Top of the World (Brandy song)

"Top of the World" is a song by American singer Brandy Norwood, from her second studio album, Never Say Never (1998). The song was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Isaac Phillips, Nycolia "Tye-V" Turman, and Mason Betha, with Darkchild and Norwood producing and Mase having featured vocals. Released as the album's second international single in 1998, the track peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 20 in Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand.

"Top of the World"
Single by Brandy featuring Mase
from the album Never Say Never
Released	July 7, 1998 (1998-07-07)
Genre	R&B pop funk
Length	4:41
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III Rodney Jerkins Isaac Phillips Nycolia Turman Mason Betha
Producer(s)	Rodney Jerkins Brandy
Brandy singles chronology
"The Boy Is Mine" (1998) "Top of the World" (1998) "Have You Ever?" (1998)
Mase singles chronology
"Lookin' at Me" (1998) "Top of the World" (1998) "Take Me There" (1998)

The music video for "Top of the World" was directed by Paul Hunter in June 1998 and became a huge success on the music video channels, BET and MTV. In the video, Norwood floats in the air where she does somersaults and other gymnastic movements. She performed the song live at the MTV Movie Awards and the remix version with Big Pun and Fat Joe at the Soul Train Awards which aired in 1999. Norwood performed the song on her first world tour Never Say Never World Tour (1998-1999), the TV special Brandy in Concert: A Special for the Holidays (1999) and on her second world tour, Human World Tour (2009) where it was part of a "1990s medley".

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard felt that the song was a fitting follow up to "The Boy is Mine" and that Brandy now "proves that she has the chops to take on the most seasoned champs of R&B and pop".^[1] He also praised the lyrics and production, saying "the smart lyrics are couched in chunky funk beats and smooth guitar/keyboard interplay.^[1] Music Week described the song as "another slick piece of Rodney Jerkins (Boy Is Mine) R&B" and felt that "the best bits comes from mase".^[2]

Chart performance

"Top of the World" topped the UK R&B Singles Chart for six weeks and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart. The song became the second consecutive European success for Brandy and peaked at number 20 on the Eurochart Hot 100. "Top of the World" also charted at number 11 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and 21 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. In the United States, it was a modest hit on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 44 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, number 19 on the Hot R&B Singles chart, and number 10 on the Rhythmic chart.

Music video

A music video for "Top of the World" was directed by Paul Hunter and filmed in June 1998.^[3] A surrealistic clip built on digital effects, it features Norwood floating in the air, flipping and somersaulting above various objects such as telephone poles and vehicles—as passersby stopped to stare—and balancing vertically and horizontally alongside skyscrapers and other buildings.^[4]

Remix

A remix version with Latin rappers Fat Joe and Big Pun appeared on Pun's 2001 compilation album Endangered Species. The Darkchild-produced song was previously released on the remix EP U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To) - The Remix EP (1999). The remix samples Ahmad's single "Back in the Day."

Samples

On 1 June 2023, Nigerian singer Burna Boy released the single "Sittin' On Top Of The World" featuring Atlanta rapper 21 Savage, which heavily samples "Top of the World".^[5][6][7][8] It earned a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

Track listings

Australian CD single

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Top of the World" (No Rap Edit)	LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III Rodney Jerkins Isaac Phillips Nycolia Turman Mason Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a]	3:32
2.	"Top of the World" (Edit featuring Mase)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a]	4:11
3.	"Top of the World" (LP Version)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a]	4:41
4.	"Top of the World" (Boogiesoul Remix Radio Edit)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a] Boogiemann^[a]	4:16
5.	"The Boy Is Mine" (Radio Edit With Intro; duet with Monica)	Daniels R. Jerkins F. Jerkins Japhe Tejeda Brandy Norwood	Darkchild Dallas Austin Brandy	4:00

UK Part I CD single

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Top of the World" (Edit featuring Mase)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a]	4:11
2.	"Top of the World" (No Rap Edit)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a]	3:32
3.	"Top of the World" (Instrumental)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a]	4:41

Remix single

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Top of the World" (Edit featuring Mase)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a]	4:11
2.	"Top of the World" (Boogiesoul Remix Radio Edit)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha	Darkchild Brandy^[a] Boogiemann^[a]	4:16
3.	"Top of the World" (Part II featuring Fat Joe & Big Pun)	Daniels F. Jerkins R. Jerkins Phillips Turman Betha Ahmad Lewis Christopher Rios Stephan Gordy Joseph Cartagena	Darkchild	4:07

Notes

• ^{^a} denotes additional producer

Sample credits

• "Top of the World (Part II)" samples "Back in the Day" (1994) by Ahmad, written by Ahmad Lewis and Stephan Gordy.

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Never Say Never.^[9]

Mason Betha — vocals, writing LaShawn Daniels — vocal production, recording, writing Brian Gardner — mastering Jean-Marie Horvat — recording Fred Jerkins III — writing Rodney Jerkins — production, instruments, mixing, recording, writing

Brandy Norwood — additional production, vocals, writing Isaac Phillips — recording Rick Sigel — recording Dexter Simmons — mixing Nycolia "Tye-V" Turman — writing Brian Young — assistant engineer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[10] 39 Canada CHR/Top 40 (BDS)^[11] 27 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[12] 22 Canada Dance (RPM)^[13] 1 Canada Urban (RPM)^[14] 1 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)^[11] 21 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[15] 20 France (SNEP)^[16] 39 Germany (Official German Charts)^[17] 42 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[18] 3 Ireland (IRMA)^[19] 18 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[20] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[21] 52 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[22] 11 Scotland (OCC)^[23] 17 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[24] 52 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[25] 42 UK Singles (OCC)^[26] 2 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[27] 1 US Radio Songs (Billboard)^[28] 44 US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)^[29] 4 US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[30] 10

Year-end charts Chart (1998) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[31] 81 Canada Urban (RPM)^[32] 7 UK Singles (OCC)^[33] 107 UK Urban (Music Week)^[34] 23

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[35]	Silver	200,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, release format, and label

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
United States	July 7, 1998	Rhythmic contemporary radio urban contemporary radio	Atlantic	^[36]
Japan	September 5, 1998	CD		^[37]
United Kingdom	September 28, 1998	12-inch vinyl CD cassette		^[38]
Canada	October 27, 1998	CD		^[39]

References

1. Flick, Larry (July 4, 1998). "Reviews & Previews Singles: POP". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 27. p. 21. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
2. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. September 19, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
3. "Mase Duets With Brandy, Forms Record Label". MTV News. June 3, 1998. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
4. Porter, Nina (January 25, 2000). The Brandy Star Profile. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
5. "Burna Boy - Sitting' On Top Of The World". Spotify. June 1, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
6. Hussey, Allison (June 1, 2023). "Burna Boy Shares New Song "Sittin' on Top of the World": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
7. Mamo, Heran (June 1, 2023). "Burna Boy Is 'Sittin' on Top of the World' in New Song & Music Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
8. Helfand, Raphael (June 1, 2023). "Hear Burna Boy's celebratory new song "Sittin On Top Of The World"". Fader. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
9. Never Say Never (Media notes). Brandy Norwood. Atlantic Records. 1998.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. "Brandy – Top of the World". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
11. Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 50. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7054." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
13. "RPM Dance". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. September 28, 1998. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
14. "RPM Urban Top 30". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. September 7, 1998. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
15. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 42. October 17, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
16. "Brandy – Top of the World" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
17. "Brandy – Top of the World" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
18. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. 301 Vikuna 27.11–4.11. 1998)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). November 27, 1998. p. 12. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Top of the World". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
20. "Brandy-Top of the world" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
21. "Brandy – Top of the World" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
22. "Brandy – Top of the World". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
23. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
24. "Brandy – Top of the World". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
25. "Brandy – Top of the World". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
27. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
28. "Brandy Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
29. "Brandy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
30. "Brandy Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
31. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63, no. 12. December 14, 1998. p. 20. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
32. "RPM's Top 50 Urban Tracks of '98". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
33. (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
34. "The Urban Top 40 Of 1998" (PDF). Music Week. January 9, 1999. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
35. "British single certifications – Brandy – Sitting on Top of the World". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
36. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1255. July 3, 1998. p. 48, 54. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
37. "トップ・オブ・ザ・ワールド | ブランディー" [Top of the World | Brandy] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
38. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. September 26, 1998. p. 33. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
39. . Jam!. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved October 1, 2023.