U Know What's Up

"U Know What's Up"
Single by Donell Jones featuring Lisa Lopes
from the album Where I Wanna Be
ReleasedAugust 3, 1999 (1999-08-03)
Length3:59
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Donell Jones singles chronology
"You Should Know"
(1997) 		"U Know What's Up"
(1999) 		"It's So Hard"
(2000)
Lisa Lopes singles chronology
"Cradle of Rock"
(1998) 		"U Know What's Up"
(1999) 		"I Do"
(1999)

"U Know What's Up" is a song by American R&B singer Donell Jones. It was written by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for his second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999), while production was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment.

Released as the album's lead single, the song became Jones' biggest hit, reaching the top 10 in Ireland and on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was most successful in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. In addition, "U Know What's Up" topped Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for eight consecutive weeks, his only single to do so. A remix version featuring Left Eye of TLC was used for the accompanying music video.

Background

"U Know What's Up" was composed by Edward "Eddie F." Ferrell, Darren Lighty, Clifton Lighty, Balewa Muhammad, Anthony Hamilton, and Veronica McKenzie for Donell Jones' second studio album, Where I Wanna Be (1999).[1] Production on the song was helmed by Ferrell and Darren Lighty for Untouchables Entertainment.[1] Originally envisioned as a Southern-inspired track titled "When You Hear the Car Horn Blow" and heavily influenced by Hamilton, the song was extensively reworked after being played for Jones, who liked the music but was unhappy with the lyrics.[2] Muhammad originally pushed for 50 Cent to appear as a guest vocalist on the remix version of "U Know What's Up", having been impressed by his 1999 debut single, "How to Rob," but was ultimately overruled.[3] He later acknowledged that TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes' involvement helped elevate the song to crossover success.[3]

Commercial performance

"U Know What's Up" became Jones' biggest-selling single and marked his international breakthrough, achieving strong chart positions and impressive sales worldwide. In the United States, the song topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100,[4][5] while also peaking at 23 on the US Rhythmic Top 40 chart.[6] In December 1999, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments figures in excess of 500,000 units.[7] The following year, Billboard ranked it fifth on its Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks year-end chart.[8]

Internationally, the song performed well in the United Kingdom, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and claiming the top spot on the UK Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart.[9][10] It has since been certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales of 600,000 units.[11] Elsewhere in Europe, the single charted within the top 10 in Ireland.[12] It also entered the top 15 in Scotland and reached the top 30 in the Netherlands.[13][14] "U Know What's Up" further peaked at number nine on both the Canadian Top 30 Dance chart and a composite European Hot 100 Singles.[15][16]

Music video

A music video for "U Know What's Up" was directed by Bille Woodruff and partly filmed at Castle Green, a hotel in Pasadena, California, built in 1893 by George Gill Green.[17] Using the remix version of the song, it features appearances from Lopes as well as cameos from J-Bo and Sean Paul of YoungBloodZ, T.I., Usher and Big Boi of OutKast, all of whom were (including Jones) part of the LaFace Records label. At the beginning of the video, a sign in front of the hotel says La Face Place, in reference to the record label. The clip premiered on BET on the week ending September 12, 1999.[18]

The video begins with Left Eye at her apartment receiving a phone call, presumably from Jones, informing her that the music video for the song is being aired on TV. She turns to the TV screen behind her playing the video, which shows Jones at a hotel party, and proceeds to watch it. As it turns out, Left Eye is not the only person watching the video, as the video pans across the building showing Usher and his girlfriend at his apartment, and Big Boi hosting a music video premiere at his apartment. Midway through the video, Left Eye leaves her apartment and recites her verse in the song while walking across the corridor, presumably to join Jones at a similar party at the back of the building, which is revealed as the camera pulls back from the corridor. At the end, the video pulls back to reveal Jones watching it at his apartment with his girlfriend.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "U Know What's Up"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[7] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

"U Know What's Up" release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States August 3, 1999 Urban radio
[38]
September 14, 1999 Urban AC radio [39]
September 21, 1999 Rhythmic contemporary radio [40]
United Kingdom January 10, 2000
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
[41]
New Zealand March 6, 2000
  • CD
  • cassette
 [42]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c U Know What's Up (US CD single liner notes). LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24420-2.
  2. ^ "Halftime Chat with Donell Jones: My Life, My Journey, My Music". Halftime Chat. August 20, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ a b "50 Cent Almost Replaced Left Eye on Donell Jones' "You Know What's Up"". Halftime Chat. January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. November 13, 1999. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. December 11, 1999. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Rhythmic Airplay". Billboard. January 29, 2000. Retrieved February 15, 2026.
  7. ^ a b "American single certifications – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Recording Industry Association of America.
  8. ^ a b "The Year in Music 2000: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 53. December 30, 2000. p. YE-54. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart on 22/1/2000 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 22/1/2000 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "British single certifications – Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 7, 2022. Select singles in the Formats field. Type U Know What's Up Donell Jones in the "Search:" field.
  12. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Donell Jones". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 22/1/2000 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donell Jones" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Image 9737". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 6. February 5, 2000. p. 5. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  17. ^ a b "Donell Jones: U Know What's Up". IMDb. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  18. ^ "Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 40. October 2, 1999. p. 110. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  19. ^ U Know What's Up (US cassette single sleeve). LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24420-4.
  20. ^ U Know What's Up (US 12-inch single sleeve). LaFace Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 73008-24411-1.
  21. ^ U Know What's Up (Australian CD single liner notes). LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 2000. 74321 70262 2.
  22. ^ U Know What's Up (UK CD1 liner notes). LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 2.
  23. ^ U Know What's Up (UK CD2 liner notes). LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72276 2.
  24. ^ U Know What's Up (UK 12-inch single sleeve). LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 1.
  25. ^ U Know What's Up (UK cassette single sleeve). LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 72275 4.
  26. ^ U Know What's Up (European CD single liner notes). LaFace Records, Arista Records, Untouchables Records. 1999. 74321 73889 2.
  27. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 148.
  28. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  29. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (4.2– 10.2 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 4, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  30. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  31. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  32. ^ "Donell Jones – U Know What's Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  33. ^ "Urban Top 20 Tracks of 1999" (PDF). Music Week. January 22, 2000. p. 32. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  34. ^ "1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-57.
  35. ^ "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 20, 2001. p. 25.
  36. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  37. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 56.
  38. ^ "AddVance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1310. July 30, 1999. p. 66. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  39. ^ "Urban AC: Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1316. September 10, 1999. p. 67. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  40. ^ "Gavin Top 40/Rhythm Crossover: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2273. September 20, 1999. p. 8.
  41. ^ "Reviews – For Records Out on 3/10 January 2000" (PDF). Music Week. December 25, 1999. p. 7. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  42. ^ "New Releases". netcd.co.nz. March 6, 2000. Archived from the original on March 11, 2000. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
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