Get Busy


"Get Busy" is a song by Jamaican dancehall singer Sean Paul, from his album Dutty Rock. The song was one of the many hits from the jumpy handclap riddim known as the Diwali Riddim, produced by then-newcomer Steven Marsden, and was the only song that never made the "Diwali" rhythm album on Greensleeves Records as it was more than likely a late entry.
Paul described it as "mainly a party song. It's not all about smoking weed". Originally released as a 7-inch single in 1999, "Get Busy" was released internationally in 2003 and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks that May. It also reached number one in Italy and the Netherlands, becoming a top-10 hit in an additional 11 countries. On 10 May 2003, the song was performed on Saturday Night Live.

Composition

"Get Busy" is written in the key of F minor in common time with a tempo of 100 beats per minute. The song follows a chord progression of Fm−A–G–G.

Remix

The official remix, "Get Busy ", features Fatman Scoop and the Crooklyn Clan, the remix uses the instrumental of Paul's previous single, "Gimme the Light", on the near end of the song.
In 2024, an official remix was released by Odd Mob, titled "Get Busy ". The remix was certified Gold by Australian Recording Industry Association in 2025.

Music video

The video for "Get Busy" was shot in Woodbridge, Ontario, and released in February 2003. The video was also nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards for Best Dance Video and Best New Artist in 2003. The video shows people dancing to the song at a basement house party, with some partygoers banging on duct pipes until the homeowner comes down to warn them to stop the banging. At the end of the video Paul's brother Jason introduces a song, noting it as a brand new single, and Paul then sings part of "Like Glue". Shortly into the second song, renewed banging on the pipes leads the homeowner to come back down to the basement and declare the party over. Kardinal Offishall makes a cameo appearance in the video.

Track listings

US 12-inch single
UK CD single
  1. "Get Busy" – 3:31
  2. "Get Busy" – 3:20
  3. "Get Busy" – 3:43
  4. "Get Busy" – 4:27
UK 12-inch single
European CD single
  1. "Get Busy" – 3:32
  2. "Get Busy" – 3:20
German 12-inch single
Australian CD single
  1. "Get Busy"
  2. "Get Busy"
  3. "Gimme the Light"
  4. "Gimme the Light"

Personnel

In popular culture

The song was used in the DANCE! Online online game, and in the game Dance Dance Revolution Extreme 2. The song's remix was played in the club scene of the 2003 film Grind. The song also briefly appeared in the season two episode of The Wire, Hot Shots. The song was used in DJ Hero 2. The song was featured in a scene from the 2004 film Chasing Liberty. An instrumental version of the song appeared on the 11th episode of the season 2 of The Office. The song was also played in a dance scene in the film Baby Mama. The song also featured in a scene in the season two episode of Bad Education.