B-side "Mobb wit Me" Genre Dirty rap | Recorded 2003 | |
 | ||
Released May 10, 2003 (2003-05-10) Format CD
12"
digital download Length 3:35 (album version)
3:39 (remix version) | ||
"Right Thurr" is a song by American rapper Chingy. It was co-written and produced by St. Louis production team The Trak Starz. It was released on May 10, 2003 as the debut single off his debut album Jackpot (2003). The song received positive reviews from critics who praised the production and Chingy's addictive delivery.
Contents
- Critical reception
- Commercial performance
- Music video
- Live performance
- Remix
- Freestyles
- Use in popular culture
- References
"Right Thurr" was kept from being number one by Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love", staying at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks, giving him his first of three top 5 hits on that chart. It also became a number-one hit on the Hot Rap Songs chart for four weeks and peaked at numbers 2 and 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Mainstream Top 40 charts respectively. The song also reached number one in New Zealand and charted in other countries like Australia, Canada and the UK. The song was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA).
An accompanying music video for the song, directed by Jessy Terrero, takes place in Chingy's hometown of St. Louis. An official remix for the song was made as a bonus track on the album that featured rappers Jermaine Dupri and Trina. A music video for the remix, directed by Jeremy Rall, features all three artists hanging out in a white backdrop.
Critical reception
Matt Cibula of PopMatters liked Chingy's choice of playing a pimp-like character for the song, saying "there’s something to his voice, a certain awed respect for the absolutely amazing qualities of southern women, that puts the song over the top." Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic called it an "instant party rap classic." John Mulvey of NME gave a mixed review of the song, noticing the imitation Neptunes beat from the Trak Starz and Chingy's limitation as a rapper, but still found it to be "utterly irresistible" concluding that "It's all terribly Dirty South, as you'd imagine, but Chingy's soft and compelling way with the letter 'r' is weirdly Devonian, too. Which isn't something you can say about most potty-mouthed hip-hop prodigies these days. Nice wurrk."
Commercial performance
"Right Thurr" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of May 17, 2003 at number 97. Six weeks later, it moved ten spots from number 31 to 21 the week of June 28, 2003. It moved six spots to number 15 the week of July 5, 2003. It entered the top ten on the week of July 12, 2003 by moving six spots to number 9. It reached the top five by moving five spots to number 4 the week of July 19, 2003. It peaked at number 2 the week of August 9, 2003 through a surge of airplay but was kept from being number one by Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love" for four consecutive weeks. It stayed on the chart for thirty-three weeks.
Music video
Directed by Jessy Terrero, the video takes place at Beacon Ave. in Walnut Park East, St. Louis where Chingy is with his friends outside the porch of his house and is attracted by several women walking past his house. It moves to a club run by DJ Quik, where Chingy is performing on stage and partying with his friends while throwing money in the air, and at Courtesy Diner where Chingy is hanging out inside and outside of the diner. It ends with a late-night shot of the Gateway Arch intercut with fade shots of Chingy at the club. Ludacris, Murphy Lee, Kyjuan and The Trak Starz make cameo appearances in the video.
An uncut version of the video featured extended scenes from the club of various women in bras and thongs doing suggestive dances on the people and/or each other. It was only shown at late-night on BET: Uncut and on the enhanced CD/DVD version of the album.
Live performance
Chingy made his U.S. television debut performing "Right Thurr" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on July 17, 2003.
Remix
An official remix for the song was made as a bonus track on the album that featured rappers Jermaine Dupri and Trina. A video (found in the CD/DVD version of the album) was made for the remix that featured all three artists in a white backdrop dancing together with people around them. The video was directed by Jeremy Rall. This version won the "Remix of the Year" award at the 2004 Source Awards.