Recorded 1997 Length 4:26 | Genre Hip hop, R&B Label Interscope | |
Released June 9, 1998 (1998-06-09) Format CD single, cassette single | ||
"Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" is a song by American rapper Pras, featuring rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard and R&B singer Mýa. It was released on June 9, 1998. The track samples Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 single "Islands in the Stream" and was produced by Wyclef Jean and Jerry 'Wonda" Duplessis for Pras' debut solo studio album, Ghetto Supastar. It was also featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture Bulworth. "Weird Al" Yankovic also included the song in his polka medley "Polka Power!" from his 1999 album Running with Scissors.
Contents
Background
The song was written by Prakazrel Michel, Wyclef Jean, Russell Jones, Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Maurice Gibb. The song was released on June 6, 1998 in the United States. The single was a commercial success; it peaked at number fifteen for 5 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs. The single was certified platinum in the United States by Recording Industry Association of America. "Ghetto Supastar" was a critical and commercial success worldwide, peaking at number two in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Australia, number four in Spain, number nine in Canada, as well as topping the charts in eight countries. In 1999, the song received a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 41st Grammy Awards. There was a non-album remix version of the song that was performed live many times with Canibus.
According to Pras, the song was originally to be a collaboration between himself and Mya. Ol' Dirty Bastard was in the same building, recording with Sunz of Man and mistakenly burst into the studio where Pras and Mya were setting up, leading Pras to invite him to be a part of the song.
Music video
Francis Lawrence directed the video, which features actress Halle Berry and actors Warren Beatty, Oliver Platt, and Joshua Malina. In a play on the theme of the film, which is a prominent white politician acting like a Black American, Bulworth in the music video actually begins to stretch his mouth, pulling his face off to show it's really a mask, and revealing himself to be Pras, who is really the first African-American U.S. president in disguise. Shortly after Pras gets pushed in an elevator, he takes off his suit and performs. Wyclef Jean also appears on the set playing the bass guitar riff at the end of the song. It was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Video from a Film. Another three nominations on the 1998 Billboard Video Music Awards for Best New Artist Clip (Pop), Best New Artist Clip (Rap), and Best New Artist Clip (R&B). It won an 8th Annual MVPA Award in 1999.
Bee Gees' recorded version
The Bee Gees recorded a version of "Islands in the Stream" with the chorus of "Ghetto Supastar" replacing the final verse for their retrospective 2001 compilation Their Greatest Hits: The Record. It also appeared on their 2004 Number Ones and on the 2010 Mythology box set.
Track listing
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Acapella) - 4:08
- "Don't Be Afraid" (performed by Mýa) - 4:48
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
- "Don't Be Afraid" (performed by Mýa) - 4:48
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Main Version) - 4:26
- "Ghetto Supastar" (TV Mix) - 4:26
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Instrumental) - 4:26
- "Ghetto Supastar" (Acapella) - 4:08