014 Billboard September 6 2003 Hot Rap Tracks Billboard Vol 115 Nielsen Business Media Inc p 25 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved December 7 2014 Billboard September 13 2003 Rhythmic Top 40 Billboard Vol 115 Nielsen Business Media Inc p 68 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved December 7 2014 Bryan Barber mvdbase com Retrieved September 16 2014 a b Reid Shaheem June 5 2003 Bow Wow For President MTV Archived from the original on March 16 2015 Retrieved December 7 2014 a b Reid Shaheem May 29 2003 Bow Wow To Seek Lessons On Macking Gliding On 22s In New Clip MTV Archived from the original on March 6 2016 Retrieved December 7 2014 Bow Wow Let s Get Down CD discogs Retrieved September 16 2014 Bow Wow Let s Get Down Vinyl discogs Retrieved September 16 2014 Bow Wow Follow Me Let s Get Down Vinyl discogs Retrieved September 16 2014 Bow Wow Let s Get Down CD discogs Retrieved September 16 2014 Let s Get Down Single by Bow Wow iTunes US Apple Retrieved September 16 2014 Unleashed Media notes Columbia Records 2003 CK87103 Bow Wow Let s Get Down ARIA Top 50 Singles Issue 717 ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles National Library of Australia Retrieved April 4 2022 Bow Wow Let s Get Down in Dutch Single Top 100 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved January 27 2021 Official Hip Hop and R amp B Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Retrieved January 27 2021 Bow Wow Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved September 14 2014 Bow Wow Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Retrieved September 14 2014 Bow Wow Chart History Hot Rap Songs Billboard Retrieved September 14 2014 Bow Wow Chart History Rhythmic Billboard Retrieved December 7 2014 Year End Charts R amp B Hip Hop Songs 2003 Billboard Archived from the original on March 30 2019 Retrieved February 16 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Let 27s Get Down Bow Wow song amp oldid 1154878674, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
