B-side "NYC Rules" Recorded 2002–03 | Format 12"
CD Length 3:29 | |
Released 20 October 2003 (2003-10-20) Genre Alternative hip hop
disco funk | ||
"Ooh Wee" is a song by Mark Ronson featuring Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife and Saigon. It was released as the lead single from Ronson's debut studio album, Here Comes the Fuzz, on 20 October 2003. It charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, and caused Ronson to return to the UK after many years of living in the United States.
Contents
Background
"Ooh Wee" was released as Ronson's debut single, from his album Here Comes the Fuzz. It features Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg, Trife and Saigon. The record was produced in New York, where Ronson was living at the time. The song samples "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey and "Sunny" by Boney M; in an interview with Rolling Stone, Ronson stated that he decided to sample the song after hearing it in the film Boogie Nights, and listening to the end of the film to the credits after discovering that the record wasn't on the film's soundtrack.
The record was made only thinking of giving it to Ghostface Killah. Ronson's manager contacted Killah, who had previously been acquainted with each other. However, once Killah had added his part, he thought having an extra voice would complement the record, so he contacted the head of his label to see if he could get Nate Dogg on the record. After sending Dogg the record, it took him less than 24 hours to return it with his part recorded.
Music video
A music video for the song was created. It features all four rappers and Ronson miming to the original track. For it, Ronson had the back of his shaved in such a manner that the words "Here Comes the Fuzz" appear on his head; a shot of this begins the video. During his 4Music #Hangout, he explained that the barber who cut his hair that day only spoke English and could not read or write it, and so to him he was in fact carving a picture in to the back of Ronson's head.
Critical reception
The Guardian described it as "fizzy disco-rap ... informed by the freewheeling, celebratory spirit of late 80s hip-hop".
In popular culture
It was featured in the 2003 movie Honey and its soundtrack. The song was later used in the movies Hitch and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.
Chart performance
"Ooh Wee" had a positive chart performance. The song charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart; this, coupled with Elektra Records' decision to drop Ronson, culminated in Ronson returning to London. The song also charted at number 82 on the MegaCharts, number 83 on the Australian Singles Chart number 95 on the German Singles Chart and in America number 32 on the Rhythmic Top 40 and number 80 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.