Neha Patil (Editor)

(Always Be My) Sunshine

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Released
  
September 16, 1997

Recorded
  
1996

Label
  
Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam

Format
  
CD

Length
  
4:43

Genre
  
East coast hip hop, R&B

"(Always Be My) Sunshine" is a hip hop song by American rapper Jay Z with guest vocals from fellow femcee Foxy Brown and R&B singer-songwriter Babyface who performs the song's chorus. It serves as the second single from his second album In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997). The track features production by Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool. Vanderpool samples MC Lyte's "Cha Cha Cha", Alexander O'Neal's "Sunshine", Kraftwerk's "Man Machine" and The Fearless Four's "Rockin' It" for the track's beat. In addition, George Fonenette plays keyboards on this song. The song's lyrics helped indicate Jay-Z's change from his Mafioso rap style to a more commercial "shiny suit" style. Steve Juon of RapReviews.com supports the song claiming that it is a less gangsta version of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Me & My Bitch", a well-received track. Jay-Z cites this song as "what killed the album."

Contents

Music Video

The music video was directed by Hype Williams. Jay-Z is featured in the video rapping in a room resembling a Rubik's Cube & having a carnival theme to it with Foxy Brown rapping alongside of him. Jay-Z & co-founder of Roc-A-Fella, Damon Dash later regretted doing the video citing that the video wasn't their style.

CD

  1. "Sunshine (Radio Edit)" (3:15)
  2. "Sunshine (Album Version)" (4:11)
  3. "Sunshine (Clean Version)" (4:12)
  4. "Sunshine (TV track)" (4:12)
  5. "Sunshine (Acappella)" (3:49)

A-side

  1. "Sunshine (Album Version)"
  2. "Sunshine (TV Track)"
  3. "Sunshine (Radio Edit)"

B-side

  1. "Sunshine (Clean Version)"
  2. "Sunshine (Instrumental)"
  3. "Sunshine (Acappella)"

References

(Always Be My) Sunshine Wikipedia
(Text) CC BY-SA