Around the Way Girl
"Around the Way Girl" is the third single by American rapper LL Cool J from his fourth album, Mama Said Knock You Out. The song later appeared on LL Cool J's 1996 greatest hits album, All World: Greatest Hits. "Around the Way Girl" peaked at #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming LL Cool J's first top 10 single. It was also a hit on the R&B and dance music charts, where it peaked at #5 and #7, respectively. The Recording [Industry Association of America] certified "Around the Way Girl" Gold on January 15, 1991, for sales of over 500,000 copies.
The song prominently samples Mary Jane Girls' 1983 breakout hit song, "All [Night Long (Mary Jane Girls song)|All Night Long]," along with Keni Burke's 1982 hit "Risin' to the Top", from which "All Night Long" had originally taken its bassline. The "All Night Long" sample is heard during the song's intro and at the end of the choruses, while the melody from "Risin' to the Top" is sampled during the verses.
Music video
The music video for "Around the Way Girl" was filmed in what used to be a warehouse on Borden Avenue in Long Island City, Queens. The clip was directed by Paris Barclay. Big Lez appears.Reception
of NME said the song "is almost as heavy as, say, MC Hammer, and expresses opinions of womankind which are no more and no less interesting than LL's previous spittle-flecked utterances.Single track listing
A-side
- "Around The Way Girl" - 4:05
- "Around The Way Girl" - 4:32
B-side
- "Around The Way Girl" - 3:51
- "Murdergram" - 3:52
Official versions
- "Around the Way Girl" / - 4:05
- "Around the Way Girl" - 3:51
- "Around the Way Girl" - 4:32
Charts