Mesmerize (song)

"Mesmerize"
Single by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
from the album The Last Temptation
Released	December 16, 2002
Format	Airplay, CD single, music download
Recorded	2002
Genre	Hip hop, R&B
Length	4:38 (album/single version) 5:51 (music video)
Label	Murder Inc., Def Jam
Writer(s)	Ja Rule, Thomas Bell, Linda Creed, Irving Lorenzo, Andre Parker
Producer(s)	Irv Gotti, Chink Santana
Ja Rule singles chronology "Thug Lovin'" (2002) "Mesmerize" (2002) "The Reign" (2003) Ashanti singles chronology "Baby" (2002) "Mesmerize" (2002) "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" (2003)

"Mesmerize" is the second single by Ja Rule from his album The Last Temptation. The song was produced by Irv Gotti and features R&B artist Ashanti. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it Ashanti's and Ja Rule's fourth top ten hit as a duet.

The song contains a sample from the Stylistics' 1971 song Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart).

Music video

The music video was inspired by the film Grease. The video begins with a group of men dressed in black discussing their plan for a revolution in a strategy room. Ja Rule enters dressed in a preppy sweater, much to the surprise of the other men. He explains that his girl wants him to leave the street life behind. Meanwhile, some of Ashanti's friends are having a slumber party and playing Scrabble when Ashanti emerges dressed in flashy black leather attire. She explains that her guy wants her to be more street. The song begins and we see the two meeting up at an amusement fair. As they sing, they partake in various carnival attractions, such as game booths and bumper cars. The song ends abruptly with Ja Rule's friends emerging from a black van and asking him if he's riding with them. After he hesitates and turns to Ashanti, she says she's riding if he's riding. They enter the van and after a few quick cuts they emerge and Ja Rule begins rapping "Destiny", an uptempo "hardcore" street song that contrasts with the more mellow "Mesmerize". The video ends with a crowd of men marching the streets and holding up various signs, including tributes to late rappers Tupac Shakur and DJ Jam-Master Jay. The street scene was filmed outside Cathedral High on Bishops Road (formerly Stadium Way) an up-hill climb towards Dodger Stadium.

The carnival scenes were filmed in Los Angeles at Cathedral High School's Graveyard Field. The entire campus was the site of the Old Calvary Cemetery Northeast of Downtown Los Angeles.

Chart performance

Chart (2002–2003)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[1]	5
Canada (Canadian Singles Chart)[2]	19
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[3]	8
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[4]	6
France (SNEP)[5]	66
Germany (Official German Charts)[6]	71
Ireland (Irish Singles Chart)[7]	19
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8]	33
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9]	3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[10]	79
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	2
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	5
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks	2
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40	3

References

1. "Australian-charts.com – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
2. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ja-rule-mn0000120675/awards
3. "Ultratop.be – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
4. "Ultratop.be – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in French). Ultratip.
5. "Lescharts.com – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize" (in French). Les classement single.
6. "Musicline.de – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
7. http://acharts.us/song/3
8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40.
9. "Charts.org.nz – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". Top 40 Singles.
10. "Swisscharts.com – Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Mesmerize". Swiss Singles Chart.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics