Down 4 U
"Down 4 U" is the lead single from Murder Inc. Records' compilation album Irv Gotti Presents: [The Inc.], released through Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. The song features rapped verses from Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, and Vita while Ashanti provides the chorus and sung vocals. The song is a remix as well as its music video being the sequel of Ja Rule's 2002 single, "Down Ass Bitch".
"Down 4 U" became a hit on the US Billboard charts in mid-2002, reaching number six on the Hot 100 and number three on the R&B, rap, and rhythmic charts. It also charted in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number four.
Background
The Irv Gotti-produced song interpolates Roger Troutman's 1987 hit "I [Want to Be Your Man]", for which he and his brother Larry Troutman were given writing credits. The associated music video showed the artists performing the song on a beach with cameos by Irv Gotti, Eric Roberts, Clarence Williams III, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston and other members of the Inc.In addition to appearing on Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc., the song also appeared on The Source magazine's compilation The Source Presents: [Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 6] and as a bonus track on Ja Rule's 2002 album, The Last Temptation. The song was performed live by Ja Rule and Ashanti at VH1's 6th Annual Hip Hop Honors that honored Def Jam Recordings.
Music video
Shot in Miami, Florida, the video begins with Eric Roberts and Clarence Williams III as detectives congratulating each other over their success in apprehending a couple as assumed suspects only to realize a case of mistaken identity. Then Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, Vita, and Ashanti perform on a beach, a yacht, and a cabana party at night, with cameos from Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston and Irv Gotti.Track listings
UK CD single- "Down 4 U" – 5:16
- "Down 4 U" – 5:30
- "Down 4 U" – 5:47
- "Down 4 U"
UK cassette single
- "Down 4 U"
- "Down 4 U"
Credits and personnel
Studios
- Recorded at the Crackhouse
- Mixed at Right Track Studios
- Mastered at Sony Music Studios
- Jeffrey Atkins – writing
- Ashanti Douglas – writing
- Tiffany Lane – writing
- LaVita Raynor – writing
- Larry Troutman – writing
- Roger Troutman – writing
- Irv Gotti – writing, production
- 7 Aurelius – writing, production
- Milwaukee Buck – recording, mixing
- Terry "Murda Mac" Herbert – recording assistance
- Naweed "Dirty" Ahmed – mastering engineer
Charts