Released May 2, 2002 Recorded 2001 Length 5:18 | Format Vinyl, Cassette, CD Genre Hip hop, R&B Label The Inc. / Def Jam | |
"Down 4 U" is the lead single from The Inc. Records compilation Irv Gotti Presents: The Inc. The song featured rapped verses from Ja Rule, Vita and Charli Baltimore and vocals and a chorus performed by Ashanti. The song is a remix as well as its music video being the sequel of Ja Rule's 2002 single, "Down Ass Bitch".
Background
"Down 4 U" became a huge hit on the Billboard charts during the summer of 2002, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 3 on both the R&B and rap charts. The Irv Gotti-produced song contained a sample from Roger Troutman's 1987 hit, "I Want to Be Your Man" for which he was given writing credits. The song's 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.