911 (Wyclef Jean song)

"911"
Single by Wyclef Jean featuring Mary J. Blige
from the album The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book
Released	June 27, 2000 July 11, 2001 (Australia)
Format	CD5, CD3
Recorded	February 2000
Genre	R&B soul
Length	4:19
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	M. Brown/Wyclef Jean/Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis/K. Cadet
Producer(s)	Jerry Duplessis, Wyclef Jean, Sedeck
Wyclef Jean singles chronology "It Doesn't Matter" (2000) "911" (2000) "Perfect Gentleman" (2001) Mary J. Blige singles chronology "Your Child" (2000) "911" (2000) "Family Affair" (2001)

"911" is a duet between rap singer Wyclef Jean and soul music singer Mary J. Blige. It was released in the summer of 2000 off Wyclef's second disc, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book and was later included on Blige's compilation Reflections (A Retrospective). The song had success worldwide, particularly in Scandinavian countries.

Music and video

The song depicted two star-crossed lovers in a web of drama with the male narrator running from police while the female narrator worries forlornly over him. The relationship is apparently under external pressures, as Jean sings, "messing around with you is gonna get (the man) life", and later reflecting "it's worth the sacrifice".

It samples Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians' "What I Am", some excerpts can be found in the mix versions from James Brown's "The Payback".

Chart performances and awards

"911" was a hit for the two singers as it reached #38 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was very successful in Sweden and in Norway where it reached number-one for almost two months. It earned a Platinum disc in Norway. It was also a top ten hit in Ireland, UK, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland.

It was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a duo or group in 2001.

Track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "911".^[1]

U.S. 5-inch single "911" (radio edit) — 4:07 Vocals - MB², Mary J. Blige "911" (ghetto love remix) — 4:04 Vocals - MB, Mary J. Blige "Younger Days" — 5:01 "It Doesn't Matter" (live version) — 8:26 Featuring - Melky Sedeck, The Rock 3-inch single "911" (radio edit) — 4:06 "Ghetto Love" (remix) — 4:01 Remix - Wyclef Jean Australia 5-inch single "911" (emergency remix) — 4:23 "911" (radio edit) — 4:06 "911" (ghetto love remix) — 4:01 "Younger Days" — 5:00 "It Doesn't Matter" (remix) — 4:05 Rap [Featuring] - Hope

Single : also released with different cover and with the "(I'm in trouble, I'm in real big trouble)" subtitle. Europe CD maxi "911 (radio edit) — 4:06 "911 (ghetto love remix) — 4:01 "Younger Days" — 5:00 "It Doesn't Matter" (live) — 8:26 CD single "911" (radio edit) — 4:06 "911" (ghetto love remix) — 4:01

Personnel

• Recorded and mixed at the Hit Factory (NYC)
• Co-producer - Sedeck
• Engineer - Andy Grassi, Michael McCoy
• Mixing - Andy Grassi
• Producer - Jerry Duplessis, Wyclef Jean
• Vocals - Mary J. Blige
• Backing vocals - MB
• Video director - Marcus Raboy
• Video editing - Bruce Ashley

Charts and sales

Charts

Chart (2000/01) Peak position Austrian Singles Chart[2] 21 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[2] 16 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[2] 11 Danish Singles Chart[2] 9 Dutch Mega Top 100[2] 8 Finnish Singles Chart[2] 4 French SNEP Singles Chart[2] 11 German Singles Chart[2] 12 Irish IRMA Singles Chart[3] 10 Norwegian Singles Chart[2] 1 Swedish Singles Chart[2] 1 Swiss Singles Chart[2] 9 UK Singles Chart[4] 9 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 38 U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs[5] 6

End of year chart (2000) Position Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[6] 99 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[7] 57 French Singles Chart[8] 54 Swiss Singles Chart[9] 62 Certifications Country Certification Date Sales certified[10] France[11] Silver May 16, 2001 125,000 Norway[12] Platinum 2001 10,000

Successions

References

1. "Wyclef Jean featuring Mary J. Blige — "911"". Discogs. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
2. ""911", in various singles charts". Lescharts. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
3. "Irish Singles Chart, database". Irishcharts. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
4. ""911", UK Singles Chart". Chartstats. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
5. ", Billboard charts". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
6. "2001 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart". Ultratop. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
7. "2001 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart". Ultratop. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
8. "2001 French Singles Chart". Snep. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
9. "2001 Swiss Singles Chart". Hitparade. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
10. "Certification for every country in the world" (PDF). IFPI. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
11. "2001 French certifications". Snep. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
12. "Norwegian certifications". Ifpi. Retrieved 2009-08-11.