Recorded 2005 Length 4:33 | Genre Dirty rap | |
Released January 17, 2006 (U.S.)
April 24, 2006 (UK) Format CD single, Digital download, 12" single Label Shady, Aftermath, Interscope | ||
"Shake That" (also known as "Shake That Ass") is the second and final single taken from American rapper Eminem's first compilation album, Curtain Call: The Hits (2005), following "When I'm Gone." It is one of three new songs featured on the album.
Contents
Song information
The song features Nate Dogg in a prominent vocal role, marking his sixth and final Eminem collaboration, following "Bitch Please II" from The Marshall Mathers LP, "Till I Collapse" from The Eminem Show, and "Never Enough" from Encore, and the two collaborated on Xzibit's "My Name", from the album Man vs. Machine and Lloyd Banks' "Warrior Part 2" on the album The Hunger for More. "Shake That" is the first of these songs to include Nate Dogg during verse, whereas his contributions in the other works are limited to the refrain and the outro. Contrary to many of the second singles from each of Eminem's albums, such as "The Way I Am", "Cleanin' Out My Closet", and "Like Toy Soldiers", which are usually much darker and more stern than their predecessors, "Shake That" is a departure from the serious tone of "When I'm Gone," representing a far more playful atmosphere. It focuses on Eminem and Nate Dogg rapping about seducing women into sex in cars, and strip clubs. The music video is animated, and follows this context from the song. The single was released in early 2006 in the United States. It became a big hit, peaking at #6. In the UK, the song was released as a download only single in April 2006, managing to peak at #28 on the UK Download Chart.
Remix
A remixed version of the song, with Nate Dogg, Obie Trice, and Bobby Creekwater, appears on Eminem Presents: The Re-Up (2006). Eminem does not have a verse on the remix, he does, however, still rap the intro to the song.
Critical reception
Allmusic wrote a mixed opinion: "sex song that finds Shady sounding as if he's drifting along in his own orbit. "Shake That" has an incongruous Nate Dogg crooning the chorus." Pitchfork thinks that this song is just another "lesser version of Eminem songs that already piss me (critic) off." IGN called it a "rump mover" and wrote a positive review: "a booty shaker, again showing promise in Em's production. It's still a pretty simple bump-n-shuffle number, but it swings with a sense of upbeat minimalism and takes his trademark dark sounds into a slightly lighter venue." Sputnik Music wasn't satisfied: "Shake That features Nate Dogg, and is the quintessential club banger". Rolling Stone called this song a "Nate Dogg throwaway."
"Shake That" was nominated for "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards, but it lost to Justin Timberlake and T.I.'s "My Love". "Shake That" was certified Gold in Sweden, and Platinum in Denmark, both due to strong digital downloads.