Released September 23, 2003 Genre Hip hop, crunk, soul Label LaFace/RCA
55883 | Format CD single Length 3:55 | |
Recorded Stankonia Studios, Atlanta, GA, 2002 | ||
"The Way You Move" is a song recorded by Big Boi of the American hip hop duo OutKast, released by LaFace Records. The song features OutKast mentor Sleepy Brown on guest vocals. Along with "Hey Ya!", recorded by OutKast's other member André 3000, "The Way You Move" is one of the two lead singles from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, OutKast's double album project which includes a solo album from each member.
Contents
- Song information
- Music video
- Chart performance
- Track listings
- Trivia
- Earth Wind FireKenny G cover
- References
Released from Big Boi's Speakerboxxx half of the double album, "The Way You Move" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming OutKast's third numberone pop single, and the 900th for "Billboard." In 2009, it was named the 22nd most successful song of the 2000s, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade.
Song information
"The Way You Move" is credited to Big Boi, Sleepy Brown, and the song's producer, Carlton Mahone; Big Boi also does some co-production. Combining elements of bass music, Atlanta-style southern hip hop, and 1970s soul music, "The Way You Move" is Big Boi's light-hearted dedication to women.
The song's instrumental track is punctuated with the prominent live horn section "Hornz Unlimited" of Atlanta reminiscent of Earth Wind and Fire, whose track "I Like the Way you Move" inspired the chorus and bridge, which feature Sleepy Brown singing in style inspired by the work of Motown star Marvin Gaye.
Music video
The song's music video, directed by Bryan Barber, features Big Boi as the proprietor of a rim shop. The video's performance shots eventually gravitate to other locations during the video's running time, featuring several young women who Big Boi, dressed in a pimp's suit, attempts to pick up.
The video features an appearance from Fonzworth Bentley and another from actress Ki Toy Johnson. "The Way You Move" music video was designed to be shown in tandem with the video for André 3000's "Hey Ya!". A long-form "The Way You Move/Hey Ya!" video combines both clips with a bridging sequence. The music video opens with Big Boi and Sleepy Brown pulling into a garage that specializes in automotive audio systems.
Chart performance
"The Way You Move" debuted at #83 on the week ending September 27, 2003, four days after its release. It spent eight weeks at the number two position on the Billboard Hot 100 behind "Hey Ya!", one of the longest runs at that position in the chart's history.
It finally replaced "Hey Ya!" at number one on February 7, 2004, where it stayed for one week, which was the sixth time a recording act has replaced itself on the Billboard pop chart. "The Way You Move" was ranked number five on the 2004 Billboard Year-End Chart. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, "The Way You Move" peaked at number two (seven positions higher than "Hey Ya!"), and reached the top of the Hot Rap Tracks chart.
Track listings
- "The Way You Move" (clean album version) – 3:55
- "The Way You Move" (Johnny Toobad Radio Mix) – 3:15
- "The Way You Move" (club mix) – 6:04
- "The Way You Move" (Johnny Toobad Full Length Vocal) – 9:16
- "The Way You Move" (Full Phat Radio Mix) – 4:17
- "The Way You Move" (video) – 3:55
- "The Way You Move" (radio edit) – 3:35
- "Last Call" – 3:16
- "The Way You Move" (radio edit) – 3:35
- "The Way You Move" (club mix) – 6:04
- "The Way You Move" (instrumental) – 3:35
- "Hey Ya!" (radio edit) – 3:35
- "Hey Ya!" (instrumental) – 3:35
Trivia
Earth, Wind & Fire/Kenny G cover
In 2004, saxophonist Kenny G and Earth, Wind & Fire released a cover of the song with bandmembers Philip Bailey and Maurice White on vocals. Their version was spawned from Kenny G's At Last... The Duets Album and it also appeared on Earth, Wind & Fire's 2005 album Illumination. The song went to #12 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.