Format CD single Length 4:25 | Genre R&B
electro Label Virgin | |
Released April 4, 2005 (2005-04-04) Recorded 2003; Mirror Image Recorders
(New York City, New York) | ||
"In Public" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kelis, featuring American rapper Nas. It was released on April 4, 2005 as the fourth and final single from Kelis' third studio album, Tasty (2003). The song was written by Rockwilder and Kelis, with former also producing the track.
Contents
Like previous singles "Trick Me" and "Millionaire", "In Public" was not released in Kelis' native United States. Although no music video was filmed for the song, it managed to reach number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. The track was originally due to be released as a double A-side single with the track "Glow", although this did not happen and a reason for the change has never been given.
Critical reception
"In Public" was met with mixed reviews from music critics. Adam Webb of Yahoo! Music cited the song as one of Tasty's highlights, stating that it "espouses the delights of al fresco sex over a clinical electro beat and features a filthy rap courtesy of new husband Nas. Suffice to say it leaves Beyonce and Jay-Z sounding like Mary Whitehouse and Cliff Richard." Conversely, Andy Kellman of AllMusic viewed the track as one of the album's "miscues thwarting perfection" and advised listeners to skip past it.
The Guardian's Dorian Lynskey described the song as "an eyebrow-raisingly explicit duet." The Independent opined, "For his part, Nas appears rather more flustered than he ever did in his accounts of life as a dope-dealing streetwise hustler." Pitchfork Media reviewer Scott Plagenhoef felt that the song is "possibly the low-point of what is often a transparent Beyoncé-aping full-length (starting with the cover art, which bares a striking resemblance to that of the "Crazy in Love" single)." Ernest Hardy of Rolling Stone commented that on "In Public", Kelis sounds like "Donna Summer with an action plan ('I'll make your toes curl up and make your body scream/Come take a walk with me')."
Commercial performance
"In Public" debuted at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart for the week ending April 16, 2005, ending Kelis' string of UK top-five hits. In Ireland, the single debuted and peaked at number 22 on the Irish Singles Chart on the issue dated April 7, 2005. It also reached number 54 on the European Hot 100 Singles chart on April 23, 2005.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tasty.
- "In Public" (Radio Edit) - 3:22
- "Trick Me" – 3:26