Format CD single | Recorded 2006 | |
Released July 17, 2006 (U.S. radio) Writer(s) Pharrell Williams, Christopher Bridges | ||
"Money Maker" is the first single from Ludacris's fifth album Release Therapy. The song was released to the radio on July 17, 2006. The song is Ludacris' take on the 1961 Elmore James blues song Shake Your Moneymaker. It was produced by The Neptunes and features Pharrell. The song was written by Chris Bridges (Ludacris), and Pharrell Williams. The video was released on August 17, 2006. The video premiered on MTV's Making the Video. The single reached number 1 on various charts. It has peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and number 1 on Hot Rap Tracks in the United States. It also became the number 1 single on radio in the United States on October 19, 2006. The music video managed to enter BET's 106 & Park and peak at number 1, where it remained for several days. The single has strong airplay on BET and MTV. It also has airplay on Canada's Muchmusic. The single had a major promotional campaign and huge airplay on radio around the U.S., Canada and other countries around the globe. The song was performed on the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. This is Ludacris's third #1 hit single.
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American R&B singer, Amerie, recorded an answer back (remix) to the single. The song was included on her first Mixtape, Because I Love It Volume 1 (the mixtape that was released to accompany her third studio Because I Love It). The song however did not appear on the final album. "Because I Love It" was released to international markets only.
The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song in 2007.
Reviews
Commercial performance
"Money Maker" debuted at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of August 26, 2006. It moved seventeen spots to number 79 the week of September 2, 2006 and another eighteen spots to number 61 the week after. Two weeks later, it entered the top 40 at number 15 the week of September 23, 2006. It moved thirteen spots to number two the week after with gains in airplay and digital sales, but was kept off the top spot for four weeks by Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack". It reached number one the week of October 28, 2006 and held that spot for two weeks before losing it again to Timberlake with "My Love", remaining on the chart for a total of twenty-five weeks. This gave Ludacris his second number-one hit as lead artist and third overall. This also gave Pharrell his second number-one hit as a featured artist.
It peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week, the Rhythmic chart for five weeks, and the Hot Rap Songs chart for seven weeks. On December 6, 2006, the song was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 1,000,000 copies in the United States.
Music video
The video was directed by Melina (who directed R&B singer Shareefa's "Need a Boss") and was released on August 17, 2006, premiering on various music channels including BET, MTV, and MuchMusic.
The video to "Money Maker" consists of Ludacris rapping with girls dancing around him against a basically-colored background of orange, green and black. He has a counting machine that counts how many times he gets a girl to shake her rear end (called "money maker") for him. Pharrell appears during the chorus with girls and stacks of money. There is also a Chrysler ME Four-Twelve and large speakers in the background that vibrate throughout the video, which are no more than salad bowls, according to Ludacris in MTV's "Making the Video". Cameo appearances are made by Allen Iverson, Shareefa, Bobby Valentino, & Lil Fate. The video is notable for Ludacris' first appearance on camera with a fade haircut, as he had cut his trademark cornrows in order to signify a new image for himself.
Credits and personnel
The credits for "Money Maker" are adapted from the liner notes of Release Therapy.